Chronic lower back pain

Hi,i am female 22yrs ol, normally healthy.
i have had lower back pain for over a year now with no diagnosis of yet. i have been to a rhumatologist who did not know. I had an MRI which didnt show anything. I have had a blood test with a ANA reading which was slightly raised but nothing to suggest the cause. I am now being refered to a physio therapist.

MY SYMPTOMS:Lower back pain worse when bending / lifting although not all the time. A constant dull ache in the lower back. Pain is worse when lying down, when lying on a harder surface my back feels like it drops and i get sharp shooting pains which go into my bottom and thighs. i then get stuck and have to roll or get someone to roll me over. The skin above this area also feels a bit numb and sometimes feels like it is burning (worse during period). I do get the shooting pains into my bottom and thigh if i do too much, becaus of this sometimes it makes it harder to walk and depending on how bad my legs feel like they are pulling up with the pain. Somedays i will be fine with no symptoms. I have also had problems with my wrists for 5 yrs and have trunk varicose veins in both legs.

I am getting annoyed that no one seems to believe me about my back problem, i can move here and there in my physical exams as i am very flexible. I know that you are unable to give a diagnosis but i am looking for any ideas to what could be causing this sothat i can do some research before visiting the physio, and ask them his is stressing me out as i am 22 yrs old i just want to be able to return to normal.

Thank you for you time, dee

[NE WOMAN]

I have the exact same problem!  Pain ongoing for almost two years, and same symptoms.  I am a 34 year old female, and haven't had any luck with chiropractors or doctors believing my symptoms.

[megnk22]

I have the exact same problem.. only it seems like there is a lump where my pain is.. off to the right from my spine on my lower back.. Very painful.. I cry when trying to sleep at night. I've been to the doctor and Ortho. Nothing has been done and they can't seem to believe me either or bother to figure it out. I have been dealing with this for over 8 years. I am 24 and would like to have kids soon. but I do know I cannot until something is done about this. The extra weight and even the birth would be unbearable. Let me know if you ever figure out what it is or what to do. Good luck!

[the osteopath]

The problem you all suffer from is almost certainly a mechanical fault coming from past strain or injury to the spine.

You need a competant Osteopath to perform a full examination to find the fault and have it corrected. See your nearest Osteopath.

[foxy420]

I have the same problem and so does my mother... after years of testing I finally found out it was a problem with my Sciatica... which is nerves running from your back down your legs! you could possibly have an issue with this.... i'd check it out... there is treatments available.... mostly exercising.... good luck

[alitaki]

I have been suffering with lower left side back pain for a year now! I have had an MRI which showed that I have two bulges but all 3 doctors I've been to say the bulge is small so it shouldn't be causing this chronic pain for so long. So I went to a neurosurgeon for another opinion, he too seemed baffled. (he looked at me like I was crazy for seeing all these doctors.) Oh I also had some physical therapy which helped lesson the pain for a while.
The strange thing about my symptoms is that if I lay in bed for 3 days to a week the pain will lesson but as soon as I start to do normal everyday activities without breaks in-betweeen of lying down, my back pain gets really bad again. It feels like an inflamation (inflammation). (burning, dull pain,and the feeling that the area that hurts is swollen, although it's not apparent on the outside.) I have a hard time explaining the pain as it changes and has changed alot in the year that I have been experiencing this chronic back pain.
If anyone else out there has these symptoms please comment. I feel so bad as I can't seem to find whats wrong with my back! I want my life back Iwant to be able to be out and about!!!!!! Help!