Anybody with back issues?
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive January 2007:
Anybody with back issues?
I'm seeing my doctor Monday about back and neck pain and I wondered how they will determine what's wrong.
I've been having lots of lower back and neck pain for at least 6mths. It has come and gone, but is often. After terrible pain for about a month, I tried going to one pillow at night instead of 2. The pain went away immediately. I was thrilled! It was gone for about a month and has been back for about a week now for no obvious reason.
It is totally lower back, around the tailbone, all across but somewhat focused on my left side of the tailbone. There's a string of pain up the left backside of my neck to follow it. I find myself slouching because it feels better than standing tall, and picking up Natalie is agony for my lower back. No Advil, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Tylenol touches it. Sitting and getting up I feel like an old lady, trying to crack myself back up to a standing position. (I'm talking driving to the store, not 3 hrs. of sitting.)
What should I expect? What COULD be wrong? The pain is finally just getting old so I called for an appt. today. DH has been bugging me about going, and I've been putting it off just because I figured there's nothing they can do for me.
Do you think it could be pregnancy-related or is that way off base? It's been 2 1/2yrs., but I carried very low the entire time, had sciatica (sp?) probs during pregnancy, and had back labor. It seems to have only started maybe in the last 6mths or so, I really couldn't tell. At least that though.
It doesn't hurt to exercise and seems to feel better if I'm moving but not weighted down.
What should I expect? TIA
I have no idea, Sweetie, but I'm glad that you are going to see the doctor. You shouldn't have to live in pain.
I have had sciatica and it is THE most painful thing...you can't sit, stand or lie down comfortably. It is all nerve related.
Let us know what he/she says. (((HUGS)))
Deanna, just wondering, I can't remember did you have issues during your pregnancy? Did you take any steriods like Prednisone? Do you have have any hip or joint pain? If so you might want to mention that to your doctor when you see him.
Also your lower back pain could be causing your upper shoulder and neck pain due to your posture.
Hope you feel better soon, let us know what the doctor says.
They would probably do x-rays and the next step would be an MRI, since they can see more soft-tissue stuff, with an MRI.
Well, it could be soft tissue, or it could be a disc. Probably x-rays, and an MRI if nothing shows up on the x-rays (which is often the case with lumbar area discs). And, probably muscle relaxants and maybe physical therapy.
For now, try putting a pillow under your knees when lying on your back at night. When you are sitting, put a stool under one foot and switch off to the other foot every half hour or so. Use your knees instead of your back - stoop, don't bend. If you have to pick anything up (like Natalie), stoop, or even sit, and get Natalie (or the thing) as close to your body as possible instead of at arm's length before you stand up.
Most likely it is a soft tissue thing and will go away with muscle relaxants, pt, and proper treatment. If it is a disc, however, BTDT, back in 1980 (beginning with sciatica, which is pain in the sciatic nerve from the disc and all the way down the back and leg), and it went away with meds and treatment. A co-worker had lower back disc problems last year and opted against any kind of surgery, and her problem also went away. And, I recently read of a study that showed that when people had disc problems, the people who didn't have surgery had just as good results a year or two later than the people who had surgery. I now have arthritis in my neck and lower back, and had some problems until I got a proper diagnosis - now I have exercises that I should do daily but only do when I start to ache, and the exercises clear it up.
Finally, if it is a disc problem and anyone starts talking about surgery, you need to see a neurologist and have a thorough neuro exam and evaluation before making any major decision.
Oh, and what you are feeling may be "referred pain". That is, it may be a disc or discs pressing on nerves, and you feel the pain at some distance from the disc. That is very common with disc problems - like sciatica, which runs through the buttock and down the leg and is caused by a problem with a lumbar disc. My arthritic neck pain runs through my shoulder and down my arm, all the way to my hand when it is really bad and I haven't done the exercises.
Queen of the back issues here..........LOL
Everything that was said above is true. And it could be referred pain from hip joint dysfunction or a slight scoliosis also.
You really *do* need to see an ortho, or physical medicine doc, for a full evaluation and/or tests.
