Possible S3 nerve damage

Posted by gravey @gravey, Mar 7, 2017

I am new to this site, I have been experiencing pain in my left buttock cheek for over 2 years, that cannot find a cause, despite having had all of the available diagnostic tests, ( MRIs, EMG, Ultrasound, X-Rays ) does anyone out there no of any other tests? I am currently undergoing PT, it has not been much help, they are starting to consider that it might be an S3 nerve issue, as I bruised my sacrum about 2 years ago. Has anyone had an S3 issue?

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@cheek2cheek

Hello, I'm new to this site. I am happy to see that there are others that know first hand what I am experiencing. I received a TB test injection in my left forearm back in February which for some strange reason triggered my S3 pain immediately to my left buttocks. It was as if I took the injection in my cheek. My left buttocks got really hard and swollen. It felt weird walking for a long time. The hardness in my cheek went away, but my left cheek is a little bigger than my right. I still have pain sitting only in my left cheek. This is so bizarre.

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@cheek2cheek when I worked in hospital back then we never had to get TB injections this must be new or do you work with Tb patients ,flu shot yearly only I don't blame U. Iwouldn't get this anymore As Justin said this is very strange to get hip pain ,your body is telling you something

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Hi I am suffering at the exact same thing as gravey to every detail.I have severe pain in my rite buttock which makes it difficult to sit,walk,stand anything.Every morning I can barely get out of bed.After pain meds I can usually function for awhile.The pain is unbearable.And no one has been able to help me.I have had MRI and X-rays,physio,etc no one has helped they says they can’t find anything.The excruciating pain wouldn’t be there if it was nothing everyday.
Thanks
Annette

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@annette50 That sounds painful Have you seen a chiropractor also it sounds like sciatica ?does the pain go down the leg? One thing that helps me when pain is in back is Ice keep it on 15 minutes Dr told me then heat 15 minutes rest inbetween Hope this helps

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@lioness

@annette50 That sounds painful Have you seen a chiropractor also it sounds like sciatica ?does the pain go down the leg? One thing that helps me when pain is in back is Ice keep it on 15 minutes Dr told me then heat 15 minutes rest inbetween Hope this helps

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Yes I have tried a few dr they say they can’t find anything it’s been over 11/2 yrs but lately it’s way worse.
Thanks
Annette

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@annette50

Yes I have tried a few dr they say they can’t find anything it’s been over 11/2 yrs but lately it’s way worse.
Thanks
Annette

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@annette50 So sorry for your pain have you tried different muscle rubs?heat?Tens Unit ,ice as I said before Hope in 2019 you find the cause and pain relief

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@annette50

Hi I am suffering at the exact same thing as gravey to every detail.I have severe pain in my rite buttock which makes it difficult to sit,walk,stand anything.Every morning I can barely get out of bed.After pain meds I can usually function for awhile.The pain is unbearable.And no one has been able to help me.I have had MRI and X-rays,physio,etc no one has helped they says they can’t find anything.The excruciating pain wouldn’t be there if it was nothing everyday.
Thanks
Annette

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@annette50 I have recently been diagnosed with symptomatic Tarlov sacral cysts. They are a type of spinal cyst. Specifically, These are also sometimes called perineural cysts or sacral nerve root cysts They are dilations of the nerve root sheaths and are abnormal sacs filled with cerebrospinal fluid that can cause a progressively painful radiculopathy (nerve pain). They are located most prevalently at the S2, S3 level of the sacrum. The sacrum is a fused triangle-shaped bone comprised of the five sacral vertebrae forming the base of the spine. The five lumbar vertebrae are located just above the sacrum, and the four coccygeal vertebrae are just below the sacrum forming the coccyx or tailbone.

If you do not already have a copy of your MRI reading -- I would obtain that. See if it mentions Tarlov or perineural cyst. They are often underreported and poorly understood by much of the medical community. If there is no mention on the reading -- you can ask your radiologist to re-review the MRI and specifically ask if there are any Tarlov cysts present. Many radiologists were taught that a Tarlov cyst is a clinically insignificant finding. For many people that is the case. About 5% of the population do have asymptomatic cysts of this type. Only 1% of us have symptomatic Tarlov cysts. An excellent source of information to learn more about symptoms is: https://www.tarlovcystfoundation.org/faqs/

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@annette50

Hi I am suffering at the exact same thing as gravey to every detail.I have severe pain in my rite buttock which makes it difficult to sit,walk,stand anything.Every morning I can barely get out of bed.After pain meds I can usually function for awhile.The pain is unbearable.And no one has been able to help me.I have had MRI and X-rays,physio,etc no one has helped they says they can’t find anything.The excruciating pain wouldn’t be there if it was nothing everyday.
Thanks
Annette

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Request your medical records and read through all of your imaging reports in the lumbar and sacral areas. See if there is any mention of Tarlov cysts also called perineural cysts. I have multiple Tarlov cysts and they are causing cauda equina syndrome. Look up The Tarlov Cyst Foundation.

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@annette50

Hi I am suffering at the exact same thing as gravey to every detail.I have severe pain in my rite buttock which makes it difficult to sit,walk,stand anything.Every morning I can barely get out of bed.After pain meds I can usually function for awhile.The pain is unbearable.And no one has been able to help me.I have had MRI and X-rays,physio,etc no one has helped they says they can’t find anything.The excruciating pain wouldn’t be there if it was nothing everyday.
Thanks
Annette

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I know this thread is a bit old but have any of you had your MRI discs checked for tarlov or sacral nerve root cysts?

Many of you have the telltale symptoms of this disease.

It’s a rare and highly misunderstood disease that radiologist ignore and highly underreport on diagnostic reports.

I’ll attach a picture of mine.
They are debilitating and extremely painful. They cause symptoms similar to a herniated disc. They are usually found in the sacrum.

Good luck to you

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I would highly suggest to all of your doctors and PT's to check for Tarlov cysts also called perineural cysts. Most doctors refuse to acknowledge them because they are normally just an incidental finding and are rarely symptomatic. Come to find out there are lots of people that have symptomatic cysts. I would be willing to bet that a large number of "chronic pain" patients are undiagnosed with these cysts. Also, request copies of all your MRI reports to see if they were ever mentioned. If you have an MRI coming up soon be sure to tell the MRI tech. that you want all incidental findings included in the report as some radiologists don't even document these cysts. I spent 16 years with issues after falling in my kitchen and then in 2018 the symptoms started snowballing. I am currently pretty much bedridden. My insurance co. is denying my surgery so I'm in the middle of arguing that out. I live in WI but recently went to see Dr. Feigenbaum in Dallas, TX. There are only a handful of doctors in the U.S. that specialize in these cysts. You are welcome to read my other posts. I think you will find that the symptoms you are having sound all too familiar. Also, check out the Tarlov Cyst Foundation. There you will find the best initial overview. Good luck to you & take care!

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