Piriformis Syndrome

In the United States each year, 1.5 million people have lumbar MRI scans to look for the cause of the buttock and leg pain called “sciatica.” More than 1.2 million of those scans fail to find the cause in the spine. Three hundred thousand of the scans are sufficiently positive that the patient has lumbar spine surgery.

And of the 300,000 surgeries, as many as 25% fail to relieve the pain – in many cases because the diagnosis of a spinal cause for the sciatica was incorrect.

Piriformis syndrome also causes sciatica. Its treatment is much less invasive and severe than the treatment of herniated lumbar disks. However, many doctors never consider piriformis syndrome as a possible diagnosis. Many physicians who are aware of it are uncertain how to properly diagnose and treat it.

The advent of MR Neurography and Open MR injection techniques together with new large scale outcome studies are now leading to the successful diagnosis and treatment of many more sciatica sufferers.

Having a MR neurography scan study completed at an authorized location of The Neurography Institute can help you determine if your “sciatica” is caused by piriformis syndrome. This can help your physician chart a successful course of action, resulting in a positive outcome.

neurography-piriformis-syndrome
Download Dr. Filler's Paper

Click the button below to download “Sciatica of nondisc origin and piriformis syndrome: diagnosis by magnetic resonance neurography and interventional magnetic resonance imaging with outcome study of resulting treatment” by Aaron G. Filler, MD, PhD, et al (originally published in Journal of Neurosurgery, February 2005). Please share this document with your primary care physician to learn more about sciatica and piriformis syndrome.

Learn more at NerveMed.com

You can learn more about piriformis syndrome at our sister site, NerveMed.com. At Nervemed you will find a complete discussion of piriformis syndrome and “sciatica,” including a complete range of treatments as well as background information on the condition.

For More Information Or To Schedule A Scan Near You

Now is the time to take charge of your health. Request an MR Neurography scanning session with The Neurography Institute today.

Simply complete our contact form, and The Institute’s confidential staff will contact you to set up your scanning appointment at a time convenient to you.

For faster service, simply call us today at (310) 664-3944.

Thank you for your interest in The Neurography Institute.

We look forward to meeting you.

Click the button below to download our Patient Information Package. It includes detailed information about the Institute, our financial policies and other important information. It also includes patient information forms which should be completed prior to the scheduling of any visit. Please complete all required pages prior to your appointment.