Piriformis release surgery, discussion and information

Hi to everyone!

I've just finished scanning all the posts for the past several weeks, and it sounds like everyone is doing as well as can be expected. Brandon, hope your recovery goes well, and I'll echo David's advice. go slow and give your self lots of time. Healing is a very long process. Menzie, I'm hoping and praying that having those screws out will be the answer for your daughter. That was such a lot of hardware, I can't imagine that it didn't have a least a part in the pain. And yes, my scars are the dark purple you describe.

My husband and I leave for the US on Wednesday where we'll be for 6 months. First on the agenda is to meet our future daughter in law and get ready for their wedding on the 26th of July. And spend time with all 4 of our grown kids, whom we've not seen for a year now! We're excited for that.

While our son-in-law was here last week we went hiking at a place we've been with him several times, all pre-surgery. During the hike, he commented that it was really good to see me moving as well as I was, that he hadn't seen me move that well or quickly for a long time. I can easily do the 100 steps down to the water fall and back up with out experiencing pain afterward. Also in the last month, I've been mixing concrete (here in Honduras we mix in by hand on the ground), and other construction related tasks, which a year ago would've been impossible.

Wednesday marks 9 months post surgery for me. Nothing new to report on the piriformis recovery end, since I pretty much consider that complete. I still struggle with SI joint pain and had another radio frequency treatment on Monday. That was more preventative since I'll be away from my doctor for 6 months, she wanted to make sure it wouldn't wear off while I'm gone. It took a bit longer to recover from the treatment this time and I experienced quite a bit of pain for 2 days after ward. For right now, I'm managing the post treatment pain with ibuprofen and it takes care of it.

Take care all of you and I'll try to check back in before we store the computer on Monday evening.

Your friend,
Donna

Donna, thanks for checking in. It was funny, because before I posted earlier today, I was thinking it sure would be great to hear from you. Bam!! Then I get back on and read and there you are. :D I am so glad to hear that all is going great for you in the piriformis way. The wedding is in Ireland?? I hope you all have a great time. May you and your family dance in the mirror love and dreams. Have a great weekend. Menzie

Menzie,

No the wedding is in Colorado. The bride is from N. Ireland and both she and our son arrived in CO from Ireland two days ago. Her parents get in 3 days before the wedding, so guess who gets to do most of the preparations?

then, they are flying back to N. Ireland where they will have another ceremony and reception. We get to go to that at the end of Aug. And just think, the thought of however many hours in the plane doesn't even bother me anymore!

Donna

Hello everyone
The board is alive again! On my last post I stated that I felt the surgery had not worked for me as my sciatica was still there along with butt muscle pain at 6 months post op. I said I would come back on if there were changes. Well, approx a week after that post my sciatic pain took a big turn for the better. Go figure, it was as though I admitted defeat and my body rejected my minds thought and said I'll show you. I proceeded to have 12 whole days of no sciatic pain, then I pushed too hard on day 13, as we all do when we feel good, was lifting and planting outside, being very careful, but lifting has always been a trigger for me as well as lots of bending over. So the next day I had a slight sciatic feeling down my leg, more of an annoyance than real pain. To be honest I got scared, but Today its gone. During this time my other side has been pretty sore, just in the butt. Dr Filler says we compensate by using the better side and it gets tired. He also said he felt my piriformis was bad on that side as well because I've had lots of trouble, but no sciatica and since it comes and goes I opted not to have him resection it. I guess I also needed to see how the first surgery went before fiddling with both. If it gets way worse then that option is still there. So anyway, day 15 with no sciatica!!! I don't know if it will last, I have been swimming, golfing, and stretching slowly. These things all help. I feel my strength slowly returning. I still tire easily but can do more each day.

David, I love your posts and feel as you do that getting stronger and doing more is helpful, BUT NOT AT FIRST BRANDON. We may never be totally as we were, but better is still better. David, I think the fact you found out fast what you had and the nerve was not compressed as long is a possible reason you recovered quicker? Mine was a little over 4 years from onset to surgery. David, do your hips still hurt, the sides I mean, remember right after surgery we could hardly lie on our sides? Mine is much better but still sore, how bout you? Do you still get butt muscle spasms ? I do.

