Piriformis syndrome
I've had pain for almost a year. It started with a sharp pain in my buttock that prevented me from walking, climbing stairs, or sleeping. I had two MRIs, which came back normal, and two orthopedic surgeons and one neurosurgeon referred me to a psychiatrist because they said it was psychological.
Three months ago, a sports physiotherapist saw that my nerve was very inflamed in the MRIs. Through some tests, he determined that I have piriformis syndrome.
The only thing that helped was exercising and stretching with a group of physiotherapists who guided and supported me. I recovered quite a bit in a month, until I took a bus for nine hours and everything got worse again. Since then, I haven't been able to fully recover, and the relapses are very difficult. I wonder if, during the recovery period, one has to endure the pain to overcome it or if rest is the only option.
I am 29 years old. I've always been very active—climbing mountains, traveling, physical activity, walking—and my life has completely changed, including my social life. Emotionally, I'm reaching the point of depression.
There are days when I can't even walk, sit, or put my leg on a pillow because it burns all the way down to my toes. And there are nights when it's just pure spasms. Diclofenac doesn't do anything for me; sometimes I take opioids to sleep.
I've discovered that this syndrome is very underestimated, even by professionals, and that frustrates me a lot.
I welcome any advice and tips that will help me get through this stage of my life, which seems like it will last forever and is becoming exhausting.