Sciatica from tennis ball TP work

[english_cousin]

Morning all

Just wondering if anyone else has managed to do this to themselves or if its just me...

Using the tennis ball up against the wall to work TPs in the glutes/buttocks seems to have given me what I can only describe as sciatica type pains starting in the glutes and radiating down back of the legs to the knee. Only did a couple of treatments and have now stopped. However been 3 weeks now and no difference. Pain is worse when lying in bed or sitting on couch but sitting at work in office chair seems ok. Have spent last 3 weeks trying to sleep on my front but never the most comfortable.

I know that treating TPs initially can cause flares and am wondering if i need to carry on working this area and live with the pain or if I should stay well clear.

Since this sciatica pain has arrived I've also started to have bladder pain as well which is a new symptom for me.

Any thoughts much appreciated
nick

[webslave]

Pinched nerve. Get an ice pack and lie on it, with it placed along the spine at the right spot, 3x a day for 15mins at a time. Works like magic with sciatica for me.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=8015

universal-hot-or-cold-pack.jpg

[english_cousin]

I'll give it a go. Tended to keep away from ice packs as heat helps the other chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome symptoms but guess this one is different.

Once this bit is better (hopefully) should I try and work the TPs in the glutes again or keep well away and just try and stretch these out?

[webslave]

You may have a spine problem (arthritis, herniated disc, etc), so I'd stay away from the spine area. BTW, sciatica is caused by nerves slightly higher than glutes:

sciatica_fig02_en.jpg

So with the pain you describe, it may be Piriformis Syndrome. Piriformis syndrome commonly causes pain that radiates down the back of the leg.

[english_cousin]

Cheers for the quick response. It was definitely after working the glutes, nowhere near the spine that this started so Piriformis looks more likely. I'll do some searching on that and will take it easy in the meantime.

Any thoughts on why this might have caused bladder pain symptoms though. Might just be because I'm tense due to this new pain I guess.

[webslave]

Any thoughts on why this might have caused bladder pain symptoms though. Might just be because I'm tense due to this new pain I guess.

Yep. Crosstalk of nerves.

[english_cousin]

HI

Noticed when I did internal work with the wand last night that when deep in about 9 or 3 o'clock I was getting pins and needle type sensation down the associated leg. Is this because I'm on the piriformis muscle from the inside so therefore hitting the nerve similar to if working external?

Wondering where to go with this. Should i stop hitting this area from both external and internal or does this mean I've hit on the problem area and need to work through it.

Thoughts?

Nick

[webslave]

Outside my area of expertise. Suggest you read up on piriformis syndrome. It may need to be treated separately by a PT. As you can see, the sciatic nerve runs under the piriformis and looks like it is accessible by pressure from internal massage:

[Sherradin]

This is so strange all my pelvic symptoms have gone in the last month or so which is so incredible after seven years but I have just had a sciatic attack and have been off work for 4 days. Trying to work out how to get back with all the sitting. I think it was all the forward bending I was doing early in the morning from yoga to get my pelvis relaxed for the day. But the physio who is a sports guy to rugby teams here is using trigger point work on my buttocks. He is intrigued by what I have told him about my pelvic pain history as I guess sports guys get it to and he has asked me to bring in the Clarie Davies book.

But finding it harder to do the pelvic stretches with the sciatic pain down my leg. I am viewing this as a sports injury and so far am surprised it hasn't stirred up the pudendal nerve pain. My back surgery when part of L5S1 broke away from a fracture...its as Weiss says " a series of insults to the pelvis"

[extreme3]

I'm still struggling with the cause of the neuropathic type pain in the soles of my feet/bottom of toes. I have made huge strides in the pelvic pain department but this symptom seems to appear from long periods of sitting as well (pinched nerve?).

I have some soreness from my legs just under the glutes when sitting down but don't have the classic sciatica symptoms of pain radiating down the legs - on the contrary, it appears I have pain in two spots, one of which is some kind of referred pain (in the feet).

I'm still under the impression that treating the pelvic pain will eventually translate to my feet as well. At least I'll keep thinking that way...

[webslave]

I think it was all the forward bending I was doing

That's what sets off sciatica for me.

[english_cousin]

Ref my issues I emailed Tim and got this reply last night. Makes sense, just need to grin and bare it I guess. I'm going to see a physio next week and get him to help as I've always struggled treating the glut area.

Sounds like you flared yourself up then avoided un-flaring; if you don't treat a flare up it will continue to increase. Cool or hot rubs won't do anything for trigger points. You need to get after them gently; sounds like you may have pressed too hard on the piriformis area outside and the obturator internus inside. Look up and treat the gluteus minimus and medius avoid the piriformis for now; if you do inside work you should not feel nerve pain down the leg while your doing it;, follow treatment with hot baths or heating pad, daily until your symptoms subside

Rgds
Nick

[calguy]

I am scheduled for MIR to confirm pinched sciatic nerve. Feels like piriformis muscle is tight but pain doesn't go all the way down leg. From what I am gathering there is no fix for sciatic nerve pain just maintain as best as you can? I have chiro and PT saying they can fix it but I'm sure lots and sessions and money and will probably be little better but not much. I think I will try Yoga stretches and maybe inversion table which friend recommended? I have overall muscle problems to which I began thinking it is Fibro or something. I eat pretty good and exercise only bad thing is I hit the booze on weekends but I am cutting that out to see if have any effect on muscles. Sciatic nerve problem can actually be more problems that my pelvis issues! Not being able to move around at all is really tough!

[robertpagen]

http://www.ccwspc.org/en/show.aspx?qid=6&id=13


one of the many topics covered was piriformis syndrome