Anyway sorry to bore you all, I just wanted to share my news and hopefully give hope to others, I am praying so hard that Dr. Filler was right and the sciatic nerve just needs lots of time to heal and thats whats happening to me. I wish there were more Dr. Fillers out there so people could get better diagnoses right away instead of years of not knowing.
Someone asked about scars, yes mine, all 3, are very smooth and dark, but they will lighten eventually, he did a super job on the incisions.
I also believe in and recommend massage, especially trigger point and myofacial release. It just needs to be done very gently.

I wonder about Julie, anyone heard from her?? Also Aztec, where are you, how are you? Candy, keep searching for your answer, massage is good, gentle.

Thank you all for the support, This has been a very hard, painful, expensive and emotional journey, I pray this is my light at the end of the tunnel, I will keep you all posted and care about each of you. Your friend, Lynne

Sorry everyone, I was so excited I got my timeline off by a day or so. Its been 13 days of no sciatica. I'll take it. Lynne

HawaiiGirl - FANTASTIC! I am so excited you are feeling better. This is just wonderful! Hope it your improvement continues!

PitaButt- I can't really say if one is better than the other. The biggest factor is the experience & skill level of the practitioner. The guy in Westlake appears to have the most training of anyone in the area.

You may have already received some myofascial release therapy as part of your PT. I don't know - some PTs go on for that training, others done. But your PT sounded like it concentrated on rehab & strengthening. With Myofascial Release or ART, the therapist does all the work & you just lay there.

My personal preference is to go to a PT for Myofascial rather than a massage therapist because PTs have more training & experience identifying & fixing problems. Just my preference. But often only a massage therapist is locally available. Also the massage therapists often use a more forceful type of manual treatment.

I just read you went back to your chiro. ART is a totally different treatment than the spinal manipulations that chiros usually do. But if you are having "muscle pain-aches,back/rib-area/shoulders/neck/AND of course BUTT Muscle", it sounds like soft tissue bodywork Like ART or MRT would make you feel better. I can't guarantee anything. But I encourage you to try Dr. Zac for all your muscle pains for a few months. And let us know how it goes.

Based on my own pain experience & that of numerous other people, I think I can safely predict that Pain Mgmt with all their injections & pills will not help. Soft tissue bodywork is the only thing that ever helped me. I hope it works for you.

It has only been 4 months since your surgery, so maybe time will help. In the meantime, the ART can certainly help with your other muscle pains.

Good luck and please keep us informed. Mary

Menzie, with regard to your scar question. If you stood behind me with my drawers down(God help you), you would see a humorous site. If my butt crack was the nose on a face, you would find two thin purple eyebrows, one on each cheek spaced equidistant from the crack. My wife keeps saying she wants to get a marks-alot and draw in the eyes for a perfectly formed face.

HG, that is truly great news. With regard to your questions:

1. Yes, my hips remain sore to this day but not as bad as a few months ago.
2. Yes, I still have butt cramps but they are not as intense as they once were and that incessant twitching has stopped for the most part.

I've actually had a couple of rather uncomfortable days this past week. I think it's because I'm living a normal life with more activity than most perfectly healthy people involve in.

Oh well, the discomfort was enough so that I requested and received a steroid pack which I have started taking to chill everything down. These packs tend to simply lay waste to my PS pain. In about a week and a half, I will feel simply great again. To be perfectly and unashamedly honest about it, I' more than willing to take a steroid pack once every 3 months if I can live a pain free life. I know there's risk but I count quality of life as an extremely high priority so the risk/reward relationship is simply too overwhelming for me to spend too much time worrying about the downside. I know there are many that might disagree but I'm guessing not too many on this board.

Hope that answered all questions. Let me know if not folks. By the way, thanks so much answers to the foreclosures question I had.

Your friend,

David

p.s. Donna, great to hear from you and I too am wondering about Julie.

OLDTIMER I recall you saying doctors in UK don't know much about Piriformis Syndrome. Well, other health care people, especially the Sports Medicine types are more familiar with it. You might be interested in a new UK blog written by a sports massage therapist, who is mid-way through an osteopathy degree.

