Piriformis pain

[EffieT]

I've had pain in my pelvic floor for two years now; had multiple physios, doctors and tests. Apparently the pain is from my piriformis muscle. Does anyone have a similar experience? I would love to know what treatment you had.

Have a wonderful day.

[JoJo012]

Hi, do you have any pain or numbness in your Piriformis muscles then?

[EffieT in reply to JoJo012]

Thank you for your reply. No numbness, just pain which goes into my levator muscles. I'm having pelvic floor physio but she says the issue might be starting higher up my back because ofcourse, everything is connected!

[JoJo012 in reply to EffieT]

I have Piriformis numbness that comes and goes. I was told by my pelvic floor physiotherapist that it was the pelvic floor muscles that was driving this, not the other way round. She said if you have very tight pelvic floor muscles then this can cause issues with your Piriformis muscles and other surrounding muscles. The Levator Ani muscles are part of the pelvic floor muscles, so maybe it's your Levator muscles that are driving the Piriformis pain?

[EffieT in reply to JoJo012]

That is definitely possible. My physio suspects it is my coccygeus too.

[pianoguy in reply to EffieT]

THIS IS A MAJOR ANNOUNCE,MENT TO YOU EFFIE AND TO ALL OF US ON THIS THREAD AND MAYBE NOT ON YET IN HOPES YOU WILL SHARE IT WITH THEM!!

AS I MENTIONED I HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FOR 10 YEARS TRYING TO SOLVE THIS ON MY OWN AS OVER 100 CRS 14 SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES HAVE ALL FAILED ME....... THERE ARE ONLY 2 PEOPLE IN THE United States THAT CAN HELP US.... THIS ONE CAM FROM ONE OF MY DR'S WHO CARES.... HE SAID THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS ANY SUCCESS WITH THESE RECTAL PAIN SYNDROMES IS A WOMAN WHHO IS A DR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA AUGUSTA..... ( GET A PEN ) OR COPY PASTE AND PRINT. THIS IS YOUR LIFE!!! AND MINE! HER NAME IS DR SATICH RAO..... 706 721 2238..... I AM GOING TO CALL HER AND SEE IF SHE DOES TELEMED, WHICH MOST LIKELY SHE DOES. I STILL HAVE HOPE AFTER ALL I I'VE BEEN THROUGH AS CHRIST LIVES IN ME!

THE OTHER WOMAN IS INCREDIBLE ALSO... I TALKED TO HER AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS ALL AND EVEN A FEW YEARS A GO,,,,, I 'M PRESTTY SURE SHE IS IN ORLANDO FL OR NEARBY..... SHE LECTURES AROUND THE WOLRD ON THIS AFTER BRING THIS SUBJECT INTO THE FOREFRONT WHERE IT BELONGS SO WE CAN ALL HAVE OUR LIVES BACK,,, SHE IS SO CARING COMPASSIONATE. THIS IS HER WEBLINK...SHE IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AS THE MOST EXPERIENCED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSON IN PELVIC FLOOR IN THE COUNTRY... sherpelvic.com IT MAY BE HARD TO REACH HER PERSONALLY BECAUSE SHE IS SO DRIVEN AND SPEAKS EVERYWHERE BUT EVEN TO GET A TELEMED APPT WOULD BE GREAT!,,,, IF ANY OF YOU LIVE IN FL OR GEORGIA I CONSIDER YOU " THE LUCKIEST PEOPLE ON EARTH " LOL.... AS JOE DIMAGGIO ONCE SAID!

YOU KNOW 10 YEARS AGO I MAY NOT HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO TRY TO HELP ALL OF YOU BECAUSE I WAS SELFISHLY ONLY THINKING OF MY OWN HORRIBLE PAIN AND SITUATION ALL THE TIME. THINKING I WAS THE ONLY ONE AS DR AFTER DR SAID " SORRY YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS " LIVE WITH THIS????? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A STEAK KNIKE STUCK INTO YOUR RECTUM 24 /7 I SAID TO ONE OF THEM! THINK YOU COULD JUST "LIVE WITH THAT "..... BUT EVER SINCE JESUS CAME INSIDE OF ME I NOW THINK ABOUT OTHERS NOT JUST ME! I'M NO WHERE NEAR PERFECT AND NONE OF US WILL EVER BE,,THAT'S WHY WE NEED JESUS SO BAD IN THIS FIGHT ON EARTH!

