Piriformis release surgery, discussion and information

Leesa, thanks for your updates. As you know, you too are now one of the people holding the torch.:-) I gain confidence in reading everyone's updates and info. I am excited to follow your results. Please rest and do not for one minute feel guilty about work. You are healing not recovered. Give yourself every opportunity to gain strength. I need you to be a Dr. Filler success. Sleep well, and to everyone, sleep well.

Yea Leesa, just show the people at work your incision. That will back them off. LOL, that didn't sound right but you know what I mean. More seriously, it's kind of irritating but people just don't know. If you had told them you had back surgery you probably would have never heard a word.

Shirely, functioning pretty darn well. I'm now finding that I am having far less pain in my legs and burning in my feet. It seems to be centered on my butt just being sore. These are spasms but I can sit for pretty long periods without discomfort. Walking is pretty comfortable as well. Long standing periods are what get to me the most.

I am starting to think that I am going to be just fine but it's going to take longer than I thought. The pain is leaving, very slowly but very surely. I'm guessing this may take a few more months and that's okay as long as it goes completely away. In an odd way, I'm kind of impressed regarding the on-going butt spasms. It's clearly coming from each side of the severed piriformis muscles and I wonder when they will figure out that they are cut and they might just as well chill out.

Only time will tell.

David

hello all, I am new to the site. LHuggables told me about it. (dr huggs I did get your call but haven't been up to a call back ,sorry) I had surgery from Dr. Filler am I am 8 weeks out. I suffered for 4 and a half years with sciatica and butt pain/ spasms in my right leg down to the foot. I also had pain in my upper left hip/butt area. I tried everything to get rid of the sciatica, accupuncture,stretching, massage and in office local steroid injections. The blind steroid injections gave me relief from the sciatic pain by the next day or two for about 2 months, but the problem was the doctor said no more than 3 a year and my butt was wasting away right where the injections were and they said it was typical of steroid injections to do that to fat tissue. My ortho doc showed me his thigh were he had repeated injections and it was a big concave like my butt so I believe it. I did these for almost two years. I decided I needed a permanent fix if possible as the sciatica always returned and life was sooo goood when it was gone. In comes Dr. Filler. He diagnosed me with left side superior gluteal nerve adhesions causing the high hip pain and piriformis syndrome on the right causing the sciatica along with problems in the obturator nerve and the ischial tunnel. I had the injections from him and I was actually in more sciatic pain than before the injections. He said they had aggravated everything and the piriformis muscle was in spasm during the guided injection. I waited 4 months and after much agonizing and four phone calls with him I decided to do the surgery. David, I'm only 9 days behind you so I have read your comments with much interest. I did left side superior gluteal nerve release and that problem seems to be resolved , and right side piriformis release, sciatic nerve neuroplasty, ischial tunnel and obturator nerve neuroplasty. I have one incision on the left and two on the right. Post surgery was very difficult and the plane ride back to Hawaii was hard. Now at 8 weeks I still have sciatica that comes on only when I bend, even slightly.My thigh and bottom of foot burn like crazy!! My butt muscles spasm a lot and the inside of my right thigh spasms. I have pretty much recovered from the actual surgery but it was very hard and I was pretty much useless to anyone for the first month. I have good days and bad days, I try not to bend at all, I have a GRABBER that I got at Walmart to pick things up with and it is a Godsend.Once the sciatica starts up it is worse than before the surgery(sorry I know thats hard to hear) I have taken the Medose pak and felt nothing. I now take 600mg ibuprophen at night and a muscle relaxer. Was on hydrocodone but it makes me very nauseus and I can't function. I loved the NP Sheila and am just so sad she left. I will speak to the new NP Everado next week although he doesn't know me or my case so I'm not expecting much. I will continue to post and update anyone interested in my recovery, so far I am quite discouraged, but am encouraged by David as our recovery sounds pretty much the same and I can totally relate to a lot of your comments. This has been the hardest thing I have ever dealt with and I am so happy to have others who understand to share with. Right now it looks like only time will tell if Dr. Filler really is DA MAN or not. Sorry for the length but felt like background was necessary the first post. Hawaiigirl

Hawaiigirl:

Sorry to have to "welcome" you but, welcome. This forum has saved me and I know you will also find support, understanding and what's really important, a place where others know exactly how you are feeling.

I'm so very sorry to hear that you are struggling. I too am following David because he has had some really bad days but some really good days too and overall seems to be slowly getting better. Donna s recovery has also been a comfort. Hope to all of us.

