[AGoodwin]

Hoping for some suggestions here...

52 yo female here with tailbone pain that started a year ago (extreme pain upon getting up from a sitting position). The tailbone pain was then accompanied by a permanent painful & numb butt/upper hamstring and also pain/tingling in feet (both sides). I have a sit-down job and am having trouble concentrating due to the pain. My uneducated guess at the cause is that I injured myself from over-training at cycling and/or running (I was a beginner triathlete). I have had 'normal' lumbar and cervical MRI's and also a normal brain MRI (a neurologist said I might have MS). I've had physical therapy (including myofasical release) with no relief. My general Doc said piriformis syndrome, but my pt/chiro/myofasical guy said that is usually just on one side (frustrating when they don't agree on diagnosis). I went to a pain mgt doc who said 'do this stretch' (inside I laughed because I had been doing every stretch known to mankind). After prodding by me, he agreed to do a sacrum lidocaine injection as a diagnostic. I got relief for a few hours from the direct tailbone pain, but no relief at all for the butt/feet numbness & pain. The general instability is now causing what I think is more typical 'sciatica' pain down my left hip and IT band. My general Doc will not give me anything for the pain, although I am to the point of asking again.

I guess my question to anyone who has had similar issues, is should I seek out someone who can do a CT-guided steroid injection? Into the piriformis? Or where? Is this not a common thing that pain docs do because any dr I mention the CT-guided injections just look at me like they don't know what I'm talking about. I have been to 4 different drs (1 neurologist, 2 orthopedic surgeons, a different physical therapist) who give me absolutely nothing to do or try (since the MRI's are 'normal'). My pt/chiro/myofasical has been the most helpful, but even he admits that he is at a loss of what to try next.

Would appreciate your advice so much.

[Leesa]

You said you've been to a Neurologist, but have you been to a Neurosurgeon? These are two quite different doctors. You might try a Neurosurgeon -- he might have a better idea of what's going on.

Other than that, you've covered it quite well ! Can you go to a DIFFERENT pain management doctor? The one you went to sounds like a joke to me. He didn't sound very concerned if you ask me. I would hope you could find one that would work harder at finding the cause of this problem! The one I went to worked diligently at trying to find the reason for my pain -- unfortunately, he wasn't able to.

Anyway - Hopefully if you haven't seen a Neurosurgeon, he'll be able to help you. Maybe between him and another pain doc, they'll be able to help you! I certainly hope so. God bless and please keep in touch. I'd really like to know the outcome! Take care. Hugs, Lee

[AGoodwin]

Thanks for your reply, Leesa!

Actually, one of the surgeons I saw was a neurosurgeon (not an orthopedic surgeon like I said originally). And he agreed with the orthopedic surgeon that the MRI's all looked fine.

I think you are right that I should seek out another pain management dr. I finally got my dr to prescribe a muscle relaxer and I was able to sleep a little better last night.

Thanks again for the help!

Anne

[thinkitdoit7]

Anne,

Many people have neurological symptoms that are so severe with accompanied pain and no diagnosis is ever made. That does not mean that your doctor's shouldn't treat your pain.

Please try other pain management specialists. I know how old it gets when doctor after doctor looks at you like you are crazy and in the mean time you are in ever increasing pain and losing your quality of life.

Be strong and confident in yourself and believe in yourself and do not give up - make sure you find a doctor to at least relieve some of your pain - with whatever works.

You stated that muscle relaxers are helping at night. That is a start. There are many non-narcotic drugs for nerve pain that can be tried and pain management is the place for you to go. Not all pain mgmt docs are the same though - so keep looking.

I pray that you will find relief. Keep us all posted.

[forevernana4]

Hi there and welcome!

I don't have alot of time as I'm on phone and not at my computer but have you looked into si joint pain? It could be what's going on especially with it beginning at training and then some relief of pain with the injection you had?

Please google SI joint pain then check images to see where the pain can be and refer to. If it seems possible check symptoms and especially others personal experiences.

I hope it helps and I'll keep thinking on this one.

Good luck and prayers for answers and relief.

[thinkitdoit7]

Anne,

The other thing to try is a foam roller for your body. Using it daily allows you to give yourself myofascial muscle relief for your legs, butt, hips, back even arms.

As a 49 year old female and extreme athlete with severe back problems that began in 6th grade (have had 100s of surgical procedures, tried: injections, pumps, meds, PT, meditation, everything known to man to reduce pain and remain mobile) finding this simple device to "roll out" the pain in my legs, butt, hips and back everyday is amazing.

I purchased the foam roller on line - google it. I started with a medium density roller and as I got used to it I graduated up to a "nubby" roller which is a life saver for me.

When I first tried the roller it was difficult to perform the movements because my muscles were so tight and it hurt a lot - but it is supposed to hurt at first. Do not give up! Stick with it and in three days it gets better and even releases a lot of pain.

It is like giving yourself a body massage....truly amazing. I paid about $40.00 dollars for the roller and it is worth it. You can go on line and find many ways to use these rollers.

Also, you might ask your doctor to prescribe a TENS unit for you. It provides impulses that interfere with how your brain perceives pain. TENS is an acronym for Transcutaneous Electrical Neurostimulation System (or something like that )

Praying helps alot to in order to get guidance and help in coping....

K