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lumbar, hip and leg pain

I am a 38 year old female. 3 months ago I went to my primary care physician because of pain very low on my back that radiates to my hips. He sent me for a R & L joint xray and said we might as well get a chest xray while I'm there, because I have had what he diagnosed as small pnuemonias over the three years I have seen him. I had never had a chest xray. The chest xray showed that I have interstitial lung diease. I saw a pulmonologist and he ran many test. PPD anergy panal, Sed Rate, ACE Level, ANA, RF, Lung function test, HRCT on chest and sinusus. No cause was found. I have not seen my results but heard them second hand from the Doctors.

I made another appointment with my primary care physician because it seemed they had forgotten about my pain. He sent me for an MRI. I called the office and was only able to talk to the nurse. She asked the doctor what the results were and called me back. She said that it showed inflamation and bulging at the 3rd and 4th vertebrae. she called in a prescription for seldane to the pharmacy. It is an anti-inflamatory. She then called me back and said that she mis-understood the doctor. There was NOT bulging at the vertebrae and I should take the script and call for an appointment if there is no improvement.

There has been NO improvement! It seems worse. I have deep pain in my lumbar area, Hips, back of legs, front of thighs, sometimes in my ankles, sometimes in my big toe. The pain is back and forth from one side to the other and sometimes both sides at the same time. I am not stiff in the morning but have increasing pain as the day goes on.

I have two yong children and can't live like this. It is affecting my quality of life and my childrens life. I stay at home thank goodness because it gives me an opprotunity to rest when I need to.

I need some help. What should I be asking my doctors? Should I request a specialist? I have only gotten a diagnosis of interstitial lung disease but no cause. Could the two be related? I thought Lupus but according to the Pulmonologist the ANA was negative. Please Help ME! Thank You So Much for any assistance!!!
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Avatar universal
After 5 months of mild to moderate lower back pain plus pain & numbness radiating down my right leg (that had been temporarily helped by chiropractic manipulation and acupunture), I finally saw a neurosurgeon who ordered an MRI after a short evaluation.  The MRI showed a disconnected disc (similar to bulging or herniated) and suggested surgery was the best fix, but she also indicated physical therapy had a 30% chance of healing the affected disc. I opted for physical therapy.

While it's too soon to say that physical therapy will work, I can definitely say that is is important to correct the cause of the herniation so that the unhealthy condition that created it will no longer exist. After learning about how I hold my back, it looks like the disc probably became distorted because of my posture. While I'm active, strong and flexible, I apparently hold my back too straight (something I never would've thought could cause a disc problem). Holding one's back too straight or, conversely, allowing the lumbar region to sway too much changes the shape of the space between the vertebrae and squeezes the disc material, pushing it out, often towards the spinal cord. While surgical help may be necessary, without physical therapy to correct the cause of the problem creating the herniation, it seems inevitable that the condition would return to the same or another disc, (unless the herniation was caused by an accident).
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Avatar universal
Hello,

