my back problem

[Jboy284]

im an 18 year old male and i have been having back problems for about the last year now. ive noticed terrible pain in my back and neck. my back cracks alot and my neck does too. the cracking causes great pain in my arms and legs and ribcage. ive also noticed my jaw gets stiff and cracks alot. sometimes when i crack my back, i hear a loud ringing in my ears and i can hardly hear. my wrist and ankles crack alot, pretty much all of my joints. ive also noticed terrible muscle spasms all over my body and tingling in my hands face and legs. my doctor ran xrays on my back and said he found nothing wrong. can you please tell me whats wrong with me? im just looking for an answer. thanks very much for your time.

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Hello.

I hope that your appointment goes well tomorrow and I encourage you to give your physician a chance to evaluate your symptoms and make recommendations.

Some thoughts that you might consider sharing with your physician tomorrow:
1. Are you having numbness and tingling in your hands or arms (or legs)?
2. Are you having weakness in your hands or arms (or legs)?
3. Do your symptoms improve on Saturday and Sunday when you are not at work?
4. Do you have a history of head or neck trauma (car accidents, falls, etc)?
5. Do you get up and take (short) breaks every hour or so?
6. What makes your discomfort worse?
7. What makes your discomfort better?
8. Where is the discomfort located? upper back? shoulders? right or left side of your neck? in the mid-line of the neck?
9. Do you have headaches that are associated with the neck discomfort?
10. What type of pillow and mattress do you sleep on?
11. Do you have a long commute by car to and from work? Is your vehicle seat comfortable?

Some ergonomic tips regarding computer work stations:

1. http://dohs.ors.od.nih.gov/ergo_computers.htm
2. http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/Ergonomics/compergo.htm
3. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/checklist.html
4. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/positions.html
5. http://www.ergoindemand.com/ergonomic-computer-workstation-guidelines.htm

* If you have not considered the layout of your work station, you should. The links that I listed above are a start.

* I encourage you to remain active and continue your exercise regimen.


~•~ Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

[evelyngl]

I am a 50 year old female in excellent health, weight and diet.  I excercise 5 days a week, cardio and weight training.  2 years ago I took a job that requires that I sit behind a computer for 7 hours per day.  I until then had never had to do anything like that and my work was always outside, moving around standing etc.  about a year ago I noticed that my neck was sore at bedtime.  The pain has become steadily worse, and is accompanied by cracking in the neck when I move it back and forth or up or down.  Now it is to the point that I am having difficulty sleeping.  I have made an appointment with my doctor and it is tomorrow.  My question to you is what should my doctor be asking me, checking or referring me to I have an HMO so I have to go through a referral process.  I have little confidence in my doctor outside of perscribing cough medicine, so any input would be greatly appreciated.

Also, could this be related to the weight training, excersizing or work??

[Jboy284]

and no my doctor has not done any other testing other than the x rays.

[Jboy284]

no my father or mother never really had joint problems. however i do have an aunt who has a bad case of arthritis. i never really had a history of joint problems in my family. i woke up this morning with a terrible headache and a stiff neck. i dont know what could be causing this but i dont really have a history of joint problems in my family other than my aunt and one of my uncles who has arthritis , but he doesnt have it that badly . thanks doc.

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Has your physician performed any testing in addition to the x-rays?

It is difficult to provide you with an answer to your question about the "red spots" since we do not have a complete explanation of your symptoms.

Do you have family history (mother, father, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, etc) with a history of joint problems?

~*~ Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

[Jboy284]

for the first time doc, i saw two red spots on my wrist and hand today, and they kinda hurt and itched some. i dont know if this is a sign of anything, could it have anything to do with my joint pain?

[Jboy284]

my doctor was quite puzzled as to what was wrong with me actually. he didnt have an idea what could be wrong with me. thats why i wanted to ask you to ask an experts opinion. you seem fairly intelligent and im glad to see it. And yes i do have other symptoms. i have headaches as well as some itching ive noticed. and yes sometimes my joints do seem warm. i was in an auto accident about 2 years ago, but the doctors checked me out and said i was fine. i dont know what it could be but i would really like to find out doc. thank you very much for your time.

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Hello,

Usually, "joint cracking" is not associated with pain. See: http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/joint.html for an excellent explanation of why joints "crack" and what causes the popping sound.

That being said, it sounds like you are having pain with the "cracking" that you are experiencing.

What did your physician say about all of the other symptoms that you are experiencing in addition to your lower back pain (ringing in your ears = tinnitus [medical term], muscle spasms and muscle cramps)?

Do you have any other symptoms: for example... head aches, weight loss, fevers, warm or swollen joints, or a rash?

Did you have zero symptoms until 1 year ago?

Do you have any other medical problems and do you take any prescription medications?

Have you had a recent illness or injury in the last two years? (Lyme Disease [from a tick bite], meningitis, encephalitis, Hepatitis)

My apologies for the delay in my response.


~*~ Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.