Menzie:
I m hoping the days between now and the 25th race by. I believe you ve made the right decision to have your daughter follow through with Dr. Filler. I can t wait to hear about your daughter s progress after surgery and hear that she s getting better and better every day, week and month. I too want the pain level to get to 0 and believe it s heading that way. I can t lie, I wish it was 0 now and do get a little discouraged when the pain returns a bit. It s a roller coaster ride. I m trying to really focus on how much better it is overall instead of the tiny set backs. Like I ve said before, I m able to do much more now than before surgery. Patience is HUGE in this recovery. Please remember that after your daughter s surgery.
Sadie:
Sorry to hear there is no improvement. Did they say it would take a while?
Davie:
Glad to hear your cold is gone. Try not to make any marks on your boss s neck.
Margie:
That s funny about your hair!!! I get it. Feel free to whine but we WILL send a gentle slap. Patience, patience, patience . I was very nervous too. I m sure you and your anesthesiologist know this but there is a medication they can give you for nausea. Make sure you ask about it.
Shirley:
Hope you made it home ok. How are you feeling from the injections?
Gotta get to work :( Take care everyone.
Leesa
I m hoping the days between now and the 25th race by. I believe you ve made the right decision to have your daughter follow through with Dr. Filler. I can t wait to hear about your daughter s progress after surgery and hear that she s getting better and better every day, week and month. I too want the pain level to get to 0 and believe it s heading that way. I can t lie, I wish it was 0 now and do get a little discouraged when the pain returns a bit. It s a roller coaster ride. I m trying to really focus on how much better it is overall instead of the tiny set backs. Like I ve said before, I m able to do much more now than before surgery. Patience is HUGE in this recovery. Please remember that after your daughter s surgery.
Sadie:
Sorry to hear there is no improvement. Did they say it would take a while?
Davie:
Glad to hear your cold is gone. Try not to make any marks on your boss s neck.
Margie:
That s funny about your hair!!! I get it. Feel free to whine but we WILL send a gentle slap. Patience, patience, patience . I was very nervous too. I m sure you and your anesthesiologist know this but there is a medication they can give you for nausea. Make sure you ask about it.
Shirley:
Hope you made it home ok. How are you feeling from the injections?
Gotta get to work :( Take care everyone.
Leesa
This can't be long and I will try to update more a little later. I made it home, Leesa but a day late as we had one of the worst storms of the winter on Saturday and our plane was delayed 2 hours in L.A. and we both missed our connecting flights. They weren't going to be able to get me home until Monday so I took the train which was also 2 hours late so I didn't get home until late yesterday afternoon and then had my grandchildren anddaughter overnight until about 1:00 today.
You will all identify with this. I was supposed to get a phone call at 1:00 today and it is now 3:15 and no word. I have a bad cold and cough and feel crappy so am not happy about sitting around waiting for their call.
My butt did pretty well on the trip home but is qutte sore today.
I will let you know later today about what he did but am sore sitting now. Good luck to Margie. Thinking of you, Menzie. Julie, great that you have your appointment. Welcome new male.
It was so much fun meeting Leesa and she too is as great and nice as she is on the forum.
Bye for now. More later.
Shirley
You will all identify with this. I was supposed to get a phone call at 1:00 today and it is now 3:15 and no word. I have a bad cold and cough and feel crappy so am not happy about sitting around waiting for their call.
My butt did pretty well on the trip home but is qutte sore today.
I will let you know later today about what he did but am sore sitting now. Good luck to Margie. Thinking of you, Menzie. Julie, great that you have your appointment. Welcome new male.
It was so much fun meeting Leesa and she too is as great and nice as she is on the forum.
Bye for now. More later.
Shirley
Shirley:
Urrrgghhh. What a nightmare trip back. So sorry to hear that but glad you made it home. And, I hope you got a call from Dr. Filler's office. Please take care of yourself. This cold going around is really bad.
Let us know how it's going when you are up to it.
Leesa
Urrrgghhh. What a nightmare trip back. So sorry to hear that but glad you made it home. And, I hope you got a call from Dr. Filler's office. Please take care of yourself. This cold going around is really bad.
Let us know how it's going when you are up to it.
Leesa
I'm gone for a few days and look at all the activity that happens. Its hard to keep up with you all. Shirley, I'm glad you're back home and am hoping the injection is taking effect and working for you. Let us know what you hear from Dr. Filler and how things are going. Hope you get over your cold quickly.
