4. Pregnancy
When a woman is pregnant it can wreak havoc on her body, after all, she is growing another human inside of her. Along with the many other ailments that a pregnant woman may have such as morning sickness, frequent urination, and overall aches and pains, a woman may start to experience hip and joint pain during her pregnancy. As the fetus is growing it can begin to put pressure on the hip bone and the piriformis muscle.
When this occurs, the woman may experience leg pain as there is added pressure to the sciatic nerve. During pregnancy, the hips are often stretched, which can cause the piriformis muscle to work extra hard. Doing exercises that are safe during pregnancy can help alleviate some of the symptoms of piriformis syndrome that occurs during pregnancy. It is important to discuss your symptoms with your OBGYN in order to make sure that your baby remains safe.