Chronic Back Pain for 7+ years

[erica13]

I have endured chronic back pain for over 7 years now.  I participated in a sit up study about its effect on the back and one day, shortly into the study I started feeling pain on the left side of my spine around T9 (as I later found out).  I also had pain in my neck and other parts of the upper part of my back.  I was an active person before the study, participating in sports and regular workouts at the gym, so situps were not necessarily straining.  I was in good shape, at 5'10" and 135 pounds.  After going to see multiple doctors, they recommended a bone scan where they found a hemangioma next to T9.  Through the course of the years I have been through physical therapy, chiropractors, acupuncture, and the occasional Toradol shot when I can barely move.  More recently I have been experiencing tingling in my thighs like my cell phone is vibrating, but my cell phone is not there.  I am not sure what to do next.  I feel like I have tried everything and yet the pain still persists.  Would a neurotransmitter to stop the pain signals help or is that too drastic?

[Jewell36]

My back and neck pain started in 1981 when I got hit by a drunk driver,  I was raised not to sue people because it makes the insurances go up for everyone.  Since then I, like you, have had every kind of treatment imaginable.  My doctor prescribed me Lyrica last week and it is working great for me!  I was dizzy and "out of it" for about 24 hours but it is worth the effects of the medication.  He believe part of my pain is nerve pain along with my bulging and herniated disks.

Lyrica worked for me!

[chap22]

A related discussion, sensation of cell phone vibration was started.

[mike1105]

your proble m may be chronic muscle strain. the solution in this case would be well guided stretchng and exercise

[Stephen Ryu, MD]

You've thrown a lot out there and it is kindof hard to really let you know what is goind on. It is weird that a pretty benign sit up study would trigger a back pain issue, though it may have strained you somehow. The other pains in your back may or may not be related. 5'10" and 135# sounds on the light side, though.

Anyways, a hemangioma is usually a benign finding that we don't do anything about. Rarely, the hemangioma can cause pain, especially, if it is growing. In these cases, they can be treated with a vertebroplasty/kypholasty where some cement it injected into the cavity to solidify it. It might or might not be the cause of your pain. They can cause pain but unless it is really big, the tingling in the leg is a bit strange. Again, without imaging and a further workup it's hard to say what is going on.

Based on your information, you should see if there is a spine surgeon who has treated hemangiomas and see if you can present all the info and get an opinion.

I don't know what you mean by a neurotransmitter, though .... those are chemicals in the body used to communicate between nerves. There are a few rare NT blocking drugs out there like Neurontin .... was that what you meant? Regardless, I'd see a spine specialist.