Originally Posted by ginnie

Dear Matthew,
I am so sorry you are suffering. I have a great deal of empathy for those with back pain as that has been my issue as well. I don't know how many physicians you have seen, but by the number of different treatments you have endured, I would say quite a few. I hope you have a pain specialist that will offer you more than what you currently are on, or have tried. From the sound of it you have not really recieved a concrete diagnosis. I am not familiar with piriformis syndrome. For sure, you need to find out exactly what is wrong. If all has failed in the direction you have gone, I would suggest Mayo clinic. You have all your records. When my pain became so bad that I didn't want to be here anymore, I was given morphine. My condition as is yours, warrents strong medication for you to have any quality of life. I would at this point ask your pain specialist if he would try this medicine. It saved my sanity, until I could get to the point of a second spinal fusion. If it has not been offered to you, I would ask at this point. Mayo clinic can get to the bottom of most diagnosis. Of course I hope others will chime in and offer you some more alternatives to those locations. You need the very best, so that you again can have quality of life. Your post said that you didn't have much of a life as it is now. That is not acceptable and I hope you go for more help and don't give up. Maybe find out about piriformis syndrome and find a specialst in that field.
You can't give up. Your family needs you. Do seek more help for the pain, and go across the country if you have to, to find an answer. Nobody should have to suffer that much. I do not know what state you are in, but if you post that, and your location, there may be others who can name a specialist that might be able to give you a diaganosis and a better outcome than you have now. I know very well, the depression that comes with severe pain. I had been told there wasn't anything more they could do for me, and I endured for six years of __ll. Then I plowed ahead and sought out another neurologist, that had one of the best recommendations in my state. Please keep going forward to find the answers you need to have a good life. My out come eventually required alot more surgery,. It was worth what I had to go through to get to the point that I have now. I wanted to give up too at one point. I hope alot of others will respond to you and add anything they can to try and help you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Don't be afraid to ask for a really stong medicine since so many other things have failed. ginnie