David, sorry it has taken so very long to answer your question about what I'm doing. We had a group of 16 college students here for the week which meant my days started at 5:30 and ended when we fell into bed about 11:00. That didn't leave much time or energy for spending on line.
Here is a link that describes and demonstrates some of the exercises, especially bridges, squats, lunges, adduction and abduction, and calf raises. You can also check out the core exercises, such as crunches and bridges. Next go on over to the stretching and look at the calf, hamstring, and quad stretches. This pretty much is what the sports dr had me start with.
A note of very strong caution to everybody!!! Please do not get in a hurry to start any of these exercises. I'm writing almost 5 months post surgery especially for David who is 3 months post surgery. Dr. Filler was pretty firm about not starting back too soon. These are a good place to start, but only after 3 months or so.
About my RF experience: SI problems started shortly after the piriformis started hurting. I had tried PT, injections, pain medication etc with little results. Finally we did the RF. The treatment itself lasted about 30 minutes and was done under CT guidance. As any of the other injections, it was pretty painful during the treatment and I was in quite a bit of pain through the next day. I also felt generally lousy. However, after that all went away, I've been pain free in the SI for 6 months now. My PM doctor here was not very hopeful that piriformis surgery would take care of the SI pain, and Dr. Filler said it may or may not help. Unfortunately in the past few days, the SI pain is starting to return, so far at a very tolerable level. If it becomes necessary, I will do the RF again since the treatment was so effective and long lasting, compared to anything else. Hope this answers your questions, but feel free to ask anything more.
Even though I'm not posting very often, I am very interested in what is happening with each of you and truly hope to hear how things are going for you. I intend to stay around, although a bit sporadically, for a good long time to offer encouragement and hope for those of you still going through the process.
Hope you are all having a relatively low pain day. Keep smiling and hoping.
Your friend,
Donna
David, sorry it has taken so very long to answer your question about what I'm doing. We had a group of 16 college students here for the week which meant my days started at 5:30 and ended when we fell into bed about 11:00. That didn't leave much time or energy for spending on line.
Here is a link that describes and demonstrates some of the exercises, especially bridges, squats, lunges, adduction and abduction, and calf raises. You can also check out the core exercises, such as crunches and bridges. Next go on over to the stretching and look at the calf, hamstring, and quad stretches. This pretty much is what the sports dr had me start with.
A note of very strong caution to everybody!!! Please do not get in a hurry to start any of these exercises. I'm writing almost 5 months post surgery especially for David who is 3 months post surgery. Dr. Filler was pretty firm about not starting back too soon. These are a good place to start, but only after 3 months or so.
About my RF experience: SI problems started shortly after the piriformis started hurting. I had tried PT, injections, pain medication etc with little results. Finally we did the RF. The treatment itself lasted about 30 minutes and was done under CT guidance. As any of the other injections, it was pretty painful during the treatment and I was in quite a bit of pain through the next day. I also felt generally lousy. However, after that all went away, I've been pain free in the SI for 6 months now. My PM doctor here was not very hopeful that piriformis surgery would take care of the SI pain, and Dr. Filler said it may or may not help. Unfortunately in the past few days, the SI pain is starting to return, so far at a very tolerable level. If it becomes necessary, I will do the RF again since the treatment was so effective and long lasting, compared to anything else. Hope this answers your questions, but feel free to ask anything more.
Even though I'm not posting very often, I am very interested in what is happening with each of you and truly hope to hear how things are going for you. I intend to stay around, although a bit sporadically, for a good long time to offer encouragement and hope for those of you still going through the process.
Hope you are all having a relatively low pain day. Keep smiling and hoping.
Your friend,
Donna
Hi all,
Found this thread and it's been interesting reading. Sorry to hear there are so many people dealing with PS.