OH I ALMOST FORGOT,,,, DIET VERY IMPORTANT TO FOR THOS WHO HAVE SEVER PAIN EITHER DURING OR10 MIN AFTER A BOWEL MOVEMENT AS I DO...... MAKE SURE YOU GET A PROBIOTIC YOU CAN MIX INTO YOUR WATER... SOME PHYSLIUM HUSK TOO... PUT A TABLE SPOON IN A REGULAR BOTTLE OF WATER YOU BUY IN A STORE,,,MIX IT STRENUOUSLY AND DRINK IT WITH YOUR MEAL WHICH ALSO SHOULD INCLUDE OATMEAL EGGS IN MORNING YOU CAN PUT SOME PRUNES WALNUTS RAISINS IN THE OATMEAL ALMOND SLICES BLUEBERRIES AND ESPECIALLY RASPBERRIES HAVE TONS OF FIBER!,,,,, I HAVE FOUND THE EASIER THE POOP COMES OUT,,, THE LESS PAIN AND THE LESS TIME THE SEVERE PAIN LASTS....

LOOK AT MY OTHER POSTS FOR SOME OTHER THINGS THAT HELP LIKE...TOUCHING YOUR TOES FOR 3 STRAIGHT MINUTES 3 SETS 2X DAILY.... EVERYTHING I;M TELLUING YOU IS FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE. I AM NOT A DR AND AND NOT SAYING EVERYTHING THAT WORKS FOR ME WILL WORK FOR YOU BUT I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO HELP ANY ONE OF YOU KNOWING THE SEVERE PAIN AND HOW NO ONE UNDERSTANDS!!!!!! I PRAY THAT YOU ALL WILL SHARE THIS INFORMATION ALL OVER THE WEB,,,,,,, MAYBE WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MANY LIVES!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL....! " FROM GOD HIMSELF " AND THERE WILL BE NO MARE PAIN AND NO MORE TEARS " WE ALL SHOULD MEDITATE ON THAT VERSE FOR LIKE 15 MINUTES EVERYDAY,...... CALMING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH HOPE IS ENORMOUS! LOVE YOU ALL..... LET ME KNOW HOW YOU ALL MAKE OUT AND I WILL DO THE SAME AFTER CONTACTING THESE SPECIAL DRS'!!!!! BE WELL!

[EffieT in reply to pianoguy]

Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I have actually emailed Tracy Sher and would go to see her when the pandemic is over. My physio has taken courses with her also.Sadly, you have suffered so much and so long with your pain. I am really impressed with your self-help techniques. Thank you for sharing those.

[anna1234567]

My PN pain is caused by a muscle too I sincerely believe, however regrettably it’s not the piriformis. You can have Botox for The piriformis

[EffieT in reply to anna1234567]

Thank you for your reply. I have pain in my glutes which goes into my levator muscles. I'm having pelvic floor physio but she says the issue might be starting higher up my back because ofcourse, everything is connected! What muscle is causing your pain?

[anna1234567 in reply to EffieT]

It’s more to the inside. I know what you feel, I have a lot a pain in that area too. I’ve had many diagnoses, but all started after surgery on my lower spine.

[EffieT in reply to anna1234567]

Sorry to hear that. Are you having physio and taking medications?

[anna1234567 in reply to EffieT]

I’ve seen many therapists: pelvic floor fysio, regular fysio for trigger points, osteopath, chiropractor esp for pelvic floor, acupuncturist. I’m only using supplements like PEA, Agmatine and Hypericum Perforatum c30. I’ve also had a few nerve blocks. Will have another one soon in the area of my tailbone. my pain specialist wants me to try Cymbalta, but I’m really hesitant.

[EffieT in reply to anna1234567]

Me too. I have a total dislike for these meds. I am using only CBD oil. It helps to relax my muscles.

