Anyone out there with Piriformis

[MOMFUDSKI]

Syndrome? Had herniated disc surgery 2/1 and it began 5 weeks post surgery. MRI confirmed successful surgery. Read that it is not uncommon to get piriformis syndrome after surgery. So here I am. Surgeon offered steroid injection into piriformis muscle. Calling for appt tomorrow. The pain is awful. Just looking for others who have been there. Thanks

[WhiteTara]

1. I discovered dry needling

I have a twisted pelvis that creates a noticeable and uncomfortable limp. I have been in constant pain for a long time. My first experience with needling was life changing. Each successive session has increased my mobility and has reduced my pain to 0 for the first time in years.

I got a steroid shot a number of years ago and my experience was not much pain relief, but I was in a constant bad mood, and was hungry all the time.

I found out about needling at a physical therapist. You might want to check that out too.

[MOMFUDSKI]

2. Thanks.

I did come across dry needling in my extensive reading to try to help myself. I will ask my surgeon about it as his large conglomerate offers PT.

[DET]

3. Dry Needling

I only had one session of dry needling and it almost completely removed my long-standing pain. I was stunned how effective it was. A couple of observations…not all PT practices offer this service, and - in my experience - insurance will not pay for it. To the best of my recollection, the cost was about $100. Good luck.

[WhiteTara]

12. I'm so grateful my insurance does cover it

and the cost is $30 per session with my PT.

[usonian]

4. I had piriformis and after an x-ray was sent to a PT.

Checking my spine, he pushed here and there and there was a loud snap.

And TBH, things seemed better from that moment, but I had the usual PT with heat and traction and stretching and so on. Worked fine.

I recall that the pain was bad but not severe.

[MOMFUDSKI]

8. Happy to hear that.

I should go back for PT. Think I will try that before I get the steroid.

[usonian]

10. There's a stretch that helped me a lot. I had a whole bunch of stretches to do at home.

Like this one.



Here are the three pages of "homework" I got. Skipped a step or two, but did the heavy duty ones for sure. Many of the others were warm-ups. YMMV, let your PT decide, based on your condition! And leg affected!

[chowder66]

5. Start at around 1:40 on Video

This is a Bob & Brad video. I live by their videos. I've had piriformis in the past and the PT works for me. I haven't tried some of the new moves they show in this video yet. I used one of their older videos which has some of the same moves.

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I hope one or more of the moves works for you!

[MOMFUDSKI]

7. Thanks. I have Bob and Bradded for

sciatica, which I had pre-surgery and after surgery when piriformis set in. Found stretching piriformis made it way worse. Then found some vids opposed to stretching and tried those methods. NADA. Will try steroid shot. Love Bob and Brad but no help for this old body.

[chowder66]

9. Yeah sounds like you need more than just therapy.

[mitch96]

13. These guys are great. Used their technique to diagnose if it was piriformis,disk or sciatica.

I knew I already had a HNP but it turned out to be piriformis syndrome. Did their excercises and it cleared up after about a week of daily work on the muscle. Has not come back and it's been about 9 mos since my last attack. You have to break the cycle of injury, pain and then inflammation which cycles. NSAIDS work for me to lower the volume of pain so I can get in there to do the stretching and relieve the inflammation. I use Aleve and a topical NSAID called Voltarol 2.3%. I got a stronger prescription strength (3.5%) and it works good.
Keep up the stretching. Good luck..
m

[chowder66]

14. Indeed. It's unfortunate about Bob.

From the youtube description:

Bob (the tall one) has been diagnosed with Ataxia. It affects his balance and his speech, but does not affect his thinking.

I really hope the best for him.

[chowder66]

6. As a side note...

The reason I use Bob & Brad videos is because I've had lots of PT for all kinds of issues and they match what my physical therapists teach me. They are also really helpful when I forget what I'm supposed to do if any of my issues arise again.

[MiniMe]

11. I have it

I've tried everything, it has mostly resolved now, I think more because I don't do certain things that used to set it off anymore. Physical Therapy and stretches definitely help. I tried acupuncture, it really didn't seem to work.

Good luck, I know what you are going through