Back Pain - Is it All In Your Head?

It starts simple enough - a dull ache in the middle of your buttocks. But then, it radiates into the back of your leg, sometimes reaching all the way down to your foot. And, no matter what you do, it is always there.

Most people are somewhat familiar with the term "sciatica". Generally, it is a severe pain in the leg, running the course of the sciatic nerve. It can be felt at the back of the leg, running down the inside, and sometimes, into the foot. Sciatica is due to a lumbar, or low back disc pressing on the nerve as it exists the intervertebral foramen - the opening between the bones of your spine. It produces pain, numbness and tingling below the knee and into the foot. So, you seek medical attention, since the pain is limiting your normal routine. After the initial evaluation, your physician sends your for some diagnostic testing - usually x-rays and spinal images - possibly an MRI, and puts you on a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, and a period of rest.

Your test results, however, come back negative, and you still have pain. Don't despair - a negative result only means there is no bulging disc applying pressure on the nerve. It does not mean the pain you are experiencing is all in your head. Perhaps it is what experts call "piriformis syndrome"."

Sciatica and piriformis syndrome are very similar - both produce pain, numbness and tingling in the buttocks that can radiate down the back of the leg and into the foot. It can start as a dull ache in the middle of your buttocks, usually only on one side, and radiate down the posterior leg, down to your foot. You can experience pain with walking up stairs or inclines, or with prolonged activities, such as walking, running or even sitting. The main difference is in the cause. Piriformis syndrome is caused by the entrapment or compression of the sciatic nerve, due to the contraction or shortening of the piriformis muscle.