Has anyone here ever heard of chiropractic for back pain!  I think the massage therapist was the closest.  It could definately be a hypertonic psoas muscle or piriformis entrapment.  Soft tissue therapy is certainly the most conservative treatment and should therefore be first.  The fact that neurologists don't refer a person like Karen to a DC or RMT is is sign of ignorance as to the potential of bodywork.  However, it is not their fault.  Nothing like this is taught in medical school, and believe me, I know, being a DCMD.  It could also be a hard lesion that must taken care of befor soft tissue will be beneficial.  No doubt, spine surgery is last.
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Avatar universal
KAREN, I have been a Massage therapist for 10 years now, helping people. I went to a Licensed Accredited School in Lapeer Michigan  (Health Enrichment Center) for 2 yrs, and worked there in charge of their workshops for 3 yrs. I do deep tissue work,meaning working WITH the body I work with neuromuscular problems, i am probably more clinical than an average massge therapist. Has anyone muscle tested PSOAS, ILLIACUS muscles on you?  To see if they are balanced in strength?  Sometimes when off balance these very deep low back muscles and hip adductors can really cause havoc.The psoas is a very STRONG muscles that connects to the Femor (bone=-upper leg thigh) and to the lower lumber vertebrae disks. Illiacus can cause hip pain.that moves around down and up.  This is a muscle that is forgotton about often.  It can literally take you over in a bent forward position, so that you have to "Crawl to the Bathroom" per se'.
If it is an uneven pull, and in contraction (spasm) for a long period of time, it can eventually PULL the disk out= ruptured disk time!
If you could find someone with credentials in massage neuromuscular work to check this or a Dr. for you, it might help to release these muscles. Piriformis muscle comes out of the sacrum and the Sciatic Nerve, which is not the same on all people, sometimes that nerve goes through the muscle, sometimes around piriformis, so muscles can pinch nerves also, as with a vertebrae in a fixed position.Sciatica can cause bizzare symptoms also, as this big nerve orginates from the sacrum and is big, goes down the back of your leg, splits into 2 smaller nerves down to the middle of your foot. Worth looking into, maybe will help you

GOOD LUCK TO YOU,
Sincerely
Connie Nelson
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Avatar universal
I AM 35 YEARS OLD, ATHLETIC BUILD AND HAVE DONE ALL THE DAMAGE TO MY BACK MYSELF. I AM NOW SEVERELY PAYING THE PRICE FOR IT. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN GOING TO A CHIROPRACTOR THAT IN THE BEGINNING SEEM TO DO SUM GOOD. I HAVE NOT READ ANYTHING GOOD ON THIS KIND OF TREATMENT. IT DOES SEEM TO MAKE SINCE. SPINAL MANIPULATION IN THE LONG TERM TREATMENT DOES MAKE ALOT SINCE TO ME. I HAVE ASKED ALOT OF QUESTION AND DONE ALOT OF RESEACH ON THIS. MD DOCTORS ARE TRAINED ONE WAY AND DO(I THINK THATS WHAT THEY ARE CALLED) ARE TRAINED ON THE LINES OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE. SINCE I HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE CHIROPRACTIC I DID SOMETHING REAL STUPID. I WAS TRYING TO HELP A NEIGHBOR TURN A STEEL FLOOR OVER AND IT FELL ON US WE WERE BOTH PINNED TO THE GROUND. I WAS PINNED WITH MY FACE BETWEEN MY KNEES.(THAT HURT) BUT, I AM STILL GOING TO MY CHIROPRACTOR AND STILL AM SEEKING KNOWLEDGE. THAT HOW I GOT HERE. I AM PRESENTLY SEEKING ALL THE INFORMATION I CAN ON INVERSION THERAPY(HANGING UPSIDEDOWN). http;//www.gyrospace.com/inversion_therapy.htm  SO WITH THIS THOUGHT IN MIND I AM GOING TO MAKE ME ONE OR FIND ONE TO BUY. SO FAR THE READING ON THIS MAKES THE MOST SINCE. I HOPE ALL OF YOU FIND THE ANSWERS THAT YA'LL ARE SEEKING.
SEVERE PAIN AND SEEKING THE ANSWERS TO A PAIN FREE LIFE.
DANNY
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I AM 35 YEARS OLD, ATHLETIC BUILD AND HAVE DONE ALL THE DAMAGE TO MY BACK MYSELF. I AM NOW SEVERELY PAYING THE PRICE FOR IT. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN GOING TO A CHIROPRACTOR THAT IN THE BEGINNING SEEM TO DO SUM GOOD. I HAVE NOT READ ANYTHING GOOD ON THIS KIND OF TREATMENT. IT DOES SEEM TO MAKE SINCE. SPINAL MANIPULATION IN THE LONG TERM TREATMENT DOES MAKE ALOT SINCE TO ME. I HAVE ASKED ALOT OF QUESTION AND DONE ALOT OF RESEACH ON THIS. MD DOCTORS ARE TRAINED ONE WAY AND DO(I THINK THATS WHAT THEY ARE CALLED) ARE TRAINED ON THE LINES OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE. SINCE I HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE CHIROPRACTIC I DID SOMETHING REAL STUPID. I WAS TRYING TO HELP A NEIGHBOR TURN A STEEL FLOOR OVER AND IT FELL ON US WE WERE BOTH PINNED TO THE GROUND. I WAS PINNED WITH MY FACE BETWEEN MY KNEES.(THAT HURT) BUT, I AM STILL GOING TO MY CHIROPRACTOR AND STILL AM SEEKING KNOWLEDGE. THAT HOW I GOT HERE. I AM PRESENTLY SEEKING ALL THE INFORMATION I CAN ON INVERSION THERAPY(HANGING UPSIDEDOWN). http;//www.gyrospace.com/inversion_therapy.htm  SO WITH THIS THOUGHT IN MIND I AM GOING TO MAKE ME ONE OR FIND ONE TO BUY. SO FAR THE READING ON THIS MAKES THE MOST SINCE. I HOPE ALL OF YOU FIND THE ANSWERS THAT YA'LL ARE SEEKING.
SEVERE PAIN AND SEEKING THE ANSWERS TO A PAIN FREE LIFE.
DANNY
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have a friend that who in the past few months has had constant pain in her lower back, then moved to her hip, and now is in her right thigh. It aches her like a toothache and the doctor told her it was a sprain. She is athletic but has been inactive for a few months now. I feel she has inflamation of the muscle or her joints but of course I am not a doctor but in anyway it hurts her to walk at all. It brings her to tears. I like the idea of the massage thereapist and will definately advise her of this idea. If any other suggestions, please help
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have a friend that who in the past few months has had constant pain in her lower back, then moved to her hip, and now is in her right thigh. It aches her like a toothache and the doctor told her it was a sprain. She is athletic but has been inactive for a few months now. I feel she has inflamation of the muscle or her joints but of course I am not a doctor but in anyway it hurts her to walk at all. It brings her to tears. I like the idea of the massage thereapist and will definately advise her of this idea. If any other suggestions, please help
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal

