Piriformis Syndrome

[Tinasleepyhead]

Hi everyone

I was diagnosed with PMR in March 2020, started on 15 mg.

Reduced by 1mg each month, had to return to 10 mg in January 2021. Decreasing slowly and now down to 8.5mg.

Towards the end of January Piriformis pain came back, I’d experienced the same thing in October 2020.

Have been doing Piriformis exercises daily since the end of January. There has been an improvement, I’m now in the position that when I get up in the morning my buttock is very painful, after a cup of tea I go off for a walk, the first 10 mins are uncomfortable but then the pain wears off completely. During the day at times it returns, but it resolves itself if I go for a brisk walk.

I haven’t had it confirmed that it is Piriformis Syndrome but after everything I’ve read I’m sure it is.

Has anyone suffered in the same way?

Does it go eventually go away.

The six exercises I do don’t cause me any pain apart from the bridge, that really hurts, am I doing myself further harm?

[Charlie1boy]

Hi,

I reckon I had piriformis syndrome most of 2020. The femoral nerve was trapped at the top of my thigh at the front; very uncomfortable.

I wouldn't know if the exercises you are doing are causing you harm or not. You probably need a physio to tell you.

For me, my wife gave me physio morning and night, digging her elbow into the piriformis. Also, I used a tennis ball to sit on, adjusting it to the right place on the piriformis, and rolled around on it. All this physio was painful, but it does seem to have worked, and I now seem to be clear of it all.

Don't know whether this helps, but good luck anyway.

Paddy

[Tinasleepyhead in reply to Charlie1boy]

Hi Paddy I’ve been continuing with the exercises and included the tennis ball, am able to find the ‘spot’ and wiggle on it, although painful I believe it is really helping, less painful today 🤞

[Charlie1boy in reply to Tinasleepyhead]

Well done. It takes time to get used to, and to get the tennis ball in the right place, and it most certainly does hurt. That's when you know you've got the right place.

But, it worked for me after about a month!

No gain without pain!

Good luck and thank you for your reply.

Paddy

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I have had piriformis syndrome for a long time. PMR makes it worse! But mine won't go away with a walk - it calls in company and my shoulders protest! Unfortunately I thought I'd got a course of physio running in parallel with my pain clinic appointments - and then the pain clinic staff (all anaesthetists) were required for the last wave of Covid so not been able to get it sorted properly. The physio has been great but I only have one session left

At least it isn't causing sciatica - just back problems. It is probably associated with my scoliosis but that isn;t going to go away ...

[Tinasleepyhead in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you Charlie1boy,

I’ll go to our garden shed and locate a tennis ball right now, I’ll let you know how it goes

👍🏻

[Tinasleepyhead in reply to PMRpro]

So sorry to hear that PMRpro, hopefully you’ll get back to your pain clinic very soon 👍🏻

Hopefully in the not too far future I’ll get it diagnosed by a physio, I’m going to try the tennis ball today,

[baxternoni]

I had this two years ago and it involved both legs. I had to use a walker for about a month or so. My rheumatologist gave me a steroid shot and I felt better but it only lasted about a week. I went to see my chiropractor twice a week for about about four months. I also had massage therapy. The pain was finally over after eight months and thank God it hasn’t come back. It was expensive but well worth it as walking was so difficult.

[Tinasleepyhead in reply to baxternoni]

You certainly had a rough time with it Baxternoni, glad to hear it’s now sorted. I really need to get it diagnosed properly by a Physiotherapist or Chiropractor when allowed. In the meantime I’ll continue with the exercises.

[Lyndaki]

I’ve had it badly, on a few occasions since being diagnosed with PMR & GCS in November 2018. I find that physio, alongside the exercises really helps, & when I had it really badly at the beginning, acupuncture was a godsend & gave real relief very quickly. Good luck!

[Tinasleepyhead in reply to Lyndaki]

Thank you Lyndaki, when allowed I will see a physiotherapist/acupuncture specialist. In the meantime I’ll continue the exercises, I’ve now added the tennis ball to the routine.

[Lyndaki in reply to Tinasleepyhead]

👍good idea!

[Pollyanna16 in reply to Tinasleepyhead]

Hi just to say our physio is working & so is the chiro we use. Have similar problems every time I cycle & it’s getting worse despite Pilates at least twice a week.

[whitefishbay]

Mine comes and goes but I slightly blame sitting in various chairs wfh during lockdowns. The exercises definitely help and walking (and I must remember to keep doing them).

[colmarin]

Yes I have had Piriformis Syndrome and it's awful. Have had it in my right buttock and at the moment it seems to be resolved. Only to be replaced with pain more in my right hip joint. Have also had severe bursitis on this hip. Seems like the pain just likes to play "musical chairs" in this part of my body....going from one location to another but so far never leaving completely.

[Tinasleepyhead in reply to colmarin]

Hi colmarin sorry to hear you’re still suffering it seems if it’s not pain in one place it moves to another - do hope it resolves itself sooner than later 👍🏻

[colmarin in reply to Tinasleepyhead]

Thanks so much Tinasleepyhead.

[Charlie1boy in reply to colmarin]

Yes. IT feels exactly the same for me except it is my left thigh/hip.

I'm thinking it part of old age now after many years of sport and exercise..

Thanks for posting.

Paddy

[colmarin in reply to Charlie1boy]

Always lots of guessing around the cause of our pain. I know I wonder if mine is now just arthritis or something. Thanks Charlie1boy.

[calicojoy41]

MY DOCTOR GAVE ME A SHOT IN THE REAR AND IT GOT RID OF THE PAIN RIGHT AWAY!!

[Tinasleepyhead in reply to calicojoy41]

Hi calicojoy41 your reply made me chuckle so glad it worked out for you I’ll bear it in mind if I see no further improvement. The last couple of days my pain has lessened but not gone.