Pain in the Lower left side of my back

[Snickers93]

For about a year now I have had a lot of back problems.  I am only 16 and play volleyball, softball, and I cheerlead.  Normally the pain in my back gets set off by playing sports.  Especially when it involves making hard movements with my arms. For example, Spiking and Serving in volleyball kill my back.  It get to the point where I have pain shooting clear down my left leg.  I went to the doctor once but he said that it had something to do with my pubic bone and should stop hurting once a took a couple weeks off of sports.  He was wrong!  I took a couple months off of sports and my back is still bad.  Does anyone think they know what the problem is?

[Snickers93]

Thanks!!! I'll try to get my mom to take me somewhere...The issue is that idk if we can really afford this stuff but i'll have her read these and see what she thinks!

[LazyMoose]

It is important to correct this at your young age!!!!!!!! I was a very athletic teen that had a lot of low back spasms. My parents never addressed the problem with doctors and it got worse the older I got, Maybe they could not afford it? I will never know. So if you have access to good medical, by all means use it. You might need an MRI to check your discs but start with an X-ray. If there are no structural problems (good!) it might just be a muscle injury that keeps lagging on. In my case my thyroid disorder (can causes muscle pain) most likely started in my teen years and no one knew this. My muscle pain itself was not treated and led to mild but painfull adult scoliosis. I am finally fixing this at 42. I can now work out again with no pain. There is really good Physical Therapy and chiropractic specialty care available now, your basic doctor is really limited. They are not trained much for body pain. Find the root of the problem - you have a lot of years ahead of you!

[kittyluv1]

While you are fairly young to have problems with back pain and corresponding leg pain, the fact that you have been very active in sports could be a contributing factor.
Since you are still experiencing symptoms even after a self-imposed hiatus from sports, it would be beneficial to obtain a more thorough medical evaluation.
Your primary care doctor (not necessarily the same doctor you saw before) can get
x-rays of your spine to see if there have been any significant structural changes that could be related to your symptoms.  A referral to an orthopedic specialist or a sports medicine physician might be indicated if further diagnostic testing is indicated.
It might be that you have a deep muscular strain or torn ligament that has not resolved --
Keep us posted after you have another medical exam and what the tests  show.
Maintaining a healthy back is very important as you age.  If there are underlying problems it is better to address them now and prevent any possible complications.
Best wishes ---

[Snickers93]

I want to add that I went to this doctor like a year ago and it isnt better...