This is not unusual, and there are studies to support it.
Here is one list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allodynia#Drugs
and if you haven't already, I would look further into the condition and other treatment modalities.
Google: allodynia treatment

HTH,

Doc

Hi, and I am sorry the current protocal isn't doing you much good. Please continue to ask your pain doctor for additional help. I so hope that you can get the relief you need to have a good quality of life. Tell your doctor, that your quality of life is lousy, maybe she will allow you to try additional meds. I wish you all the best. ginnie

I'm a 39 year old male. I was very active prior to the chronic pain. I'm at my wits end. My anxiety and depression are at their worst. I'm now in psychotherapy, but I don't think one hour a week of talking about how my pain is degrading my mental capacity is helping me. I'm not criticizing all therapy; it's just not helping me with pain. I need to find a way to stop the pain or I fear that I will simply give up on everything.

My pain is in my right buttock daily, and often travels down into my right hamstring. After golfing 18 holes, my pain will manifest itself in my groin for up the three days.

I wake up every day at a 2/3 on the pain scale. Sitting in an office chair or in a car cause my pain to rapidly increase from a 2/3 to an 8/9. When I say rapidly I mean 10 to 30 minutes. My right butt muscles spasm randomly every day from one spasm episode to multiple episodes lasting anywhere from 1 to 10 seconds. The spasms do not trigger painful sensations. I take Baclofen to stop the spasms but the pain is not relieved.

My relentless journey to find the reason and cure for this pain includes:

Imaging
Over the last 4 years I’ve had several MRIs (with and without contrast) of my lower back, right hip and hemi-pelvis, x-rays of lumbar spine, ultrasound of ischial bursa area, and whole body bone scans. The MRIs show:

L4-L5: minimal posterolateral disk bulges are identified bilaterally. There are no focal significant disk herniations or evidence of central canal stenosis. There is mild narrowing of the neural foramina bilaterally.

L5-S1: There is a small broad-based posterior central disk protrusion at this level. There is no evidence for compromise of central canal or nerve roots. There is no significant foraminal narrowing.

Treatments

Over the last 4 years I’ve tried the following treatments, and have summarized each treatment’s effectiveness.

Cold and Heat Therapy: Doesn’t relieve the pain.

Piriformis Stretching and Neural Flossing: Provides immediate relief, but only temporarily.

Core muscle strengthening: Doesn’t relieve the pain.

Psoas muscle release: Doesn’t relieve the pain.

Piriformis muscle release: Provides immediate relief, but only temporarily.

About 3 months of weekly Physical Therapy: Doesn’t relieve the pain.

TENS unit: Delays the onset of the pain, but causing skin irritation and discomfort.

Sitting on a 70cm exercise ball versus office chair: Doesn’t relieve the pain.

Sitting on a FitBall disk on top of office chair: Doesn’t relieve the pain.

Sitting on pillow on top of office chair: Doesn’t relieve the pain.

About 3 years of weekly Chiropractic manipulation: Doesn’t relieve the pain. I did learn that I had fallen arches, specifically on the same side as the pain. I have ortho inserts and wear them daily now.

Acupuncture (3 visits): Doesn’t relieve the pain.

CT-guided Epidural steroid injections in L4, L5, S1: First injection relieved the pain for 6 months, second injection relieved the pain for 3 months and third injection relieved the pain for 2 weeks.

CT-guided Ischial bursa injection: Doesn’t relieve the pain.

CT-guided Piriformis injections (steroid and Botox): First steroid injection relieved the pain for a couple of months; second steroid injection relieved the pain for 2 weeks. Botox injection doesn’t relieve the pain.

RF Ablations of T-11 through L3 twice with 3 month periods (Sept 5 and Dec 2, 2011), Doesn’t relieve the pain.

Pain Management

Ibuprofen/Aleve/Tylenol: Doesn’t relieve the pain. Took Ibuprofen almost every day for 1 year and ended up with Gastritis. I stopped taking NSAIDs. I cured my Gastritis by drinking Aloe Vera Gel over a 3-week period.

Darvocet 10MG: Decreased the pain by 1-2 points for 30 to 60 minutes.

Hydrocodone/APAP 10MG: Decreased the pain by 2-3 points for 30 to 60 minutes.

Oxycodone/APAP 10MG: Decreases the pain by 4-5 points for 1 to 1.5 hours.

Lyrica: No pain relief.

Gabapentin: Couldn't tolerate.

Topirimate: Only been taking it for one month. Haven’t noticed any pain relief from it.

Lidoderm Patch: Just started wearing these five days ago. Doesn't relieve the pain when sitting, however, when I wear the patch and don’t sit upright I feel great.

Baclofen: Stops the buttock muscle spasms but doesn’t relieve the pain.

Lidocaine: Had 10cc injected about ½ inch below the skin above the center of the Piriformis (my wife is in the medical field) and all of my pain went away for about 45 minutes. I even went for a long drive after making sure my leg wasn’t numb and no pain was triggered.

I’m now thinking of having Piriformis Release Surgery. I live in Milwaukee, WI. Does anyone have any advice for my after reading my story? My anxiety and depression are winning the battle at the moment. It’s affecting my work and my family life. I’m losing myself. I’m not suicidal because I have kids that need and deserve their father, but if it wasn’t for them there would be no reason to continue this suffering.

