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BACK PAIN & NERVES

Update here and help required.

In April I started off suddenly with pounding back trouble, out of the blue, went to the doctor, was told it was muscular and it would sort itself out.  It got worse, went back and finally had kidney blood tests and urine sent away, get the results today when I ring.  This has gone on for two months now.  The Doctor still thinks its muscular and the tests were done as a process of elimination.

This week I noticed that the pain shifted from the back and my right leg became numb and agonising to stand on stemming from by buttock cheek, a nagging pain and although the pounding in the back went for a couple of days, it still feels tender and raw under the rib cage.  

The day before yesterday I did some exercises on my right leg as it felt very much like sciatica when I was pregnant, within a couple of hours, the pain had shifted and the following morning, it was back in the back.  Today however, I could not stand when I got out of bed.  I am almost keeling over and the balls on both hip joints feel painful but worse on the right, leg and foot feeling a little numb again.  On crawling down the stairs, I have tried to move around and I can get about a bit more as the minutes go by.  I have people dependant on me and I am scared stiff that this is something cynical, how can I be fit one minute going to the gym and the next minute, can barely walk.  The pain is so bad it brings a tear.  I don't know what kind of tests could be done for this type of pain.

It would be a bit of a relief to think it could be a trapped nerve and hopefully get resolved.  I am back in work on Monday and scared I wont be able to walk there, its a fairly new job and can't believe I may have to be off sick already.

Please, any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.  Can the leg and back pain be linked????
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902263 tn?1245214553
staying active is VERY key... doing nothings DOES NOTHING. Its not like you have to be vigorous, but you need to strengthen to stay strong. pilates are great for the core, but you need to make sure that you're not aggravating anything. I remember personally, that doing leg lifts while on back or on side hurt very badly, squats as well hurt too. What I've been told, is to work on the abdominal strength more, as they stabilize the hips and lower back. When your abdominals work together with all the core muscles they function together, instead of one part working (like your lower back only) which makes it sore, as they aren't strong muscles when working alone. When one area is unstable, it makes other muscles and muscle groups work more, causing more imbalance and pain. If you are a very active person, I would try to get into some yoga. I started for my own pain relief, and my first instructor had a back injury, so she was very receptive to other injuries. Yoga strengthens the core, stretching allows for less injuries, more flexibility, and strengthens all body parts as a whole, as many actions use all body groups.. and it also increases balance, and helps heal the mind. It gives you time to think about you!

Please please book yourself a massage though!!! The ART (active release) you can just book yourself. If you know of friends that use chiropractors, get their info and call them and ask if they do active release, not all do. They can really identify hip imbalances, and work on places that need to be lengthened (so does massage-- think of tight knots not functioning well, and long lean muscles functioning at their best, but need to be flattened out with therapy). walking is great because its not high impact but very beneficial. Make sure that when you're walking, you keep your chest pointed forward, 'tilt your pelvis forward' as if you're pulling your belly button with a string to your spine (this engages your abdominal muscles and puts your hips in a neutral position). Your legs won't move as far this way, but it won't make your hip as sore (you'll notice where things hurt you when you put things the right way!!). Also consider getting orthotics. I got some from my chiropractor as well (I have flat feet, on top of hip imbalaces) and I noticed a GREAT difference in my stride. swimming is also good (like aquasize), which supports the core while strengthening.

Even if arthritis is the case, we all have postures that arent 100%, and when something is painful we protect it, which causes muscular imbalances, and massage and ART will help you. Exercise also helps arthritis, as the less you move, the more immobile you become. That's the only thing I know for sure... if only more people understood this!! Spread the good word! Its great to hear you are doing pilates still :)

message me when you can, i'm always not far away :) You can get yourself to a pain free state, I believe in you!!! Dana
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you so much for the thoughtful reply, I am in agony today, it comes and goes.

The kidney/urine tests came back fine which leaves me with the unknown worry, they are testing me now for arthritis which fills me with fear, not only do my back/hip area ache, I feel that every bone in my body is aching.  

The ART that you mentioned, is it something that a doctor will send me for or do I need to look for that help myself.  I am pushing myself to do 20 minutes pilates daily which is fab and walking as much as I can.  The doctor told me as long as no heavy lifting which I cant do anyway as the lower back is in pain and feels weak, he told me to keep exercising as normal.  I didnt do that for the first few weeks as everyone was saying relax, take it easy, worse thing I think, Im usually so active.

Will message you when I get a mo, right now Im up to my neck in pain.  Cheers.
Helpful - 0
902263 tn?1245214553
I've had this pain (or very similar) before.
What you need dear is some major, and i mean MAJOR massage, along with what is called ART (Active release treatment) which most chiropractors can do, some physiotherapists, and some massage therapists are trained. its like an intense massage to relieve problem areas. The main thing is, muscles that are small are being used and injured because of weaknesses in other areas. This problem, many many many women have it! you're not alone. I barely could walk myself or lift my leg years ago.

the main thing is, treatment will help decrease the pain and increase the mobility, but to make it go away for good, means increasing your core strength and stretching, which is difficult because it hurts, but its a MUST!!! Message me privately if you're interested in the list of exercises I was given.

There is a good likelihood the pain is related. When one muscle is pushed out of place, it affects how the next muscle functions, and since we're all attached, it really does affect the whole body. I sometimes get a tingle or feel sore in my right butt cheek, but I know what to do to make it go away as well :) Just gotta get to a happy spot, but it means work on your part :) Dana
Helpful - 0
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