When is cortisone injection recommended for piriformis syndrome?

Piriformis syndrome, also called deep gluteal syndrome, can cause aching in the buttock with pain, tingling, or numbness that travels down the leg. Sitting, running, climbing, or hip rotation may aggravate symptoms. Care often begins with modifying provoking activities, stretching or strengthening selected muscles, and physiotherapy. A cortisone injection is a focused option when symptoms remain limiting or the clinician needs diagnostic information about the painful region. Response and duration differ between people.

Note whether sitting, walking, running, or particular hip movements bring on symptoms, and arrange an examination if they interfere with daily life. Share any back pain, leg weakness, bladder or bowel changes, medicines, allergies, diabetes, and recent infections. Keep doing only the exercises advised for your condition. After a procedure, follow activity guidance and watch for increasing pain, redness, warmth, or drainage.

Seek urgent care for new or worsening leg weakness, numbness around the groin, loss of bladder or bowel control, inability to walk, fever, or severe rapidly increasing pain. After an injection, urgent review is appropriate for fever, spreading redness, drainage, or severe pain at the site. These symptoms need assessment rather than routine follow-up.

Ask what makes piriformis syndrome more likely than a spinal or hip cause, whether imaging or another test is needed, and how the injection would support physiotherapy. Clarify aftercare, medicine considerations, expected symptom change, and what happens if leg symptoms remain.