Elizabeth
I currently suffer from this syndrome and have been researching it for over three years now. I have run the gammet for diagnosis and treatments. The usual way for diagnosis is by process of elimination, MRI's and physical ability tests. There is a DEFINITE DIAGNOSIS. Regular imaging machines can't pick this up. There is a technology called an MRI Neurogrophy/neurogram. This MRI can see far enough down and can concentrate on such a localized area that I now have proof, on film, that my piriformis muscle in fact traps my sciatic nerve. A definite diagnosis is very important beacause very often people are mis-diagnosed or not believed. Unfortunately, this procedure is only done in California and Utah. I am working on going public and getting it brought to the East Coast. There is also a best route for treatment that most people either don't know about or can't get. An MRI guided cortisone injection followed by light exercise and therapy can almost eliminate this"pain in the but!" This is also only located in California and now Cleveland. I located a CT guided injection and had to settle for that, not being able to get to California. I went from two years on a couch to walking and light exercise every other day. The reason for the guidance is that the injection needs to be as close to the point of impingement as possibly. With a blind injection that is not possible. I am also working on spreading the guided injection to other areas of the U.S. Most anesthesiologists believe that this is an unnecessary expense, but it is the ONLY WAY! I have lived through this and know what I am talking about. If we all start making noise and spreading this knowledge, eventually evryone will have to listen. If anyone is interested, I have all names and phone#'s needed. Reply and I wil be glad to help anyone I can. There is absolutely no reason for people with this syndrome to suffer anymore due to lack of knowledge or belief.