Buttocks, Hip, Groin and Hamstring Pain

Hello all --

I'm in my mid-twenties, and I've been suffering with shooting pains in my butt -- mostly when sitting -- (both sides) for almost 5 months now. The pain comes mostly in the lower butt, and it feels deeper and often sharp, though sometimes dull. I also get shooting pains occasionally in my right groin, and on my right hamstring. Additional symptoms include a sore right hip, and very sensitive skin on the back of my lower right leg, above the knee (very much on the skin -- have to wear soft pants).

At first I thought it was skin, as I saw something on my LEFT butt, and the pain was only there. My dermatologist (I had a viral skin issue for the 4 months before that) said it was folliculitis, and gave me some peroxide wash, which did not kill the pain. My GP then gave me a topical antibiotic, which I put on both sides of my butt, plus my right leg, as the pan seemed to be spreading -- all to no avail. Finally another dermatologist said, this was not a skin thing, and put me on prednisone for 3 weeks at 30/20/10 every day. Things got slightly better, though I still could not sit down -- only on a donut. The first two months were the worst. Then a doctor prescribed neurontin, which worked fairly well for the pain. I got an MRI of my lower back, which came back negative, as the GP thought it was sciatica. I then went to a neurologist who did all his tests, and concluded it was some kind of local neurological pain from nerve entrapment, compression, damage -- who knows!

Either way, I've gone down to 200 mg a day of neurontin from 900 mg, and the pain is barely tolerable -- considering I can't work out in order to rest. I ice it 3x a day, which helps -- so must have inflammation -- and I take 2 aleve a day, every day.

I'm kind of at a loss. Do I get an MRI of my hips? To I go to a chiropractor for an x-ray and diagnosis. Do I do physical therapy. My GP doesn't have any ideas, and I still have this terrible pain!

Please help! Your suggestions are most welcome.

Yes, thank you. I saw a neurologist, who didn't offer much helpful advice. Now, I am deciding whether to see a chiropractor, a physical therapist, a new GP, or get an MRI of my hips (as a lower back MRI doesn't go down as low as the pain is -- now that we've ruled out a disc issue). I just don't want to be following 3 sets of instructions and not know what works. I'm just at a loss a bit, as it's been 5 months of this now!

Hi all -- it's been 2 and a half more months and while I've had some better weeks, my pain is still there. I did physical therapy for 2 months and thought I had some improvement. In fact a Physiatrist diagnosed me with an SI joint disfuction, but once I got back into alignment, the pain remained. I still get shooting pains in both sides of my groin and buttocks (never at the same time -- it goes back and forth), and I also continue to get skin issues. I got an outbreak of little red pimples on my chest bone (two doctors said they didn't know what they were but as long as they didnt itch or hurt i shouldn't worry), plus I got strep throat and a terrible case of poison ivy -- had to go on steroids. All-in-all, things haven't been too much fun health wise.

I would really appreciate any thoughts people might have. I'm getting an MRI of my pelvis in two days as well. The MRI of my lower back turned up nothing.

Thanks!

Hi I am new to this forum so have just read your post. I have to say I agree with the possibility of a sacroiliac issue.

I have just had one side fused and it looks as though I may have to have the other aide done too. My symptoms sounded very similar to you. I believe that nothing usually shows on x rays. The test I had was an injection into the joint which helped for a short period, enough for my spinal surgeon to know that my pain was coming from that joint.

I hope things settle down for you. If not I would try injections. If they work denervation is possible which has longer lasting effects. Good luck