low back pain help

[mkh9]

I have low back pain. My MRI, and bone scan were normal and I have either SI joint dysfunction or muscloskeltal injury or both. I was going to a physical therapist  but I kept pulling muscles then finally tore something. I am trying to do therapy on my own since two physical therapists didn't work. Since I am weak from sitting too much since the tear I don't want to reinjure myself again if possilble. At this point I can walk 30 minutes (slowly) and 10 minutes in the afternoon. I am trying to do my stretches I learned from the physical therpist.. But I have stiffened up after not stretching for a couple of months. My question is general, how can I prevent reinjury?  I am doing the pyriformis stretech, knee to chest, rock knees side to side, tighten stomach and kegal, and pelvic tilt. I can do these but am limited in the distance I can move. I am so stiff that I cannot reach to wash myself (vaginal area) without hurting and I can cross my injured leg while sitting in a chair but can't cross it well enough to put my pants on. Where should I go from here? I have seen my family practise ( unsure of diagnosis, goes with whatever other docs say) Orthopedic surgeon says dynamic not structural, pain doc says chronic myofascial, and two Physical therapists say SI joint dysfunction.  I just want to get better, please advise where to go or what to read etc. Thanks,
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[mkh9]

Hi Lefty67,
No the ortho surgeon said my MRI looked perfect. Also, the physical therapist did a whole lot of testing to insure that there were no spinal problems as he said that sometimes the MRI doesn't pick up everything. He was certain it was SI joint. But, there is no accuarcy to those tests and no data in the literature to prove that SI joint exists for those who don't have a car accident, pregnancy and arthritis (which I don't have). I didn't have regular X-rays and they are less specific. I did have a bone scan which rules out cancer, Ankylosing spondilitis and arthritis. I am due to get a hip MRI just to make sure. I didn't mention that I was almost healed when I first got this injury. But I bent over and forgot to bend my knees. I went to a different physical therpist at that time and he injured me badly. He did manual therapy (reverse pressure technique) on the wrong leg and this sent me into major pain. I did get on pain med at that time then went to another PT which is the one mentioned above. The last pt was actually very smart and nice etc. but he made some very bad decisions on how quickly to move me forward. For example he had me do a lunge on the floor even though I told him I had a weak leg from pain and sitting too much and when I got up I strained my back. He did traction which also strained a muscle. He did say he had a quota to get a bonus and that he wanted to quit in 5 years to teach. I stayed with him until I sprained my back. I actually felt a tear and couldn't walk much after that. That is why I'm so out of shape now and fighting to get back to "normal" if I ever can. I hope so as I was very active. I have always been athletic. I was a tennis player, jogger, hiked up rocky mountains in Canada etc. now I'm stuck at home. I'm going to try to get into my car this weekend but I'm afraid of injury. I really need to see several doctors. I hope I can do it.
mkh9

[Lefty67]

SI joint problems could definitely be an issue, but a question for you. Have you had x-rays done? Was there any mention of transitional vertebra in the lumbar region with the MRI? Any mention of a pseudoarticulation with the MRI or x-rays that you have had done?