Please update us on your recovery, good or bad. We do care, really. I hope for some progress in the right direction for you. I had surgery on Jan 29th with Dr. Filler and have posted my progress as well.

Now for my update:

Before I begin, let me just say that OVERALL things are better after surgery than before, however, the last 2 days some of the leg and toe pain has returned. NOTHING like before but nevertheless, has returned. This does concern me a little but based on David's up and downs I'm not freaked out yet. I did very little yesterday. I was feeling so good at the beginning of the week and did those two outings 2 days ago which may be why some of the pain has returned. I hope so anyway. The returning pain is just a reminder to me that I need to take it slow.

I talked to the owner of the company I work with yesterday and pretty much told him this might take longer than he thinks it s going to take. Hopefully he gets it!

Thinking of everyone and hope you are all staying sane through this!

Leesa

Dear Leesa, Thanks for the welcome. I'm so thankful Dr. Huggs directed me to this site. It is such a comfort to have others who understand the pain we are going thru and how it affects your life in every way.
David, I suffered with this for four years before my surgery and your accounts of post surgery pain are very similar to what I have experienced so far. That gives me great hope that I will heal and I didn't wait too long to have the surgery be effective. It took 2 years to get diagnosed and then I tried every conservative way to fix it before going for the surgery. I guess because the office injections worked so well for a couple months at a time I keep thinking it will just resolve itself eventually and the cost of Fillers surgery put me off as well.
At this time I am glad I went thru with the surgery. I wake up with no nerve pain but the minute I bend at all the sciatic pain starts up, burning in back of thigh and bottom of foot. I also have major muscle spasms in my butt and this always brings on more nerve pain. Sheila told me no stretching or lifting and I guess bending stretches the nerve, I'm so disappointed she is gone. David the sides of my thighs were very sore up until about week 7, I think thats what you felt too? I get a weird like muscle spasm in my inner right thigh that really bothers me, not sure what thats about. Filler said obturator nerve and muscle. He worked on that area in surgery so I guess thats why it hurts, its worse than prior to surgery though. My incisions look great, I stopped taking the hydrocodone because I just can't function on it at all so I take a muscle relaxer. It helps just a little. I have a husband who should be up for sainthood, I don't know how he has put up with me . I'm so thankful for you all I have found great comfort reading your posts. Praying for a full recovery for us all. Life is hard, but God is good and heaven is real. hawaiigirl

Leesa,

It will come and go. When it comes, just cut back a little and it WILL subside. Remember, especially in your case, everything is a bit freaked out and raw right now. Any stress can irritate the nerve and result in what you are feeling. You are quite ahead of where I was at the same time so you are in very good shape. No freaking necessary or allowed. You are going to be fine.



Hawaiigirl,

Welcome. We are glad to have you and any time you have a question, any question, ask. There are very good people on here.

With regard to thigh pain, I didn't really have any.

The butt spasms, per Dr. Filler, are due to unstable nerves. My muscle relaxer helps a great deal. I take one half a Skelaxin at a time so it does not impact my ability to function.

Hang in there. We all heal at different paces. Bending is not too bad for me but getting down of the floor and then getting up many times can and will take me down a notch. It's improving but I can certainly feel it.

If it makes you feel better, my wife and I were dancing in the kitchen this evening. Our new pup looked at us as if we totally nuts but she needs to adopt our love, laughter, dancing philosophy or she won't make it around here. My point is that it will probably get better. Count on the highs and lows and go back and read the posts from the gentlemen who had his surgery in September. He really struggled and then took a step change for the better in late January I believe. We haven't heard from him since which I can only assume is good news.

We are here to help and I'm not leaving until there are no more questions. Ask away, be patient, and maintain a hopeful attitude.

