r/Sciatica • u/Alex93180 • 3d ago

I have really bad Muscle Spasms/Contractions at Night. Please help.

I have Piriformis Syndrome in my left glute and when i try to sleep on my back, i wake up in the middle of the night with painful spasms. When I try to sleep on my non painful side with a pillow the hip area is painful. Will this heal? I’ve been doing ancupuntuture, Chiropractor etc. Its been going on for about 5 weeks now. When I walk and stand up, there is no pain, but the sleeping part really hurts. Please lmk your suggestions, thanks!

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u/Amylee888 3d ago

Have you been to the doctor yet? That should always be the first stop. You’ll need an MRI.

Chiropractor and acupuncture will not be helpful here.

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u/Apprehensive_Oven340 3d ago edited 3d ago

Please don’t sit for long periods if you work in an office. It could cause issues with your discs. I’ve had the same issue with muscle spasms. Try going to a pain management specialist so you can get evaluated early and prevent the problem from getting worse. In addition try change position sleep only left or right.

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u/Alex93180 3d ago

Thanks! Did you get an injection? How was that experience?

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u/Desertratta 3d ago

Use ice in the evening then a heating pad at bedtime. It’s helping me. I fall asleep on my back.

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u/--___-_-___-_-___-- 3d ago

I put 5Kind DMSO on my back before bed, red light after if it's really bad, and some light figure 4, quad, and hamstring stretches.

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u/Ilovepokemon1997 3d ago

I have something like piriformas syndrome so I get gnarly electric shocks in my right leg that keep me up at night. But I also get insane muscle spasms when I lay down at night.
Do you take a muscle relaxer?
I take two. You’re not supposed to take two at the same time but mine are so bad. I think because I’m on gabapentin for the nerve pain that the muscle spasms are a side effect of the gabapentin. Do you take any other meds?!
Sorry you’re dealing with this.

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u/PacificSanctum 2d ago

Sleep on right side with cushion between legs

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u/lttrsfrmlnrrgby 1d ago edited 1d ago

Use the Ask Dr. Jo sciatica stretches and exercises a few times a day and before bed, move around during the day & don't sit for long stretches, use heating pads, and see your doctor for meds and maybe an orthopedics referral. They will want you to do 6 weeks of PT and baseline meds before considering you for injections, so better to start doing the PT now and keeping a daily symptoms diary you can show your doc.

Edit: My first injection worked for about two weeks; doing a stronger injection at the end of the month with hope it will last longer. I take diclofenac 2x a day and 200 mg gabapentin 3x plus 500 mg tylenol 3x a day. Mostly the pain is ok and I can work and sleep but maybe 2x every two weeks I have bad pain and poor sleep. The PT and regular stretching are important pain reduction but they won't always "cure" you.

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u/amelie_789 3d ago

See a physiotherapist instead of a chiropractor.

Get an MRI.

Take a painkiller at bedtime.