I recently had some good and not so good news in my efforts to solve my neural problems that have been hampering me for over a year now.

The good news was that after more test we ruled out an entrapment of the pudendal nerve. This was good to hear as repairing these isn’t simple, and it was another option eliminated.

Though I was diagnosed with ‘myo-fascial piriformis syndrome’ doesn’t sound that nice either does it!  Well it’s not great but it’s not too complicated either.  For those who don’t know their muscles as well, the piriformis is a strong band like muscle that is deep in your glute going from your sacrum out to the top of your femur, and is used to externally rotate your leg.  Both the sciatic and pudendal nerves pass in front of the piriformis, and when it is contracted for long periods of time it can affect the nerves.

In  my case I had been getting both sciatic and pudendal nerve symptoms, so the diagnosis wasn’t simple.  After first trying sciatic related problems, then pudendal and now more muscular we hope we have covered our bases.  This does leave one problem as I have been riding with this pain for quite sometime now the nerves could have been scared while rubbing against the muscle, so the doctors be checking for this also.

Treatment can be done on a few different levels, starting with physio work like massage, ultra sound, infra-red and hot cold packs.  Though as it has been such a long that it has been plaguing me, we may well have to get into some heavier treatment in terms of injecting the muscle and nerves with anti inflammtories and relaxants.

I will be back in the doctor’s room this week so will keep you posted on the next steps towards a return to racing at full strength.

Cheers

Tim