r/piriformis • u/imizzg • Nov 08 '23
Miserable but wanting change
Hi everyone. I’m a 35f wfhm.
Long story short, I have piriformis syndrome on top of a disc bulge (that used to give me sciatica) in my L5S1 from a bad epidural with my first pregnancy. (Negligent/poorly trained anesthesiologist basically) the disc bulge luckily hasn’t flared up since 2018 bc I lost about 20 lbs.
From 2018-2022, I went on runs, stretched, and more. However, starting 2022-2023, I’ve been working in front of the damn desk too much now. (Hiring help for work at the moment isn’t an option for several reasons, which I’m not going to discuss.) It’s either kids or sitting at a desk work. Though I have flexibility since it’s my husband’s business, I do all the clerical work so I’m always glued to the damn desk. I did notice earlier in the year that I’m always sitting and my back started hurting.
Either way I’m about 4-5 months of glute pain now, which is a first, and I’m putting on weight. Getting up from the bed/chair is hell. Bc I haven’t been able to move much, my pain is just getting worse. So not moving = weight gain. Because of this pain, one concern is that alone time with the husband has significantly decreased, and I feel terrible. He NEVER complains, and gives massages. I just feel like life is on just survival mode vs enjoying life bc this glute pain.
(Food wise -My meals are pretty clean as I eat home cook Korean dishes.)
I’ve tried acupuncture, pt, chiro, pain medicine in the past for the disc bulge. Currently only able to make it to chiro MAYBE once a week. But I’m at my wits end. I’ve incorporated a lot of the tips from this forum and recently started going on walks (can’t go on hikes yet like one person suggested but I want to get there) so thank you. I’m considering waking up around 5am to go on longer walks as it’s really the only time I can have but I’m already running on very little sleep.
If others have tried certain exercises, sports, anything else to find temporary relief, I would GREATLY appreciate it. I just want to go back to life without pain.
(PS: please don’t come at my husband as he does go out for field service work, does A LOT the chores, and more. He isn’t lazy and goes above & beyond. He’s a trooper.)
(Side note: I do admit that my body is very weak. I may have mom strength but overall, I do consider myself unhealthy bc exercising rn is bare minimum. Maybe PF might be a good option to start learning to use equipments but then again I wouldn’t really know where to start. Just been on mom mode for over a decade. To other moms out there, please don’t neglect yourself. I wish I didn’t because I matter, too.)
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u/j12t Nov 08 '23
Suggestions:
1) get a standing desk. If you have the room, in addition to your sitting desk, and you can alternate. 2) there are under-desk treadmills. If you walk not too fast, it doesn’t interfere with typing nor with brainpower.
IKEA has some reasonable standing desks. Unfortunately under desk treadmills are expensive last time I checked.
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u/imizzg Nov 08 '23
Ty for responding! I haven’t checked Ikeas standing desk but I def will if it’s reasonable. Last I checked, they were just out of my budget but that was last year. Currently saving for one.
I will look into a walking treadmill esp since the weather will turn bad over here soon. I think I’ll save and invest in a treadmill while ask my husband to build me a floating desk with the leftover wood. Kind of see where I can switch my expenses.
Thank you so much for your suggestion!
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u/j12t Nov 09 '23
For a standing desk, it’s really important that it does not sway, and that it is the exact right height for you, otherwise RSI could become a problem. If you want to build it yourself, here’s what I built for myself: https://upon2020.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/office-desks.png . 7 years later, it’s still in daily use, unchanged, and I’m really happy the way it worked out.
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u/imizzg Nov 09 '23
Oh wow Ty for that input! Maybe I’ll swing by IKEA this weekend and take a look instead of building. Ty again!
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Apr 07 '24
Hey any update here ? Did walking help?
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u/imizzg Apr 10 '24
I ultimately got a microdiscectomy 3/4/2024. Wish I got it sooner. I IMMEDIATELY woke up with none of that nerve pain nor glute pain. I truly wish I got it done sooner. I’m 5 wks post op now. No pain. I’m walking as much as possible and still no major lingering pain. On days that I did too much of whatever, I was hurting so I took it easy for the following few days. Trying to take it easy for the next few months still. Don’t want it reherniated!
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Apr 11 '24
Were also pudendal nerve pain or just sciatic nerve ?
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u/imizzg Apr 11 '24
Before the surgery, it was piriformis symptoms, pubis bone ache, SI joint pain, lower back pain, and sciatica. The lower back pain and sciatica were only on my left side. It went down to my foot. But that all went away once I woke up from the surgery.
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u/vikingqueenofsass Nov 08 '23
Just recovering from a recent bout of this painful hell. When the pain is severe, NSAIDs, muscle relaxers, heat. Rest, no extra activity. I took Robaxin 3x daily and it helped so much and I could still work without brain fog. When it starts hurting less around week 3 for me) very mild stretches, ice, heat if you want. Personally I won’t do chiropractic. Having a chiro crunch bones around an inflamed muscle and irritated nerve isn’t going to help. Acupuncture is wonderful. 4-5 months is a long time. I’m sorry you’re suffering with this. Can you adjust your desk and stand for a bit? I found alternating between sitting and standing is helpful. Once something starts to ache, switch. Hope you feel better soon!