Sciatica, Pfiriformis, Pain???????? Help!!!!!!!

[yojee]

Its really nice and encouraging to hear from some of you about your getting better, at times I can not help but wonder when this sciatica will get better.

Different docs have told me different things I’ve lost count. But I noticed you have a somewhat similar issue. What can i do??? (I'm 30 used to work out {mainly jog, do sit ups and stretch} daily, played tennis twice a week. The nature of my work is such that i sit on a computer all day...) the pain started suddenly after an uphill (very steep hill) contest-silly i know, I think I twisted something not sure.

The pain is localized around my left butt, felt mainly when I stretch to touch my toe, when doing a humstring stretch, bend or do the piriformis stretch.

My lower back seems ok, though oddly I feel discomfort after sitting for long hours. AND OR immediately when i get up-not pain but just weird. No pain though when i lay on my bed with feet stretched out on the bed-strange, strange, strange.
I also feel like my lower back is really very weak.

It has not stopped me from daily activities, and the pain only shows up when I’m stretching. I miss playing tennis and jogging all of which i've given up since the pains begun-coming to one year now.
I have since discontinued all my workouts and any such activities.

I would greatly appreciate any advice, experience, literature and any help you can share with me.

Thank you

[Tuckamore]

Thank you for the update.

We'll look forward to hearing from you again.

~Tuck

[yojee]

Hi all, thanks to all those who've posted comments i appreciate.

I saw a chiroprator with whom i’ve started having sessions, had my first session today. After twisting and turning me and having me do some tests, he says it may be a gluteal physio strain. We are going to have a number of sessions and see how it goes. I’ll keep you’ll posted.

My pain is really localized in my butt only and only felt when I’m stretching. Sitting, walking and running are all ok, I don’t feel anything when doing those. Though sitting for long makes me feel some discomfort, ON MY LOWER BACK- its what I find really strange.
Some times, very rearely do I feel numbness and tingling in my feet but the most this lasted was 7-10mins.

[Tuckamore]

Hi Yojee,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. I am sorry that you are experiencing sciatica pain. It sounds very similar, almost exactly the same pain that I had early on. No physician could put a name to it.

After many years I was finally diagnosed with sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction. It is an often over-looked, and under diagnosed condition. Had it been diagnosed initially I may very well be in a much different and better situation. Have your physicians considered your SIJ as a possible causation of your pain? Please do not think that I am telling you that you have SIJ problems. I am not an expert nor a physician.

My primary pain is located in my buttocks and causes severe sciatica along with other areas of pain. Obviously the pain runs down the back of my leg and also effects the outer aspect of my thigh. Sitting is very painful. Initially I had no low back pain either. As the condition has progressed I have developed other areas of pain.

I urge you to discuss this possibility with your physicians. There are treatments available, especially when caught early. Activity makes my pain worse. I understand why you have given up jogging and other activities. There are exercises that can be beneficial but they need to be directed by a physical therapist as some exercises will only aggravate the nerve, SIJ and increase your pain.  

I do understand where you are coming from. What are you taking for your painful condition? Hopefully your physician has prescribed a NSAID to reduce the inflammation. Sometimes a drug like Neurontin can reduce the nerve pain. And last but not least are opiates to allow you to increase your level of functioning. In my opinion those are the medications that I would discuss with your physician. Again I am not an expert, my suggestions are merely from personal experience.

SIJ steroidal injections can confirm the diagnosis and sometimes treat the condition. This is most effective when SIJ Dysfunction is caught early.  Again if you do not have a diagnosis I would discuss this with your physician.  

I see a Doctor of Osteopathy D.O. I don't know if those types of physicians practice in your country. If so I have found mine to be most beneficial.

Please keep in touch with us and let us know how you are doing. I will look forward with interest to hearing from you again. I wish you the very best of luck and encourage you to be assertive and seek a diagnosis and begin a treatment plan.

Take Care,
~Tuck

[lyns_blueeyes]

Ask your doctor if you would benefit from physio before the symptoms get worse. Or even go and speak with a physio to see what sort of work out's will not make things worse. cycling and swimming will def be good for it .  

[dontundertand]

While it's not the same thing, I too get very uncomfortable sitting in my chair all day. Sometimes when I go to sit down I go down very slowly. For me it's my bladder and sometimes feels like I'm sitting directly on it. I've developed different sitting positions. My boss is very understanding and doesn't mind seeing me (I don't wear skirts anymore :) sitting with my knees up. I usually try to sit with one leg resting on the chair and the other knee up around my chest. That helps keep me comfortable. I've also thought about getting one of those hemorroid thingys that you sit on. One of the Pain docs I saw at one time had people in his office measure me for a back brace. Maybe that would help your back while you sit all day.
I have found that cold doesn't help me as much as heat. There are some great heat patches out there and I keep a heating pad at work also.
And maybe (I'm NOT a doctor) you need to go back a few steps. If jogging is out of the question maybe you could walk at a slow pace and slowly build momentum. On my very good days I walk by my girls while they ride their bikes around the block.
Hope that helps some.