Health Organization for Pudendal Education

Faith,
I had an injection into the articular space and ended with pain that went through the roof. The injection irritated the extreme arthritis I had in the joint. I thought when I had the joint fused, the buttock pain would be gone. I was wrong, although pain in the actual joint is gone.

Violet,
Thank you for explaining in detail what you went through with piriformis pain. Today i was going to call Dr. Martin and request an appt. to look into a piriformis surgery of some sort. After reading your post, I think it would be wise to wait. I use the TENS unit daily, all day. Otherwise, I would be on the couch all day. Were you able to do piriformis stretches without inflaming the pudendal nerve?

Ellie,
It does sound like you had inflammation of the piriformis, but maybe it has calmed down. I understand your frustration at not having more improvement after so this much time.

Karyn,
Your situation is truly complicated, but you live a part of the country with so many find tuned specialists, I am hoping you will find some answers to your pain. My prayers are continually with you.

I forgot to mention that my PT used something called cupping last week on my lower back and thigh. It hurt like crazy, but afterwards, I was able to lift my leg higher, and the pain was definitely lessened. Cupping is supposed to increase circulation to these damaged areas we have been discussing.

paulette wrote:Karyn,
Your situation is truly complicated, but you live a part of the country with so many find tuned specialists, I am hoping you will find some answers to your pain.

Thanks, Hon. I'm hoping to find answers, too! Well, that's my problem, Paulette: the "specialists" in my part of the country are SOOOOOOO fine tuned that I really can't get appropriate help. No one has any knowledge of the pelvis in my area (except for Dr. Conway). I'd be golden if I had cancer, a brain tumor, hand/foot reconstruction or needed open heart surgery.

Faith wrote: have ligament laxity (hypermobility)

I seem to have the opposite problem. More often than not, mine feels "stuck". What does it feel like when it's hypermobile vs. hypomobile?

Karyn wrote:

paulette wrote:Karyn,
Your situation is truly complicated, but you live a part of the country with so many find tuned specialists, I am hoping you will find some answers to your pain.

Thanks, Hon. I'm hoping to find answers, too! Well, that's my problem, Paulette: the "specialists" in my part of the country are SOOOOOOO fine tuned that I really can't get appropriate help. No one has any knowledge of the pelvis in my area (except for Dr. Conway). I'd be golden if I had cancer, a brain tumor, hand/foot reconstruction or needed open heart surgery.

Faith wrote: have ligament laxity (hypermobility)

I seem to have the opposite problem. More often than not, mine feels "stuck". What does it feel like when it's hypermobile vs. hypomobile?

Yeah when it's hypomobile I think people complain of feeling stuck. I feel "twisted" a lot in my low-mid back. Hypermobile I think you just hurt and get tight everywhere low back, butt, hamstrings because those muscles are working over-time to stabilize the joint.

paulette wrote: I use the TENS unit daily, all day. Otherwise, I would be on the couch all day. Were you able to do piriformis stretches without inflaming the pudendal nerve?

Paulette, my piriformis syndrome was muscular tension but if you have an actual entrapment then I guess you might eventually have to consider the surgery route. I was able to to piriformis stretches carefully but I didn't start them until almost a year after surgery. I used a lot of alternating ice and heat too.

Take care

Violet