Hi there, I have been dealing with varying levels of sitting discomfort for about a year now and I wanted to get other people's thoughts on my situation. I am an active 22 year old male and my main form of exercise was rock climbing.
About a year ago, I had a long session of sitting writing an essay (around 8 hours) with very to no little breaks that led to discomfort sitting on non-cushioned surfaces. I bought a memory foam coccyx cutout cushion which alleviated my symptoms, but hard surfaces were uncomfortable but bearable. Moving forward a couple of months, I start to have pain in the groin musculature on the right side, pain in the hips that make it difficult to walk, and the discomfort sitting increased substantially. I initially went to a physician that checked for a hernia and did x-rays but found nothing. I went to a general PT who recommended that I do hip strengthening exercises (clamshells, single-leg bridges, planks, etc...). The result of this ended the hip pain but the pain in the groin and the discomfort sitting remained the same. The PT didn't know why I was having the pain and discomfort and hoped that it would go away the more I did the exercises. Fast-forward about November when the sitting discomfort escalated quite a bit and the pain in the right groin was now in the left groin area. I tried going to a chiro initially who did ultrasound and TENs treatment in the glute area as well as some adjustments, but didn't seem to improve my conditions (went for about 2 weeks, 4 times overall). I was informed by a different PT I was seeing for a shoulder issue that my sitting pain could be due to the pudendal nerve that sent me on this path. Now I have been seeing a pelvic PT at the Pelvic Pain rehab in LA who told me that I had a tight pelvic floor and that could be the cause of my sitting discomfort. In the past three sessions, it consisted of myofascial release of the abdomen, thighs, glutes, and internal work as well. I haven't seen any substantial improvement at this point.
Symptoms:
- Discomfort (slight burning sensation) when sitting on hard surfaces
- (potentially related) Slight diarrhea (poop comes out in small chunks)
- (potentially related) TMJ in the right jaw around the same time the groin pain and sitting discomfort increased
Lifestyle changes:
- Standing desk at work
- Roho cushion for car (commute is about 1~2 hours daily)
Thoughts on causes:
- Stress (underwent emotionally turbulent times when the symptoms increased)
- Sedentary lifestyle (long periods of time sitting down) (lots of studying and gaming as well as road trips and plane rides)
Current treatment:
- Pelvic PT once a week along with pelvic floor relaxation stretches (childs pose, happy baby, pelvic floor drop, cat camel, figure 4 piriformis stretch, and standing lunge) as well as rolling all parts of my thigh (glute, hamstring, adductors, quads)
- Lifestyle adjustments (avoiding sitting as much as possible) (cushions)
So with all of this in mind, I am having trouble diagnosing what is causing my sitting discomfort. I don't experience any pain in the genitals which seems to be a main symptom of people diagnosed with PN/PNE. If anyone has any thoughts or comments please feel free to share! Thanks!
Michael
Diagnosing sitting discomfort
Re: Diagnosing sitting discomfort
michaelmoon57
I did not want your post to go unanswered but really have nothing to add as you have done everything i would have done to get started on my search for answers. i am suggesting searching "sitting pain " in the search bar here at the top of the page on the right. Second do you think an 3TMRI of the pelvic area would help? Again, I am not sure if any of this will help, and do not have a medical background, and maybe by now you are doing much better, which is my hope. You may want to see a PN specialist from the list on the home page under doctors. i am so sorry you are going through this and hope you find answers very soon as I know what it is like to feel such bizarre nerve pain. Always get copies of all your medical records so you can be on the same page as your doctors and can share that info with the specialist. I scan mine into my computer and print them out as needed, so i do not have paper everywhere. The physicians notes will help you formulate good questions for your next visit or to ask your new PN specialist. I know you will find answers, just stay positive, and focused and realize the dance is sometimes one step forward two back. Sadie
I did not want your post to go unanswered but really have nothing to add as you have done everything i would have done to get started on my search for answers. i am suggesting searching "sitting pain " in the search bar here at the top of the page on the right. Second do you think an 3TMRI of the pelvic area would help? Again, I am not sure if any of this will help, and do not have a medical background, and maybe by now you are doing much better, which is my hope. You may want to see a PN specialist from the list on the home page under doctors. i am so sorry you are going through this and hope you find answers very soon as I know what it is like to feel such bizarre nerve pain. Always get copies of all your medical records so you can be on the same page as your doctors and can share that info with the specialist. I scan mine into my computer and print them out as needed, so i do not have paper everywhere. The physicians notes will help you formulate good questions for your next visit or to ask your new PN specialist. I know you will find answers, just stay positive, and focused and realize the dance is sometimes one step forward two back. Sadie