My case is a little complicated by a recurring sciatic nerve. It was
mildly annoying before surgery, went away while I was in the
hospital, and came back the day I was discharged. It got steadily
worse, then about three weeks after surgery, I began having major
spasms deep in my buttocks. It felt like ,,,,, like the cartoons we
used to see where someone was electrocuted. When they hit, I'd
scream in pain.

The chiropractor told me he thought I had an "irritated" piriformis
muscle which lays over my "irritated" sciatic nerve. According to
him, when both are irritated, they can cause the spasm he saw me
have.

Then let's throw in the knee surgery for a complication. Anyone who
treats me has to take extra care w/ the knee. Strangely enough, I
had absolutely no problems w/ the knee after surgery. I was walking
w/o a walker 2 weeks postop.

I've had osteoarthritis in both knees since my late 20's (over 15
years now) and will have TKR for my left knee in about a year. I
don't know if others here would understand, but w/ bilateral
arthritis in the knee, you tend to shuffle -- in effect, you're
trying to keep the weight off the bad knee. But since both knees
hurt, I'm constantly going from one foot to the other, and as a
result, I recently discovered I'm bowlegged.

I think between the shuffling and becoming bowlegged, the piriformis
muscle may have gotten a little shorter over the past 15 years. My
sitdown job (secretary) probably contributed to the muscle
shortening. Then when I had surgery and literally was more able to
stand straight, I think it put a strain on the muscle.

My physical therapist showed me several stretches that are heaven --
they relax the muscle. I think the sciatic nerve problem has
subsided considerably, which leaves me with the piriformis muscle to
deal with.

That's just my take on the situation. I invite any comments,
concerns, questions.

kim