An additional consideration 's for patient's suffering from Sciatic pain.

[Guest guest]

There is a host of conditions and diagnosis that turns our lives

upside down and wrong side out. However when it comes to having any

pain condition involving the Sciatic nerve it seems to compound

affecting us mentaly and physically.

My diagnosis include Crohn's disease, Rheumotoid Arthritis,

connective tissue disease,C-3,4,5, herniations, Thorasic T-4 and T-5

herniations with severe spinal cord compression and right side

Piriformis syndrome.

I read so many posting's about Sciatic nerve disorders due to many

many reasons . This type of physical pain you cannot get away from it

seems like. As for me , my Sciatic [RT leg] had been mis-diagnosed

for 3 years and I was referred to a psyc for evaluation. It was

obvious to the psyh that there was a physical problem that had not

addressed. My GP ordered additional imaging MRI and CT studies. The

studies came back NORMAL. I was pissed to say the least. For the next

2 days I went on a internet vinge doing research . At the end of the

second night I hit pay dirt.

I was able to uncover a condition named Piriformis Syndrome.

This condition can occur when a person has a slight fall or a more

tramatic fall onto the buttocks. Deep in the buttock's lies a

triangle shaped muscle. Both the left and right Sciatic nerves runs

from the spine through this muscle and then turns down each of the

legs. This muscle is VERY VERY DEEP in the body structure. A person

may or may not even have a bruise from a fall or injury to this area.

It seems very innocent.

However deep inside this muscle where the Sciatic nerve passes

through the Piriformis muscle a bruise or hematoma forms at that

point. The blood from the bruise causes cronic inflamation to the

Sciatic nerve, therefore causing the horible pain that you cannot

escape from. IMPORTANT- > The sciatic nerve can Malform and grow over

or under the Piriformis Muscle causing additional nerve problems.

See the doctors are trained early on that if a patient has

complaints of Sciatic pain they automatically suspect there is a

problem with the lumbar spine or lower. When imaging studies return

and there is no obvious problem they move on and basically write off

your complaints and move on. Thats what happened to me for 3 horrible

years.

Now, I know exactly when and what happened to me that caused my

injury.

I was washing my camper slipped and fell onto the toung of the

trailer hitch. There was not a bruise what so ever.

My research also led me to the type of doctor generally treats this

type of condition. A medical rehabliation physician is the speciality

that can help. Upon seeing the doctor he ordered a " Muscle Specefic "

CAT scan to image the left and right Piriformis muscle.

Upon reading the report and viewing the muscles there was no dought

what the problem was. The left side was normal size and within

correct dementions, However the right side muscle was drawn so tight

and squeezing the sciatic nerve. You could even see the coagulated

[blood] that surounding the Sciatic nerve as it passed through the

muscle and turned down the leg.

BINGO So how do you fix this was my next question. I underwent 3

months of physical thearepy massage with ultrasound 3 days a week. It

took a lot of time and drugs to get through this , it was not

pleasant at all.But it worked.

When you have a condition like this you are constantly looking for a

position of comfort or anything to get some releif. Allthough the

nerve was damaged and I still have some problems with it I feel that

I recovered about 75 percent and I have identified things that I need

to stay away from such as sitting for over 30 minutes and taking a

break from driving prolonged times.

You can do a internet search on " Piriformis Syndrome " to learn more

about it. Maybe my story about this will help others to get treatment

and understand why they have a pain in there butt and leg.

n South Louisiana