I'm going to Spine & Orthopedics NJ....They have a 95% rate of sucess

Hi, I guess I should have clarified that bending before the surgery sometimes brought on the sciatica,but now if I bend even a little like to load a dishwasher it comes on. Maybe everything is still just super irritated? Does anyone else get worsened sciatica from bending?I have the aforementioned Grabbers all around the house and I've gotton so good with it I can pick up a dime but am waiting for the day I can throw them away!!
Today at week 8 I got out and went to costco and the grocery store, keep it short and had my husband carry everything, no sciatic pain today but walking too much is hard. I don't understand the right inner thigh pain, its not a nerve pain but more like a pulled muscle. It was slight before the injections, more pronounced after the injection and very sore now. Did or does anyone else have that? When Filler did my 7 hour surgery he went down into the obturater nerve and ischial tunnel at the sciatic notch (I think I got that right its so confusing sometimes)which is why he had to make another incision lower on the butt, I have 2 on one side. I'd sure like to ask the question to him but hes now booked for any phone consults till mid march and that is so frustrating. Driving is doable but its my right side thats affected so operating the pedals makes me sore after only a short distance.
I see alot of people with questions on places to stay and driving while in So. Calif. Google Santa Monica hotels, there are tons. We stayed right off Ocean blvd in the Ocean View hotel, formerly a best western, it was clean and reasonable for the area. We took taxis as we are not freeway drivers.I flew home 6 days after surgery. I needed help with everything except bathing for about 2 weeks and yes the toilet thing was tough with incisions on both sides! This is the hardest thing I have ever gone thru, I too have never had surgery before, I am 51, but if it works it will all be worth it! I love the prune juice story David, my husband got me some while in the hotel, tastes bad but does the job! Keep your chins up all and David, keep dancing with your wife she sounds like a keeper.I sure wish the guy who had his surgery in sept would give us an update.

Hello to All,
I'm new to this site but I'm in the same situation. I've spent the last 3 hrs reading all of your comments and it's 4:20am. Despite the late hour, it's given me hope to finally have a place to connect with people that really know the pain of piriformis syndrome. I will definitely give all my history in the next post but it's time to change position and try to get some sleep. Thanks to each and every one of you for finally giving me hope.

Hawaiigirl:

I haven't had inner thigh pain but maybe someone else has. You're farther out than me but I can certainly relate to increased pain if you do too much. The "leg pain" I referred to that has returned a bit is sciatic pain, brough back by doing too much in my opinion.

Ladybughurts:

Glad you found us and I'm interested to hear your story. Sounds like you may have already had surgery based on your "it's time to change position" comment. :) Hope you were able to sleep.

Everyone:
Thanks for the continued support and "freaking not allowed"......got it David, thanks!

Leesa

Leesa,

LOL, I didn't mean "no freaking allowed" in a bad way. You need to vent, do it. That's a good thing. I meant that the pain comes and goes but trends away so just go with the flow when it comes on and don't worry too much if you can help it. It's normal, at least for me.

You probably understood to begin with but I thought I needed to clarify. Sorry for any misunderstanding.

Have a great day everyone.

Getting ready to got to bed but wanted to share some hope.

This Tuesday makes 10 weeks. This afternoon, starting around 11:30 am, I had almost no pain whatsoever. The only discomfort was some very minor tingling in my right foot toes(who would have thought it would have been the right foot) after a brisk mile walk. Also, this was not a goof off day. This was the same kind of day normal people have. Shopping, washing the car, errands, etc..

I have no idea what tomorrow will bring but this was the best I've felt since June of last year. I'll take it, despite knowing it may come back in the morning.

Just thought you good folks who have had this nasty stuff should(would want to) know.

Chins up.

David

Leesa and David, keep bringing in the news. Leesa, you are behind David so his news must be music to your ears or rahter your butt. It sure is to mine as I read different people's stories. Hawaiigirl, you made me start thinking again, "Do I really want ot go through wiht this?" I sure hope you start to have better days.Yours was quite a surgery with 2 incisions on one side and one on lthe other--WOW! I'll bet it is hard to sit!

What also scared me was to hear that when you have a question, you have to wait until March for a consult wiht Dr. Filler. I thought keveryone else was geting to him fairly quickly. And with Sheila gone. What is the new nurse like? I guess I will meet him when I go in March

I went to the Pain Management Centre. They said I had pain in all the right spots but didn't jump off the table when they pressed on the piriformis. They expected it to shoot burning pain down my legs and into my foot but it didn't. I just had botox in December. Usually my muscle jumps in all the trgger points but didn't as much as a result of the botox. So they just told me they would do an injection with ultrasound but couldn't do it until May or June. I told them I was so frustrated with all the long waits for anything to happen that I was going to the States for an assessment. But still, once again when someone tells you you didn't respond in the way you should have you once again start to doubt yourself and the cause of your pain. Oh well.

David it made me so, so happy to picture you walking a mile, washing yur car, etc.. That cheered me up immensely so keep giving hope. Leesa, I am glad you told your manager that this would take longer than you thought and to lay off. YEA!!!

