Back Problems as the result of a fall?

[jake19ny]

I have had occasional lower back pain and upper back spasms for the past 8 years. Over the last 2 years the lower pain has become more frequent and severe. I have been diagnosed with a herniated disk (L5) with nerve impingment which causes severe pain from the waist area down the legs to my knees. In 2000 I fell from a fire escape (about 7 feet) and landed directley on my lower back. I went to the hospital that night, but no x-rays were taken and I was treated and released. The diagnosis at the time was a strained/sprained back. Shortly after I began suffering headaches and pain traveling up from the bottom of my neck. I went to my doctor and was told the headaches were from back spasms. I also would occasionally get a shooting pain down my right leg from my lower right side of my back when standing up or walking, but this happened so infrequent back then that I did not seek treatment. In 2005 I began having much worse pain and the shooting pains down my leg became more frequent. I was treated and diagnosed with bulging disc(s). No MRI was done at that time and I went to physical therapy. In late 2007 the pain returned and I an MRI was done showing the herniated disc with nerve impingement. In early 2008 the pain returned so severe for 3 days that I could no walk, sit, stand, or even lie down without great pain. My Dr. is now considering surgery. My questions are, could my back problems have stemmed from that fall? Do the cortizone shots really help or should I consider the surgery as well?

[Prem Pillay, MD]

A fall can aggravate pre-existing spinal disc disease. You should consider more advanced physio including aquatherapy or aquaphysio.
If you have neurological problems or persistent pain despite good quality physio then surgery should be considered.
Microsurgery with or without endoscopic methods is minimally invasive with less risks than traditional spine surgery.

[dozie]

Last month I too had a very bad fall at work, also landing on my lower back.I had the MRI scan done, with the facet block and am still experiencing pain. My Surgeon says it is all in my head, Yip, right!!! I cannot sit for long, I cannot walk too far as my feet swell and I end up in such pain, I feel for you.