Menzie:

So good to hear the screws are out. I can t imagine having hardware pressing on a nerve. As much as a muscle hurts pressing on a nerve, that s really got to hurt .I have to think your D s pain will be less now. I m pulling for you both. Sounds like there s a little improvement anyway. I believe time, time, time is what it takes. It s just so hard waiting, waiting, waiting. Which is not news to you or your D. Hang tough. Oh and I too am a member of the purple butt club . Strange color I must say!

Lynne:

You already know how I feel about your new found recovery but I just wanted to say again HOOOOORRRRAAAYYYY. Amazing to hear you sounding so happy. You deserve a break and I m glad you re finally getting one.

Donna:

Always great to hear from you. Glad you checked in. Sounds like your busy summer continues. Congrats to your son and that s great about the hike and all of the things you are able to do now. We all started so desperate on this forum and it s such a great thing to watch everyone come here with no hope and get better. I know that s not the case for everyone but at least there are a few out there getting back to normal. Enjoy the wedding and your kids.

Candy:

You re still pretty early on as this recovery goes. I hope you progress in time. It s possible. Don t give up. Just know it could take 3-6 months or more before you start to feel significantly better .at least that s what I m finding from everyone.

Oldtimer:

Yikes. That s quite a story about the injection you almost had. Keep searching for an answer. There is one out there somewhere. This is a great place to check in once and a while or more often than that. We all know exactly how you feel.

Brandon:

Hope you are laying low and feeling as good as you can. Thinking about you.

Well, my microdiscectomy is scheduled for August 26. I can t tell you all how badly I want to be out of pain (duh) and hope this is my final surgery for a very long time. I m exhausted from it all I must say. Today for some reason has been very bad pain-wise. Kind of strange reporting on something other than PS here but I hope you ll all listen anyway. Don t outcast me. (Ha, ha.) I m still a butt warrior first. Well, take care everyone.

(Hi Shirley!!)

Leesa

Hi to everyone. It was great to hear from you Donna and have a great time at the wedding. You always give us lots of hope.

David thanks for a great laugh picturing your butt face. I am still laughing when I think of your description.

Lynne, great news. You sure deserve this break form pain. Keep us posted on the progress.

I can't keep on tonight as I am pretty certain that my botox from Filler has worn off and I am now 100% certain that I will schedule surgery. Am having an epidural L5 nerve roto injection to determine how much of my pain is spine related but I am fairly certain that much of the pain is from the thngs Dr. Filler saw including the piriformis.

I am in lots of pain right now and would have surgery tomorrow if my son wasn't coming from VAncouver next week.

Leesa you are still a butt warrior 1st and I don't think there is anyone on here who would want to find out they had to have a 2nd surgery and become a back/butt warrior. Pain is pain and we are all here to support you through this next surgery an ksure hope it finally gives you relief.

Menzie, I couldn't believe how much your D had inside of her and I sure hope this gives her some relief. Keep us posted.

Candy, keep looking for answers. Did you ever tell us what your MRI showed? I can't remember.

Mary I tried ART and every time I had it I had considerably more leg pain for about a week. I just couldn't keep going when I was coming away wiht so much pain. I know someone on your forum swears by it,. Maybe I just couldn't tough it out. I had a massage recently and smae thing--it just hurt much worse after she dug into my butt--ouch!!!

Brandon, where are you? We are all wondering how you are doing.

Gotta go. Just can't sit one more minute.

Shirley

Hello everyone, Sorry I have not posted in a while. It has been crazy. I did see Dr. Hal Martin in OKC. Although I had had the piriformis pain for about 3+ years I had also started having alot of hip joint pain as well. When he pressed on the piriformis, the pain was not that bad. I was stunned. He did xrays and some manipulation of the joint and told me I had coxa profunda and/or acetabular protrusio. He showed me on the xrays what normal looked like and then what mine looked like. It was shocking. With all the drs I have seen and all the tests I have endured. Here was 'proof' of what was going on. He explained to me how the piriformis was inflammed from the real condition. He said he thought he could help. I had several tests, one of which was called an artho mri, which was really painful. I had arthoscopic surgery on the 10th of July and am home recooperating. Of course there is pain from the surgery. He said the acetabular came around the head of the femur too far and was pressing the head into the pelvic bone. And I could see it on the xrays. He also said there was a labral tear, no cartilage where there should have been appr 1/2 inch and a large bone spur.
I don't know how it will all play out but what I am sure of....is that Dr Hal Martin is a true genius of anything going on in the hip area. If I had only found him 4 years ago...... Well I know on this post Dr Filler is considered the expert. If u r close to Oklahoma, I would highly recommend Dr Martin. I think it will be a few months but I think I will be hiking, running and doing all the things I loved to do before this nightmare. Please feel free to email me if you need any info on Dr Martin and I will be happy to reply. I will keep posting on my progress. Hope everyone is doing well. Hang in there, I had given up....and now I have hope again.
Robyn in Oklahoma

