upper back pain

[SuzieeQ]

I have been dealing with mid to upper back pain for over 8 months. I have been seeing a D.O and after months of maniuplation with really no relief we finally we able to get an mri. The MRI didn't really show anything significant except a slight bluging disc in I think my T-4.  I was on pain meds hydrocodone 500/5 1 a day and valium 10mg-30mgs.  I am not taking the hydro anymore and am tapering off of the valium, now at 10mg,

My question is why am I in pain?  The pain migrates some. Sometimes its just a horrible burning sensation, sometimes it feels like the muscles in my back have wrapped around the spine. I also have numbness and tingling in my right leg and arms. The only comfortable position I can find is laying down or sitting in my recliner. This has really effected my quality of life. I dread getting up in the morning as getting ready for work is painful. I work at a computer most of the time and now I do what I can then usually lay down for the rest of the day.

My D.O. thinks that I am underweight and don't have enough muscle to support my back and also thinks poor posture while working at the computer is a contributing factor. He wants me to start walking but the pain is just horrible. Is there anything else that could be causeing this?  I am 48 years old and don't really have any other symptoms. I am 5'4" and 115 lbs.

[Adam Tanase, D.C.]

Upper back pain doesn't necessarily start in the upper back. So if it's coming from higher up anatomically due to a head/neck misalignment, and your D.O. is only treating the area that hurts, the pain won't go away.

Consider finding an Upper Cervical specialist in your area (www.UpCspine.com) and have them take a more dynamic look at your spine.

There are plenty of people who are 5'4" and around 115lbs who don't have this problem - so I'm not buying the "because you're underweight" explanation.

Warm wishes,
AT

[Adam Tanase, D.C.]

Suziee,

MRI is designed to really only look for soft tissue abnormalities. An upper cervical head/neck misalignment issue will not be evident on an MRI. This a structural issue that will be best seen with nasium and vertex x-ray views.

Most every child on earth has a small frame, yet few have the problems you're describing -- so your D.O.'s rationale just doesn't hold water.

I'm standing firm with my original recommendation - find an Upper Cervical specialist in your area for now.

Warm wishes,
AT

[SuzieeQ]

First of thank you for answering my question.

My D.O. said the MRI showed all the way up through the cervical spine and nothing was abnormal.  I too have a hard time buying in to the underweight explaination. I was 103 lbs until I was in my mid 30's and never had a back problem.

I have always worked hard physically all my life, pushing small aircraft around by hand, loading and unloading freight from an airplane and just about anything else a man should have been doing. So I don't think I have done my back any favors.

Would the MRI nessasarily show everything going on in my back?  Is it faultless? And why would my right arm and leg have tingling and numbness?

My Doc is so stuck on my small frame that I don't think he can see past it. He also thinks I am not trying hard enough to get better, meaning I didn't stick to schedule with him which was rather difficult since was out of town quite often last winter and spring and that I don't ice my back enough or stay in the hot tub long enough.

Would you suggest a Pain management specialist along with the physical therapy that he is going to me do.

Sincerely,

Suziee