Welcome aboard Betty! The short answer to your
question is - Yes, the piriformis can be either
surgically removed or released. The release procedure
cuts the tendons attaching the piriformis muscle to
the bone. The removal surgery is a big surgery with a
long recovery time, where you have to learn how to
walk again.

Surgery is usually a last resort. It works beautifully
for some , while others only get short term relief
with it. Going to a Physiatrist & getting Physical
Therapy is usually the first step. "piriformis
Syndrome" is a diagnosis applied to any spasm of the
muscle without regard to what is causing the spasm.
And there are many possible causes. Usually the pelvis
is out of whack & the dysfunction which manifests
itself as pirifomis syndrome is often protecting
something else. Doctors think drugs or surgery & are
frequently ignorant the role of bio-mechanics in
back/leg pain. But a physiatrist (Physical Medicine
doctor) has a better understanding of these things.

If you want the piriformis muscle removed, I
suggest you send a private email to our member named
"lakriskonfekt". She had the surgery 2 years ago. I
think she got a second opinion from a doctor in MD.
Anyway, she can fill you in on details of surgery &
rehab. Read her posts here to understand her
experience. She was a very unusual case cased by a car
accident.

If you wanted Piriformis Release surgery, the
Cleveland Clinic does lots of them. Dr.Henry H.
Bohlman in Cleveland is one of the most experienced..
The most important thing when
choosing a surgeon is they have lots of experience
doing the procedure. You don't want to be the guinea
pig the surgeon is learning on. We had one member who
was the first patient her surgeon tried the technique
on & she ended up with permanent nerve damage because
of his inexperience.

Type in "dalumpmeister" in the "search" box & read his
posts here. He gives you a good idea of what the
release surgery is like. And click on his profile to
see a photo of the incision.

Dr. Aaron Filler,http://www.nervemed.com/index.html
(Neurosurgery at UCLA) has developed minimally
invasive surgery for piriformis condidtions.
Dr Filler also published a study on Piriformis
diagnosis & surgery in the Journal of Neurosurgy
Spine Feb, 2005 2:99-115

This information will get you started. Please tell us
your experience with surgery or other treatments, so
we can share the information with others. Thanks &
Good Luck, Mary

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