Sincerely,

Matthew

Attached Files

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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

Ginnie,

Thank you Ginnie (sobbing as I write this). I'm so sad right now. My family went to open gym without me because I didnt want to deal with the pain it would cause me to go. I'm laying on the couch feeling sorry for myself and read your post and it cheered me up a little. I have thought about the Mayo Clinic but I heard that I would have to move there for three weeks. Looking at the big picture that would be so worth it. I'm in Milwaukee, WI so it's not that far away. As far as Morphine, the thought of that scares me. Will I be able to function on it? Does it impair motor skills or speech? I dont know much about it. I also heard that it's habit forming and can be very hard to come off of. I cant handle anymore anxiety in my life. Im already at my tipping point.

Hi msabona,

Most of what you've "heard" applies to illegal/recreational use/abuse of narcotics.

Morphine and other powerful pain medications are intended for people who are in chronic/intractable pain, and likely will be for the rest of their lives, or for a very long time. For those people, these medications are often the only way they can function and have any reasonable quality of life. In the event things change, they can be gotten off of gradually, with their doctors help.

ALL medications have potential side effects. Opioids are no different, but for most people, those side effects (as with other medications) are temporary, and fade after a few days. People who take them long term do not have impaired motor skills or impaired speech; most can drive and perform their day-to-day tasks without impairment from the medication.

"Habit forming"? It's important to understand the definitions of, and difference between, terms related to these medications.

Dependence ≠ Addiction.

http://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/...finitions1.pdf

Opioid medications often/usually do produce physical dependence. So do gabapentin, Lyrica, topiramate, and many many other NON-opioid medications. Statistically, less than 3% of chronic pain patients prescribed opioid medications become addicted, and those few almost always have histories of substance abuse or psychological problems.
http://www.health.com/health/conditi...9482_1,00.html

Doc

I feel your tears. I feel your sorrow. No question, I understand all those emotions triggered by pain that is not in control. It makes you out of control in your life. Depression eats up the rest of it.
I did sob to my PCP who origionally helped me to start the process of disability. He looked at the MRI also, and he told me about morphine. That freaked me out too. I asked alot of questions, and here is how he answered me. "You may be in pain all your life, I see no resolution to the severity of your neck. Try to think of this medicine as insuline for those who are diabetic. This med will give you back some quality of life." He told me all about the addictive properties, so I didn't accept blindly. I took the med. in small doses, and it was increased just to a point that I could function well. It gave me back my life. I experienced no high, no side effects, no blurred vision or anything else. Just blessed pain relief. I took this for six years, and transfered my pain management to a doctor in that field. He Kept me on this medication until two years ago. My pain had gone over the top again. This time I had to have a second fusion C3-7. I had also reversed the curve of my spine. The vertrebre had toppled over like dominos. After this fusion, which was successful, I have been kept on the very lowest dose. Coming down from this medication is terrible. There was some miscommunication after my surgery. I didn't get enough pain control after the fusion, as they did not take into consideration that I had been on this med. for years. I also have an ankle condition, where I need two new ankles, and a joint relaced in the ball of my foot. I still take a low dose. Unless I get new ankles, I don't think I will ever be able to be free of the medication. Thats OK. It has not stopped me from looking into the possibility of new ankles. Maybe it can happen. Until then, I am very glad that I have this medication. I do not worry about being addicted. It saved my sanity, my doctors are compassionate. I do exactly what I am told to do. I keep a journal. Of course I don't know if it is right for you, but I was allowed to have my life back where I can function as a human being again. I would indeed ask you doctors about this med. There is also methadone, but that one was not offered to me. I am not afraid any more. If I get new ankles, well I will deal with coming off that medicine, when the time comes. Until then, I am blessed to have come so far. I don't want you in the pain that you are in. It deprends I guess if your doctors will be compassionte. Bring your list of treatments, good grief you have tried so many different things. Surely, they will give this soul saving med. to you. I will keep you in my prayers. You are welcome to ask me any question you want. I am here for you to listen and try and help you. Have hope, try not to cry, get you records together, go to a pain specialist and ask. That journal will help him understand just how bad your pain is. Tell him everything! I am still on this medication so I can walk. Contact me anytime you want. ginnie

do any of these symptoms sound familar . If so you might have chiari or syringomyelia

http://chiarione.org/symptoms.html

I just wanted to say i have the same exact symptoms you have. I've been to so many doctors that i've lost count. The burning is excruciating and nonstop. I've taken so many different drugs also. Including Lyrica and gabapentin among others. I finally came across a neurologist that had seen this before. He told me it was due to a stomach virus i had the week before it occured. The virus had damaged a nerve in the body and he told me that the nerve could not be found and even if it did it could not be repaired. I really don't know if his diagnosis is correct but there is one thing i DO know. He put me on a drug called lamotrigine. It's originally designed for epileptic patients. But its off label use is for nerve damage. It worked like a charm. My pain went from a 9 to around a 2 or 3. I will be on it the rest of my life but who cares. He had to call my problem neuropathy in order to justify giving me the drug. Please consult your doctor about this drug. It may help. Wishing you all the best.