I fear that I may have PN.....desperate for some help

[desperate]

Lucky for you Lucky. You picked a great name to have, seemed to have worked out for you. Cant say the same for myself. Maybe I should change my name to "cured" and see if i have the same domino effect.

PT has no relief for me at all. Makes me wonder if I do have an entrapment. When i do stretches it seems like my symptoms get worse. Which also makes me wonder if this means its entrapped or impinged. Every time I do stretches i get pain the next day. Really not sure my options at this point. I really wished i was one of the few like Lucky that would be so "lucky" to have PT help.

I seem to have very tense gluteus and piriformis muscles, as every time i go to PT she seems to do trigger point on these points but with no avail. A few days ago I was using the acuball on the piriformis muscle and got a very sharp pain down my leg. I asked my PT about this and she said I put too much pressure and probably hit the nerve. But this makes me wonder a little. Could my Gluteus and Pirifomis muscles be so tight/tense that it is putting pressure on my PN (as i did mention that i do have some minor symptoms of sciatica as well- cold feeling down leg, tingling and numb in feet etc)? Additionally, Ive noticed that whenever i do a piriformis stretch (google piriformis stretch) it seems to aggravate my symptoms even more. Not sure if this is a correlation. I also researched and one of the things that Dr. Antolak suggests is to stay away from stretching the piriformis muscle. Why is this? Can anyone add some viable opinions as to what they think this could mean? Should i stay away from stretching this?

-Dom

[blightcp]

I also researched and one of the things that Dr. Antolak suggests is to stay away from stretching the piriformis muscle. Why is this? Can anyone add some viable opinions as to what they think this could mean? Should i stay away from stretching this?

-Dom

Priformus strech could make things WORSE, not better for PN. I have also heard the yoga can really irritate the PNif it gets streched to much. The stretches that I see online all compress the PN at the same time. This is why my PT says that it must be done manually by the PT for PN.

So, yes IMO, I would stay way from this.

I will PM you some other information.

[joeparz]

I agree with the no stretching.

Stretching just seems to make everything worse. Unfortunately from all the weird contorted positions PN subconsciously makes you do and not being able to stretch, i am turning into a statue from unused tight muscles.
I am firm believer that no two cases of PN are alike and all information you have to take with a grain of salt because everybodys experience with this disease is totally different.

I will say physical activity seems to help me. Which i find odd

[desperate]

Ya i am confused with all of this to be honest. I went to a massage therapist today and she worked on the pirifomis muscle and the gluteus a little. I also told her stretching the pirformis muscle seems to aggrevate my symptoms. I wonder if there are specific stretches that should be done that does not stretch the PN. Does anyone know specific stretches that would be beneficial that wouldnt stretch this ?

[Violet M]

Can't answer everything at the moment but just wanted to quickly say that some of the literature suggests that at certain points, the piriformis muscle can impinge on the pudendal nerve. The pelvic structures, nerves, blood vessels, etc. are very interconnected with variations in nerve pathways between different people. It is not an exact science so it's partly a matter of figuring out your own body and finding what treatments work for you.

Violet

[desperate]

Just reading this over to try and see if I've missed any useful information...

I have Valium (diazepam) and understand that it is a muscle relaxant and will help relax the pelvic floor. However, I have yet to take it simply because out of the several internal examinations that I've had each doctor said that I do not have a tight pelvic floor...does anyone know if perhaps the Valium will help in another way other than just the pelvic floor? Has anyone taken Valium for other reasons other than to relax the pelvic floor?

[Laramarie]

Hi Dom
Valium is classified as a benzodiazepine and it works by slowing down the nerves in the brain. It is usually prescribed for anxiety. I use it combined with bacofen (muscle relaxant) and I have a compounding pharmacy mix it into a suppository. I also don't have muscle tightness but for some reason it helps with my pain. Are you prescribed it in a pill form or a suppository?
I thought you had an appointment with Dr G today? Get him to prescribe it in the suppository and I will phone you where the compounding pharmacy is.......

Lara

[lucky]

hey guys,



it seems as though my symptoms are somewhat back to what they were. I mean, I THINK i'm better, but i'm not sure. I still have the urge to pee every 30 minutes or so, but my PT insists that's simply the bladder "whining" and a result of the routine i found myself in.


Either way, I continue to go to physical therapy and they say that they can feel significant improvement in muscle tightness. But does this mean anything at all? Somewhere in the back of my mind, thoughts of PN/PNE still linger....scary stuff. Nevertheless, my PT continue to assure me that things progress is no linear--that there can be volatility.


Any feedback? Oh, and what exactly should the valiums be accomplishing? Should i take them throughout the day?

[Violet M]

Lucky, does the valium seem to help reduce your pain level or help you sleep better when you take it? If not then I don't see the point, really.

Violet

[lucky]

The valium definitely helps a bit-sleep, allows me to sit longer without having to pee.


I'm just not sure as to whether I'm progressing or just convincing myself that things are getting better or worse. Just wish there were an objective, definitive way of finding out whether or not I'm getting better.