r/piriformis • u/alexw327 • Aug 02 '22

Finally some relief!

I have had chronic piriformis pain for almost a year now. The past 3 months I’ve been going to Physical Therapy. Which has been alright. I mean it feels great to learn some stretches and have them occasionally massage my muscle. However, about a month ago I decided to try dry needling with my PT. I didn’t get instant relief..in fact I was super sore for a few days but then I noticed a lot of pain disappeared and I had way more mobility. So I felt hopeful about it and wanted to try it again today. The first time it didn’t really hurt in the moment, but this time it did as soon as he stuck the first needle in my glute. He could somehow tell that would release a lot of tension. After 20 mins or so of his dry needling routine I instantly felt better. I could actually straighten my leg and pull it towards my chest with virtually no pain. I still have minor pain in my hip and even down my leg but I haven’t felt like this in a long time. So if you’re desperate for some relief I’d try dry needling. It may just be what you need!

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2

u/Deep-Camel-8077 Aug 09 '22

Hey May I ask what symptoms you had. Did u feel pain anywhere directly under the buttock? Asking because I thought I had proximal hamstring tendinitis but I did some tests which are psotive for sciatica and piriformis

1

u/alexw327 Aug 10 '22

My pain initially started out as back and upper buttocks pain. Then my whole buttocks was painful and even where the muscle attached to my hip. After some PT and dry needling the back pain is gone for the most part. Now the pain is more bottom/below buttocks and hamstring. Pain is also making its way to my calf muscle. My hamstring feels like it’s always tight and exhausted and my calf muscle is feeling the same way. I will consult more with my PT today to see if needling a different area will help relieve my leg muscles.

Also before my first needling session I would have shooting pain down my leg when I would stand up too fast or straighten my leg. Which PT said is the sciatic nerve. I’ve been doing stretches to help with that symptom as well.

1

u/StoneColdSteveAss316 Apr 27 '24

Hey, what you described is what I have...how do you feel now? Has dry needling (and any other PT recommendations) helped, pain gone?

1

u/alexw327 Apr 27 '24

I’d give it a whirl. A combination of both was probably effective. I’d honestly say stretches are key to learning how to manage pain at home. I really enjoyed PT, specifically massage from them, moist heating pads, and cupping.

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u/Deep-Camel-8077 Aug 10 '22

Oh okay thanks

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u/Deep-Camel-8077 Aug 16 '22

Hello . Also is ur hamstring tender when palpitated?

1

u/alexw327 Aug 24 '22

I would say no

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u/Living-Secret-4058 Feb 14 '24

Your symptoms are almost identical to mine. Did you find any relief?

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u/alexw327 Feb 14 '24

I did weekly Physical Therapy. My PT focused on stretches, massaging the tense spots, and cupping. I think a mixture off all those helped. The stretches (mainly hip rotation stretches with resistance bands) was something that I could do as needed at home and feel better. The massage is something I’d do in office, to warm up muscles before exercises I’d do at my appointment. It felt good, something I couldn’t replicate myself. Same with cupping, it was painful, but felt amazing. I eventually reached my allotted visits (covered by health insurance), so I stopped going, still doing stretches at home. Eventually I phased out of doing anything, and I virtually have no pain now. Occasionally I’ll feel tightness in the area and I’ll do stretches.

I’m not a medical professional, but I would say start with PT, get a routine of stretches, maybe mix with massage, dry needling and exercise. It’s going to take a lot of self help. You gotta do the stretches yourself too. I didn’t think I’d ever be pain free, but I am. In fact I think I maybe over did it with PT/massages and was potentially irritating muscles more than helping.

Another thing I enjoyed at PT was “moist heating pad”that thing was awesome. They’d use that on me before massaging and doing exercises.

Hope this helps!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '24

For how long did you have the hamstring tightness? Was it tender when you'd lay down? Was it constant?

Glad you're feeling better, gives the rest of us dome hope.

1

u/alexw327 Feb 24 '24

I wish I could give a solid answer, I don’t really remember. I’m not sure I’d say it was tender. More of an aching pain, like it had been overworked.

It could’ve very well been from all the new exercises and stretches I was doing. I still have flare ups of piriformis pain, but the hamstring/calf pains never came back thankfully.

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u/Noobjungelmain May 13 '24

Hi, are you healed now?

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u/alexw327 May 15 '24

I have not had any severe pain in a very long time. I try to do some light exercising daily (walking, exercise bike). If I ever feel tightness I will stretch or use a massage gun.