Does anyone have gluteal tendinopathy? Any successful treatments?

Posted by bunstuffer @bunstuffer, Mar 11 5:20pm

I have gluteal tendinopathy and am getting to the point that I can hardly walk. I've been to 8 doctors and had injections of several kinds to no benefit. I've been to physical therapy at least 10 times with very little benefit (I must have done 10,000 "clam shells" and "bridges").
The only thing that helps some and gives me a few hours of reduced pain is hydrocodone. I don't know if there's any point in pursuing more treatment.

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Just because you didn't have luck with one therapist I suggest not throwing in the towel. Plus, they need a few sessions with you. I pay out of my pocket because the one I've been going to for a year does the best job. Just amazing.

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Profile picture for bunstuffer @bunstuffer

I've been to 4 orthopedic specialists one at a large university hospital/clinic. The last one locally told me he couldn't help me because my problems were all soft tissue and not bones and joints. He did do several injections none of which helped much. I've been bothered by this issue for at least 40 years and it has gotten gradually worse. It started from a fall I had while in the Army. The VA recognizes that I have an injury but rated me 0% disability. After all, I was a WAC so how would I get hurt that bad? I went to the pain clinic at the VA and they told me that they couldn't help me because I had nerve pain. They offered hydrocodone or tramadol. I try to keep moving because if I don't I won't be able to. I'm also caregiver for my husband who has aFib and other heart issues. Guess I just keep on doing what I'm doing. I WILL go back to the orthopedic guy and ask about surgery. Thanks.

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WAVE Here. 71 yo. did you get the surgery? I have been fighting this along with Gluten Intolerance and Fibromyalgia for decades!! and all VA has done is Gabapentin and such! I had to go outside the system to get Loratab. but at least VA got me a caretaker so I can age in place, 10 hours a week... and neighbors fill in for cooking a meal here and there. Thank God for Amazon and my local delivery drivers that check on me.

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Profile picture for glutenfreebyhalia @glutenfreebyhalia

WAVE Here. 71 yo. did you get the surgery? I have been fighting this along with Gluten Intolerance and Fibromyalgia for decades!! and all VA has done is Gabapentin and such! I had to go outside the system to get Loratab. but at least VA got me a caretaker so I can age in place, 10 hours a week... and neighbors fill in for cooking a meal here and there. Thank God for Amazon and my local delivery drivers that check on me.

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“…any point in more treatment…”
My pain is different, in my head and hasn’t reached 5years yet… I get occasional breaks and it seems nothing to what you’ve gone and are going thru. A beautiful wife I wonder why she stills here. Kids call… auto text: ‘headache. Gone thru every available treatments and pain (?) reliever. Hydrocone from the ‘pain clinic’ didn’t help me, if they didd, I’d be taking em. Step those up a few or more notches. That would help, but god-forbid, you might want to go on living and get addicted.
I’ve reached those times that I won’t put in print. Crazed pain takes over rational thought… that’s when it comes… the memories of all the friends gone, aftermath, pain, horrible wretched path of destruction left behind for all the loved ones to deal with the loss. I’m not saying there are times when leaving isn’t the right choice. It’s just for me, by stopping my own pain, I’d be leaving behind so much worse pain.
My god… how did I wind up here?
‘bun-(?)’you’re 71, I’m 67. You’re a vet from the period of a war that I just missed because of my age. I had 3 older brothers. Here I am bitchin and moanin again. I have no idea what it’s like to go thru what you do. For me, when things are bad, I’d take anything that’d help. Pain? I don’t know a fraction of the pain so many people live thru. 🙄 I also have cognizance decline (?)… I meant all this to mean something but… at this point… all I can say is… (it all sounds so phony) I hope you find something to help

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Profile picture for glutenfreebyhalia @glutenfreebyhalia

WAVE Here. 71 yo. did you get the surgery? I have been fighting this along with Gluten Intolerance and Fibromyalgia for decades!! and all VA has done is Gabapentin and such! I had to go outside the system to get Loratab. but at least VA got me a caretaker so I can age in place, 10 hours a week... and neighbors fill in for cooking a meal here and there. Thank God for Amazon and my local delivery drivers that check on me.

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Glad you got some positive response from the VA. At the time we served there weren't many women in the military like there are now. When I first went to the VA, the only other women I would were the staff.
I've also got fibro. I've never been back after he told me that I didn't need to come back. They moved the primary care from central location to the far south side of the city and it 's just too inconvenient to go there. I don't expect anything positive from the VA. They didn't even offer me a cane. I'm trying LD Naltrexone but I'm about to climb the walls because of pain. It takes so long to start working IF it works. In the mean tome you can't take hydro or tramadol.

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Profile picture for loriesco @loriesco

Just because you didn't have luck with one therapist I suggest not throwing in the towel. Plus, they need a few sessions with you. I pay out of my pocket because the one I've been going to for a year does the best job. Just amazing.

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I've been to at least 5 different physical therapists over 25 years. It helps some and then there's no further improvement.

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Profile picture for bunstuffer @bunstuffer

I've been to at least 5 different physical therapists over 25 years. It helps some and then there's no further improvement.

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In my case, a doctor told me I have to continue doing it for the rest of my life. There will be no "healing" as I continue to age. I will need to be on a maintenance schedule.

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Profile picture for bayhorse @bayhorse

Could you please tell me what dose of LDN you are taking for the gluteal tendinopathy? Also, did you start low and titrate up? (I have heard variously that titrating is and isn't necessary.). I was taking 4.5 mg last year for stenosis and glute pain, and it seemed to be working great, and then suddenly quit working. I would like to try it again, but my current doc is clueless about dosages.

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@bayhorse
Hi, BayHorse -

I think you mentioned your "butt" surgery was helpful. Would you please tell me who the surgeon was and in which city the surgery was done. I, too, have gluteal tendinopathy with high grade tendon tears and tears in the med and minimus glut muscles, but I also have atrophy and fatty infiltration. Don't know how that happened since I've been an active weight lifter and hiker for decades. Any info you can provide would be great.
Thank you,
Joanne DePhillips, M.D.

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I am wondering after doing some research regarding Ain issues and menopause if low estrogen levels might be responsible for a lot of our symptoms.

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Profile picture for gigglemama @gigglemama

I am wondering after doing some research regarding Ain issues and menopause if low estrogen levels might be responsible for a lot of our symptoms.

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@gigglemama
You may have hit the nail on the head. Low estrogen changes our bodies a great deal and not in a good way. I would also add osteoperosis--also linked to estrogen levels to the woes of aging. We can try to undo some damage with supplements. I am consuming collagen along with krill oil as per my physiatrist and a friend who is a nurse. Hoping for improvement!

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Profile picture for loriesco @loriesco

Just because you didn't have luck with one therapist I suggest not throwing in the towel. Plus, they need a few sessions with you. I pay out of my pocket because the one I've been going to for a year does the best job. Just amazing.

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@loriesco

I agree. So far no luck with physical therapists but I am willing to try again. Can you explain what your therapist is doing to help you? In my case, the therapists went gung ho and pushed me along too soon.

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