Request: Severe Back Pain
Archived on 04/01/2009
1
I have pain in my back that seems to start in the lower back and goes up to the middle of it. I have no pain radiating down my legs. My husband can squeeze my back (like a bear hug) and get my back to "pop" and it does provide some relief. If I walk (say I go grocery shopping), after about 5 or 10 minutes my hips start hurting, then my back hurts.
I also feel like something is "pushing" on my back and making something hurt inside of me. Almost like whatever is out of place is causing some pain in my upper torso (inside). Rest and certain kinds of back popping seem to be the only thing that helps. I can take aspirin, Tylenol, Advil and the pain does NOT stop. It will subside some, but doesn't stop.
I saw a physical therapist twice a week for a month and learned back exercises. I do my back exercises around 3 to 4 times a week. They also do not seem to help or make any difference. I like the exercises, but they don't fix the original problem. I think something is misaligned.
I have slight scoliosis in my back (since I was a teenager). Awhile back the chiropractor told me that I have some arthritis in it (when I was in my late 20s). To me, this doesn't feel like arthritis. It seems to hurt when I move certain ways. Like my hips or something is out of whack.
The physical therapist did put my pelvis back into place and that did remove a lot of the pain. But I'm still having some pain. When I sit in a computer chair I feel like my back needs to be popped. I go for a walk and after a few minutes, my hips hurt then my back starts in. It's really starting to stop me from enjoying life.
I'm only going to be 40 this year! I'm not that old! My question is this. Who should I see about this? A chiropractor? My regular family doctor again? Should I go back to the PT (physical therapist)? Maybe I should go to someone else? My husband had a herniated disk and saw a neurosurgeon for it. I do not think I have a herniated disk though. I think something is just "off".
Please help! I feel like a 90 year old and a 90 year old probably doesn't hurt as much as I do. Thanks!
Misty from Ohio
Answers:
RE: Severe Back Pain
My husband just had major back surgery for spondolithesis. His legs were not working right and his feet were numb and toes wouldn't lift up. He started with a neurologist who eventually sent him to see an orthopedic surgeon. Everyone told him not to have surgery but we found out after the fact that he was very close to being in a wheel chair if he hadn't had it taken care of. Right out of surgery there was such a difference. He could move his toes and besides the surgery pain, he felt better. It is going to be a long recovery but worth it for him to be able to live a more normal life. Be careful of chiropractors. In some cases they can really help but they can also hurt if you don't know for sure what is going on in your spine.
Karen in Port Clinton, OH (03/19/2009)
By hairyjoe
RE: Severe Back Pain
I have rods in my spine, chronic pain from nerve damage caused by waiting too long to see someone, and chronic headaches. Please find a good chiropractor. With your scoliosis you should be VERY cautious about home treatments. If he/she is not able to help with the pain then go to a pain management doctor. I hope you feel better soon. (03/19/2009)
By Bethmom1961
RE: Severe Back Pain
From someone who also has back pain, hip pain and more, I would suggest an orthopedic Dr. Mine did x-rays and an exam. I would start there. (03/19/2009)
By dbleoangel
RE: Severe Back Pain
I used to have horrible pain in my back. I had lots of other symptoms that indicated a systemic yeast infection. I recommend that you try a good candida cleanse (available from any health food store) and follow an anti-candida diet for a couple of months to see if that makes any difference before doing any kind of major invasive procedures like surgery. A candida cleanse will not hurt anyone at all. If anything, it would make any necessary procedures a lot easier to recover from. I recommend Prescription for Nutritional Healing (a big book you can get at Sam's, Wal-mart, Amazon.com or a health food store). This is where I began my road to recovery from yeast. Made all the difference in the world! (03/19/2009)
By mizzoumom
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Request: Severe Back Pain
Archived on 03/17/2009
I've been bed ridden since mid January because of intense lower back pain which radiates down my left leg. My foot is also numb because of sciatic nerve pain. I can't sit, stand, or even drive my car without horrible pain. I have no health insurance and can't work because of this pain.
I borrowed money from family to go to the Chiropractor and an Osteopath Doctor. The X-rays didn't really show much so the doctor wants to do an MRI and send me to physical therapy. I can't afford to pay for an MRI so I am now trying to get Medicaid Health Insurance for only 3 months so I can hopefully diagnose this and live a normal life again.
The only time my pain goes away is if I lay down flat on my back. The doctor says it's most likely a disk problem. All I did was reach across my car's seat, then I felt my back give out (2 months ago). I am an otherwise healthy 54 year old woman and am not overweight.
If you or a loved one has had lower back or disc pain, can you help me with web sites or other information. I don't want surgery, but I can't keep laying in bed. I will exhaust all options and will do anything to live normally and pain-free again! Thank You!
Cyinda from Seattle
Answers:
RE: Severe Back Pain
If somehow you can e-mail me I could help you as I have had severe low back pain for 15 years and finally got rid of it through physical therapy. I could tell you my exercises and you could try them on your own as that is what I ended up doing. You could also try cranial sacral therapy or myofasical release therapy, which was also helpful to me. I know exactly what you are going through. My back would go out doing the littlest things like sneezing, coughing, taking clothes out of my front loading washer, or just stepping out of my car. I have been relatively pain-free for the first time in 15 years and it has lasted for 11 months. (03/09/2009)
By justhelpingout
RE: Severe Back Pain
I had the same problem. This is what a doctor had me do and it works; Lay down as if your sitting in a kitchen chair, so put pillows or something under your legs, laying on your back, you want the calves of your legs to take the weight off your lower back, try it and see how it works for you. (03/09/2009)
By Marieaa65
RE: Severe Back Pain
Sounds like you have a slipped disc in your back. The pain down the left leg is classic sciatica - that is, the Sciatic nerve is trapped. In bad cases it goes all the way to the arch of the foot.