Shirley - The important thing is you tried ART before having surgery. I feel obligated to suggest ART because of the stunning reports of success from 2 women who avoided surgery because of ART.

Robyn - I'm so glad you finally found the real cause of your pain and got appropriate treatment. I'm also glad to get some feedback on Dr. Martin.

Julie - How are you? We have not heard from you in a long time.


Best to all, Mary

Hi Mary

Many thanks for all your website information you have been very helpful and understanding.

The hospital have declined to do the injection and have referred me back to my own doctor. I think I will just forget about having it done as you say it does not seem to solve the problem.

I have been looking into all your suggestions and have read lots of info from other web sites. While I am awaiting for a Physio appointment (have been waiting 5 months for National Health) I have been trying the tennis ball/golf ball exercises and some leg stretching exercises (the exercises were given to me the first time I went to physio and I have checked that they are OK to use).

I have been doing them for about 4 days now and I feel that there is slight inprovement I do not seem to have the pins and needles all the time and they seem less intense. I should be hearing from the Physio in the next two weeks so maybe with their help I will get better.

Hope you are all enjoying good weather, it's awful here, cold and rainiing but that still dose not stop me playing golf and bowls I feel so much better when I keep on the move.

Better go now I can see the sun, just!!!

First I have to ask about the above posting, What????

After my last post, spoke to soon, my D started having the horrific leg, ankle calf pain. Boy can I tell you I was really jumping inside, freaking out. Dr. Filler's surgery had taken care of that issue. I had to step back and think that having all 6 screws and hardware could cause some flare ups. Knowing this and watching the pain doesn't ease my mind any.

My thinking is that she is experiencing jumping pain. One day it is really bad in the Freddy Krugger nightmare way in the butt crack, then it is in a totally different spot, meaning the butt crack is at 3 and the leg, below the butt crease top of back of thigh is a 10. This is a change since the hardware removal, because prior to that, the butt crack pain never eased up. Either it is changing, or her focus is on the dominant site for the day. She has not been able to do anything for almost 2 years. She has not been able to sit. The only time she gets out is when we make her walk, or for car rides to the Dr. For these she has to lay down.

So this is too long. Short story is that maybe she is improving, I don't know. She has began swimming as of Friday. Each day we are in the pool for at least 2 hours. I hope some miracle happens and a healing occurs prior to the cold weather setting in. As a young girl/woman who used to have the perfect muscular body, she will not go to our local YMCA, she is too self aware and feels insecure about her body as it is now. We now go to a friends private pool. :D :D :D I hope you are all doing well.

Thanks to all who share the purple scar. I loved the response about having to eyebrows from David. I did laugh, as he gave a great visual.

Brandon, it has been 4 weeks since your surgery. How are you????
Menzie

MARY; I Have made an appt. with the ART here in Cleveland for this Fri. My question to you is, or anyone who might know. I have and have had for a long while what is called (Tilted pelvis/Twisted pelvis)? One leg gets longer than the other and WHAM...ALL the pain starts!! The chrio temp. fixes it. And (Thought) the muscle causing it. Therefore the PS Surgery..STILL having ALL the same symptonsand pain..Is this ART a HIGHLY trained chiro,massage etc??? I AM looking forward to it if it can help :D 8O ...I have been back to the chiro 2x since Thurs.and right back to where I was...ANY Thoughts would be helpfull!!
As for now>>>Hope everyone else is doing well!!!
Brandon>>>how are you feeling???
Gonna run..it is VERY HOT and MUGGY here