Re: BACK PAIN

Posted By CCF Neurology MD - AY on October 08, 1998 at 09:47:51:

In Reply to: BACK PAIN posted by BEVERLEY on October 08, 1998 at 08:50:27:






DEAR SIRS
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
I AM A 19 YEAR OLD FEMALE IN SEARCH OF A SOLUTION TO A EXTEMELY PAINFUL BACK.
IN 1991 THE PAIN FIRST DEVELOPED AFTER A SPORTING INJURY A TWISTED PELVIS WAS
DIAGNOSED TWO YEARS LATER AND TREATED.  YET SINCE THAT DAY (1991) I HAVE BEEN
IN EXTREME PAIN IN MY LOWER BACK WHENEVER IT WAS JOLTED.  THREE YEARS AGO THE
PAIN RETUNED AND HAS NEVER LEFT ME.  THOUGH I HAVE BEEN TO THE DOCTORS ON
NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN THESE SEVEN YEARS ALL THAT HAS BEEN DONE WAS TO PRESCRIBE
PAINKILLERS OR ANTI-INFLAMMANTRIES NEITHER OF WHICH GAVE ME ANY RELEIEVE
IT WAS X-RAYED FOR THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME THREE YEARS AGO AND NOTHING SEEMED
WRONG.
THOUGH THE EXTREME PAIN IS CONSTENT IT IS AGRIVATED BY ANY JOLT, EXERCISE INCLUDING SWIMMING
OR EXCESS (GREATER THAN TWO HOURS) SITTING, STANDING, LAYING.  THE ONLY SLIGHT
RELIEVE COULD OF BEEN WALKING THOUGH LATELY THAT HAS DEVELOPED SO IF I WALK
ANY DISTANCE MY BACK FEELS AS THOUGH THERES A LARGE WEIGHT RESTING ON IT AND
MY LEGS BECOME VERY HEAVY.  
I WOULD BE EXTRMELY GREATFULL IF YOU COULD ADVISE ME ON HOW TO GO ABOUT FINDING
A SOLUTION TO THIS PAINFUL PROBLEM.
THANKS




Thanks for your question.  Given the initial circumstances of your injury
and the chronicity of your current symptoms, it would be advisable to have
an imaging study of your lower back (preferably a MRI scan of the lumbo-sacral
spine) to verify that there isn't any soft tissue damage in the area.
A number of abnormalities of soft tissue are not properly seen in plain
X-rays for the spine.  If you are looking for a second opinion, I would
suggest a neurologist specialized in peripheral nervous system or a
neuro-surgeon or orthopedic surgeon specialized in spine.
I hope this information is helpful.  Best of luck.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
Please consult your doctor regarding diagnostic and treatment options.