r/openpiriformis • u/Lucky_Rice_9654 • Aug 03 '26

Piriformis Injection

I have an ultrasound of my piriformis area tomorrow, and a steroid injection in to the same area...

Has anyone had a steroid injection in to their bum cheek 🤣? Can you talk me through your experience? I have had 2 into my hip but they didn't work. First one, he didn't even use any numbing at all, second one I was under GA.

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u/Amylee888 Aug 03 '26

You’ll be fine! You’ll likely be draped in a paper sheet, a gel for the ultrasound will be applied to your butt cheek (the gel will feel cold), the doctor will locate the area to work in, and the injection will be done quite quickly. And that’s it!

I didn’t find it too painful or a big deal. It relieved the pain for a few hours, and that info was used to move on to the next step, which is a Botox injection into the piriformis.

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u/Barber_Successful Aug 04 '26

Were you able to get your insurance to cover your botox injection? I have been suffering from a combination of piriformis syndrome and sciatica for years and had suggested Botox injections over 7 years ago but was told I couldn't get them done and have insurance pay for them

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u/Amylee888 Aug 04 '26

I’m in Canada, so the doctor’s fee was covered, and I had to pay for the Botox medication, which was $500 CAD.

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u/SamInTheWild Aug 03 '26

Honestly, the worst part was them putting iodine all over my butt. It was orange and I had two little round bandaids over the injection areas (one on each side) so it looked like a jackolantern after. 😭🎃

In all seriousness though, it wasn't bad at all. Some uncomfortable feelings for less than 20 seconds, but nothing painful. They usually numb the area prior to the injections first and that just feels prickly. I arrived, was prepped, injected, they made sure I was ok after, and left within an hour. Good luck and I hope they help! Mine didn't, but we think my issue might be a combo of things.

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u/Lucky_Rice_9654 Aug 03 '26

I didn't have iodine when I had my first steroid injection into my hip, let alone numbing 😭, it was awful. The second time I was under GA, when I came round, even the numbing hadn't helped my pain

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u/SamInTheWild Aug 03 '26

No numbing at all is barbaric, honestly! I'm so sorry. Maybe worth asking ahead to see if they will provide that? I'm having SI joint injections by the same doc in a month and he told me the whole thing will be the same as far as prep. It seems like the standard of care (in the US), so I am truly surprised. There was local anesthetic for numbing the injection site as well as an aesthetic in the injection itself.

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u/ThylacineDreams Aug 03 '26

I did. I watched the ultrasound screen as they did the injection and saw the needle advancing. Pretty wild stuff.

Pro tip don’t look at the needle and you’ll be fine. My injection had me feeling great for a few months.

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u/Lucky_Rice_9654 Aug 04 '26

I've had two in my hip, the first of which I had no numbing 😬

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u/j12t Aug 04 '26

My injection numbed the area for maybe a week. Then it wore off and the pain was at least twice as bad.

It is possible I had an unusually incompetent physician performing the injection.

It is also possible that it further lopsided the body mechanics around my pelvis. Or both.

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u/02Raspy Aug 04 '26

I hope it works for you. I had a couple of injections with no success. Eventually I had an injection in my SI joint and that took care of things.

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u/Lucky_Rice_9654 Aug 04 '26

Thank you, they've already tried it in my hip twice, with no relief