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Gluteal tendinopathy - endless pain - losing my mind

Posted by emarks @emarks, Nov 29, 2025

Has anyone else dealt with this:
I'm now up to 5 months of daily pain, the the last two weeks have been the worst. I'm totally losing my mind.
First diagnosis was L5/S1, with disc pressing on nerve. I had cortisone shots, then an epidural. Not much relief, although with time the L5/S1 pain seems to have subsided. I've been doing physical therapy for almost the entire time.
For the past two months, increasing pain in left buttock and often sharp pain in left hip area. Diagnosed with piriformis syndrome, new MRI shows gluteal tendinopathy. I got two cortisone shots for that 6 days ago.
The hip area pain just keeps getting worse. I've had to cancel many plans and limit my activities. It's very depressing and is driving me crazy. Just wondering if anyone else is dealing with this and if they have any suggestions for both physical and mental health. Thank you.

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theresaag | @theresaag | Feb 20 9:19am
In reply to @abdamurph "I’m having same issue after my lumbar surgery with fusion last year March 2025. Pain started..." + (show)
Profile picture for abdamurph @abdamurph

I’m having same issue after my lumbar surgery with fusion last year March 2025. Pain started in August and gotten worse, went for MRI and was diagnosed with this. Seeing my Ortho tomorrow and I’m sure he is going to want to do injections which I will not do don’t work for me. Also have issues with Sciatica pressing on periformis muscle. He thinks I’m self disgnosing and says this really isn’t common when I know it is. I’m still doing PT but just a bandaid for the pain, don’t know what I am going to do.

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@abdamurph
Many times I had injections that did nothing. Then I got a pain mgmt doctor at barrow. She is amazing, no pain, ultrasound guided and she knows where to hit what hurts. I will continue as I believe the body can heal without surgery just might take a couple of years.

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snu | @snu | May 23 12:33am
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@emarks When did you have your last MRI of your lumbar spine? When did you have..." + (show)
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@emarks
When did you have your last MRI of your lumbar spine? When did you have your MRIs of your hips/pelvis/sacrum?

I have spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, cervical myelopathy and neurogenic claudication. I have had 2 cervical and one lumbar spine surgeries. I may need 1 more cervical and 1 more lumbar due to new compression.

I was diagnosed with bilateral gluteal tendinopathy and bilateral partial hamstring tears. I had no idea how this happened but believe due to sedentary lifestyle/long term computer work, spinal stenosis, etc. that affected nerve communication and neuromuscular function. I currently have severe stenosis L2-L3 and may need surgery due to the significant impact on my walking, standing, stair use, hip/hip flexor pain and weakness. It is frustrating and depressing so I can relate. I am scheduled for a spine injection this Friday to see if it helps with any of the pain. I am doing physical therapy to try to strengthen my surrounding muscles which helps some. I am in significant pain in my hips/hip flexors when I wake up in the morning and believe it is due to swelling/limited blood flow overnight, gravity when I stand up, stiffness, etc. It gets a little better as I move around and my body wakes up.

Due to chronic pain for many years, etc. I take 450 mg Wellbutrin/bupropion to help with major depression. This has helped me get out of bed and do my best every day. I take one day at a time and prioritize what’s most important to accomplish each day.

I really don’t want more surgery on my spine but may not have many options due to being born with a congenitally narrow spinal canal. Degeneration with age is going to continue to cause me problems and I need to face my reality and make the best decisions possible to help improve my quality of life for whatever time I have left on this earth (I am currently 56).

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@dlydailyhope oh my! I wish I could take all your pain away.
My pain is one side only but I am dealing with heart failure and pulmonary edema at the same time and heart drug side effects.
My mind is affected too. I am in limbo with gluteal treatment as my doctor says basically said just manageyour pain

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snu | @snu | May 23 12:46am

In Canada if pain is too much they offer MAID.
Medical assistance in dying. Health Care in US is better

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spillihped | @spillihped | May 23 12:53pm

Have you tried "shock therapy" (EPAT: Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology) or PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)? These can help tremendously to decrease pain. I had two sessions of EPAT (each a 15-minute weekly treatment for three weeks) with mitigation of pain and better function six to eight weeks later. After not having been able to walk without severe left leg/hip pain for thirteen months, I'm now hiking the hills in my neighborhood.
Good luck!

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ellesea01 | @ellesea01 | May 23 2:14pm
In reply to @snu "@dlydailyhope oh my! I wish I could take all your pain away. My pain is one..." + (show)
Profile picture for snu @snu

@dlydailyhope oh my! I wish I could take all your pain away.
My pain is one side only but I am dealing with heart failure and pulmonary edema at the same time and heart drug side effects.
My mind is affected too. I am in limbo with gluteal treatment as my doctor says basically said just manageyour pain

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Sorry you're dealing with so much. Thanks for sharing here. Hope you're finding some relief. ♡☆♡
@snu

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arbez | @arbez | May 24 10:02am

May want to be evaluated by a hip specialist. What you have sounds a lot like a labral tear. Mine was caused by FAI (femoral acetabular impingement). Mine was diagnosed with an arthrogram. And yes it caused a lot of pain.

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snu | @snu | May 24 4:10pm
In reply to @spillihped "Have you tried "shock therapy" (EPAT: Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology) or PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)? These..." + (show)
Profile picture for spillihped @spillihped

Have you tried "shock therapy" (EPAT: Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology) or PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)? These can help tremendously to decrease pain. I had two sessions of EPAT (each a 15-minute weekly treatment for three weeks) with mitigation of pain and better function six to eight weeks later. After not having been able to walk without severe left leg/hip pain for thirteen months, I'm now hiking the hills in my neighborhood.
Good luck!

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@spillihped wow I am so glad to hear that and that you are enjoying your life again.
🥰

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pamglutemedius | @pamglutemedius | May 25 1:33am
In reply to @snu "In Canada if pain is too much they offer MAID. Medical assistance in dying. Health Care..." + (show)
Profile picture for snu @snu

In Canada if pain is too much they offer MAID.
Medical assistance in dying. Health Care in US is better

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@snu hi I'm just curious... I live in USA& the state in which I live does not believe in honest pain mgt except for "spine". I have crps & told to manage it with ibuprofen and ice or heat or Acupuncture which is not easily available
I came from a different state where I was in a pain management program & trying a lot of diff treatments weekly acupuncture, opioids physically assisted PT & a special pain psychologist. Now many days it feels easier to be on the other side of life-since there's no available oain relief option, Canada may have a good solution😢

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snu | @snu | May 25 5:18am

Yes, I can well understand how you feel. In Canada's "free" health care system there isn't enough noney for treatment and so MAID is available. They are opening it up to babies and children now. They offer it to you if you are poor and depressed as well.
Living in chronic pain, it is tempting but I have to remember the consequences and effects on my family and friends.

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bunstuffer | @bunstuffer | May 25 11:09am

I have been to 9 doctors including a large teaching hospital. I have had at least 24 injections over the last 4 years. Nothing. Couldn't even tell I had them except for the discomfort at the injection site. A week ago today I had a platelet rich plasma injection. No sign of any improvement. My doctor told me several months ago that I just needed to live with it. If I have to spend the rest of my life in pain I hope I don't live much longer. Hydrocodone doesn't even help much. I've been doing physical therapy for 5 years and I just keep getting worse. All my friends are out enjoying retirement going to concerts and on trips and cruises and I can barely get to the car to go to the grocery store. The social groups i was in volved with stopped inviting me (I was told straight out that it was because I can't keep up). Sorry for venting-just feeling sorry for myself.

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