Piriformis Block

A piriformis steroid block is an injection of local anesthestics and steroid into the piriformis muscle of your buttock.  The muscle attaches to pelvic bones and function to rotate the leg outward.  Sciatic nerve passes through under the muscle and travel down to your leg.  Tightness of the piriformis muscle can irritate sciatic nerve and causes symptoms of sciatica, or pain traveling down to the back of the leg and pain in hip, low back, and groin area.

The steroid medication injected will reduce the inflammation and /or swelling around the nerves that pass near or through the piriformis muscle. This in turn may reduce your pain, numbness, tingling or other symptoms that may contribute to nerve inflammation, irritation or swelling.