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Andie MacDowell recently revealed being diagnosed with piriformis syndrome, a painful muscle condition that compresses the sciatic nerve.
While appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show on Jan. 23 episode, the 66-year-old actress spoke about her condition.
“It’s a muscle that kind of clamps down on my sciatic nerve, and it was shooting down my leg. I ended up with bad knees and a bad hip and… I thought I was literally falling apart like I was gonna have to get new pieces… I thought I was going to have to have a hip replacement—thank God, my hips are fine!” she said.
She also spoke about how the diagnosis has helped her to find the right solution. “I have to work my tiny little bottom and my hips. I have to work the bottom and work my hip. I just do it every day,” she said. She also said that her hip does not hurt anymore, and the result is ‘a miracle’. The actress was able to make a remarkable recovery with treatment.
So what is the rare condition that affected the Four Weddings and a Funeral star? Here’s everything you need to know about piriformis syndrome.
What is piriformis syndrome?
Piriformis syndrome is a rare neuromuscular condition where the piriformis muscle, which is a small muscle located in the buttocks near the top of the hip joint compresses the sciatic nerve. This can result in pain, tingling, and numbness that often radiates down the leg.
Causes of piriformis syndrome
- Trauma to the hip or buttock area
- Scarring of the muscle tissue
- Inflammation
- Muscle spasms
- Overuse or strain of the piriformis muscle due to activities like running or prolonged sitting.
- Piriformis muscle hypertrophy (often seen in athletes during periods of increased weightlifting requirements or pre-season conditioning)
- Anatomic anomalies
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Symptoms
- Pain, tingling, or numbness in your buttocks muscle
- A dull ache in the buttocks muscle
- Pain down the back of your thigh, calf, and foot
- Pain while walking up stairs or hills
- Increased pain after sitting for a long time
Treatment
- Short-term rest (not more than 48 hours)
- Use of muscle relaxants
- Use of over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen
- Physical therapy
- Steroid injection around the piriformis muscle for some patients to reduce inflammation and pain
(Pic courtesy: Facebook/ Andie MacDowell)
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