Piriformis Syndrome During Pregnancy: Can It Be Fixed?
Spoiler alert: YES, piriformis syndrome during pregnancy CAN be fixed! You don’t have to suffer through it!
One of my biggest pet peeves is when pregnant women are told, “That’s just normal pregnancy pain. It’ll go away once the baby comes.” Um, excuse me?! Would you want to deal with constant pain in your butt (literally), trouble sleeping, and difficulty taking care of your other kids for months on end—just because it’s “normal”? Nope. Didn’t think so.
Here’s the truth: Aches and pains during pregnancy CAN be treated—and honestly, they should be! One of the most common complaints I hear from my clients in Oconomowoc is piriformis syndrome during pregnancy, so let’s talk about it!
What is Piriformis Syndrome?
Your piriformis is a deep hip muscle that lives under your glute max (your big butt muscle). It’s a super important muscle—not only does it help stabilize and move your hip, it’s also part of the deepest layer of your pelvic floor. (How cool is that?!)
Piriformis Syndrome is basically a fancy way of saying that your piriformis is tense and angry, and as a result it is irritating the sciatic nerve which is nearby. You may feel pain in your butt and/or tingling, numbness, or pain that travels down the back of your leg. Sometimes it stops at your thigh, and sometimes it can go all the way down to your foot. Either way, it’s not fun.
Why Does Piriformis Syndrome During Pregnancy Happen?
Great question! Your body is working hard right now during pregnancy. Like, really hard. Your pelvic floor is taking on a much heavier load (literally) as it supports your growing uterus, baby, amniotic fluid, extra blood flow, and everything else going on in there.
On top of that, all those hormones loosening up your joints and ligaments? They’re great for making room for baby and getting your body ready for delivery, but not so great for keeping your pelvis stable. Your hip and pelvic floor muscles (including your piriformis) end up doing double-duty trying to keep you upright and comfortable. It’s no wonder this muscle gets tight and grumpy!
But How Do I Fix Piriformis Syndrome During Pregnancy?
Step 1: Calm Your Piriformis
The most important step of resolving piriformis syndrome during pregnancy is directly calming the piriformis—the root cause of your pain. My go-to exercises are hip stretches and pelvic floor relaxation poses (since your piriformis does both jobs). Try these feel-good moves:
Step 2: Soothe the Sciatic Nerve
Next, we want to get more blood flowing to the sciatic nerve to help calm it down and help that nerve move more freely. Here is one of my favorites:
Step 3: Get Hands-On Help
This is where pelvic floor physical therapy really shines. Manual techniques to the pelvic floor muscles AND dry needling directly to the piriformis (seriously, a game changer) can bring fast, lasting relief for piriformis syndrome during pregnancy.
We also figure out what is contributing to your overworked, angry piriformis, such as glute weakness and difficulty using your diaphragm to breathe. Working with a trained pelvic PT means getting personalized care to calm your piriformis and restore comfort so you can feel like you again—pregnant and powerful!
Don’t “Just Wait” Until Baby Arrives!
If you’re dealing with piriformis syndrome during pregnancy, you don’t have to just “wait it out.” We’d love to help you feel better now, not just after baby arrives. Reach out if you’re curious about pelvic floor PT and live in the Oconomowoc area. (And if you’re not in the Oconomowoc area, find a pelvic floor PT near you!) We’re here for you every step of the way!
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