Word of the Day: Piriformis

Piriformis: it's a muscle in your butt that wraps around your sciatic nerve. If it gets inflamed or irritated, your sciatic nerve gives you pain when you move in certain ways. Apparently, my doctor's office has seen a lot of it lately, since shoveling snow is a classic way to strain the piriformis muscle.

In other words, I have been diagnosed with a pain in the ass.

First line of attack is ice, ibuprofen, rest and stretching exercises. If it doesn't go away in a couple of weeks, I get to have physical therapy. Whee!