Hamstrung straun vs piriformus syndrome

Posted , 9 users are following.

It seems I get one injury or another when I either try to increase certain activities or try something new. I recognize the "go slow" concept but I have different issues than the average person. Specifically almost total spinal instrumentation to sacrum. This means my hips don' t "swing" like the average person and my pelvis muscles seem to tighten and I get bursitis OFTEM.

In November my excellent Physio and I tried increasing resistance on the Pilates performer machine. It felt wonderful because it stretched me out . A few days later I developed left butt pain worsened by sitting. I tried various liniments , heating/cold pacs, acetaminophen with variable relief but its not really getting better. My physio went on sick leave for open heart surgery due to a congenital issue so he doesn't even know. In the meantime I twisted my knee turning in bed. I consulted an orthopedist who felt the knee would heal in time - no severe damage. We agreed to do physio for both issues. I realize we have warnings about the damage an incompetent physio can wreak on a pmr person. My physio seems experienced, listens to my concerns and will modify exercised that seem to aggravate the issue. I seem to be tolerating 5 3/4 - 5 1/2 pred taper. It occurred to me that I might notice the injury more since it might have been masked by higher pred dosage.

Can anyone give me any tips that can be helpful?

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    If it were me I'd halt the reduction until I saw how the physio was going. That's because when you change 2 things at once you have no idea what is doing what. Start with very small amounts of any given exercise and build up gradually, assessing the response next day. And never do anything that hurts.

  • Posted

    Karenjaninaz, I probably the worse guy to give anyone advice I am always hurting myself. But I am very active I taught skiing with the help of an assistant, to a dozen 5-8 year ago children today. And will back on the ski slopes in the am. I never reduce my dosage if I think I have any PMR pain. I will double or triple my dosage in 3-4 day steps to get inflammation under control, then reduce reversing the steps. It drives my Rheumey nuts. But it works for me as I try to stay active. Pred has not worked as a pain killer for me, when I have hurt myself bad enough they have given me Hydrocodone that works! Good stay positive, active and try to smile. 😉

  • Posted

    What you experience in normal if you have PMR and try to stay active and test how much your body can take. By probing the boundaries, you are/will hurt yourself; that is how you find your limits. I usually back off for several weeks, focus on stretching and recovery and then try again. Just couple of weeks ago my physio thought I was ready to try light jogging on the treadmill ... It took me a week to recover from just 5-10 min of that session.

    In your case, try to stretch the area of lower back. I can't advice specific stretch, because I am not familiar what range of motion/limitations you have. I would worm up the area with hot pillow or damp towel for at least 10 min before stretch. Hope that helps

    • Posted

      Ooooooohhhhh - Nick, I thought you would have seen that one coming!!! 2-3 mins at first - and preferably NOT on a treadmill as it gives no variation in strike as you would on a normal surface! Even walking on a treadmill is risky at first ...

    • Posted

      I only used treadmill while traveling in hotels , never liked them because of balance, but physio was insisting that we try because treadmill is softer then running on the street ( assuming concrete sidewalks). I was going at very slow speed, 3-4km/h and thought it would be fine...Well I managed to complete without any pain at the time, but later was a different story... Whatever does not kill you makes you stronger, right?

    • Posted

      Nick, I think you are so right I am always pushing that limit trying too increase my endurance. To get stronger I think we must push the boundaries. 🙂

    • Posted

      Hmmmm - not convinced!!! The trouble with the treadmill is that it doesn't allow natural variations in speed and short changes of incline which mean the muscles get the same action over and over - unlike when you are moving on a solid surface - and PMR doesn't like that at all ...

    • Posted

      I thunk I tore something in the area of my gluteus muscle in NOVEMBER ON THE PILATES PERFORMER . I wanted to try a little more resistance. It felt good at the time and was part of my physiotherapy at the time. That was my last session before my excellent physiotherapist went for heart surgery on a congenital condition. The pain there started a couple of days later and still drives me nuts. He doesn't even know this. In the meantime I twisted my knee turning in bed and now having Pt ( different therapist) for both issues. IT's taking forever for the rear problem to improve; I think I tore my gluteus muscle.

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