HELP ! Piriformis problem ... :(

Hello,
Ever since surgery down there I have had trouble with esp my right piriformis muscle.
I had a really bad bout of it last year at this time. I also had a microdiscectomy in the same year I had my hyster -2004

. I am told by my NEW chiro that once a piriformis is inflammed and angry it can pull other muscles, including your lower back, squeeze your sciatic, and starts to mess with muscles in the front of your belly, upper legs and side of hip.
Yep. That is what I am putting up with. I went to other chiros who just told me it was my lower back where I had the surgery. I went to this new younger one I heard about ( darn good lookin too , blush) and he said it was that and he stretched all those muscles for me. Quite painful at the time but felt good when he was done, and he adjusted my lower back . It took the pain down that day. He sent me home with stretches to do and told me to ice it where it hurt. well I've been bad about the icing part. I prefer heat and epsom salts I've been taking otc naproxyn sodium at night to help me sleep.
I had drs treat this last time and I didn't like what they did. I got over in 6 months ( ughhh) They injected me with cortisone shots in the muscles and I barely tolerated that , and it made me cry the rest of the day (hydrocortisone drops estrogen levels in your body)
So..... this bout is not as bad as the last but still hurts and is very annoying.
Can anyone help me???? with any suggestions who has dealt with this?
Last resort is getting it cut. I would greatly appreciate any support esp from ladies who have had this and gotten "over it"

(Ps. I did notice this kicked in after I started a step aerobics program. about Thanksgiving. when I was thinking I needed to lose some weight and I did it almost everyday. Now I have this again.

HI Ann,
My piriformus acted up some, but a bit of therapy and working out on an ellipitical machine helped a lot Don't give up -Keep that inflamation knocked down -- it is the worst vicious cycle. Have you tried a good physical therapist? They can do more than massage or stretching. Have you tried somatics? [http://somatics.org/] or acupuncture? I think you have a lot of options other than surgery! Take care, Jean

thanks, Jean. I found two chiropractors who are young and new and work together. They have alot of extra training in soft tissue management and use alot of Physical therapy techniques such as massage and stretching. They have stretched me so much and massaged away trigger point there that it has helped alleviate the pain. I feel quite alot better thanks to them. It is the absolute worst cycle to get involved in. The inflammation is a bugger to keep down. I tried going back to low impact aerobics once since I started with them and I had to go back today to let one of them restretch me on the piriformis and IB band. I have exercises I am to do daily and I started out well for several weeks thenstarted to feel good and quit icing now I have to start back again. I appreciate your help.

It sounds like you are in good hands. Stretching is the most important thing you can do for Piriformis and ITB syndromes. As good as the heat feels, ice is probably the better choice to reduce your inflammation. Perhaps you can describe to a friend how the massage is done. Even if they just sink their fingers (or elbow) into your glutes, that can help relieve some of the pressure. I described to a friend how her husband could help her and she had good results. Good luck!