RiPHRaPH

They believe it's piriformis syndrome. It's clearly sciatica in some shape or form. The exercises, stretches, and trigger point massages have not really helped. After the painful massages and stretches there is some temporary relief.

What I don't get is that the stretching routine, multiple times daily, and I feel tighter than ever.


He felt the stretches and all may have been adding to the irritation.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I've been following this thread. You never mention your age. I'm 51. Every 51 year old has degenerative lumbars. I also used to go to choir's,etc. A good physiologist helped me. I also tighten up after all the stretching. I felt worse after concentrating on all the stretching. Some people are just naturally tight.

So I concentrated on my core. Planks. Roman candles. The stretches I do concentrate on opening the hips. I have battled tight ITBs and strengthen the abdutors and adductors. My issues are from playing goalie. After games, I tighten up and can barely get out of bed. My right hip feels bone/bone.

Going to the gym and doing the adductor machine helped overnight. I'm walking and running without a limp for the first time in almost a year.

I couldn't even stand on the pedals or swing my leg over the top tube of my bike. I'm just now getting it back.

Core
Abductors
Adductors
Pray.

inspclouseau

Good info thanks. And everyone else who has replied.

My PT sessions ended last week, and over the past three weeks have been going back to my Chiro 3x a week.

I feel very slightly better. This weekend though was great. Not 100% but drastically better.

I went back to my PCP early last week and he talked me into muscle relaxers which did nothing but make me feel stoned. I went back on Thursday and he was very close to giving me a script for an MRI and then reneged because of spondylitis. He is adamant that's the root cause and referred me to an Ortho. Hopefully the one I go to will care more for my well being than the almighty $.

McBTC

...or, Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS), also known as trochanteric bursitis.

inspclouseau

Good info, thanks! I haven't heard of this one yet and will study it a bit.

Met with my Ortho this morning. He thought it rather absurd that the primary thinks it's spondylitis and most like piriformis syndrome. Possible hip bursitis. Prednisone and MRI of the hip is next.

If not cleared up in 2 to 3 weeks, and depending on the MR dx,next steps is a meeting the Ortho and pulling in a neuro.

Bassmanbob

I'm glad you finally got to an othropedic surgeon. A really good chiropractor can be worth his weight in gold. But if all he's doing is adjusting you without fully evaluating your muscle strengths and weaknesses, joint range of motions and overall bone structure, then it's time to move on. In my experience, the most useless doctor for aches and pains are your primary care doctors-- unless they are serious athletes too.

arsprod 

I've been following this thread waiting for you to have an epiphany diagnosis. I have what seems to be the exact same problem (right leg for me). What caught my attention is that you said yours is worse after sitting and you're fine while riding - bingo (daily commuter). After about 6 months of pain I finally went to a chiropractor referred to me by another cyclist. This DC is also a cyclist and commuter and their office has a PT staff.

I've been seeing them since August and slowly, VERY slowly started getting some relief. The first thing they did was teach me how to sit (sounds odd I know) but that simple change was huge. The other thing that helps is the foam roller concentrating on my lower back, piriformis, glutes, hamstring, and quads. I have a roller and tennis ball in my office!

I guess my point is while I wanted a definitive diagnosis and fix it hasn't happened. But it is getting better. And then I do stupid things like drive 8 hours without many breaks and have weeks of horrible pain again. Please keep updating especially after getting the cortisone injection.