[pianoguy in reply to anna1234567]

HI..... I HAVE BEEN ON CYMBALTA FOR QUITE A WHILE AND HAVE NO SIDE EFFECTS AT ALL AND IT ALSO TREATS MY DEPRESSION / ANXIETY BUT HAS AN AGENT THAT HELPS NERVE PAIN WHICH ALWAYS A PLUS!,,, NEVER BE AFRAID OF TRYING THINGS WITH THESE CONDITIONS BECAUSE DIFFERENT THINGS WORK FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE. GOOD LICK TO YOU AND EVERYONE IN THIS THREAD WHO SUFFER SILENTLY. AND ALWAYS GIVE YOUR PAIN TO GOD. NO MATTER WHAT YOU TRY HE IS THE ULTIMATE DECIDER OF ALL!!!!

[kalecolbe12 in reply to pianoguy]

What dosage of cymbalta are you on?

[EffieT in reply to kalecolbe12]

I haven't started yet so I don't know. Will get presciption today.

[pianoguy in reply to EffieT]

I AM OM 60 MG ONCE PER DAY HUN...

[EffieT in reply to pianoguy]

I love your reply. You made me feel more confident and hopeful. Thank you.

[anna1234567 in reply to pianoguy]

I’m hesitant to try Cymbalta because it’s really hard to come off and It can also make you suicidal. I’ve had similar effects with Lyrica.

[pianoguy in reply to anna1234567]

be careful about what you hear..... ALL anti depressants have a tiny potential of suicidal thoughts but mostly in younger people,,, talk to your dr. If cymbals could help you you should give it a try on may be 30 mg to start..... and contrary to what people say only your body will tell you after a while what is easy to get of and what isn't,,, having a full and pain less life is something we all deserve,,,,, Like I said don't be afraid to try things because of what you "heard".... good luck!

[Skye22]

I suffer with levator-ani syndrome whereby the pubirectalis muscle locks into painful spasms. This affects my Bowel and bladder.Treatment is vaginal internal /external trigger point therapy with my specialist physio and I also receive botox injections into pubirectalis muscles from my consultant.

I also take antispasmodic medication and painkillers.

Treatment doesn't eradicate pain but I do get a lessening of intensity of pain and symptoms.

It can take quite a long time of endless tests and seeing various doctors before you can get a concise diagnosis and treatment plan.

Hope you find what treatment works for you, stay strong!!!

[EffieT in reply to Skye22]

Thank you for your response. I have pain in my glutes which goes into my levator muscles. I'm having pelvic floor physio but she says the issue might be starting higher up my back because ofcourse, everything is connected! I've had a pudendal nerve block but that didn't work at all. I had too many side effects from Gabapentin so had to stop. I've been prescribed Cymbalta but have not started yet.I'm so glad you have found something that helps you a bit.

[pianoguy in reply to Skye22]

WELL SAID

[pianoguy]

