Andie MacDowell, known for her iconic role in Four Weddings and a Funeral, recently opened up about her battle with piriformis syndrome, a painful muscle condition affecting the sciatic nerve. Appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show, MacDowell explained how the condition causes pain and inflammation when the piriformis muscle, located in the buttocks, compresses the sciatic nerve, sometimes sending shooting pain down the leg.
MacDowell described how she initially feared needing a hip replacement due to the severity of her symptoms, which worsened after she pushed herself too hard with indoor cycling. “It’s not appropriate for my body, and I ended up with bad knees and a bad hip,” she explained. The intense exercise routine left her feeling as if her body was “literally falling apart.”
Thankfully, surgery wasn’t necessary. With the right treatments, MacDowell now follows a daily routine of exercises focused on her hips and bottom to manage the pain. She referred to it as a “miracle,” expressing relief that she’s feeling much better. Her knees, she admits, are showing the effects of aging but are otherwise fine.
In addition to managing her health, MacDowell has embraced a quieter, more peaceful lifestyle. After her children left home, she felt a significant void but found new joy and happiness after moving to South Carolina. She shared that she is now happier than she has been in years, enjoying the “time of her life.”