Have you ever heard of the book "What's realy wrong with you"
I forgot the authors name but it can help many who have back and sciatic problems or many other problems relating to muscle aches and pains. I agree with the author of the book who said that massage is many times the treatment of choice and is the least expensive.
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Avatar universal
I am a 29 year old female, in 1993 i was diagnosed with buldging disk in my lumbar area i was put on oral meds like Seklaxin, Torodol and something for pain relief. I spent about 2 wks in hospital in traction and on morphine pump. My systoms had subsided for a peroid of time, And then flared up again. I have lived with this pain for 8 yrs now. Recently in 1998 i had a serious inflammation in the lumbar area with the disk at that time i was scheduled for an MRI scan and my results were denergative disk disease and two buldging disk in the lumbar area. At that time i had no pain in my leg or hips just in the lumbar area and alot of stiffness in the morning. Recently i had another inflammtion episode of the disk and now i have tingling and a sharp pain that shoots down my leg leg into my hips and big toe. Usually when my back flares up with my meds and rest i get better in about a week, but now my back is feeling better but i can't seem to stop the pain in my leg.  The doctor's say my condition shouldn't cause me as much pain as i said i am in, Oh, but it does. I have seen two neurologist and they both say the same, I stay at home because there is not a day that goes by that i don't hurt. I have had two MRI scans what other methods should i take to find proper care for this annoying problem. I have 4 kids and sometimes they have to wait on me like i am their child. I fell so bad for them, but i have no choice i'm laid up in bed alot.
P.S Sharon (help)
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Avatar universal
I have been diagnosed with having my sciatic nerve inflamed. I have very intense pain running from my low back, buttocks down into my left lower side and hip and thigh, my thigh feels so tight as if i am wearing a  band around it. I am totally  miserable at night more so when i sleep. I take muscle relaxers  little but they make me too drowsey and I take naproxen. If anyone suffers from this can they please tell me what they have done if they found releif. I would appreaciate it.  Paula
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Avatar universal
MY PROBLEM IS ONLY IN MY RIGHT HIP(SOME TIMES THE LEFT). I THINK I'M GOING TO SHOOT FOR THE CORTIZONE SHOT ! PAT, SAID IT WORKED FOR 7 MONTHS. 7 MONTHS WOULD FEEL LIKE 7 YEARS WHEN YOUR PRESENTLY IN PAIN EVERY 7 SECONDS !! I HOPE MY BODY DOESN'T BECOME IMMUNE TO THE CORIZONE AFTER 7 MONTHS ? MRI TESTING ISOLATED THE AREA TO MY HIP NOT MY BACK. (A POSSIBLE SKI ACCIDENT  A FEW YEARS BACK) !1
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Avatar universal
Ok, I am going to shime in on this. (disclamer: no spell checker, so sorry for any spelling blunders)

