I couldn’t get through life without my TENS machines. It’s won’t cure the problem but will interrupt the pain cycle.
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I didn’t get a Dr visit today so didn’t get to ask what it will take to have one brought in.
I do have acupuncture tonight which I’m looking forward to.
Feel better!
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I started having problems with the piriformis a year and a half ago. It hurt a lot and they thought I might have an inguinal hernia. Turns out not. Certain stretches helped a lot (lying on your back, one leg bent with foot on the ground, put the ankle of the other leg in front of the bent knee and lift up the knee from behind with your hands to really stretch out the hip and groin—my favorite). I’m sorry, and I know it hurts. I hope you get relief soon.
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I’m so sorry!! I had piriformis inflammation for about three days once and it was awful. I was crawling around my house—it was so painful to stand. I think I caused it by doing side lunges with weights where you push back up to standing. (Also possibly contributed by running up hills.) I’m a very inflexible person with super tight hamstrings. What helped was gently, slowly doing reclining, resting pigeon with the bottom of my foot against the headboard of the bed or a wall.
Also, lying on my back with one leg up and yoga strap under arch. Gently, slowly tipping the leg across my body towards the floor on the opposite side. Bent knee and very careful not to over stretch. Over stretching made it worse. Stretching after hot bath was good.
What’s happening to you sounds so much worse. Hoping for good pain relief asap!! Wish they could test people for predisposition to opioid addiction, and if they don’t have it, just give them something for relief so they can think and hope for a few hours.
Best wishes!
Yes, I can actually do that stretch and it helps.
I had a physical therapist visit a short while ago - he warmed up the general area and then pushed his thumb deep into the muscle. We were chatting at the time, and I literally threw my hand into my mouth to keep from shouting. But we both felt something happen. Moments later I was up on my feet with a walker and walked the equivalent of a block! He wheeled me back. He’s going to come back tomorrow but even he says he is thrilled - I’m in a skilled nursing facility and at 64 brought the age median down by numerous points! 
He said he never gets a chance to go deep tissue with the elders but talked to his supervisor who gave him the ok to try with me since overall I’m healthy and young.
While I’m exhausted from the work the pain is currently at a minimum.
And I’ve been cleared to use the restroom in my room, with a walker and assistance!
Yes folks it really is the little things in life!
Stay healthy everyone. And keep those cards and letters coming!
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So glad to hear! It’s such a painful condition and we don’t hear about it. I hope that things will continue to improve!
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Feel better!
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I dealt with this about 5 years ago. It was absolutely the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. There were many days I could not walk.
The entire episode was made needlessly worse by the nurse-from-hell gatekeeper between my doctor and me. I had been his patient for 30 years, but at the time this happened, I hadn’t been for my annual exam for 3 or 4 years because I’m a procrastinator and I never get sick. Even after they had copies of MRIs, she was convinced I was a drug addict trying to scam him for pills. Uggghhh She reduced me to tears more than once.
The good news is that I did have two steroid/epidural injections. The first one worked well enough that I could function and the second one did the trick. I have not had any pain since then. But, I am still somewhat traumatized by that experience and so fearful that it will happen again that I never leave the house without muscle relaxers and pain meds just in case.
The specialist who did those two procedures is now my 2nd favorite person on the planet and my family is aware of that. 
Sending you lots of empathy and good wishes OP. Hang in there!
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Thank you for sharing your experience - do you recall how far apart your 2 injections were?
4 weeks.
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Thank you!
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Happy to report physical therapy has done deep tissue in the piriformis which has allowed enough relief to walk (with a walker) the equivalent of about 2 blocks. Of course they only come 1x a day but it’s something!
Dr is waiting for radiology to get the epidural but it could be another week or more.
I feel more hopeful than I did! 
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Better is positive at least. May things work out quickly, whether man-made or is there any chance of your body helping to fix itself?
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I believe my body will help in the process for sure. I’m fit, kind of young , and extremely healthy overall. And most of all I want to heal!
My mantra has been “Sí, se puede!” Spanish for yes we can! I’m not Hispanic but it fits my feelings to a tee!
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I’m glad things are feeling better. Nice to hear that PT and deep tissue work helped. The information on this syndrome was a revelation, as had not heard of it previously but certainly knew of sciatica. I’ll be interested to follow your progress, and some optimism in the process is great!
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@JustaMom, can you clarify something for me? Does the pain worsen with bending (from the waist, like to touch your toes) or with walking? I understand your pain was so severe you couldn’t walk, but that’s different to me. Does it hurt if you cough or sneeze? If you’d rather not put your personal medical history on a board, feel free to message me. (I’m a physical therapist.)
I only ask the above because, generally, piriformis syndrome is really aggravated by sitting, but not generally with the above movements. Usually, deep tissue work, tennis ball mobilizations, and the figure 4 stretches people described above help a ton. If you have pain with bending, coughing/sneezing, I’d want someone to rule out sciatica, as those typically don’t aggravate the piriformis. Note, though, that the piriformis can go into spasm with sciatica and can be very painful to palpation. But if you are heading down the epidural route, I want to make sure they are targeting the root of the problem.
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Same! I mean literally no other part of my body is hurting except the piriformis - who knew? I love the internet!
Thank you!
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Literally it only hurts when I bear weight, ie sitting, standing, walking - the act of walking isn’t painful, it’s the weight bearing aspect. I can raise my leg, I can sneeze/cough without dying (unlike when I really had sciatica). I can bend, knee to chest, flex my feet & toes, and after p/t I can move my leg well enough in a figure four to massage my foot. I can lay on my back but without meds cannot lay on the left side (the hurt side) - my left leg feels fatigued and heavy. Nerve & reflex tests all are fine.
I have zero qualms about sharing because I’m fascinated by how our bodies work!
I’ve been given the go-ahead to get the TENS so I ordered the one suggested above. For $35 I can be a sport!
Thank you!
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Don’t let anyone tell you differently - it’s the little things in life that bring joy!
I had a hard day yesterday. After (finally) getting my meds straightened out, I slept soundly through the night (until 5:30 when I was woken for meds) until 7:30 - decided to get up and dress myself (part of occupational therapy) and now I’m sitting in a padded bottomed wheelchair eating breakfast. I’m sure to be tired soon, but it will be “good” tired!
Although it’s not my nature I will slow down today, I just wanted to get a head start before my energy waned!
I chose this for my mantra today: I am going to be an active participant in my full and total recovery!
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