Dear Nilgun,
Many thanks for your message! My situation is a little complicated
(as always). First, the piriformis stuff isn't severe but it's
bothering me, especially driving and sitting. The sciatica from my
disintegrated disc was much worse. I had a herniated disc, had a
laminectomy/discectomy, and then the whole rest of the disc totally
disintegrated, so I had a fusion. This was all excruciatingly
painful. On top of this, I have Chiari malformation (brain herniated
into neck), causing spasticity issues worse on the affected side,
adult-progressing scoliosis (also from Chiari), related connective
tissue disorder, and autonomic dysfunction. Because of the neck
spasticity and jaw tremor, I've had both types of botulinum toxin
injected into my neck and jaw. I did have some problems initially
with the injections in my neck overweakening me and causing
swallowing problems and trouble holding my head up, but we've
adjusted the dose. This is not the same doctor who does the
piriformis stuff. He actually is very good and had done a lot of
them. Right now I'm just waiting for months for a return
appointment. Of course, I have absolutely no idea what he will do.
I don't think the physical therapy is doing anything for me. it's
not much and very far spread out (no available appointments...) so I
think we're just marking time and making the insurance happy. I'm
really spasmed when I wake up in the morning, because I only have one
position I can sleep in without triggering pain and spasm, and I
don't manage to stay in that all night. I still have over a month to
wait until I can see the doctor. (I made the appointment in mid
July; this has been going on since June after I had the fusion
hardware removed). Thanks!! Jeanne