Piriformis Syndrome

[CaliGirl]

I had the injections into the Piriformis muscle for this- twice. They work, but for so brief, that's it's hardly worth it (plus they hurt). I have had better luck in PT and with a muscle relaxant called Baclofen. Just my 2 cents. Others may get longer lasting relief with the injections. I only got one week of pain relief out of my second one. Good luck! Lisa.

[hessie28]

Originally Posted by WalksGINGERly

Hi,
Just wondering what symptoms you are having for a doctor to say you have Piriformis Syndrome??? Are you seeing a spine doc?

I have burning pain from my knee into the ankle on the right side of my calf. I also have tingling and numbing. I have muscle pain down my right buttock too. I also have low back pain. I assumed the muscle and back pain is all related to my post op fusion pain. It is over a year now. But the dr. said the buttock pain is that muscle. He said it could be pressing on the sciatica. I had an MRI of the lumbar spine and everything looks fine. They see something which can be scar tissue pressing on the nerve. Don't know if the pelvic MRI will show that. I already take 2400 mg of Skelaxin and 300mg of Lyrica. He is increasing my Lyrica by another 150mg. I have 3 dr's i see for my back. One is the surgeon who just gives me the Oxycodone and says give it time. I see the physical med dr. that gives me the muscle meds. I see the Neurologist for Narcolepsy but he gives me the Lyrica. I hope they figure out what is causing the pain. You start to think that they think you are making stuff up. No one has said that. Just me being paranoid.

[hessie28]

I mentioned my possible diagnosis of Piriformis Syndrome to the physical therapist today. She said that is the muscle that is always tight when she does the massage. So who knows. Still waiting on approval of the MRI. Will be interesting. I was able to get 11 therapy visits because the therapist used my feet for approval. They still do my back though.

[GracefulOne]

Just saw a physiatrist today and he thinks that my piriformus may be causing some of my problems as well and am scheduled for an injection this Thursday...we'll see if that helps. I know that area is also always very tight in PT as well, however, I have a hard time believing that this is causing all of my hip/SI problems.

[go*big*red]

Brief history (can't remember what's in my signature and am too lazy to look ) Am a 3 separate low back surgery survivor. Fusion of L5/S1, removal of hdwr at L5/S1 and Dynesis at L3/4 and plif at L4/5 at the same time.

Was having HORRIBLE right leg pain prior to the 2 level 3/4 & 4/5. Had the surgery and was better for a time and then came back with a vengence. It starts in my right butt cheek, down the back of my leg and kind of moves to the outside of my thigh to my knee. Then, jumps to the inside of my knee and then to the outside of my calf - that's the worst. It's like a HUGE butcher knife that is being STABBED in my calf, twisted, jerked up and then out. Ahhhhh relief for a brief minute and then the whole thing starts over again. The pain in my cheek is like a branding iron.

All of this happens when I'm sitting for any period of time (5-10 minutes) and is relieved for the most part when I stand and move around.

It had my surgeon stumped and because all of my lumbar discs (that remain) are compromised and then the fusions, etc. He just started injecting partly for diagnostics and for pain relief. None of them helped AT ALL. I had tried lyrica - baaaaad news. Was on the max of neurontin and that must have helped a bit because when I tried getting off of it - omg, what pain!

So, he sent me to a neurologist. I told her my symptoms and she told me where the sciatic nerve ran and BINGO! "True Sciatica" caused by Piriformis Syndrome. What she said was that referral nerve pain from nerve roots although painful wasn't true sciatica. I dunno - that's what she told me.

So.....injections at SI and piriformis. She normally injected morphine as well, but because I'm allergic didn't. So, the first 2 injections didn't work so well - not for any length of time I should say. The 3rd injection she doubled up on the cortizone and it lasted a blessed 3 months almost. Wow! What relief! Now, sadly it has come back, but I can have 3 injections in a given 3 months so I'm about to go in again.

Her injections weren't too bad - didn't feel it at all, but the flare after was pretty brutal for the last one. But, well worth the relief.