While a herniated disk is a well-known cause of sciatica—pain that travels from the lower back into the buttock or down the leg—it is not the only one. In some cases, a small muscle deep within the hip called the piriformis may contribute to similar symptoms. Understanding how this muscle functions can help explain why identifying the true source of radiating leg pain is sometimes complicated.
The piriformis is located beneath the larger muscles of the buttock. It stretches from the lower part of the spine and pelvis to the upper portion of the thigh bone. Although relatively small, it…
