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Right buttocks pain esp. when sitting
I'm a 45 year old male in Atlanta who has right buttocks pain and some lower right back pain, especially when sitting. Have seen an Orthopaedic/back pain management M.D. in Atlanta and he took an MRI of my lower back and said it looked normal...no bulging discs. He said it might be pirformis or SI joint related. Have had a pirformis injection, an SI joint radio frequency ablation (where they burn away the nerve endings) and have also gone to 3 months of therapy. The therapist says my SI joint is now more stable but my pain continues to be there. The therapist thinks I may have a bulging disc but my MD says the MRI doesn't show that. This pain came on suddenly about 4 years ago when I was doing a lot of road bicycling, playing tennis, jogging. I have curtailed these a lot, since any vigorous exercise seems to flame up the pain. It is especially painful near the center of the right buttocks, almost near the groin, almost right on the bone where I sit. But sometimes the pain radiates from the lower right back into the right hip area. When I bend over to tie my shoe, the pain also can go from the right butt into the upper hamstring. I am new to this website, but was just looking for some advice. I can't seem to get my doctor or therapist to give me the answer to what is causing my pain. I would like to get back to physical exercise again. Given that my SI joint is now stable, why is the pain still there? Could it be my hip? Are there any exercises I should be doing?(I am doing some already from my therapist). Should I see a neurologist/neurosurgeon?
Thanks you!
Thanks you!
DITTO on all of the above..This sounds just like my life..I too have been doing therapt with massages, ultrasound and now traction..which helps but does not take the pain away for any amount of time..Trying to get anyone to order an MRI seems to be the big problem right now.. I do some stretching exercises but really like the sounds of the one your doing so am going to try it..This a miserable problem and people just don't get it..i always say that if I'm going to hurt like this at least show me a scar of something that proves I DO have this pain..I sometimes think its all in my head..I too am in my 60's and a retired RN...maybe all those years on concrete floors contributed to our problem...
Good luck to you and thanks for the info........
Good luck to you and thanks for the info........
hi,
I have the same problem - very frustrating. I do go to massage weekly because I found a massage school nearby where I can get a massage cheaper so please see if there is one in your area as it does help at least!
I have the same problem - very frustrating. I do go to massage weekly because I found a massage school nearby where I can get a massage cheaper so please see if there is one in your area as it does help at least!
My history: for several years, right buttock pain when sitting (no nerve involvement), probably from years of jogging on concrete, then sitting all day at the computer, and letting the pain go untreated; it would wax and wane. A year ago after increasing weights on the leg press at the gym, the pain worsened; couldn't even walk without pain. Sports medicine doc diagnosed it as ischial bursitis; three steroid injections did not help at all. Physical therapists taught me exercises to strengthen the muscles in the area. Those exercises actually seemed to make it worse. Had to quit exercising; couldn't even walk on the track at the gym. I sit on frozen gel paks ALL the time; take a polar pak with ice in ziplocks on planes...somewhat embarrassing.
Finally a physician in the physical medicine dept. of the Mayo Clinic here in Rochester, Minnesota, ordered an MRI which showed minimal tendon damage. He said it was due to letting the problem become chronic, but because it was minimal, with work I could expect some healing. Below is what he recommended for me four months ago and it's the first real relief I've received.
What's worked:
1. Stretching exercise: Back straight, bend to waist over a table/counter until you feel a gentle pull in the buttock, push back up with hands. 45 repetitions, three times a day. Gradually increase the depth you bend. I had improvement in the pain within three weeks. This is the main thing that has helped me.
2. QUIT RE-INJURING THE TENDON! No elliptical, no running/distance walking, but swimming instead. Stop any activity that worsens the pain. After a few months, I can gradually build up to walking two miles every other day, my goal.
3. Nitro-dur patch, cut into fourths; one fourth placed on the site for 12 hours each day. The doc said this is not proven yet in the literature, but is promising.
4. Sit on frozen gel paks; they're theraputic as well as reduce pain. I have to even take them to restaurants, movies. etc.
I am a 63 yo female, an R.N. I know this ischial tendonopathy will be chronic with me since I left it untreated for so long, but the above regimen has decreased the pain by 70% I'd say. Hope this is of some help to you.
Finally a physician in the physical medicine dept. of the Mayo Clinic here in Rochester, Minnesota, ordered an MRI which showed minimal tendon damage. He said it was due to letting the problem become chronic, but because it was minimal, with work I could expect some healing. Below is what he recommended for me four months ago and it's the first real relief I've received.
What's worked:
1. Stretching exercise: Back straight, bend to waist over a table/counter until you feel a gentle pull in the buttock, push back up with hands. 45 repetitions, three times a day. Gradually increase the depth you bend. I had improvement in the pain within three weeks. This is the main thing that has helped me.
2. QUIT RE-INJURING THE TENDON! No elliptical, no running/distance walking, but swimming instead. Stop any activity that worsens the pain. After a few months, I can gradually build up to walking two miles every other day, my goal.
3. Nitro-dur patch, cut into fourths; one fourth placed on the site for 12 hours each day. The doc said this is not proven yet in the literature, but is promising.
4. Sit on frozen gel paks; they're theraputic as well as reduce pain. I have to even take them to restaurants, movies. etc.
I am a 63 yo female, an R.N. I know this ischial tendonopathy will be chronic with me since I left it untreated for so long, but the above regimen has decreased the pain by 70% I'd say. Hope this is of some help to you.
I wonder if this person with lower back pain drives a P.T. Cruiser? Have similar pain, getting worse, and my analysis takes the beginning of this pain to the coincidence of the purchase of this car; plus it is actually not a physically comfortable car for me to drive. The seats are unbelievably small. Am considering selling my Cruiser because of this growing more painful back problem.
Hi Sue,
I know you posted this comment awhile back, but wanted to check with you and see if you ever got your pain resolved and if you ever found out what it is.
I have the same problem and have had it for almost 2 years now. My orthopedic did xrays and MRI and says everything looks fine and that I would have to learn to live with it. Living with it is not working for me. I had new furniture and blamed the pain on that, so bought more new furniture...still having pain, now I resort to sitting in a computer chair with cushions....still hurts! Most evenings I'm forced to go lay in bed either face down or on my side because I can no longer sit. This started almost 2 years ago after a 7 hour plane ride... I can't get any docotr to understand the pain I'm in, they all tell me there's nothing showing on tests.
I have this pain when sitting, not so much when standing. I can feel it also if I try to tighten my buttocks muscles...pain is sometimes unbearable
I know you posted this comment awhile back, but wanted to check with you and see if you ever got your pain resolved and if you ever found out what it is.
I have the same problem and have had it for almost 2 years now. My orthopedic did xrays and MRI and says everything looks fine and that I would have to learn to live with it. Living with it is not working for me. I had new furniture and blamed the pain on that, so bought more new furniture...still having pain, now I resort to sitting in a computer chair with cushions....still hurts! Most evenings I'm forced to go lay in bed either face down or on my side because I can no longer sit. This started almost 2 years ago after a 7 hour plane ride... I can't get any docotr to understand the pain I'm in, they all tell me there's nothing showing on tests.
I have this pain when sitting, not so much when standing. I can feel it also if I try to tighten my buttocks muscles...pain is sometimes unbearable
Just noticed your comment and I know it's been quite some time but I was wondering how you were doing ? I too have your symptoms, and I ride a bike.
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