I came down with right buttock pain last year (3/07) after sitting on the hard edge of a desk, and then by doing Yoga exercises. I've had MRIs, trigger point therapy, lumbar steroid injection, massage and PT. I do have a herniation at L5/S1 but it is herniated to the left, not right, where my pain is. A saw a surgeon who suspects PS and sent me for PT. The new PT did a full workup and here are her findings so far:
1) glute weak/atrophying - PT concerned this is nerve impingement somewhere
2) fibrotic bands in glute; one is boggy
3) acetabulum around hip is sore
4) sacrospinous ligament is sore
5) right quadratus lumborum (low back) is boggy
6) pelvis is tilted backwards and up
7) L5 vert is sore when pressed
Basically, she says I'm a mess. We're starting on new exercises now. But does this sound like PS to you all? My pain is in the buttock when sitting and it goes down the back of my thigh. Standing makes it mostly go away although prolonged one-legged standing or kneeling can cause the right glue to ache really bad.
Thoughts?
Thanks
Mark
Found this thread and it's been interesting reading. Sorry to hear there are so many people dealing with PS.
I came down with right buttock pain last year (3/07) after sitting on the hard edge of a desk, and then by doing Yoga exercises. I've had MRIs, trigger point therapy, lumbar steroid injection, massage and PT. I do have a herniation at L5/S1 but it is herniated to the left, not right, where my pain is. A saw a surgeon who suspects PS and sent me for PT. The new PT did a full workup and here are her findings so far:
1) glute weak/atrophying - PT concerned this is nerve impingement somewhere
2) fibrotic bands in glute; one is boggy
3) acetabulum around hip is sore
4) sacrospinous ligament is sore
5) right quadratus lumborum (low back) is boggy
6) pelvis is tilted backwards and up
7) L5 vert is sore when pressed
Basically, she says I'm a mess. We're starting on new exercises now. But does this sound like PS to you all? My pain is in the buttock when sitting and it goes down the back of my thigh. Standing makes it mostly go away although prolonged one-legged standing or kneeling can cause the right glue to ache really bad.
Thoughts?
Thanks
Mark
SittingPain - A key symptom of Piriformis Syndrome is the piriformis muscle is in spasm. And according to your PT's report, you do not have that symptom. Therefore, you don't have PS. Mary
Mary,
Thanks. A bit of info I left off: the right side of the piriformis - near the hip is sore most of the time especially when pressed. It often feels like a cramp and is sometimes quite bad. A PT showed me how to use a foam roller on my buttock to release the cramp and this helps. My new PT has me use a tennis ball to dig into that area more and force the muscle to relax. When I do this, the pain can go away (mostly) for a few hours only to come back again after sitting. The new PT says that the Piriformis or one/more of the other internal rotators is in spasm.
Thanks
Mark
Thanks. A bit of info I left off: the right side of the piriformis - near the hip is sore most of the time especially when pressed. It often feels like a cramp and is sometimes quite bad. A PT showed me how to use a foam roller on my buttock to release the cramp and this helps. My new PT has me use a tennis ball to dig into that area more and force the muscle to relax. When I do this, the pain can go away (mostly) for a few hours only to come back again after sitting. The new PT says that the Piriformis or one/more of the other internal rotators is in spasm.
Thanks
Mark
Thanks for your welcome home Leesa and Donna. Now I will catch everyone up with what happened. I saw Dr. Filler on Wednesday. He asked questions and did an exam, not as thorough as I expected.He couldn't illicit any pain wiht the back manoeuvres so said he did not think the back was the main problem but he did say that the spondylolisthesis complicates the picture, just like for Dr. Huggable. After more examing he said that he thought the piriformis was a contributing factor as well as the obdurator internus, also like H'girl he thought the superior gluteus nerve and the ischial tunnel were contributing. His reasoning had something to do wiht the pain being more generalized in the butt as opposed to all centered in the piriformis. WHO KNOWS?
So he referred me for MR Neurography and he did show me the results just before I had the injections. The only thing I remember was that he agreed that the piriformis was atrophied but said that it could be from the botox injections I have had. He also pointed out a very enlarged blood vessel with a nerve sort of wrapped around it and said that was rare and could be part of the problem. So he injected me in both the piriformis and obdurator internus with steroid, anesthesia AND botox since I told him that I had gotten some relief from botox before. I was surprised because I haven't heard of anyone else getting botox. He injected the other spots with steroid and anesthesia.
Now I don't know what to do because I have not gotten the expected call from someone named Cece that I was supposed to get yesterday and even though I emailed Kim in the office I still don't know what to do as I was scheduled for 2 appointments (telephone) but never got the first one. This is very frustrating. Menzie and Dr. H. I know what you went through.
I really don't know what to expect next. Kim simply told me that Cece would be in the office later yesterday but 24 hours later and I haven't heard from her. Who did you call to get through, Menzie?