I am suffering right now from lower back tightness  and pain, and overall stiffness in both hips and Hamstrings. I was in a car accident about 8 years ago and never got real relief from the siatic pain I had from that accident.  Over time, when I would work out in the yard and do any bending and stretching, or even to much walking, my lower back sezes up and I can not bend over.  I figured it was from over doing and weak stomach muscles.  But then about a year ago I started getting pain in my right leg, right at the hip, it hurt to lift my leg up very far....I thought this might be tendonidas from bike riding.  Then my ham-string in the right leg started feeling tight, even though I was very limber.  Then, right at the top of my ham-string, near the groin are,  I was having pain, like a knot.  I could not get this stretched out or relieved.  I started going to a chiropractor that thought it was scar tissue and just gouged it 3 times a week, with no results.
I quit seeing the chiro and after I got back from my honeymoon every thing went to hell.  The flight home was long and uncomfortable.  It has progressed to almost total disability sometimes.  I can not do anything with out my back, hips and Ham-strings getting so stiff I can't walk.  The pain and stiffness  is constent but in verying degrees.  If I sit too long I can hardly stand up and I have to walk it out.  If I walk to much the pain runs from my sacrum to my left hip...it pinches.  I can't run because of the pain in the left hip.  I can't carry any thing or even clean the house without suffering later.  If I ride my bike, it doesn't hurt to ride, but when I try to get off the bike and walk, I can't hardly do it.  I also have a lot of leg muscle fatigue from all this. I am now going to PT and they have regained some of the muscle loss I was having from all this.  My hip flexers, stomach muscles, the lower spin muscles in my back and my pelvic floor muscles, just to name a few, have all needed to be stimulated.  But every time they treat me I just feel worse. We first tried strengthening exercises, but they only made me worse.  We have tried different streatching exercises and they are not helping...PT thinks I am quite flexible. Anything I do to my muscles makes them tense us and hurt, and I just get stiffer and less moble.  Just yesterday we found a lump in my sacrum area that is very painful, he thinks it might be a  nerve bundle or a syst, but we are going to get it checked out.  I am very frustrated and nothing seems to be making me any better.  It's really bad when just sitting makes you so stiff you can hardly move, let alone just cleaning the house.  I have always been a very active person and I am not over weight.  I am 39 and I feel 80.  My husband and I want to try and have at least one child, but at this point I can't carry groceries around let alone a baby.  Anyway, I will let you know what I find out.  I am begining to think everyone thinks Iam crazy.  I know a lot of stess in my life might have something to do with it....my PT says prolonged stress can cause problems and I, in just the last 10 Months, have changed jobs after 10 years, moved away from my family, sold my house, planned a wedding in St. Thomas, Moved a two store house (three truck loads of stuff from Illinois to Michigan) planned a reception in our back yard and am building a new web site for the college I am now working for....so I would say, YES, I have had some stress involved. But that is all done with now and I still hurt.  So, What's Up?  If I find out I will let you all know in hopes others can find releif from chronic "Mystery" pain.
lb
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Avatar universal
I to suffer from what i think is siatic. It is horrible.  I have tried everything.  I had a harrington rod placed in 1970. Nobody seems to be able to help.  Some days are worse than others. The pain is alittle differnt every time.  I don't know how much longer I can tolorate it. Life is hard when you are in pain.
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Avatar universal
Dear Karen,
I can relate to your lower back pain. I am currently being treated for the same pain that is deep in my lower back and across my rear end and down my leg. I am 28 and have been experiencing this pain off and on for 4-5 months. Just recently it has become so severe I feel unable to move at and the pain is so bad when I move that tears come to my eyes. I am seeing a physical therapist for the problem. The physical therapy is working. I had a joint near my pelvis that was not in position and caused one of my hips to be pushed forward. Your symptons sound very simular to mine. I would suggest going to a physical therapist. It is wonderful. I have been 4 times and I know it will take some time to fully recover but I feel so much better. My "pt" tells me my muscles have adapted to the problem and I am working on stregnthening them to support my body correctly.
Take care!
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Avatar universal
I wouid appricate any info. that you can give me . for several months now i have had constant leg and hip pain on both sides but only when im lyingdown and in my buttocks when i bend.
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Avatar universal


