December 31st, 2009 | 
Author: 
Many people diagnosed with “sciatica” – pain that runs from their buttocks to their feet – may actually have piriformis syndrome. Dr. Aaron Filler of the Institute for Nerve Medicine in Santa Monica, California (www.nervemed.com), explains the key differences between these two afflictions, their respective treatments, and how piriformis syndrome can be alleviated with open-MR guided injections as opposed to painful, invasive back surgery.
Duration : 0:10:54
Posted in piriformis syndrome | 
Tags: aaron, back, filler, neurosurgeon, pain, piriformis, sciatica, syndrome
i had an MRI done …
i had an MRI done two months ago on my right shoulder….they found nothing….i went again a month and a week later, (the doctor told me it was my choice if i wanted to get another one or not), and they said they found a tumor in my shoulder!! i went to the clevlend clinic 3 days later and they said that the MRI was done wrong, and the radiologist hadnt “tweaked it right” and the tumor is actually scar tissue…i was just wondering what would’va happened if i didnt get the second MRI?
How many patient …
How many patient have to surgery due to PS in U.S.A?
Do the shot work …
Do the shot work with relieving PS I’ve tried everything. I really don’t have pain in my back I have told numerous doctors and chiropractors. I’m beginning to think there just juicing the situation. I’m really looking for relief from this, bending over doesn’t hurt but rather relieves the pain when it tightens up.
I wish I would have …
I wish I would have seen this video before I visited my last 20 or so docs and chiros. They all said it was my disc, but I always thought it was something in my rear end even though my MRI does show a bulging disc. Why else would I get immediate relief or change of comfort from a piriformis stretch. Thanks doc.
The alleged rarity …
The alleged rarity of Piriformis is a controversial matter. In fact, it seems that PS is largely underdiagnosed.
If you have low …
If you have low back pain, mid-back pain, etc., there is a really good book called “Healing Back Pain” by Dr. John Sarno. It conveys, without a doubt, the most Responsible Content on the matter that I have ever come across and is NOT “about” anatomy in general. You can google his name. You can probably find it at your local library if you don’t want to purchase it. P.S. I’ve had 2 discectomies in the past – didn’t know better, and……..yeah, it’s a really worthwhile read.
I have been …
I have been suffering with Piriformis Syndrome for two years now. I fell off a ladder at work onto my right lower back and buttocks. I have had numerous MRI’s, X-Rays, bone scans done and absolutely NOTHING has shown up on a diagnostics tests. Finally, my doctor gave me the test to see if it was PS and sure enough it was. So, I’m glad to see this video.
Sorry, Piriformis …
Sorry, Piriformis Syndrome is VERY RARE! Also, just because something doesn’t show up on diagnostics doesn’t mean it’s not coming from the spine. Tons of studies on this. You can examine the piriformis after you’ve r/o the L/S and other surrounding structures.
I could only walk …
I could only walk somewhat painfree for maybe a week out of a month, but mostly laid up in bed or a recliner.) I am now doing the stretches several times a day and my husband is helping out by massaging a few areas of the piriformis muscles.
I know I have piriformis syndrome due to my hypermobility in my sacro-iliac area, so I am continuing to work on my physical therapy to strengthen up my core area as much as possible. Adding the stretches will best help me to live a pain-free life.
Thank you so much …
Thank you so much for posting this video! It makes it much easier to explain this to friends and family who want to know more about my quality of life with piriformis syndrome.
I’ve finally got the diagnosis from a doctor last week. He treated me with a cortisol injections (guided by his hands and knowledge of anatomy along with my reactions to probing the muscles) and I’ve had instant relief. I know that my case was particularly bad.
Has anyone here …
Has anyone here been a patient of Dr. Filler? I am considering going to see him, but I live in Hawaii and I suffer from back pain as well as neurological problems. I have called his office but I can never speak to him.
He seems to be a world-renown neurosurgeon, but I am wondering if I should go for treatment with him. I would sincerely appreciate any comments or advice you could give me concerning your experience as his patient. You may send me an email if you wish. Thank you.
Stretching helps …
Stretching helps with me… I have had a lot of relief with piriformis stretching..
what cause this to …
what cause this to start? Are there other ways to heal it without going to Cali? I have hear that stretching may help? Would love to just go to the Doc (was very informative, thanks) but not everyone can travel or pay for it.
ryderguy18,
I have …
ryderguy18,
I have had piriformis syndrome for over 3 years now and have gone to many different docs and also two different CHIROPRACTORS. The chiro could not relieve my pain or correct the problem whatsoever. I am in the process of going to see this Dr. Filler even though I live over a thousand miles away.
Sorry dude, but chiro doesn’t fix everything.
Hi, would you …
Hi, would you kindly repost this video, I have been trying to watch it for a couple of days now but each time I get a message from You Tube saying “We’re sorry this video is no longer available.”
After seeing 15 …
After seeing 15 Dr’s and having a failed invasive surgery from Dr’s in Texas for pirimormis syndrome (these guys are well known neuro surgeons) My brother, a 20 year medical practitioner, finally went to California to be treated by Dr. Filler. He just had surgery after the neuro MRI explained why he could barely walk and was suffering from such extreme pain. It’s been just two days since surgery and he can actually feel areas that were numb for the last two years. I’ll keep you updated!
Tell you what, this …
Tell you what, this is the most annoying and excruciating pain I have ever felt, and for three weeks straight with massive flare-ups every morning… Haven’t worked for 3 weeks now. It really really hurts, so anyone watching this, take the advice of this doc. He seems to know what he’s talking about.
Good video. He …
Good video. He failed to mention another non-invasive technique that has been around for over 100 years: chiropractic. Just look up upper cervical and sciatica. Very interesting how those doctors dont have to break the skin at all and get better results…..
Hye! Your video is …
Hye! Your video is very informative-thank you for this. I have a question. Say if your glutei is irritated by heavy overhead barbell presses, push ups then would you say that a disc bulge scitica is more of a possibility than piriformis sciatica? What are the activities than can cause piriformis sciatica? What about heavy partial squats (with no regards to proper form), deadlifts , overhead presses? Wrongly done-are these exercises going to irritate your lower back discs or your piriformis more?
It’s a very …
It’s a very informative post. Thank’s.
Thanks a lot! This …
Thanks a lot! This is really helpful!
Thanks a lot! This …
Thanks a lot! This is really helpful!
Thanks for this …
Thanks for this post. I found it very informative.