OMG I COULD WRITE A BOOK ON WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH 10 YEARS OF THIS. 10 UYEARS AGO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS NOTHING ENDED UP IN 14 SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES FINALLY ENDING WITH A RARE REMOVAL OF MY FREAKIN TAILBONE! I HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FOR THIS PAIN IN HOPES TO GET MY LIFE BACK. FOR ME THE PAIN IS IN THE ANUS AND RIGHT SIDE SPHINCTER MUSCLE. JERE ARE THE ONLY THINGS THAT HAVE HELPED ME.......... TRY DOING A TOE TOUCH FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES,,,, 3 SETS...... MAYBE 2-3X A DAY HURTING OR NOT. TRY USING SOMETHING LIKE RECTICAL WITH 5 % LIDOCAIN AND RUBBING IT RIGHT INTO WHERE YOUR PAIN IS........ LAY ON YOUR BACK AND PUT AND OBJECT LIKE A BASEBALL UNDER YOUR SACRUM FOR FIVE -10 MIN,,,,,,, AS FAR AS MEDS,,,,, THE ONLY THINGS THAT HAVE HELPED ARE LYRICA AND ALPRAZOLAM / VALIUM.... ALSO VERY IMPORTANT,,,,,, LEARN TO DO MUSCLE RELAXATION MEDITATION A ND THERAPY... I LAUGHED AT IT AT FIRST BUT THIS CHRONIC CONDITION USUALLY AFFECTS PEOPLE WITH HIGH ANXIETY LEVELS, TYPE A PERSONALITIES OVER REGULATED NERVOUS SYSTEMS!..... ANYTHING THAT REDUCES STRESS DOES HELP,,,,, ALSO DEEP BREATHING HELPS SOME.......... I HAVE SEEN OVER 100 DRS SO TRUST ME IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT! VERY FEW DRS EVEN KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PELVIC FLOOR....... I HAVE ONE HOPE WITHA WOMAN I HEARD HAS WORKED MIRACLES FOR SOME BUT SHE'S IN GEORGIA I THINK,,,, MY GASTRO GUY SAYS SEVERAL OF HIS PATIENTS WERE HELP GREATLY BY HER! I'M GOING TO FIND OUT IF SHE DOES TELEMED VISITS . IF SHE DOES I'LL GET YOU HER NAME AND NUMBER! TILL THEN .....ALWAYS REMEMBER ,,ONLY "WE" KNOW HOW BADLY THIS HURTS AND NO ONE CAN SEE IT SO THEY THINK IT'S JUST A LITTLE THING!! BULL!!!! ASK THEM IF THEY EVER HAD A VERY BAD CHARLIE HORSE!,,,,, WHEN THEY SAY YES IT WAS TERRIBLE ASK THEM IF THEY WOULD LIKE THAT GOING ON IN THEIR RECTUM ALL DAY!!!!!! THEN THEY'LL GET IT!,,,,, EFFIE FEEL FREE TO WRITE TO ME ANYTIME..... I GAVE A WAY 10 YEARS OF MY LIFE TO THIS FREAKING THING,,,, I FEEL FOR YOU SO MUCH,,,, IT COST ME MY JOB MONEY MY MARRIAGE HEALTH INSURANCE AND SO MUCH MORE BUT AS I SAID I HAD MY TAILBONE REMOVED WHICH MIGHT HAVE MADE MINE A FAR BIGGER ISSUE,,,,, ALL I KNOW IS THAT PRAY TO GOD EVERY DAY AND NIGHT TAKE SOME OF MY ADVICE AND MAYBE YOU'LL HAVE MUCH BETTER LUCK THAN ME! I HOPE SO! ,,,ALSO ONE QUESTION,,,, WITH MINE,,,, THE PAIN GETS FAR FAR WORSE ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER I POOP AND STAYS THAT WAY FOR 1-2 HOURS SOMETIMES..... DO YOU FIND THIS TO BE TRUE WITH YOU,,, JUST WONDERING!!!!1 GOD BLESS,,,,,,AL

[EffieT in reply to pianoguy]

Thank you for your reply. I am so sorry to hear about your horrible pain and especially about the terrible effect the pain has on your life. Obviously you've tried physio and medications that have not worked.Don't give up, there has to be a way to get some improvement so you can have some semblance of a normal life. Have you had Botox injections?

[kalecolbe12 in reply to pianoguy]

YESSSS same...can you pm me the woman in Georgia's name if you find it please?

[anna1234567 in reply to pianoguy]

Thanks for sharing your story. I ve tried many of your suggestions. We have many baseballs around the house, but I prefer a Lacrosse ball, because it’s smaller. For me it also gets so much worse after a BM and since my BM are many during the day it’s like a vicious circle.

[pianoguy in reply to anna1234567]

lacrosse balls are great,,,I'm making a HUGE announcement to everyone on this thread....IT IS MY LAST HOPE AND MAYBE MANY OF YOURS...LOOK FOR IT EVERONE

[pianoguy in reply to anna1234567]

Exactly hun,,,,,, I found that if I don't go for two days or so ,,,the pain actually gets way better,,,,, they think it actually stabilizes the are,,,,, it all makes no sense,,,,that's what drives us all so crazy!!!! Good luck !!!! Al

[anna1234567 in reply to pianoguy]

It’s funny. I told my doctors the same about the muscle cramp in the sphincter. My last doctor said she could relate.