My trip home was very long because of the worst winter snow/freezing rain and wind we have had all winter. The landing was scary.
As for pain, on the trip home I wasn't very sore, maybe because of the anesthesia. The day after I got home I was really sore and today not as bad but still sore. I think it is from the injections but am not sure. So time will tell.
Sorry I went into so much detail but there you go--a very long message. I will keep everyone posted about how I feel as time goes on. Dr. Filler said the steroid would last for about 2 weeks and the botox may not take effect for a month.
That's all for now. Hope everyone is doing well.
Shirley
So he referred me for MR Neurography and he did show me the results just before I had the injections. The only thing I remember was that he agreed that the piriformis was atrophied but said that it could be from the botox injections I have had. He also pointed out a very enlarged blood vessel with a nerve sort of wrapped around it and said that was rare and could be part of the problem. So he injected me in both the piriformis and obdurator internus with steroid, anesthesia AND botox since I told him that I had gotten some relief from botox before. I was surprised because I haven't heard of anyone else getting botox. He injected the other spots with steroid and anesthesia.
Now I don't know what to do because I have not gotten the expected call from someone named Cece that I was supposed to get yesterday and even though I emailed Kim in the office I still don't know what to do as I was scheduled for 2 appointments (telephone) but never got the first one. This is very frustrating. Menzie and Dr. H. I know what you went through.
I really don't know what to expect next. Kim simply told me that Cece would be in the office later yesterday but 24 hours later and I haven't heard from her. Who did you call to get through, Menzie?
My trip home was very long because of the worst winter snow/freezing rain and wind we have had all winter. The landing was scary.
As for pain, on the trip home I wasn't very sore, maybe because of the anesthesia. The day after I got home I was really sore and today not as bad but still sore. I think it is from the injections but am not sure. So time will tell.
Sorry I went into so much detail but there you go--a very long message. I will keep everyone posted about how I feel as time goes on. Dr. Filler said the steroid would last for about 2 weeks and the botox may not take effect for a month.
That's all for now. Hope everyone is doing well.
Shirley
Sittingpain: The Piriformis is just of many different causes of static nerve pain/compression in your lower Buttock. Dr. Hal Martin from Texas calls it "deep gluteal pain" and lists 8 or so different common causes. Muscle spasm is most common, but this can be a lot of muscles and the spasm can be caused by many things.
Piriformis Syndrome is the term we use but in many cases it's not actually the Piriformis itself that is the problem.
In my case it was a chronic hamstring tendinopathy that caused all my pelvic muscles to spasm, which crunched my sciatic nerve. My pain was waaayyyy down at the bottom of my hip. Doctor said "this is nowhere near your Piriformis, it's more like hamstring or obdurate internus"
So take plenty of time to check, double check, and triple check your symptoms before doing anything harsh
I eventually stopped all tennis balls, stretching, and other PT/massage because these things are just further irritating the muscles, causing worse and worse spasm gradually over time. But that was just me.
- Jim
Piriformis Syndrome is the term we use but in many cases it's not actually the Piriformis itself that is the problem.
In my case it was a chronic hamstring tendinopathy that caused all my pelvic muscles to spasm, which crunched my sciatic nerve. My pain was waaayyyy down at the bottom of my hip. Doctor said "this is nowhere near your Piriformis, it's more like hamstring or obdurate internus"
So take plenty of time to check, double check, and triple check your symptoms before doing anything harsh
I eventually stopped all tennis balls, stretching, and other PT/massage because these things are just further irritating the muscles, causing worse and worse spasm gradually over time. But that was just me.
- Jim
Mark, frankly your symptoms sound like piriformis and many people who have it seem to have atrophy in the gluteus maximus--I do and I have been diagnosed by more than one person wiht piriformis. I have had lots of botox injections so my prirformis is not always in spasm as it was before the injections. Dr. Filler says that sitting is one of the most aggravating things in piriformis. If your PT told you to roll on the tennis ball then I suspect she does think you have spasming in that area even though you didn't report that in your list. And if that gives you relief then I would think that there is something in the butt that is in spasm. If I were you I would look up everything you can about piriformis and see how you do.
I am not contradicting Mary but just wondered if your list was all your PT found. Dr. Filler says that 42% of people who have piriformis also have back lesions and the piriformis may be tightening to protect that area just like the paraspinal muscles do. So the piriformis may be secondary.
