EMG Negative

[Jtlawson]

I'm going try and make this short.. I fell 15ft from a railroad car over a year ago hitting the rocks and whatever else was on the ground. I fell on my left side swelling and everything. I took a EMG because my left leg was going numb and twitching and I would get these horrible spasms in my lower left back. The injection I had was a left Piriformis injection which nearly made the twitching in the leg non existent but the swelling and the pain was still in my lower left back which brings me to the Epidural steroid injection which took my pain from a constant 9 to a steady 5 or 6. I take Gabapentin 400mg 4 times a day and Mobic 15mg 3x a day. Swelling is still constant the twitching is slowly coming back and my pain is about an 8! Going back in for second round of injections but I have a negative EMG MRI!! When will it end?? Doctors are saying nerve damage I'm so frustrated and just want my life back I'm 43!!!

[Jtlawson]

Thank you so much for your insight and hope that this may get better.

[philnoir]

Sounds like it is a soft tissue problem, and I understand your frustration. I have chronic myofascial syndrome in the lower back and no amount of morphine helps the pain.

But don't get discouraged -- your problem may not yet be chronic. You still have a chance for this to revert to normal, but you've got to do the exercises, and maybe more injections. Piriformis syndrome is stubborn, but I've known men who have worked through it.

Keep trying and asking for more answers from your providers. Maybe another visit to a different PT?

[Jtlawson]

I apologize the EMG and MRI were both negative. I had been going physical therapy and doing the stretching it loosens me up but the swelling continues. I admit I haven't been doing them everyday because some days it's to painful and other days I'm just frustrated!!

[philnoir]

Please be clear -- is the EMG negative or the MRI (or both?)

Nerve entrapment from piriformis syndrome is no joke -- it can hurt and cause permanent damage and constant inflammation.

Have you been trained by physical therapy in the exercises to stretch your piriformis region, and are you doing them every day?