Pain in the butt - Can't sit down

Posted by ecalderman @ecalderman, Nov 21, 2012

I have had very intense pain at my sitz bones for over 7 months and am unable to sit down. when I sit, it feels like I am sitting on two hot pokers or rocks and it is really unbearable. So, I have been standing for seven months. I've been to a couple of spine and pain management doctors, an orthopedist, a chiropractor, a neurologist, an acupuncturist, and a massage therapist. The original diagnosis was ischial bursitis but that ha not appeared on any images. I don't have any issues with any of my lumbar disks. I'm in constant pain even when standing or lying down though those activities do not hurt as much as sitting. Has anyone heard of anything like this before?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

@barbbielor

I saw a vascular doc for testing. He asked me about pain. I told him I had left butt pain. He poked me with a finger and almost sent me across the room. That's the SI joint he told me. Sitting and lying down were most painful. Walking helped it feel some better. I just had pain management do a SI joint injection and the results have been wonderful. Sleeping on that side does not cause pain! Will have the right side done!

Jump to this post

They have poked and prodded my butt to no end. Nothing. I’ve had si injections. Nothing. Seems like I’m a mystery with no explanation. Glad you found some relief.

REPLY

I am blessed with an incredibly knowledgeable and talented doctor who is on top of everything. Before he asked me to be is patient 12 years ago I saw three others. The last one I saw was so frustrated dealing with my allergies he called my current doctor and begged him to take me off his hands. When I asked why he took me on he said everyone deserves the best care and he likes a challenge!

REPLY
@heyjoe415

Oh man I'm so sorry Plumber. I wish I could suggest something but you've been through it all.

I agree about the pain meds and gabapentin. I end up felling messed up and sleepy. I had both knees replaced in 2022 and just used the diluted nerve block they gave me for three days, then Celebrex for a week and Tylenol. But nothing at all like what you are going through.

This is what scares me about lumbar fusion, or any spinal fusion. It's a last resort. For joint replacements most stories are good. I had three laminotomies on S1, L5, and L4 and all good.

I do wish you the best friend. Stay strong. Joe

Jump to this post

Hello, I had a failed laminectomy 2008, THAT SO CALLED SURGEON TOOK OUT
S-1 L-2 L-3. L-4. L-5 NO FUSION, Pain was and still bad. Fusion 2016 failed!! 2008 was the last time I drove. I have always been an independent person but now I have to depend on my husband for bending, getting dressed waist down, Chronic lumbar pain. I have been using a pain pump for years.Now I have Small Fiber Neuropathy, Sojgren's. Pain Management dr. will be doing a procedure wed. 19th to remove scar tissue. hope that doesn't fail either! Enough already!

REPLY
@barbbielor

I am blessed with an incredibly knowledgeable and talented doctor who is on top of everything. Before he asked me to be is patient 12 years ago I saw three others. The last one I saw was so frustrated dealing with my allergies he called my current doctor and begged him to take me off his hands. When I asked why he took me on he said everyone deserves the best care and he likes a challenge!

Jump to this post

I would love to be able to find a doctor like the one you describe. Prior to moving to a new state last year, I had a pain pump implanted because no other therapies were touching my severe, chronic pain that raised its ugly head again in 2021. My new pain management doc here refills and adjusts (too many times to keep count) it upwards. I have never had any relief from this thing...none. I keep asking him to try another option or reach out to his colleagues for some answers. Oh, no. he is wise and knowledgeable and will come up with something. Ha! After nine months, I am in much worse pain than I was when I first saw him. I have taken my medical care into my own hands. Got my PCP to schedule an MRI to see what's going on in the back. Scheduled appointment with neurologist, perhaps get an EMG. I just know that I am sick and tired of this doctor doing nothing that helps me. So glad that you found someone who actually listens to you. I wish you well.

REPLY

Finally got an MRI of my hip after 5 months of gaslighting. Labral tear in two places with ball of hip and socket now misshapen for having been bone on bone for 5 months. Arthritis now formed also. Also gluteal tendinitis/osis.

Flattened hip ball can lead to avascular necrosis of hip which I didn't know was a concern of my PT.

Hip replacement is the fix at this point. Gaslighting has repercussions but I guess only for me. Found a good guy locally. Hip injection today but surgery in trigger finger Tuesday caused by crutch use for years. Probably other hand 2 fingers too before hip.