Anyway I think you should not rule it out yet as a contributing factor and keep stretching gently and working with that tennis ball. Good luck.
Shirley
I am not contradicting Mary but just wondered if your list was all your PT found. Dr. Filler says that 42% of people who have piriformis also have back lesions and the piriformis may be tightening to protect that area just like the paraspinal muscles do. So the piriformis may be secondary.
Anyway I think you should not rule it out yet as a contributing factor and keep stretching gently and working with that tennis ball. Good luck.
Shirley
Hi Shirley
Have the botox injections helpted your PS quite a bit? Any side effects or negatives to the procedure? I'm probably about ready to try that.
Thanks,
David
Have the botox injections helpted your PS quite a bit? Any side effects or negatives to the procedure? I'm probably about ready to try that.
Thanks,
David
David,
I've also had botox injections for piriformis. The first one, at the minimum dose failed to do much for me at all. We had to triple the first dose, to 150 mm in each side before I had much relief. I had about 50% pain reduction which lasted about a month. I don't think results from botox were any better for me that a steroid guided injection.
Not to discourage you from doing it, since each person reacts differently and I've read a lot of encouraging reports on the use of botox for piriformis, but I wanted to share my experience with it.
Good luck in finding answers.
Donna
I've also had botox injections for piriformis. The first one, at the minimum dose failed to do much for me at all. We had to triple the first dose, to 150 mm in each side before I had much relief. I had about 50% pain reduction which lasted about a month. I don't think results from botox were any better for me that a steroid guided injection.
Not to discourage you from doing it, since each person reacts differently and I've read a lot of encouraging reports on the use of botox for piriformis, but I wanted to share my experience with it.
Good luck in finding answers.
Donna
Shirley, your comment about Dr. Fill is right.
I've had PS for 15 years. I control it by never sitting. Ever. I lie down on a side cushion when driving a car. I stand to work and never fly.
Sounds extreme but it's better than living in agony. Eventually the pain pills will kill you so really, it's life or death.
Shirley,
Be patient. The injections can take a while to kick in. Mine didn't for about 3 weeks on the left side and I'm not sure they ever did on the right.
Donna,
Thanks so much. Sounds like what I was doing prior to surgery to rehab out on my own. Perfect and thank you.
To all,
Donna is right. I've overdone it again by walking too long and too fast. Plus, I tripped over the pup and had to catch myself. Thoroughly wrenched my left hamstring and I paid the price last night and today.
So discouraging but I assume it was from the wrench and trying to walk it and stretch it out too aggressively. Burning starting right where the left buttock meets the hamstring all the way down the hamstring and behind the knee. Incessant burning but incrementally better tonight.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!
Sorry for the whine and yes, I'll take some cheese with that.
LOL, anyone want a pup? Nah, it wasn't her fault and you can't have her.
More seriously, this is quite the battle and I think it's going to take quite some time for me to come back from PS. Still battling. Hope everyone else is too. We can beat this thing. Seriously, we can beat this! Okay, repeat after me.......
Your rather frustrated friend,
David
Be patient. The injections can take a while to kick in. Mine didn't for about 3 weeks on the left side and I'm not sure they ever did on the right.
Donna,
Thanks so much. Sounds like what I was doing prior to surgery to rehab out on my own. Perfect and thank you.
To all,
Donna is right. I've overdone it again by walking too long and too fast. Plus, I tripped over the pup and had to catch myself. Thoroughly wrenched my left hamstring and I paid the price last night and today.
So discouraging but I assume it was from the wrench and trying to walk it and stretch it out too aggressively. Burning starting right where the left buttock meets the hamstring all the way down the hamstring and behind the knee. Incessant burning but incrementally better tonight.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!
Sorry for the whine and yes, I'll take some cheese with that.
LOL, anyone want a pup? Nah, it wasn't her fault and you can't have her.
More seriously, this is quite the battle and I think it's going to take quite some time for me to come back from PS. Still battling. Hope everyone else is too. We can beat this thing. Seriously, we can beat this! Okay, repeat after me.......
Your rather frustrated friend,
David
By the way. Welcome David and Mark. LOL, nice to have some other testosterone on here. Watch yourselves though, these ladies are tough, tough, tough but truly great people.