Hello Steve. "Musculo ligamentous chronic pain
disorder" is probably a better label/description than
Piriformis Syndrome(PS). PS is too limed a concept to
help your wife.
When you fall on your butt, it pushes up the tailbone,
& that jams all the structures up and adhesions form.
The piriformis is probably tight because its
attachment is now further up than
usual because her pelvis is not in a normal
functioning position. This can result in any number
of symptoms, pains, etc. And mechanical tests can not
show where the nerve is being pressed or even where
the problem is.
What I don't like about the label "Musculo
ligamentous chronic pain disorder" is it implies the
condition is permanent & a doctor will tell you to
learn to live with the pain.
Most doctors & even Physical Therapists don't have
adequate understanding of the bio-mechanics of the
pelvis & soft tissue injury to the Pelvic Floor
muscles.
If she gets treatment for PS, she will get a program
to stretch the Piriformis muscle, which by itself will
probably not solve the problem.
Instead, I encourage her to look for a PT, who is good
at SACRAL MOBILIZATION
work. Not all PTs can do that kind of work.
She probably needs biomechanical work to get the
sacrum/pelvis back to its normal position to take the
pressure of the nerves & the muscles as well as
breaking up adhesions.
I suggest a PT who has done upper level course work in
the techniques of PTs like Stanley Paris, Ola Grimsby,
or Sharon Weislfish-Giammateo. There are not many PTs
in the U.S., who have this advanced training. I have
no idea of the numbers in Aussieland.
I'm not a doctor or PT, These are just the opinions of
a 25 year, chronic back pain patient, who has tried
most things, except surgery. I have found all doctors
& most PTs know very little about the diagnosis &
treatment of this kind of injury. I hope I have
pointed you in a more productive direction. Good luck, Mary
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