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NewJerseyJoe
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Joined: 04 Jun 2009
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 Posted: 06/04/09 - 16:41 Post subject: Trouble with doctors asnd diagnosis
Hi all I'm Joe. Back in 2006 I was trying to move something heavy from an awkward position. I was down on all fours and pushing back and up - like a mule kick- with my right foot. I felt some pain in the buttocks, and leg mostly down the back but not below the knee. Then over time - pain is Constant in the very low back, buttocks, side of the hip. Then Intermittantly and erratic the outside of my calf, my ankle and foot, and then my big toe. Prolonged sitting makes it worse. Squatting, bending, walking up stairs, standing up from seated position, crossing of my legs either seated or lying down all make it worse.I was treated with anti-inflamatory meds and rest and it got mostly better but would act up on and off. Then over this summer it acted up but just continued to get worse. The Orthopedist sent me to Phys. Therpay but that made it worse. An MRI of the hip revealed "possible"problem in labrum. I had a cortizone/numbing injection into the labrum of the hip, which didn't help, but that ruled out a hip issue. Then An MRI showed the L5-S1 disc with a degeneration and pushing on the nerve root. I underwent Phys. Therapy again with no relief of pain, but I did get somewhat stronger. Then I took 3 epidurals into the lumbar area, all were ineffective. Then I was directed by my family doctor to see a Neurologist. After his exam he concluded that it wasn't my leg since the leg raises and other movments that would indicate a disc problem weren't increasing the pain much. But some of the positions he put me through - which no other doctor or therapist put me through by the way - be they Orthopedic Surgeons (2), Spinal Surgeon, Anesthesiologist, Osteopath, Physical Therapists, etc.- did make the pain worse. He concluded that it is not the disc but instead the Sciatic Nerve is pinched in the Pelvis most likely by the Piriformis Muscle. He perscribed Flector anti inflam. patches that did give me some relief and incouraged me to try swimming, so I joined the YMCA. He wanted to first do an EMG to see if ant nerve damage was prevelant and then an MRI of the Pelvis if neccessary. Finally I had a doctor whose treatment had given me some relief and offered hope. Not so fast. Through a miscommunication he turned out to be out of my insurance network and so I wasn't able to see him anymore. I brought his thoughts back to the doctors who I had seen. They were imbedded in their prior diagnosis, that is a one in a million chance injury, and referring to the MRI showing the disc problem or - and this is the best - that the Neurologist was only a Neurologist and he was an Orthopedist and more knowledgable about these things. I finally made my way back to The Spine Specialist and I convinced him that the Neurologist may be correct and that I wasn't doing anything towards disc surgery until I was convinced it was conclusive to me. He orderd through my unrelenting attitude, to go through with the EMG. So I am now waiting for the EMG test to happen but still face an uphill battle trying to find another doctor who believes it could be Piriformis Syndrone.
CAN ANYONE RECOMMEND A DOCTOR IN THE NORTHERN NEW JERSEY / NEW YORK CITY AREA WHOM I CAN TURN TO FOR SOME HELP?
Or share their thoughts about my situation. Thanks for taking the time to read all this - believe it or not this is the short version.
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frustratedtoo
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Joined: 03 Aug 2009
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Posted: 08/03/09 - 17:32 Post subject:
I've never posted to one of these forums so hope this works. In my search for pain relief I ran across your post. I recently saw a Dr in Santa Monica CA (Dr Filler) who suggested that my pelvic, buttock, hamstring, leg pain is due to Piriformus Syndrome. I agree it could be part of the issue but felt like it was catch all diagnosis since he makes big bucks doing surgery. Insurance isn't being very friendly since he is way over on what's considered "customary". Either way, you should be able to find a Dr who would agree with this as a cause for sciatic pain.... I'm told pudendal and sciatic ... both sides now (4 years chasing this around). Don't wait... it only gets worse. Good luck to you.... keep doing piriformus stretches and flossing the sciatic nerve.
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