Karen,

Hey...the best solution i have for you is..try acupuncture..it will help with the pain..but after a few sessions..i m sure it will help..i can't be positive cause its diff. for everyone..but its worht a try!
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Avatar universal
I wouid appricate any info. that you can give me . for several months now i have had constant leg and hip pain on both sides but only when im lyingdown and in my buttocks when i bend.
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Avatar universal
I have been through HELL!!!! over the past year and a half!!!  It all started with severe groin pain on the left side and tightness ,discomfort and burning sensations in my lower back and stomach on Left side.  The orthopedic surgeon I saw sent me to a therapist for an adductor strain.  How did I strain my adductor?, I thought.  Anyway, the condition kept getting worse until gradually my left hip flexor literally ceased to function.  Then this "muscle absentness" spread up to my back and eventually to my right side and around my entire body numerous times over.  Do these symptioms apply to anyone else in the entire world????  I've been praying and I've finally arrived at a therapist who's treating me for a shortened or weak psoas problem--which I myself had to search out and find on the internet.  I'm 18 years old and female and tell me I'm not going through HELL right now. A lady at the therapists is doing deep tissue massage and I have stretches to do, but will that take care of the muscles(hip flexors-thigh) that are severely weakened and overstretched???   I know that you guys aren't supposed to reply but can you see my age and how scary something like this is and how desperate I am right now for hope that one day all my muscles will be normal and strong again and no muscles compensating anywhere in my body!!  I gave up a Vocal Performance Scholarship because of this problem!!Help!
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Avatar universal
I have been through HELL!!!! over the past year and a half!!!  It all started with severe groin pain on the left side and tightness ,discomfort and burning sensations in my lower back and stomach on Left side.  The orthopedic surgeon I saw sent me to a therapist for an adductor strain.  How did I strain my adductor?, I thought.  Anyway, the condition kept getting worse until gradually my left hip flexor literally ceased to function.  Then this "muscle absentness" spread up to my back and eventually to my right side and around my entire body numerous times over.  Do these symptioms apply to anyone else in the entire world????  I've been praying and I've finally arrived at a therapist who's treating me for a shortened or weak psoas problem--which I myself had to search out and find on the internet.  I'm 18 years old and female and tell me I'm not going through HELL right now. A lady at the therapists is doing deep tissue massage and I have stretches to do, but will that take care of the muscles(hip flexors-thigh) that are severely weakened and overstretched???   I know that you guys aren't supposed to reply but can you see my age and how scary something like this is and how desperate I am right now for hope that one day all my muscles will be normal and strong again and no muscles compensating anywhere in my body!!  I gave up a Vocal Performance Scholarship because of this problem!!Help!
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Avatar universal
piroformis syndrome is helped by the correct exercise of the piroforis muscle located in the buttocks.  I have this and the only help has been thru physical therapy and recommended exercise to stretch the piroformis muscle.
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Avatar universal
Last September I had surgery to remove a schwanoma (nerve tumor)surrounding the sciatic nerve at L5-S1.  The symptoms were severe sciatic pain radiating from the hip, behind the thigh and knee and into the heel of my foot.  Neither chiropractic, deep muscle massage or physical therapy helped.  Steriod injections in the spine aleved the pain for about two weeks (four times)but it soon returned. It took 18 months of suffering before the tumor was discovered via a mylogram and removed by a very fine NYC neurosugeon. I had been unable to find anything on the internet on this subject.  Does anyone know how rare is this condition? I would be happy to provide details so others might learn from my experience.
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Avatar universal
Dear Karen:

