sciatic pain

[MAXNROCKY]

I have recently had piriformis release surgery performed (July 2007), as of this date my pain has not changed.   When inflammed it so bad that I limp, I very seldom have a day without that same stabbing, unrelentless pain in my right sciatic region.  In the past years I have had; MRI's, CT's, EMG's, subdural cortisone injections, epidural injections, caudal equinal injections, physical therapy, tens units, have taken the following meds; flexeril, soma, lyrica,neurontin,parafon forte, nsaids, motrin,celebrex, all the cox II inhibitors, vicodin, percocette.   My point is this, I still have pain bad enough that I limp, lifting anything heavy or the wrong way makes me wince in pain.   The only thing that has had any effect was the vicodin plus aleive.   I had been able to manage the pain with only 2 vicodin pills (5mg/500mg)/day.   Now that I have had this pririformis surgery my family doctor no longer wants to prescribe vicodin and refers me to my surgeon who wants to me to take alieve.   I have worked in the medical profession for 32 years and I feel I have tried every interventional procedure including the radical piriformis release.  It obviously did not work.   And in order for me to even get close to relief I need to take enough Aleive 6/day that my acid indigestion is now intolerable not to mention I'm sure it will result in bleeding soon.  I am not a drug seeking junkie, I am a human being who wants to have some quality in his life, yes opiates present addiction concerns but my past medical/pharmaceutical hx proves that in the entire time (many months) I have never exceeded a dose of 2 pills a day in fact as I kept records of my usage it was 1.89.   Why can't someone help me with this pain?   Is there not some pain management system for people like me or are we all just labled as "junkies".   When my pain flairs up which is often, it feels as if a large piece of glass is sticking into my hip so you can well imagine what that does to your life (physically, emotionally, and yes even your sexual life is destroyed).   Tired of it all, tired of feeling like a criminal for asking for any kind of pain meds.   My only wish at this point is to have every physician that has poked and prodded me to have my pain for one, just one day when it is at it's worst.   Thanks for letting me vent in this manner because I feel that I am going to just let go and not only releive myself of this burden but spare my family as well for I can't imagine how sick and tired they are of hearing me complain of my aching back for all these years, for missing so many life events with friends and family because I had to lay on a heating pad - and there have been many, many, many.

[tribeca17]

Dear MAXNROCKY. I sincerely hope you got some serious pain relief by now. And I'm afraid I can't offer any advice. But I wonder if you would be willing to share your surgery experience with other people who are currently considering Piriformis surgery??

I belong to a support group for piriformis syndrome at

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/piriformissyndrome/

Several members are lining up for surgery & actively looking for feedback from others who have had surgery. Additionally, the group is running a survey to is to gather patient's experiences with various treatments (medical & alternative) and the long term outcomes of the treatments. Please help us rate the best & worst treatments for Piriformis Syndrome (PS).  Results will be posted at the website in March.

To take the survey, go to

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=mrq5t2Fw1OonnPqfmBTx4Q_3d_3d

Your experience  is really important. All we hear is surgeons saying their cases are highly successful. We have very little in terms of first hand experience. Also, can you explain to me what a "piriformis decompression"  is??

Thanks for your help, Tribeca

[cherby]

Im sorry to hear about your pain as i know far to well how hesitant docs are to prescribe opiates. Im in the middle of being dx with ms and have severe pain in my lower back and other parts of my boday. My neuro will not prescribe opiates so luckily for my my pcp gives me vicodin es 3 times daily. Some times that doesn't even take the edge off however it helps having a doc that takes my pain seriously. My advice is to find a new pcp and explain this to him and eventually you will find a doc who takes you seriously.
Happy Holidays and good luck. Cheryl