Piriformis syndrome anyone?

[yasmina27]

Has anyone here had this? Had experience treating it? After much research, I've decided that since my back and leg pain are apparently not caused by any spinal structural problem, that my pain is most likely the result of the piriformis muscle pinching the sciatic nerve.

It makes sense actually. My leg pain started last spring when I went to my Dr. for severe lower back pain. She put me on several courses of prednisone. It caused severe leg cramps like I've never had in my life.

When I went back to see her in Jan. for the same back pain - more prednisone - more cramps - and immediate and more intense leg pain.
The entire back of my leg up into my buttocks would spasm in the middle of the night.

Muscle relaxants are the only pain meds that have even touched the pain that I am feeling.

No doctor that I've mentioned this to will take me seriously. They all roll their eyes.

If you have this problem and have any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate any and all advice.

Thanks!

[mopinko]

1. welcome to the eyesroll club

prednisone seems like a strange place to start treating back pain, unless there was some inflammation that was seen somewhere.
your combination of muscle cramping and pain, plus the relief from muscle relaxants sounds like fibromyalgia.

[flamingyouth]

2. It is extremely painful - I feel for you.

The only real relief I got was from a massage therapist I see on a regular basis, along with my physical therapy. Plus I also practice yoga and Pilates on a regular basis, so I integrated those into my treatment. But ugh - as for the pred, that didn't do anything except keep me up all night and make me want to eat everything in the house. IIRC, gabapentin (Neurontin) was helpful in decreasing the nerve pain/spasms.

I have some herniated discs in my lumbar spine now and am also recovering from bladder cancer surgery & chemo, so I can relate to the pain - it's NOT FUN. I hope you can get some relief soon. :hug:

[prolesunited]

3. I would say yoga as well

I had some issues with sciatica (certainly not to your extent) because of long-distance cycling. When I started doing yoga regularly, I felt tremendous relief.

Here's some links:
http://www.wikihealth.com/Yoga_poses_for_sciatica
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/636_1.cfm
http://www.focalpointyoga.com/sciatica.htm

Of course, get started with a professional so you don't hurt yourself more. I hope you find some relief.

[martymar64]

4. I've had it before

Just reading your description brings back painful memories. When I had it, I would have to crawl on my belly because I couldn't stand or sit up without excruciating pain. All I could do was pray for sleep until it would ease up.