Your description of walking is too familiar...I might add a right
sided tip-toe technique has become part of my gait.  My "discomfort" has ranged on a pain scale from 3 to 9 (1-10) since January.  Because of a chronic back problem, I post-poned seeking treatment until May.  Since then, I've been compliant with my PCP's recommendations -walking, steroids, muscle relaxants, and NSAIDs with only minimal improvement.  Referral to an orthopaedic was delayed because of my insurance...when I finally received an appointment, I was only approved for one initial examination.  My anxiety level is severe, and I know that stress is aggravating my back.  The orthop. doc reviewed my x-rays, continued the NSAIDs, prescribed physical therapy, fitted me with a lumbar support, limited lifting to 25 lbs., identified an extra rib that
might be crowding the L-5/S-1, and then said "if you are not better in a month, come back in for an MRI.  Relieved that I was not immediately scheduled for surgery, I made a break for it, however, I had to laugh because it will take at least another month to get my insurance carrier to agree for another visit!

Hope you feel better sooner than later....Rose
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Avatar universal
aaron...

many doctors don't want to get involved if it's a Worker's
compensation claim..you have to search for a Doctor to help you
Try occupational doctors and get yourself a good lawyer.  Chiropractors will help but unless you get a good one, you might worsen your condition.  If it's job related by all means file for compensation before they fire you..if they fire you first it's all over.  
Hope it helps..then find a good surgeon that doesn't want to rush into the operating room.

jo-ann
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Avatar universal

    Dear Karen,

   I like yourself have had radiating pain in small back, hips, an legs. Along with other bizarre pains. This is due to a small bulge between L-5, AN S-1. Had a MRI done last nov. which showed a small annular bulge. Eccentric to the right without evidence of spinal stenosis or neural foraminal narrowing. The neurologist said there is nothing wrong at all.
   This last feb. I had a CT performed which shows a mild 4mm
disk protrusion to the right of midline which contacts the passing of S-1 nerve root. Despite this recorded doc. The neuro-
surgen did some tests on me, which hurt badly in hips, back an legs. Then tells me i'm fine. I've been hurting like this since last Aug. When i first hurt my back. It is job related. So, i'm on L&I. Now, with all the pain i've had to deal with. The doctors, an L&I are pushing hard to get me back to work. The last neurosurgen. Stated that the bulge does not contact the passing S-1 nerve. How he can tell this by hurting me even more, an without looking at the CT, or having another one done. Is beyond me.
    If you know of anyone else, going thru this,or info. that might help. It would be appreciated.
    The pains are mostly there still. But, not gone. Some days it hurts to do anything. Other days it's only mild pain.
There is so much more than what i've put down here.
    I feel for you, an everyone else going thru this type of problem.

                    Sincerely,

                             ....Aaron....
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