Back Pain

[Mis]

Hi, I have had back pain for over a year now. (mostly lower) I have seen about 4 Doctors all say its muscular. Right before the pain started I was lifting 40-50lb boxes everday at work, but never felt like I pulled somthing. I also have gained like 40lbs in the last year and a half. I also notice that when I sleep somewhere other than my bed my back feels fine, but every morning I wake from my bed it bothers me. Sometimes its really bad till I shower and move around. (not really painful, just bothersome) It dosent really affect me from doing anything, other than sleepin in my bed is not comfortable anymore. Sometimes I can go for weeks without feeling anything, then other times it bothers me daily. My question is what does this sound like, and what can I do; and also is this somthing I will have for the rest of my life, I am only 25. Thanks

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Missy:

It does sound like you have a muscular problem.  The pain you describe is not sharp and radiating.  Activity seems to make it better.  The episodic nature of the pain also points to a muscular problem that you might aggreviate periodically.  I can't tell for sure just hearing the description and not being able to see the imaging studies and doing the physical exam.  Sound like there are a couple of things to do.  First, return to your ideal weight.  Second, begin an exercise program to strengthen the abdominal muscles.  Third, a good stretching program would help.  Begin, lifting objects correctly, change you sitting and standing habits, and from what you describe, another bed.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Russ]

I fell in July of 1998, tearing my ACL and miscus which required surgery.  A couple days after the fall my neck was aching a bit and had mild back pain.  After the surgery/recovery period (about 2-3 months in all) my back and neck pain intensified - to the point I could hardly move.  An MRI at this time revealed 3 herniated discs in my lower back which are in operable and 4 herniated discs in my neck, which can benefit from surgery.  My question is why did it take awhile for the back pain to gradually worsen after the fall and was not that evident right away?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Russ:

I wish I could tell you the answer to your question.  Without seeing the films and doing the initial physical exam I cannot tell you why.

CCF Neuro MD

[debbie]

Hi,three years ago i hurt by lower back by lifting a 50lb tote at work. I was putting the tote into a shopping cart and i was losing my grip so i used my hips to help me and when i turned slightly i heard and felt a pop in my back.at first i thought i pulled a muscle.well i finished my shift at work and had to work the next day,well i couldnt hardly even move so i went to see my chropractor and he treated my me for three weeks but the pain just worsen so i got a ct down and found out i had a herniaed disc at the L5-s1 disc. so i went to see a nero surgen and had a discopomy done. well i was doing pretty good for two week after surgery and then devoleped a sever infection but the doc wasnt sure what it was he just gave me an antibioctic with out even looking at me well the infection went away but the pain go worse and by that time i couldnt even walk to the bathroom, so i went to a differnt doctor and found out that i was rubbing virtabra against virtabra, so i had a second surgery and had cages put in he also said that the infection had crowed the nerve and the disc or virtabra, and he cleaned that all up.well after all that i was doing pretty good for about a year, the only thing i couldnt do to well was alot of bending ,twisting, or moveing very fast so that kind of interfered with my job so they gave me a different position and i became a bookkeeper which i was doing pretty good for awhile. Then on day my lower back was starting to hurt real bad again so  i went back to see my doctor and he took a exray and found out i had a bone spur there in which the pain was in my right buttox and down my right leg into my foot area, so i had other surgery done to remove that, i was doing really good againg and then on day the pain came back and its worse then ever,i lose feeling in my foot the pain is really bad and sometimes i can hardly do anything i'm on pain killer everday just so i can function and get around but my doctor still released me and said there is nothing he can do for me any more,so now i'm seeing another doctor and he want me to go and get some test done on my nerves to see if there is any damage or if there is something he can do for me like another surgery , in his personal oppion he thinks the fusion didnt work and it is pressen on my nerve again.but he want to make real sure before i go though a fourth surgery. He really doesnt think the nerve is damage since i had relife after my other surgerys, do you think if i get the other surgery well help me? or do you have any other subjustions, or what do you think about all of this, i sure could use some advice,i would truly love to get rid of this pain and move on with my life and live instead on being in bed all the time i have a family and a job to take care of, i'm only 36yrs old to be going though all of this.please let me know what you think...... it may be quite helpful......thank you Debbie

[jeff]

I just had facet nerve injections done to my L5-L4 region of my lower back.  I've had pain for over three years now.  I don't know what brought it on.  I've been to many different doc's ove rthe years.  Early on they said it was muscular, tried having me do stretches and exercises.  I got no relief.  I tried everything until I finally went to a pain clinic.  I was a little afraid they would just put me on pills and send me on my way, but, I found out that there are many treatment available.  They've determined that the pain stems from my facet joint nerves in my lower back [still don't know why?] Now I'm trying these injections.  The story on these is that they may not stop the pain forever, but the procedure isn't to bad and it does provide some relief. I suppose there is a process one must go thru to get to where I'm at, but I never settled for exercise when the pain never went away.  I hope things work out for you.   Jeff

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for your comments.

CCF Neuro MD