Hawaiigirl, where is Dr. Huggable? (that's what we call him) And how is he doing. I have some more questions for him so wish he would come back. Also thanks for the tips about a place to stay. Did you take a cab to Pasadena and how much was that? I, like you do not like the L.A. freeway. I may be looking for a place to stay that has a kitchenette so we can cook some. Any suggestions?

Goodnight all. I have gone on for too long

Shirley

Thanks Leesa for the welcome--hello David, Margie, Hawaiigirl and anyone else on this forum. It was/is so helpful and uplifting reading everyone's story and progress reports. I found this site while doing research trying to find anyone that really believes in piriformis syndrome and knows how to treat it. Of course, Dr. Filler's name came up--hope. I've been dealing with this since 2004. My parents had just died and I was working as a telephonic nurse case manager sitting about 8-10 hrs/day. At first I and the doctors just thought it was stress because the loss had just hit me and the stress at work had really increased. Finally I just couldn't take the butt pain anymore. I'll try to make a really long story as short as possible. My PCP took me off work and referred me to a rheumatologist (I have osteoarthritis in just about every major joint) and a psychiatrist. The rheumatologist referred me to PT which helped a little but I was also off work at that time which really helped because I was no longer sitting. Even driving to PT was torture just because of the sitting. After about 6 wks of PT, antidepressants, and being off work I was a little better but I knew I was not able to return to the constant sitting, thus I gave in and tried a chiro. As a nurse who has always avoided chiro's, it was a desperate move. The ultrasound and ice were great but the first time he did a manipulation on my back/hip, I thought I was going to die. I screamed and cried because it hurt so bad. Trust me, there were no more manipulations after that. Oh, I'm getting ahead of myself. The rheumatologist diagnoses were: uneven leg length, hypermobility, scoliosis, rt hip bursitis, and osteoarthritis. I saw my old ortho who previously told me I was ready for a total hip replacement but this time he said I was NOT ready for a hip replacement and it was probably my back. I went to the ortho that did arthroscopy on my left knee but he too said it was probably my back. Well, I wasn't ready for any back surgery so he ordered a series of epidural steroid injections. That's another story. Afterwards, I still had the butt pain. Docs thought I was crazy when I told them that the butt pain was the major problem. Sure I had some low back pain but that just felt like the normal aching of arhtritis. I bought a $1000 office chair and returned to work. Unfortunately, the chair wasn't the answer either. After about 2 wks, I had to take off work again because of the pain. I miscalculated the disability insurance dates and ended off work for another 6 months but without pay. Another attempt to return to work; changed jobs; worked another year and again off work when the sitting became constant again. I tried every cushion imaginable but it still hurt/burned. It feels like I'm sitting on a pointed rock that's on fire. Not the description that docs want to hear. I saw a neurosurgeon, diagnosed with severe facet arhtropathy, and was referred to pain management. Another last ditch effort. Two diagnostic facet injections helped a lot so I had a facet radiofrequency ablation last month. Now I'm in PT which is making the butt pain worse. It was good for the low back. The low back pain is gone, however. I had PT Tues and Wed and I'm still paying for it in the butt. I'm scheduled for PT tomorrow but things are going to change. I can't take this any longer--something has to be done to fix it. I'm on Neurontin 2800mg, Cymbalta 120 mg, Darvocet 4x/d, Percocet 2x/day (was decreased from 3x/day--big mistake), and Ativan 0.5 twice daily (helps the tense muscles). I want to be off all these meds and have the pain gone! Please forgive any typos or sentences that don't make sense. Between the pain and the meds, my accuracy and concentration are also gone. Sorry about the wordiness but "that's my story and I'm stickin to it." I cried reading your posts---finally someone understands the intensity of the "butt pain." Tomorrow I plan on calling PM to schedule an appt asap and going forward with Dr. Filler unless we have the capability to do something local. Thanks, Debbie

Dear Debbie. I just read your post and my heart goes out to you. Your experience with lack of diagnosis is fairly common. Are you self-diagnosed or have you found a doctor that at least recognized the symptoms?

Is your PT designed for piriformis syndrome (PS) or just chronic back pain? If it is not specific for PS, I can see how it would make your pain worse. Does your PT do Myofascial Release Therapy? I have found Myofascial Release & other forms of soft tissue work helpful in reducing pain over the long haul. Although, you are probably at a point, where you just want surgery because you feel you have tried everything else.

Welcome abroad and best wishes, Mary