Has anyone suffered with Piriformis Syndrome?

StuKP

Having achieved a huge weight loss through eating properly and exercising my *kitten* off it seems that my body is paying me back. Typically too as I was about 7lbs away from hitting the 'normal' BMI range!

During a recent run I started getting a bad pain in the left buttock but I kept going thinking it was cramp and that I could run it off. it continued as a dull ache for the next day or so but I thought I may have possibly pulled a muscle. However, a couple of runs later and I had to pull up as the pain was so bad. At the time I was about 2 miles from home and I could feel the pain moving down the back of my leg and into my foot making every step absolute agony.

Naturally I jumped on the internet as soon as I go back and came across something called Piriformis Syndrome. As usual, the web was full of differing causes and possible treatments but I'm hoping that a fellow MFP-er has encountered this and hopefully may have some tips.

One site I came across earlier today (http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/what-piriformis-syndrome) suggested a number of stretching exercises that I'll be trying when I get home and it'd be good to know whether these do actually work or whether I need to do something else. I'm taking Ibuprofen to try and reduce the inflammation but I'm only a couple of doses in. Obviously I'm keen to return to running or serious exercise as soon as I can. I'm still going to the gym but have cut out running and instead am focusing on cycling etc.

Any ideas?