Piriformis Syndrome: A Common but Overlooked Cause of Sciatica After an Auto Accident
If you're feeling a deep ache in your hip that radiates down your leg after a car accident, it may be more than just typical muscle soreness. You might be dealing with piriformis syndrome, a condition where a tight, irritated muscle in your glutes compresses the sciatic nerve. This can lead to intense pain, tingling, or numbness—sometimes misdiagnosed as spinal disc-related sciatica.
The good news? This type of pain often responds incredibly well to hands-on bodywork and stretching. In fact, piriformis syndrome is one of the issues I help with most often in post-accident care.
What Is Piriformis Syndrome?
The piriformis is a small, deep muscle located in the buttock, underneath the larger gluteal muscles. It helps rotate your hip and stabilize your pelvis. But after an accident, the body often tightens up reflexively—especially in the hips and pelvis—which can cause the piriformis to seize up.
When this muscle becomes tight and inflamed, it can press on the sciatic nerve, which passes directly beneath or through it. This causes symptoms like:
Sharp or burning pain in the buttock
Pain that radiates down the back of the leg
Discomfort when sitting, especially on hard surfaces
Because the problem is in soft tissue, imaging like X-rays or MRIs often appear normal—leaving people feeling confused or dismissed.
Why Accidents Cause Piriformis Tightness
Even a slow-speed crash can jar your body enough to create lasting tension. You might unconsciously clench your muscles during impact, or compensate for pain in the lower back or pelvis by changing your posture. Over time, this protective tension can lock into the piriformis—and the longer it stays tight, the more likely it is to aggravate the sciatic nerve.
How Bodywork Can Help
Bodywork is often one of the most effective treatments for piriformis syndrome because we’re addressing the actual source of the compression. Here’s how:
1. Targeted Soft Tissue Release
Through focused massage, I gently release tension in the piriformis and surrounding muscles. This helps reduce compression on the sciatic nerve and improve circulation in the area.
2. Neuromuscular Reeducation
Sometimes, chronic tightness is less about strength and more about communication between your brain and muscles. With specific techniques, we can help your body “remember” how to move without over-contracting this muscle.
3. Cupping and Kinesiotaping
These tools can relieve pressure and inflammation in the gluteal region and promote faster recovery between sessions.
Aftercare: Stretching for Relief
To maintain the progress from your session, I’ll usually guide you through gentle hip-opening stretches that continue to release the piriformis between treatments. One of the most effective is pigeon pose (or a modified version), which helps lengthen the piriformis and prevent it from tightening up again.
Other stretches may include:
Figure-four stretch while lying on your back
Seated piriformis stretch
Gentle walking or movement to encourage circulation
These are easy to do at home and can make a big difference in your long-term recovery.
The Emotional Side of Sciatic Pain
Living with nerve pain can be deeply frustrating—especially when others don’t understand how debilitating it is. It is not just uncomfortable. It’s mentally distracting and can make it incredibly hard to focus. This is where healing becomes more than just physical. Pain can bring up deeper beliefs: “Why isn’t this going away?”, “Am I overreacting?”, or even “Will I ever feel normal again?”
You’re not overreacting. You’re not making it up. And you’re not alone. Facing this pain with care, curiosity, and support can lead to deeper healing—not just in your body, but in your relationship to it.
Final Thoughts
Piriformis syndrome is one of the most common—and most treatable—causes of sciatic pain after an accident. With the right support, relief is possible. You don’t need to live with daily pain or uncertainty. With bodywork, personalized care, and the right stretches, your path to healing can start today.
I specialize in helping people recover from soft-tissue injuries like piriformis syndrome. If your sciatic pain hasn't responded to traditional approaches, let’s talk. Together, we’ll work toward lasting relief—gently, thoughtfully, and at your pace.