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Mid-back pain only in early morning
Dear Doc,
For the past 3 weeks, I have been experiencing deep, aching tightness in my mid-lower back, very slightly to the left of my spine. I cannot pinpoint the exact spot; it feels more like a small area. This sensation comes on every morning between 4-5am and is irritating enough to wake me up from my sleep, and persists till I wake up. Thereafter, the sensation disappears the whole day. I can resume normal activities without any pain but I am suffering from lack of quality sleep.
I did CT scan to rule out kidney/liver problems, and these were ruled out. Then, I did a lumber and thoracic MRI. Again, two orthopaedic specialists couldn't figure out what's wrong.
Specialist 1 wanted to inject muscle relaxant in the affected area to rule out muscle spasm. If the problem still persists, he will order a bone scan to rule out Osteoid Osteoma.
Specialist 2 suggested taking magnesium supplements (1000mg/OM) for 30 days. If fails, he will inject steroid to strengthen my back muscles. I used to see him for my fibromyalgia, and his steroid method worked. If both magnesium and steroid methods still fail, he will then order a bone scan.
Now, I don't want to do a bone scan because I had done a CT scan and don't want to be radiated again. I am also concerned about radiation affecting sperm fertility.
I am taking magnesium citrate pills (1000mg/OM) and doing core muscle exercises such as planking. When I stretch my hands vertically upwards all the way, I can feel a slight pull at the affected area (mid-lower back, very slightly to left of spine). When I slowly twist my body all the way to the right, I can also feel the same pull. But when I cough or sneeze, there is no ache at all.
Two weeks from now, I will have to decide whether to inject muscle relaxant into the muscles as per Specialist 1 (I am afraid of injections near the spine), or to carry on Specialist 2’s less "extreme" method.
Please advise which specialist to listen to, and what could be the diagnosis. Thank you!!
For the past 3 weeks, I have been experiencing deep, aching tightness in my mid-lower back, very slightly to the left of my spine. I cannot pinpoint the exact spot; it feels more like a small area. This sensation comes on every morning between 4-5am and is irritating enough to wake me up from my sleep, and persists till I wake up. Thereafter, the sensation disappears the whole day. I can resume normal activities without any pain but I am suffering from lack of quality sleep.
I did CT scan to rule out kidney/liver problems, and these were ruled out. Then, I did a lumber and thoracic MRI. Again, two orthopaedic specialists couldn't figure out what's wrong.
Specialist 1 wanted to inject muscle relaxant in the affected area to rule out muscle spasm. If the problem still persists, he will order a bone scan to rule out Osteoid Osteoma.
Specialist 2 suggested taking magnesium supplements (1000mg/OM) for 30 days. If fails, he will inject steroid to strengthen my back muscles. I used to see him for my fibromyalgia, and his steroid method worked. If both magnesium and steroid methods still fail, he will then order a bone scan.
Now, I don't want to do a bone scan because I had done a CT scan and don't want to be radiated again. I am also concerned about radiation affecting sperm fertility.
I am taking magnesium citrate pills (1000mg/OM) and doing core muscle exercises such as planking. When I stretch my hands vertically upwards all the way, I can feel a slight pull at the affected area (mid-lower back, very slightly to left of spine). When I slowly twist my body all the way to the right, I can also feel the same pull. But when I cough or sneeze, there is no ache at all.
Two weeks from now, I will have to decide whether to inject muscle relaxant into the muscles as per Specialist 1 (I am afraid of injections near the spine), or to carry on Specialist 2’s less "extreme" method.
Please advise which specialist to listen to, and what could be the diagnosis. Thank you!!
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