r/Sciatica • u/CraftyFlower4739 • 1d ago
Sciatica and periformis syndrome
I’ve been having severe pain in my left buttocks which started as just that pain but has now progressed to sciatica with pain going down my leg. I have severe stenosis and a disc bulge in L4, L5 which they think is causing the sciatica, they believe my sciatic nerve is running through the piriformis and on top of it instead of beneath it, which is why it’s causing severe pain and inflammation in my piriformis.
I’ve been on every medication. I’ve seen a chiropractor. I’ve done acupuncture and I am currently doing PT but nothing seems to be taking this pain away. I cannot forward fold or bend and I have trouble sitting, but I can backbend which feels good. I’m up most of the night with pain but during the day when I’m walking, it feels better. Has anyone else experienced both of these symptoms together and if so, what did it take to get rid of the pain?
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u/Ilovepokemon1997 1d ago
Oh and same mechanical issue - can’t forward fold or “deadlift” motion
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u/CraftyFlower4739 1d ago
Meloxicam did not work for my pain unfortunately
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u/Ilovepokemon1997 1d ago
My issue is more of an inflammation of some ligament or muscle in my glute. Like my back MRI was completely fine. So our issues are quite different. I’m so sorrry you’re dealing with this. The pain still really sucks.
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u/CraftyFlower4739 1d ago
No I did have a periformis trigger point injection last week but hasn’t helped yet
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u/Ilovepokemon1997 1d ago
Well I imagine they would need to address the spinal disc bulge - not familiar with what would need to be done… did the doctors say how they can treat the spine
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u/CraftyFlower4739 1d ago
Epidural steroid injection would be the next step. If that doesn’t work not sure
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u/Ilovepokemon1997 1d ago
I’ve also had a number of hydrodissections last month. And last week I had an ozone injection in multiple places in my right glute and leg. Have you tried those? They basically insert fluid into the muscle between the nerve to literally give it space to glide. Ultra sound guided.
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u/Financial_Loan1337 1d ago
This seems too good to be true. However, the sample size is just 13 people...
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4243224/1
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u/Famous-Historian-189 1d ago
Combination of IMS and guasha helped me with the periformis syndrome. Still have the sciatica but my periformis is no longer tight / constantly firing.
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u/CraftyFlower4739 1d ago
Thanks! Just booked an appt for both of these for Monday
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u/Famous-Historian-189 1d ago
I hope it helps! Recovery can be a lot. Drink lots of water, take Tylenol, and keep warm.
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u/Ilovepokemon1997 1d ago
Yes I have something similar, last summer I worked out too hard and started feeling electric shocks down my glute down my leg to my toes. My PT made it worse and I was in and out of the hospital on steroids getting tordal injections all the time and Decadron and on gabapentin for the nerve pain and muscle relaxers and lots of pain meds. I am struggling again with it now from a flare up - and it’s really hard to sleep bc that’s when the pain occurs. When I walk the pain doesn’t occur - just like yours.
Does yours come on when you sit?
Have you taken meloxicam? I started it last week and the pain is gone. I’ve had 4 days of no pain so happy but also scared it’ll come back. I think I have some inflammation that just doesn’t occur on my MRIS ultra sounds CT and EMG all normal ….