Our doctors at Blackberry Clinic work hard to diagnose accurately the cause of the pain you are suffering from. Using thorough assessment- listening carefully to the history of your pain, physical assessment and examination and with the help of diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound a picture is built up of the cause of the pain. Leg pain or sciatica is not always caused by a back problem or prolapsed disc. Dr Shyam Balasubramanian, one of our pain management consultants at Blackberry Clinic describes a condition that you may not have heard of but may be the cause of your pain!
What is deep gluteal syndrome?
Deep gluteal syndrome is pain that is described in the buttock, often radiating down the back of the leg – following the course of the sciatic nerve. It usually affects only one side of the body. The condition often occurs due to the irritation of the sciatic nerve in the buttock. The progress in understanding hip and gluteal anatomy has helped to identify several locations where sciatic nerve can be entrapped.
Causes of deep gluteal pain
It is commonly associated with problems in the muscles or ligaments in the gluteal area through which the sciatic nerve runs down to the leg. It can mimic sciatica, but the problem lies in the buttock, not in the spine. One of the examples is piriformis syndrome.
How is deep gluteal syndrome diagnosed?
A comprehensive assessment during which tenderness in the gluteal muscles and ligaments is tested after stretching or contracting them. Provoking the pain in the buttock can often reproduce the pain in the leg. Sometimes, examination is done under ultrasound guidance to identify the structures involved. Rarely MRI scan is useful, however this is not always required.
Who should I see for this condition?
You can see any of our practitioners for most conditions but check out their profiles for more information and specific interests. If physical therapy does not improve the pain, you can see one of our MSK or pain management doctors for injections which can help break the spasm relieve pain and help engage with exercise therapy.
What injections might I have?
If the pain is not settling with physiotherapy and medications, our MSK or Pain Management doctors will examine you and decide on the best injection for the underlying cause of your deep gluteal syndrome. We offer a variety of injections at Blackberry Clinic including piriformis muscle injection.
