Piriformis Syndrome: How were you diagnosed and what helps?

This was a useful thread that should be kept alive.

I was diagnosed with Periformis syndrome a few weeks ago after months of injections and MRIs in the diagnostic process. Physical therapy was prescribed and I rejected it out of hand, which led to a breach with the physician and a senior practitioner. He didn’t even ask why.

He was replaced by someone who uses common sense and good medicine that reflects my needs and my condition. But it takes time.

Why that breach occurred is that is in initial treatment for a torn LEFT rotator cuff, I was put into Physical Therapy and in the second session received a serious injury to the RIGHT arm, from elbow into the fingers. Acute tendonitis. Due to that and practitioner illness, I changed orthopedics and had successful LEFT shoulder surgery and physical therapy went well until a day late in the program when I was re-injured in the same place, even more severely, on the RIGHT side. Eleven months later I can hold a glass or cup with minor difficulty, and but I am not pain free. Use of the hand results in renewed pain and soreness. I’m being treated by a hand specialist.

I have Osteoarthritis that affects most joints to some degree. Debilitating Rheumatoid Arthritis is in remission after several years, but left its mark. I was unable to lift a glass of water or coins, write my name. I consider physical therapy in the usual factory setting dangerous to me.

I first had a laminectomy at L4-L5 30 years ago after collapsing in the drive, unable to move. My surgeon was doubtful but a double cervical fusion 13 years ago resolved severe pain that has not returned. I’ve had years of general and specialist neurology approaches. Some things resolved, others not.

Extensive testing in the past until recently has demonstrated abnormal nerve reaction on the left side into the feet, less on the right side.

My balance us. Increasingly precarious without treatment,
.
But I’ve had recurring pain in the left buttock, radiating down the left leg into the left foot with cramping so severe that I ruptured the Achilles’ tendon while sitting about 10 years ago. I’ve subsequently had similar cramping in the right foot, although less severe. I find myself experiencing acute pain in my feet, somewhat less in the legs, usually left side. At night I feel dagger like pain in the left foot and resort to sleeping upright.

I had a diagnosis of PIRIFORMIS syndrome about two months ago. I was told physical therapy. I refused. I decided that day that doctor was fired because in seeking to enforce his dictate he involved another more trusted doctor, so it was a double breach. Neither ever asked why I said no.

So I will get a referral to someone I can trust who I know has experience in effectively treating nerve Pain.

Diagnosed many years ago after a car accident. Had PT then acupuncture before I felt better months later. I now get occasional episodes and immediately start exercises. I'll see the acupuncturist if the exercise isn't enough. The trick is not to wait but start working on it right away.

I have been suffering with sciatic pain for months. I just had an ESI two weeks ago but it did not relieve my pain. My physician now has scheduled me for a steroid injection in my Piriformis muscle. Has anyone had one of these injections?

I haven’t had that. I have had piriformis pain before and it’s quite painful. I hope the injections work for you. I got them in two frozen shoulders once and they were quite helpful. The one in my back, not so much.

Yes I had a shot of cortisone. It helped a bit for I would say a month. I also have a physical therapist who uses his thumb and puts pressure on the area. That helps a little too. That muscle is a huge problem for me.

Hi, @denman55. I moved your discussion and combined it with an ongoing discussion titled "Piriformis Syndrome: How were you diagnosed and what helps?" - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/piriformis-syndrome/.

You can meet members discussing similar symptoms of piriformis syndrome and various injections they've tried like @lesb0298 and @marilynredder2367.

@denman55, have you tried any other treatments for your pain, or was this one of your first treatment options?

Yes. I didn’t help much. And it was for a very short time.

When the symptoms first appeared, I thought it was Sciatica. My spine doctor performed an ESI on me, but it had no effect, and the pain continued to get worse. I ended up in the ER, and had to be given Morphine, Percocet and a Lidocaine patch for the pain. I couldn't walk, stand or sit without being in horrible pain. I will be getting the injection this morning into the Piriformis muscle and hope I get some relief from it. I can't go on like this any longer.

I was diagnosed with Piriformis syndrome at Cleveland Clinic. It only got worse. Turns out the diagnosis was wrong. It was actually a disc in my L5-S1 and I ended up in the ER with Cauda Equina syndrome!

First of all, I am unclear what my diagnosis is. The specialists gloss over this. I have some kind of problem at the L5. I have had a total of 6 injections. The last three were specifically piriformis injections. As far as I can tell, they don't help much. I have been disappointed each time. That said, I don't know if things could be worse without them. I am at the point where I think back surgery may be the solution.