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Unknown Pain/Ache at Lower Back

I have been experiencing back pain for around 10months. The pain often occurs around the lower back and when it gets very bad I may feel pain at the middle part of my back too. It will always happen when I stand, stood, bend slightly forward for too long, running, jumping and carrying heavy loads or exerting strength. I will feel the pain when I do any of these and the pain will cause my back to feel VERY VERY weak that I will want to immediately sit down to rest my back. Sitting down only help a bit. I need to totally lean my back against a wall or something to allow it totally rested. And the pain often continues and causes me to not able to sleep well during night.

I have seen a specialist regarding this issue and did a MRI scan on my lumbar spine. The MRI report was:
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Conus medullaris terminates at the lower border of L1. No focal abnormalities are seen in cauda equina. There is preservation of lumbar lordosis, intervertebal disc height and morphology of the vertebral body.

There is mild loss of posterior concavity of the disc at L4/5 and L5/S1 though there is no disc protrusion demonstrated. The lateral recess and exit foramina are not compromised.

MRI shows no evidence of degenerative disc disease in the lumbosacral spine.
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Apparently, the doctor told me that the MRI shows no problem and has no idea about the pain that I am having. I have been going through physiotherapy for the past few months but the improvements are mediocre. As I am a sailor, my job requires me to use a lot of strength which often hurt my back very much.

Now that I go back to the specialist doctor, he would often just tell me the MRI scan on my lumbar spine is fine and there is nothing to worry. But I am still feeling the terrible ache.

What other possibilities could my symptoms tell? And what could be the next thing I could request the doctor to do for me apart from telling me everything is fine and taking pain killer all the time.
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Avatar universal
The exercises that are referred to are the ones like stretching?

I do exercises quite regularly like running but such activities often cause my back to feel worst.

Also, would continuing carrying of heavy loads and exerting strength which causes the pain worsen the condition?

I have seen one of the GP doctors before and was told it could be muscular problem. And he told me that it isn't something serious and it is ok to carry on my job. Is it true?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Based on your history of low back pain for 10 months, it appears that you are having chronic back pain.  Prior unresolved muscle sprains/strains and attempting to continue normal activity can result in weakened muscles, ligaments and tendons,  There may be torn muscle fibers of the affected areas.  All leading to a de-conditioned back.
Your MRI shows no evidence of degenerative disc disease or other pathology.
An active back exercise program will assist in strengthening the core muscles that are used for movement.  All exercise programs should be started with a good stretching and warm-up period. These stretches should include non injured body parts as well as the affected areas.
Your physiotherapy program has not produced significant results.  Perhaps a more aggressive form of therapy should be initiated.  I would recommend seeing an exercise physiologist or sports medicine specialist.  A fitness trainer would be another option.
All of these individuals can assess your current fitness level and design a good exercise program which will help your back, increase your overall strength and conditioning and how to avoid further injury.  Athletes and individuals like you who do heavy labor intensive activities need a program that a regular physical therapy session may not be able to provide secondary to time constraints/availability of proper equipment etc.
Using ice packs to the affected areas will help reduce the inflammation and swelling that might result after any activity which aggravates the symptoms.  Warm/hot packs can be used after the inflammation has decreased.
Medications such as NSAIDs (ibuprofen, Advil or Aleve) will also help reduce inflammation.  Cautious use of non-opiod pain medications should provide pain control after any activity that produces more intense symptoms.
Newer treatments for chronic pain can include Lidocaine patches applied to the affected area to provide further relief.  
Your symptoms are primarily muscular in nature and your specialist is doing the best he can to provide treatment.  Try shifing the focus to a re-conditioning program and you may find it helps your back as well as your overall health.
Post with an update and any additional questions/concerns you may have.
Best wishes ----

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had done blood tests last year and everything turns out to be fine. I am wondering what's wrong and am just as desperate to find out. And I can feel numbness on the outer side of my left thigh.

I am hoping to at least know the cause to the pain on my back. Then at least I have an official report to tell my superior to excuse my job for some time to rest for recovery. Otherwise, the whole thing is really a torture.

So I am posting here to seek for people having similar problems as me to see what kind of treatments and causes could it be.

What a luck to have a problem which could not be diagnosed... sigh...
Helpful - 0
872994 tn?1247865206
i am sorry to hear about your problems, i too suffer from bad back pain, but i do have some serious issuses with it, and today i am going to the hospital one more time, i am desperite! i need help or i am going to loose it for real.... im not sure what could cause your pain like that! what about blood work? have you done any of that?
Helpful - 0
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