I suggest you make a journal, if you can remember the past month or so accurately, include that, but start now. It should show: date, location of pain, duration of pain, severity of pain (from 1 - 10), list what you did, or what meds you took to help and if they did or did not help. Also note your activities when you have the pain; and anything else that you feel might be pertinent, such as *lying in a certain position makes it worse, or makes it go away*. I kept one from 8 weeks and asked that it be made part of my permanent file at my osteopath's office.
I know a lot of people won't agree with this, but have you thought of chiropractics? If you think seeing a MD is warrented, by all means, do it. I don't think chiropractics can cure everything, but it certainly can help and it's a great natural alternative. If we can get away without medicating or being invasive, I'm all for it. Just a suggestion. Take it or leave it and please, no bashing.
I have frequent low back pain---at times excruciating and I have even missed work for it once and was flat on the floor unable to get up. I've been to the doctor and seen the PTs with whom I work. The cause of mine is that my SI joint (sacroiliac) gets out of alignment. I don't have neck pain with it, but sharp lower back pain on one side and it extends into my but and the back of my thigh. The PT showed me some exercises to prevent this pain and said that it is caused by tight hamstrings. Now if I would only do them on a regular basis.
I won't bash my friend Cat , but I am not a fan of chiropractic. Physical therapy is another non-invasive non-medication alternative to muscle relaxers or surgery in most cases. Not only does PT fix the problem, but you'll also learn ways to prevent it from recurring.
Hope you are feeling better soon!
P.S., The whole slouching thing, pain when you pick up Natalie, etc, makes me think it is SI for you too. I can't stand up straight when mine gets out of whack. I have to walk with my butt sticking out and bent over and I can never pick up my kiddos at work. The neck thing...no ideas unless you are just sleeping wrong.
Cat and Pam - either or both chiropractic and physical therapy treatment have their places in treatment - provided there is a thorough diagnostic workup first and a clear diagnosis, so that the chiropractic treatment or pt are not the wrong treatments.
Ginny, exactly--chiropractics has it's place. Like I said, I don't think it's a cure all. My chiropractor won't do anything if she feels there's a problems that needs to be addressed by someone else (like broken bones, infections, etc).
Pam, my chiropractor also does education about preventing injuries, etc. I know not all do that.
Cat I think there is bad in everything. Meaning there are good and bad doctors, chiropractors etc..
Deanna, pregnancy can put a lot of pressure on the SI joints and the pelvis. If the uterus is tilted towards the spine, it surly can be extremely affected.
Another issue can be dehydration. If you are not properly hydrating then your discs between the vertebrae can loose their "bounce" and will cause friction and pain.
The issues with sleeping, could be the wear and pain all day making it so that you are unable to relax properly which means you are waking up stiff and sore in the mornings.
I think going to your primary doctor is the best place to start. They have back type braces that you can wear to support the SI if it is just pregnancy related pressure/pain..
Best of luck and keep us posted..
Thanks for the info ladies!! It's like a little med group online! LOL
It doesn't hurt when I rise in the morning anymore than it does the rest of the day, so I don't *think* it's a sleeping thing. Who knows though.
I've just been telling Natalie that Mommy's back hurts and I'll hold her hand. She's getting big to be held anyway for someone of smaller stature like me anyway. But when I HAVE to for some reason, yuck it hurts.
My DH thinks chiropracters are quacks, but I don't. I just felt like I should see my MD first. He'll refer me immediately to a sports med doc I'm sure, just based on problems my DH has had in the past. I'll go from there with what they find out. I definitely won't rule out a chiropracter, but will try other things first.
Heaven- No, wasn't on anything while I was pregnant, but had HELLP Syndrome in the last weeks of my pregnancy.
It seems to be really concentrated in the middle and just to the left. Yep Pam - I look like an old lady walking with my butt out!! I do therapy on Thursdays with my kiddos, so yesterday it was pretty bad between the driving and playing on the floor all day. Once I got home and started moving around, the pain eased up a bit. Moving seems to make a difference.