[clancemandoo]

I've been dealing with this for over 25 yrs. Started when I was 35 and was horrible for over a year with it then going into somewhat of a remissive state for 15 yrs but never completely left me. It then returned when I decided to take up bike riding as a daily exercise and BAM!! back to constant pain since and I'm 61 now. Like piano guy iv'e been to countless doctors and spent 10"s of thousands of dollars looking for relief. The worst thing I did was have hemorrhoid surgery which my doc thought might be contributing to the spasms and pain. My rectum just burns like fire everyday until I put something up there to cool it. I can't sit on my right cheek because the sit bone is extremely sensitive to pressure. It has also started to affect my prostate and bladder which both burn like crazy as well. It's a living hell as quality of life goes right out the window. My doc tells me it's irritable bowel syndrome and that overlaps with bladder/prostate issue. Anxiety is a huge contributor and I know that for sure as I'm a highly anxious person and it's just a big loop. You're in pain your anxiety goes up your pain gets worse your anxiety gets worse. I'm getting to the point that I don't look forward to too much anymore. Everything is a struggle and my social life is almost non-existent. All my friends like to drink and I've had to pretty much quit which just sucks when everyone else is whooping it up. I will say that I a had a brief bout of freedom from pain when I tried a stretching program called dynamic contraction technique. You can just google it. It was a godsend for me for a while but then had hernia surgery last year and now doesn't seem to be as effective. Still helps but not like before surgery. Good luck with your journey.

[EffieT in reply to clancemandoo]

I am so sorry to hear about your horrible pain and especially about the terrible effect the pain has on your life. Obviously you've tried physio and medications that have not worked.Don't give up, there has to be a way to get some improvement so you can have some semblance of a normal life. Have you had Botox injections?

[clancemandoo in reply to EffieT]

I've had everything you can think of. Botox helped once and then for some reason didn't work again when the initial dose wore off.

[kalecolbe12 in reply to clancemandoo]

Can you tell me what the stretches are for dynamic contraction technique?

[clancemandoo in reply to kalecolbe12]

Just google it. His name is Nic Bartolotta I think. You can watch a video on the whole thing. It's eccentric stretching which is putting a load on the muscle while stretching.

[pianoguy]

Hi everyone I hope someone out there can help me because it's now been 10 Years that I have suffered with this unbearable pain and nothing seems to help. The doctors have sent me for more operations and procedures that I can even explain. Everything from two different pudendal nerve blocks to radio ablation of all the nerves around my tail bone to huge doses of different pain medication's, Lyrica, you all know all the stuff. It ended in a freaking coccygectomy in 2013. The 2013 coccygectomy almost killed me because an infection reached out of control and almost went into my spinal cord which the doctors say would've been fatal. So what am I left with. The thought of knowing that every single day when I go to the bathroom then 10 minutes later those muscles will spasm and will Charlie horse inside my anus so badly that nothing will stop it even though they give me the usual from the pain management clinic the Lyrica the muscle relaxer etc. does anyone know of any medication at all that really helps with this Charlie horse that occurs inside of your anal sphincter and around it? I've been told that all kinds of different things could help from meditation to stretching to all kinds of things and I've been through about six rounds of physical therapy even internal physical therapy with no improvement. So I can count on this pain for at least an hour after I go to the bathroom each day and most likely it will occur again at night before I have to go to sleep which makes them difficult to sleep as well without taking Ambien or other things. 

This problem has destroyed my life. My wife was so sick of seeing me in pain that she actually divorced me and I was sent out into the world not even being able to walk and unable to do my job which ironically is a pianist! Imagine a pianist who can't sit down!? And then of course the pandemic Has to come along so I can be even more depressed about the situation and realize that I may never work again after working at some of the best places in the country and out of the country. I became very very depressed and my anxiety levels through the roof which of course feeds right into this problem and makes it worse. Most of the doctors don't realize that this problem has both a physical and psychological element. My nervous system is so up regulated that it just makes the pain even worse. I've tried to purchase things off the Internet that would make your cortisol levels drop and all kinds of things anything at all that might help and nothing has. So my question out there to all of you who can relate to this and I know that you're out there in droves and you've been seen by dozens of doctors and have no relief because they'll say to you I have no clue about this stuff we didn't learn anything about the pelvic floor tail bone or anything like that in medical school we stop at the bottom of the spine is what I was told hundreds of times I think. So my question is does anyone know of anything whether it be some type of medication or stretch or any kind of thing at all that could help manage this. It sucks so bad.