My butt has been hurting for almost two years. Approximately 20% of American adults live with chronic pain. I’m beginning to accept that I am one of them, and it’s breaking my heart. I did and taught parkour for years. I literally scaled buildings and vaulted over concrete walls. I didn’t go a week without kickboxing (unless I was traveling) for 20 years. It’s only been in the last five years that I discovered how much I LOVE running (never thought I’d say that) and actually enjoy yoga (no, this injury doesn’t even like yoga).
I started seeking diagnosis and solutions for this pain back in February 2024. The following is a list of doctors and treatments I've spent thousands of dollars in copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket on. We can sing it to the tune of “The 12 Days of Christmas” for funsies.
4 orthopedists
2 neurologists
3 physical therapists
30 sessions of PT (with 3 different physical therapists)
4 MRIs
2 X-rays
2 EMGs
3 cortisone injections
acupuncture
massage
chiropractic
dry needling
somatic tracking per The Way Out by Alan Gordon (brilliant, but it didn’t work for me)
...and I know there's more, but that's what I've diligently recorded. I've had to completely give up kickboxing, running, jumping, lunging, squatting, deadlifting, etc (aside from simple, bodyweight demonstrations for my clients). The only exercise I do now is walking, upper body resistance, some core, and cycling once or twice a week.
Even though the MRIs, X-rays, and EMGs have consistently shown that there is no nerve compression, each of the providers I’ve seen continued with routine radiculopathy/sciatica treatments. I’ve described my pain in detail. It's in my right glute (specifically, in my right gluteus maxima, arguably in my piriformis), hamstring, and popliteal tendon behind the knee. It's aggravated by sitting (especially driving). I’ve taken to standing up to eat if I’m at home, but will sit for as long as I can if I’m out to dinner. I have to sleep prone with a pillow under my hips, or on my left side with a pillow between my knees.
Every doctor and PT I’ve seen has asked me, "How's your back?" even when I’ve seen them more that once, and I would have to repeat those details, adding that my back does NOT and hasn't ever hurt. The first ortho I saw literally threw up his hands after he saw my MRI results. I suggested that maybe it’s piriformis syndrome. He said that piriformis syndrome is unlikely because it’s “too easy,” whatever that means. He said he’d have to refer me to another doctor. When I asked him who, he said he'd get back to me. He never did, and he didn’t return my portal messages or calls.
I had terrible insurance at the time (I use marketplace since I'm self-employed), so I signed on with a supplemental insurance program. I saw their PT (who had worked with the Houston Rockets) for ten sessions. She continued to treat the issue as classic sciatica, and we even did dry needling for six sessions. I left her in more pain than when I started.
When it was time to renew my ACA plan for 2025, I chose a different (more expensive) one so that I could be in the Kelsey-Sebold network. There are some ways in which that's been a better experience, like they are just better organized, but by and large, I've received much the same sort of treatment.
I’ve had three cortisone injections - epidural, SI joint, and piriformis - and they all had zero effect on my pain.
My MRI’s and X-rays show no significant herniation.
My EMG results say that there is no issue with my nerves.
My last EMG was done a few weeks ago by a neurologist who is also an athlete (cyclist). He spent time with me, looking over my notes, imaging, test results, etc. He suggested that I try doing nothing at all for an extended time period to see if it makes a difference. So, I did nothing, not even walking, for a week, and found myself in even more pain. I have to move, but there’s a constant measuring. There’s a sweet spot of just enough, but not too much.
I can hike and I can bike. I can still do upper body resistance and some core exercises, and I’ve now developed my own PT routine that mitigates my pain, but doesn’t resolve it. Even though I’m always in some level of pain, I can go about my daily life (with a little assistance from gabapentin). If you saw me on the street, you wouldn’t know that I’m hurting. I can still work. I’m grateful for the level of movement that I do have. I can even go out dancing occasionally, but I do so knowing there will be a price to pay for the next few days.
There is cold and sobering grief in knowing that I might never do the things I love most again. This is so much of my identity. I’m a bad-ass. Ask anyone who knows me. If I’m not one of the strongest people in the room, who even am I? I know intellectually that I’m so much more than an athlete - a writer, an artist, a great trainer, a mother, a friend… so many things. Regardless, I feel lost without that power, that prowess.
Exercise transformed my life. It set me on an unexpected trajectory. It’s how I provided for my family as a single mother of three without a college degree. It’s what I’ve turned to for comfort and distraction during difficult times. It allowed me to take ownership of my body, a body that was both neglected and abused when I was a child. I owe my life and my children’s lives to exercise.
I’m not giving up entirely. If you’ve made it this far, and you’ve experienced something similar, if you have some insight, I would genuinely love to hear about it. In the meantime, I’ll be walking at Memorial Park and working on my book (at my standing work station, of course).
It's so shitty when a major piece of our identity is no longer something we can count on! People will relate to your piece for lots of different reasons. Really appreciate you sharing.
I’m texting you. We should talk. After we talk if you want to summarize and share with others, you can. It’s tough for us. Doctors don’t know what to do with women and our hormones and hormonal changes. We seem to be full of mystery for the medical world. I too saw multiple MDs, PTs, chiropractor, massage therapist, acupuncturist, FMD. I no longer have the piriformis pain but the answers were not straightforward.