At least I know what it is now. So.m7ch for the hip guy who refused me 2+ months ago. Might file a complaint as he woyld never give me a reason to reject me - but I'm way better off with this surgeon so I guess it all works out the way its supposed to. Could easily be thanks giving before surgery but meanwhile I'm so grateful to my sister for paying to put my WC hoist in the car. Even after all this, I'm still living with CRPS which is out of control.

Ok. All good news. Not looking forward to any of it but as we all know, even a not great diagnosis beats not knowing for what can feel like the rest of your life. Some of you have been doing this for years. Get a hip mri and have them look for a labrum tear. My pain has been all in my buttock. The pain of it can be present in different places. Hip, groin, butt etc. Wish me luck on the injection today.

If you had one id love to hear how it went or hints about it.

REPLY
@bebold

Finally got an MRI of my hip after 5 months of gaslighting. Labral tear in two places with ball of hip and socket now misshapen for having been bone on bone for 5 months. Arthritis now formed also. Also gluteal tendinitis/osis.

Flattened hip ball can lead to avascular necrosis of hip which I didn't know was a concern of my PT.

Hip replacement is the fix at this point. Gaslighting has repercussions but I guess only for me. Found a good guy locally. Hip injection today but surgery in trigger finger Tuesday caused by crutch use for years. Probably other hand 2 fingers too before hip.

At least I know what it is now. So.m7ch for the hip guy who refused me 2+ months ago. Might file a complaint as he woyld never give me a reason to reject me - but I'm way better off with this surgeon so I guess it all works out the way its supposed to. Could easily be thanks giving before surgery but meanwhile I'm so grateful to my sister for paying to put my WC hoist in the car. Even after all this, I'm still living with CRPS which is out of control.

Ok. All good news. Not looking forward to any of it but as we all know, even a not great diagnosis beats not knowing for what can feel like the rest of your life. Some of you have been doing this for years. Get a hip mri and have them look for a labrum tear. My pain has been all in my buttock. The pain of it can be present in different places. Hip, groin, butt etc. Wish me luck on the injection today.

If you had one id love to hear how it went or hints about it.

Jump to this post

So I'm back and by the way the injection was a cinch and already healping.which means yes, yhe hip pain all this time was was 2 tears in my labrum. Good news. Total hip will fix me. I know some of you have gone way longer than 5 months! So I need to be more grateful.

REPLY

I have had this problem also. After many tests, an MRI found a Tarlov cyst on my tailbone.
I met with a neurosurgeon who specializes in surgical removal.
I opted to sit on a special cushion which are all over my house and in my car.

REPLY

Susan: I also have a Tarlov cyst for which trouble sitting is a common symptom though doctor’s don’t often check for this via a sacrum MRI. I’m going to have surgery with a neurosurgeon in California, one of only several in the country who are specialists in this surgery. May I ask who are you seeing? Private message if you prefer.

REPLY
@westcom

Susan: I also have a Tarlov cyst for which trouble sitting is a common symptom though doctor’s don’t often check for this via a sacrum MRI. I’m going to have surgery with a neurosurgeon in California, one of only several in the country who are specialists in this surgery. May I ask who are you seeing? Private message if you prefer.

Jump to this post

westcom,
I saw Dr Feigenbaum in Dallas. I think I spelled it correctly. That was 6-7 years ago. The surgery scared me and the recovery time did too. Also, I did not care for him. The visit got off to a bad start and he knew that. Seemed to try to make up for it, but I need more of a connection and trust with a surgeon who is going to do that complex of a surgery on me.
I have decided to live with it. As I said, I have ‘butt cushions’ all over house. Sometimes it’s better than other times.
Are you seeing the surgeon in Sacramento? I absolutely wish you all the best. Please keep me posted. This is a complex problem. Just receiving a diagnosis is a challenge.

REPLY

I've had pain at some level for 20 years in my left buttock starting just below the waist and going down the outside of my leg to below the knee. As I've gotten older it's gotten worse. I'm seeing my 8th doctor with only minimal relief so far. Four of them said it was sacro joint pain but I received NO relief from injections. The VA told me they couldn't do anything for me because I had nerve pain. It won't be long before I can't walk. I can hardly put weight on my left leg but the ortho specialist I last saw told me to walk for exercise. The female pain doctor I'm seeing now is much more interested in my condition. She did an epidural but it will take a week to work. I have a follow up with her PA in 4 weeks. I'm hopeful.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.