An Unimaginable Weekend
If there was any doubt that I am cured from chronic pain caused by Piriformis Syndrome let me recap my weekend. I ran a total of six miles on Friday, played 18 holes of golf (at a course 1.5 hours from home) on Saturday and another 18 holes on Sunday. And, if that wasn’t enough, I did 1.5 hours of yard work late Sunday afternoon.
This was a weekend I could only dream of until recently…until I took a hard look in the mirror and said what more can I do to break through the recovery ceiling from surgery. The answer was counter-intuitive…I needed to exercise and be active. Surgery is the primary reason I am cured because exercise without surgery was useless. For me, I needed to change my lifestyle and become active once again about one year after surgery to truly attain my goal of being pain free 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The reason I didn’t make the choice to change my lifestyle sooner was because I was terrified I would trigger the chronic Piriformis Syndrome pain to resurface. I am no longer scared. Exercise is what my body needs.
Piriformis Syndrome 
Hello, my name is Shelley and im trying to find some support for the debilitating pain that is ruining my life. I dont know if im in the right place but it says I have to join the group but cannot figure out how to do that. If aomeone could please respond to help me get to the right place, I would greatly appreciate it.
I am a 65 year old man who is losing hope. I had anterior hip replacement surgery 4 years ago and have been suffering this entire time. I’ve had numerous MRIs, Scans, Xrays with no results. Finally my hip surgeon told me the symptoms appear to be PS. Had a lydacaine injection that gave me about a week of no hip pain, however, did not relieve the atrophy in my leg and foot. It seems that when I try to perform tasks on uneven ground, I tend to favor my leg in fear of oncoming pain which makes the symptoms even worse. I am an avid golfer but had to quit the game because of the pain. I live near Indianapolis but cannot find a doctor that specializes in PS. I suppose I can try to get an appointment with Dr. Heinrich but I’m sure it will be a while before I can get in to see a man of his talents. I’ve had pain so long, it is causing a muscle imbalance with my other leg which is now causing spasms.
I recommend finding a good massage therapist. Unfortunately it is often an out of pocket cost, yet I have found it to be priceless.
https://www.amtamassage.org/findamassage/index.html
Matt,
What blog are you referring. He simply said the test was supportive and not diagnostic when I asked him about seeing Dr Hardin 1st. I hope I didn’t offend anyone. I can’t wait to see both of them and get my life back.
Don’t worry about it. You didn’t offend anyone. Good luck and keep me posted please.
Thanks. What you said made sense. I emailed him and posed the question. Within an hour his office called me to set up an appt. following the EMG with Dr Hardin. Then Dr Heinrich emailed me saying it was only supportive and not diagnostic with the email cc’do to a bunch of people and saying he’d be glad to see me Friday also. I wonder if his scheduling staff got it reversed. I don’t care because I’m like a kid waiting to see Santa. It’s probably going to cost me $4000 with flight, hotel, meals and charges my deductible won’t cover. Your blog has given me hope and I deeply appreciate it. I thought I was loosing my mind until your blog. So many stories that were me to a tee.
Thanks. I’ll let you know how my trip goes.
Is there another blog your referring to. Please tell me how to access it.
I’m not aware of another blog.
I have no idea.
Matt,
Talked to Dr Heinrich about order of seeing Hardin 1st. He said not necessary but I will be seeing Dr Heinrich before and after Dr Hardin and the provacative EMG.
That’s great to hear. Good luck.
I hope my long comment went through. So happy I found this site. Elated!
Is this blog still active?
Yes Ed it is.
Great. I went to the doctor about 2 years ago because of intense burning in my but. Mostly on the left side. After nerve tests, injections and PT I had orthopic surgery in Aug 2013 to clean out problems in the l3-4 area I believe. The doctor said I’d be as good as new. Following surgery he said he had to remove a cyst. After surgery things were just as bad plus a little drop foot. After several injections, one called a Rask procedure I think, twice and then a trial stimulator which I had them remove, still awful pain. I then went to a Pain Dr at the Cleveland Clinic where they diagnosed PS. I had a guided injection of litacaane in the muscle and only realized a couple hours of relief. Before I had a chance to follow up I was told the Clinic dr accepted a position in Texas. So I swam, did ham and glute exercises for about 6 weeks and got discouraged because my hamstring just won’t loosen and exercising makes it hurt. So I go back to my surgeon and told him I was not going to quit bothering him until this is resolved. I own a business and am 61 years old. I can only work about 3 hours a day and my quality of life is terrible. My wife is a saint. My orthopedic surgeon assured me he’d get to the bottom of it and sent me to his hip guy in his practice. What a joke. Ten minute exam and said my hip is fine and shuffled me out the door like I had the plague. Went back and to say the least was not happy and got in his face. Now another referral to a sports ortho guy who does the piriformis release procedure. At wits end. Reading the blog the guy in Wisc. Sounds great but I don’t have the money to pay it all out of pocket. Have good Blue Cross/Blue Shield Anthem. Do yo know any good doctors in Ohio? Have had 2 MRIs, one with contrast, and x-Rays but all my surgeon says is there is some disc slippage but not enough for further surger, which I don’t want or need fusion. So I go to this new doc March 5. I know from all reading it is something muscular and think it’s PS. The only thing is the guided litacaane injection into the piriformis muscle only gave me few hours relief. I’m depsparate and would let a Vet cut the piriformis if I could. Want relief but don’t want to make a mistake. Could you please take few minutes and answer some of my questions and give me some direction
Ed Browne
Matt, Are you going to respond or did I submit my questions on the wrong thread. Not a tech guy. Ed
God Bless
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Matt,
I own a business. How long following surgery did it take you to get back to work. I’m supervisory but how long before I can comfortably sit?
Ed
A few months.
Will I be able to stand and walk comfortably. I Really need to be at my office to bid work, bill and assign people what job to go start, finish etc. will I be able to sit at all?