The piriformis muscle is a located in the buttocks, near the top of the hip joint. In piriformis syndrome, the muscle spasms and presses on the sciatic nerve, which runs from the buttocks down the leg.
This causes pain, tingling, or numbness in the buttocks and sometimes down the back of the leg.
Treatment for piriformis syndrome typically involves reducing pain by relaxing the muscle using heat or cold, massage, and physical therapy; pain relievers may also sometimes be prescribed.
When symptoms have subsided, special exercises may be recommended to help prevent the condition from recurring.