
Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...

deleted_user
Does it exist?
After 4 yrs of searching for why post-back surgery my back/leg (sciatica) pain lingered and got worse with time, after 2 more surgeries, and acupuncture and PT and what not, the latest diagnosis I got is Piriformis Syndrome, meaning - the muscle spasms stays "spasmed" and pinches the sciatica as it goes through causing the pain.
I felt elated: a reason and thus a plan of action that does not include surgery!
I did some research and soon found there are 2 camps: those that say it exists and those that it doesn't. My physical therapists amongst the latter: yes, the muscle is all achy but he thinks it's referred pain from L5 or L4, not the cause but the symptom.
Back to square 1: horrible pain no great change or plan to resolve and nothing visible in all the expensive and painful images they've taken of my backside.
Anyone else had been diagnozed with Piriformis?
After 4 yrs of searching for why post-back surgery my back/leg (sciatica) pain lingered and got worse with time, after 2 more surgeries, and acupuncture and PT and what not, the latest diagnosis I got is Piriformis Syndrome, meaning - the muscle spasms stays "spasmed" and pinches the sciatica as it goes through causing the pain.
I felt elated: a reason and thus a plan of action that does not include surgery!
I did some research and soon found there are 2 camps: those that say it exists and those that it doesn't. My physical therapists amongst the latter: yes, the muscle is all achy but he thinks it's referred pain from L5 or L4, not the cause but the symptom.
Back to square 1: horrible pain no great change or plan to resolve and nothing visible in all the expensive and painful images they've taken of my backside.
Anyone else had been diagnozed with Piriformis?
Posts You May Be Interested In
-
I gave my 2 week notice last Friday 13th. Now to join you fine people in a life of leisure and nothing else to do but to look out for myself....is it just me or does that sound pretty boring? My goal was to live to retire and I guess having to take early retirement because of health reasons wasn't exactly the way I had planned things. I just can't stay in that building that is reeking mildew...
-
I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
However, my doc still wanted to do the surgery to release the pirformus muscle...
Not happening. He says the only way to treat it is to cut the muscle away and from what I understand, this is a really tough surgery to recover from.
How did they diagnose you?
I agree with Norak...gentle stretching...perhaps some beginner yoga...START SLOWLY..."gentle" is a key word here...you might also try alternating ice and heat packs...do this after the stretching...it helps the blood and lymph flow to the area which will promote healing...the other thing I'd try is Trigger Point Needling...it hurts like a bear when it's happening...but the results are amazing and almost immediate...it worked beautifully for my TMJ...I went from being able to open my mouth about a half inch to being able to open it all the way after one treatment...BE SURE TO FIND SOMEONE IN YOUR ARE WHO HAS BEEN CERTIFIED TO DO THIS...ALMOST ALWAYS A DOCTOR... http://www.painmanagementsolutionsinc.com/tpn2.html here is a site that explains it...and of course...find a good massage therapist that knows Trigger Point Therapy...again...not a fun thing...but once the therapy/pain is over...can be extremely effective...
ANY time you have any type of work/stretching/etc. done...be sure to spend at least an hour alternating your heat and ice to promote healing...
Other than those ideas...when any pain I have from my fibro is just too much to bear and I can't control it or can't get to the doc that particular day...a Lidoderm Patch is usually enough to at least help some...
Sorry for your pain...hope this helps...
Hi there! I just noticed you resurrecting some old threads on piriformis syndrome and mentioning that you were considering surgery for the condition. At one time, I myself had TERRIBLE, persistent piriformis spasms on both sides of my butt. However, these spasms were caused by an instability in my sacroilaic joints, which was in turn caused by weakness/injury to my sacroiliac ligaments. I received many months of a treatment called prolotherapy to the ligaments of my pelvis to stabilize my sacroiliac joints, hips, and pelvis. Of course, the awful piriformis syndrome went away completely - once these muscles were no longer being recruited to stabilize my pelvis. So - that's my story.
I was wondering - have you had an MRI -N? Did it show any abnormalities? I am curious because, although I'm familiar with a "pseudo piriformis syndrome" with a root cause in an instability of the sacroiliac joints, I haven't ever spoken with someone who has what I refer to as a "true" piriformis syndrome, where the problem truly originates from an abnormality in the piriformis muscle/sciatic nerve. I've read about this type of piriformis syndrome, though, and have seen example MRINs that confirmed the condition. I'm really interested in hearing about your problem!
With lots of caring,
Orchid