I'm also sure you guys are right in that the neck pain is possible coming from the slouching and is not directly the problem. If G'Ma saw me she'd kick me to stand up straight! I'll think of it, correct my posture, and be amazed at how low I am! Then I feel the pain in my back when I stand tall and think, no wonder.
Appt. is Monday, and I'm sure he'll refer me so I'll know nothing for a while. In the meantime, DH is teasing me because I'll be 32 next month and I'm an "old woman"!!
Deanna, my dh thinks they're quacks, too. He did break down and see my chiro's dh (he's a chiro, too) though when his back was killing him and he couldn't get an appointment for days at the military hospital. He didn't deny it help tremendously, but he's still not a big believer. Shoot, we've even had our dog adjusted when he twisted his back (fell off the back of the couch) and dh sees the results, but just can't quite accept them, ya know? Good luck with finding out what's up. It's no fun when you're hurting all the time. Hugs.
Lots of people think chiropractors are quacks. and the thing is, some of them, like MDs ARE. *If* you decide to try chiropractic, see if you can get a *word of mouth* referral. That is how I chose both of the ones I used. A GOOD chiropractor will use all the diagnostic tools to evaluate you BEFORE he attempts to work on you, and if something contraindicates chiropractic he WON'T work on you. BUT - if it's safe, and you have a good one, they can really work wonders for you!
How are you feeling? What is your doctor going to do? I hope all is well with you I've had some similar stuff going on and was just curious if it was pregnancy related? My siatica eased up about 5mths ago but I still get very excrusctiating(sp)lower back pain at times.
I actually rescheduled my appt. so that I could see my actual doc and not someone else in the office. I go the 22nd instead. Thanks for checking on me!!! It has eased this past week, though always there. It's bad weeks and good weeks. I'm anxious to see what they tell me!
Hey Reds!!!! What did they tell ya? I have to go for a MRI they think my back pain is disc related,ugh.I hope all is well with you.
Thanks for asking! My appt. was Monday. He doesn't think it's disc-related and thinks it's in my iliac and sacrum (not sure if that's right, but it's close!) He sent me for an x-ray to double-check bone even though he doesn't think that's it. Then I start physical therapy on Monday, for a length that will be determined by the therapist. Maybe that will help, I hope. They should call me today or tomorrow about my x-rays.
Ugh on the disc problems for you. I hope it will get worked out soon!
Yep, the SI joint. That's my problem too. PT will help immensely!
Ditto Pam. I have trouble with my SI joint a lot too, and I have stretches to do to keep it aligned and help with the pain. Good luck! Sometimes you hurt more for a day or 2 when starting PT, but a good therapist can work wonders for you!!!
I would love to know what exercises the PT has you do. I have issues with my IS joint, i did find that new pillows and flipping my mattress sure helped out though.
Kaye, the PT told me that part of my problem was tight hamstrings ('tis true!). Two of the best exercises that I remember is to kneel down with my butt on the soles of me feet and lean forward stretching my arms out in front as if in a middle eastern prayer posture, face on the floor. The other is to lay on my back and bend both legs at the knee. Put the right ankle on the left knee and then pull the left thigh towards my chest. This gives a really good hamstring stretch. Repeat on the other side.
Interesting exercise info...yes Pam, he did said SI joint and showed me pictures and stuff. It looks like that's exactly where my pain is. I'm excited to hear that therapy may really help! I'm very flexible though and stretch my hamstrings nearly every day. I love stretching and will probably really enjoy the therapy.
I actually have a massage scheduled after my first appt. next week. I will be loosey-goosey by the time I get home!! LOL
Kaye-I'll let you know the exercises we do if different from Pam's!
One of the stretches I do is very similar to what Pam described; only once in that position, you grab something firmly in place with your right hand positioned ahead of your left shoulder and stretch out to the right side as far as you can, and then repeat on the other side. Does that make any sense??? I could SHOW you how to do it! LOL
Another few I have involve lying flat on your back and raising one leg and crossing the foot over your other knee, then using your arms to stretch out your hip - this works really well for piriformis syndrome, which I have, and it affects your lower back.
Piriformis stretch
SI Dysfunction & piriformis syndrome
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