just trying to find an answer.

[justjackalyn08]

I developed back problems a week before Thanksgiving of '07. I was only 17 at the time. I've gone to the doctor a few times, only to be told I was too young to have these problems. The first time I went to him was about a month to a month in a half after the pain started. He put me in physical therapy, 3 times a week for 3 weeks. This did not work, but only made the pain much worse. I went back to him after I was done with PT, he then told me to go to a chirpractor. I did this, to once again be told I was too young to have back problems. I started at the chirpractor back in March of '08, 3 times a week for the first 4 weeks, then once a week for the next 4 months. I only have 3 more visits left and am very nervous for what the pain will escalate to after. The chiropractor did help, and I would defianlty recommend anyone to them, but it's not a complete fix. The pain is less severe, but it's still very bad. At times I can't breathe, it's so bad. It affects everything I do, I''ve had to change my life because of this pain. I just want a straight answer from a doctor who actually believes me when I tell them there's something wrong. I am only 18, and have had this for 8 months. It can't be normal if everyone is telling me I'm too young, which apparently I'm not. It is real, and is very painful.

I played soccer for 3 years, and my parents think that may have had some cause for it. I have taken some pretty hard falls. But known right before the pain started. I cracked my rib back in spring of '07, but I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it. A week or so before the pain started, my dad had a heart attack. I've heard stress can play a role in physical pain and I do believe that.

I just want an answer as to what this might be. The doctor gave me an X-ray the first time I went to him but said nothing showed up. After PT when I went back I asked him to give me an MRI and he wouldn't.

The pain is mostly in my upper back, between my shoulder blades, on both sides. It's also in my neck, I get stiff necks alot. On my left side, it hurts alot whenever I breathe. I cannot take deep breathes. It's also in my lower back, and at times I have shooting pains go down my legs to where I can't walk. Some days the pain is worse than others, but in the last 8 months there hasn't been a day where there was no pain at all. I have problems sleeping because I can never find a comfortable position. I can't twist in anyway, even slightly. It goes throughout my entire back and is the worse pain I've ever felt in my entire life. Sometimes it feels like stabbing, or alot of pressure is being put on it, or even like im about to go paralyzed cause I can barely move.

I'm 18. I'm white. I'm 5'5", 120 lbs. I've never had any serious health issues. I've had one surgery, which was to take my tonsils out. My dad has high cholesterol and heart disease, which is heredity.

I have also had extreme fatigue since the pain started.
My muscles also spasm out alot.

Any ideas??

[ShakinThingzUp]

First let me say you are NOT too young to have back problems, I don't think there is any such thing as "too young."  Just because the majority of the population doesn't have it, doesn't mean that ONE person will not have it.  It makes me so angry every time I read about doctors who dismiss patients based on the "normal" in the population.  In my eyes, the fact that you are having this pain at 17 should be MORE cause for alarm, not less.

Now, that I've ranted, I'll explain myself a bit.

I was FOURTEEN when my back pain began.
The first doctor scared me to death.  They did do MRI's and found that I had "Spina Bifida Occulta," which was not understood in the 1980's at all I think, especially by a small town doctor.  The SBO can be seen, vaguely, on X-ray.  Doctors now-days pretty much dismiss this as having anything to do with pain --- yet they found nothing else wrong with my back other than "Degenerative Disc Disease" (which a 14-year-old or a 17 year-old shouldn't have either) ------ yet, I did.... and I'm betting you do too.  This is not something to scare you - Deg. Disc Disease, in an adult is a very normal thing, and as people get older, most have it.  I just started getting it at 14 ---- even though I still come across doctors who tell me that they "highly doubt I had these problems at 14 years old."

I am now 34 yerars old.  I have NUMEROUS problems, and they are searching for the cause of these.  But the primary problem that has ALWAYS been there is low back pain.  It hurts to touch my back in one place, and if a doc does, I usually come off the bench...  Yet, my MRI's do not show anything bad enough for a Neurosurgeon to help me.  The pain is very real, and anyone who spends time around me knows its true.

First, I would suggest that you see a DIFFERENT doctor - one who does not dismiss your pain and state that "you're too young" therefore they can not help you.  That's no excuse.  If you're having breathing problems in addition to back pain, you should see a doctor who WILL do the MRI.  Either go to a second general practitioner for a second opinion, or request that your doctor refer you to a specialist (Neurologists are more thorough, and Orthopedics - bone doctors - are more likely to dismiss you due to your age as well).  Get the MRI's done.  Find a doctor who will do the tests.  Do it while you're young and before any more problems come up.  If nothing else they will provide you with peace of mind in knowing there is nothing horrible waiting in the dark unknown...

Do everything you can to take care of your back.  You ARE young, and since you have back problems already you don't want to make them worse.  Keep your back pain in mind when making any life decisions or any spur of the moment decisions.  Protect your spine always.  You'll certainly need it as you get older.

Don't panic......... just get the referral or a second opinion, and try to get the MRI's done.  Don't accept a doctor dismissing your very real pain just because you're "only 17."

May God Bless you!
Amy