Massage can assist in relieving pain that is in the hip, leg and buttock region. In particular deep tissue massage is very effective in relieving these symptoms, often in one session. This of course depends on how chronic the condition is and any exacerbating factors.
Often what happens is a patient comes in for treatment and they were told by their doctor or health care provider that their radiating pain stems from their lower back. For example many have been told that a disc in their lower back is pressing on a nerve causing their symptoms. This may be the case for some but for many, it may be questionable. In a matter of fact in a prominent textbook that is used by most rehabilitation professionals, Orthopedic Physical Assessment by David J Magee, only 5% of those that suffer back pain are actually disc lesions!
There are those pure cases where, individuals do have a disc that protrudes and insults the nerve that exits the spine. This may result in severe pain into the buttock and down the leg. Unfortunately, the population that go in for treatment either take longer to get better or their improvement is lacking. This is a frustrating scenario for the patient.
If you are one of these individuals who have gone to therapy for a long time and results have been lacking, you may want to try deep tissue massage. What is the difference between a “regular” relaxation type massage and deep tissue massage? As the name implies “relaxation” is more beneficial for those that want to relax. It is usually very superficial and usually you will see this type of massage at a spa or aesthetics place. Deep tissue is the opposite of this. Deep tissue is used to access a portion of a muscle that is deep or to access muscles that lie beneath superficial muscles.
Physically it is impossible to use light touch massage to get to these tissues. The Hip/Gluteal(buttock) area is a thick group of muscles. You have the Gluteus Maximus, which overlies smaller muscles such as Gluteus Medius and Gluteus Minimus. There are also several other even smaller muscles underneath the larger three that can cause radiating symptoms.
The one common muscle that is very deep that causes pain in the buttock and radiation down the leg is a muscle called Piriformis. Piriformis is a muscle that turns the leg and thigh outwards from a standing neutral position. When this muscle becomes short and tight it can press down on the Sciatic nerve which may pass through or go underneath this particular muscle. This causes a condition called “pseudosciatica”. It is called this because it mimics Sciatica, which actually stems from the lower back as opposed to the buttock. Radiating pain can also be caused by a phenomenon in a muscle called, trigger points. The lay person’s term is, “knots”. These knots have certain referral pattern that is consistent. The trigger points for Piriformis travel down the thigh, to the calf and heel. Because of this pattern it may be difficult to ascertain whether the pain is pure Sciatica or Piriformis being tight and having active trigger points.
This is Piriformis pain pattern. From website Miss Meredith
http://miss-meredith.blogspot.com/2011/02/piriformis-and-tmd.html
Piriformis is very difficult to access manually through light pressure. In order to actually manipulate it, the therapist must pass through the thicker, more superficial Gluteal muscles. What deep tissue can do is help to stretch, relax and improve blood flow to tissues.
How can the Piriformis become tight? One of the common ways this muscle can become tight is by sitting for prolonged periods with bad posture. Jobs that involve sitting at a desk and working with a computer for long hours may cause tightness of this muscle over time. Eventually it may get to a point where the symptoms start in the buttock area and then eventually the individual may start noticing numbness and tingling and/or pain down the leg.
My advice is; always have prevention in mind. This includes keeping an eye on your sitting posture, stretching out and moving around every hour or so from your desk and of course get treatment when the symptoms are minimal. What generally happens is a person may wait too long to be treated and the treatments become very painful. The treatments also become prolonged, instead of one treatment, it becomes 10 or more. This happens because of the tightness of the muscles. Once the muscles relax, the treatment decreases in discomfort and usually becomes easier to handle.
If you have lower back issues with radiating pain down the leg, it may be time to try deep tissue work. This form of massage is excellent when combined with some form of physiotherapy. 
