Ouchie update

[deborahjross]

Doc at BC Med says my ouchie sounds like piriformis syndrome (deep butt muscle can press on sciatic nerve) so we're doing prednisone dosepak (in/n/out in 6 days) -- my choice, as I can't write on muscle relaxants and my stomach won't take more than a day or two of anti-inflammatories -- and rest and special exercises. Interesting, after less than a day on the stuff, I have full range of motion back. I'm about to sit down and write, so we'll see how sitting goes. If this doesn't do it, we'll try PT, which is good by me.  Stuff on web says a hamstring injury can lead to the syndrome (as can long sitting, but that's not negotiable -- or rather, I might be able to train myself to get up and move around more, but the total time is what it is).

Comments

[flavoroflove.livejournal.com]

'm glad you're feeling better! I have sciatica myself, and it can be rather distracting. I hope this does the trick for you. Take care!

[cardigirl.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the meds. I've been debilitated in the past with sciatica, so I sympathize. Worst case, you may have to stand to write, with the computer and/or keyboard raised up, like a certain friend-writer (mutual (I think?)).

Hooray

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

I love prednisone. I know it does really awful things to you long-terms, but it is a miracle drug. After 1 day, I had 80% painfree range of motion and could sit for an hour comfortably. Each day is a little better. I'm doing stretches and rehab exercises, too, and resting from other exercise to let things calm down. Rose can tell you that it takes an Act of Congress to get me to back off exercise, but I want this to be Over.

So I'm feeling very optimistic that this was the correct diagnosis, and once we get the sciatic nerve inflammation calmed down and the piriformis muscle stretched out, I'll be on my way. I also put weight on the diagnosis because, looking back, I had not done any strengthening exercises for my gluteals for some years, but especially in the last year and half, since I stopped working full time. Then, I'd walk on hills (flat walking doesn't do it). This whole thing started (hypothesis) with what I thought was a hamstring injury about a year ago, but could have been piriformis spasm during an exercise that required gluteal strength. Hmmm...

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Yes, mutual friend, although I hadn't realized it was that bad.

So far, so good! The real proof will come in a week or so, when I'm off the prednisone and the effects have passed. Hopefully, I'll be well on my way with the rehab exercises and stretches by then; but if not, the next step is physical therapy. After that, definitely a strengthening program!

Why is it...?

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

That whenever I mention I'm having a bout of sciatica, everyone has advice for me? This, despite how well I'm recovering, that I'm following the doctor's instructions...? I'm not asking for advice or even sympathy, but find my hypothesis of how it all came about intriguing, a new way of understanding the role exercise plays in my life, a chance to explore different ways of staying strong and active.

I see the same thing in friends with asthma or migraines. Everyone's an expert.