(for example see: http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/what-you-need-know-about-sciatica)
I slipped a disc and compressed the nerve in my lower back in an accident in the army. After that, every doctor just prescribed regular painkillers, such as Brufen/Ibuprofen - which do not really help, as the nerve is compressed, so the medication cannot reach the affected area. You need a psychoactive painkiller, such as codeine, which blocks the pain at the brain. These are synthetic variants of morphine, which many folk prefer to avoid. For, me the pain goes, but they make me nauseous.
After several years, I went to see a chiropractor, who manipulated my back. It took about six sessions over a year (first few week weeks apart, then months) and he explained what to do for gentle exercise. I have hardly had problems. That was about 15 years ago. It still nags from time to time, but never as bad as it was.
I don't know about the US, but in the UK, there are two types of chiropractor. One type does seven years medical training, virtually the same as a medical Doctor, except they can't prescribe medication. They talk about nerves, bones and muscles. The other type, does a part time course over about a year. They talk about energy flow and spirit. I suggest seeing the one with proper medical training. After all, they are going to twist and crack a vital part of your body.
Rob. (03/09/2009)
By alloydog
RE: Severe Back Pain
Here are four tips that will not damage you.
Try floating in a swimming pool.
Try swimming if you can, pool or sea.
Try hanging from a beam as long as you can stand it.
Find a good bench seat, then shuffle forward onto the balls of your ankles and let your butt sag over the bench. You take the weight of your body on to the palm of your hands, but you must keep your arms straight. This is liken to hanging from a beam. Hope this helps, it's worth a try. Good Luck!
(03/10/2009)
By dunno
RE: Severe Back Pain
You need to file for social security disability. You need to file and go to the hearings and then keep on appealing. Type in Social Security Disability in the search bar and click on an official site.
It should tell you where to write from your computer for instructions on how to begin filing for disability.
Initial filings always get turned down. You should expect to be turned down five or more times before you get approved. Never quit appealing if you are turned down, or you will lose out on what they owe you from the time you first filed. Please start on this now. Also look for a doc who does a free evaluation or discounted evaluation.
I don't know what exercises to do but I am sure there are some on the internet. Be careful, you do not want to hurt yourself worse than you already are. My husband is disabled from something similar in his neck area. He had to file for about 5 years before he got approved for disability. You really need to call or write to social security administration and get started.
Blessings to you,
Racer (03/10/2009)
By Robyn Fed
RE: Severe Back Pain
I had back pain so bad that I could only lie down or stand up, but not sit. It lasted for months. Tried docs, pain and nerve meds, physical therapy, chiropractors. Then I took the Prednisone Dose Pac (prescription) and the pain was gone in a day. I expected it back after the pills were gone (6 days) but it didn't come back.
Very soon after that I started water aerobics in a warm pool, and as long as I keep going I get no back pain. If I miss for a week, it starts to come back. My brother also had terrible back pain and it was stopped in a day with Prednisone. I would not want to take it for long, but that Dose Pac is amazing.
(03/11/2009)
By Jeneene
RE: Severe Back Pain
I fell ice skating when I was about 20. Over the next nine years I had 3 or 4 incidents where my back went out. Then when I was 30 it really started giving me pain on an everyday basis. The doctor, after finally finding a test that proved to him what was wrong (where they inject some kind of dye into your spine to see if there's a leak), immediately set up surgery. Instead of doing more research or listening to my father who had also had back problems and 3 or 4 surgeries, I went ahead thinking the doctor knows best. I can't tell you how much I regret not looking into other avenues.
I now live with daily pain (despite strong narcotics that aren't good for me). I've also tried physical therapy and many other things. I've heard they are having a lot of success with that new procedure that stretches your back. I have forgotten what it's called, but they have a table you lay on that stretches your back. Once you're approved for medicaid, look into this. As someone who knows where you're at, I really wish you the best of luck and hope you find something that helps. I just have to live with this and get what I can done on my so called "better days". I hope you find a solution.
(03/11/2009)
By gidget10
RE: Severe Back Pain
I wanted to add that I agree with the other poster about going ahead and applying for the Social Security Disability. In the meantime if you find something that helps, you can just withdraw your application. But as long as it usually takes to get approved, and with me now knowing as much as I do about back problems a lot of people don't find a solution. This way if you do, you can withdraw it but if you don't you're on your way to getting some kind of income started on coming in. Again I wish you all the best and God Bless You. (03/11/2009)
By gidget10
RE: Severe Back Pain
If you could email me, I have lived this way for many years. There is a group on yahoo groups called chronic pain, and I am part of that as well. Cinnamon (03/11/2009)
By cailifouhnofthemist
RE: Severe Back Pain
Try a back doctor who specializes in back pain. They can give you shots in the spine, a lot of people say they work wonders. (03/11/2009)
By billjen1982
RE: Severe Back Pain
I posted originally in the chronic back pain part, but I'd like to add to my post:
In the past I'd had lower back pain off and on for several years. The yoga helped tremendously. Another thing that I found helpful during the back pain was to avoid sleeping on the stomach - it puts extra stress on the lower back muscles. If at all possible, sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees to keep your back straight, or sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees, again keeps the back straight with less stress on the lower muscles.
During my worst bout with lower back pain (which lasted about six months) I made daily trips to a pool where I hung off the side of the deep end. I would jerk my legs down as though I was trying to pull my back straight. Hanging from bars might do the same thing. I went to the 3.5-4 foot deep area (about chest high) and walked across the pool. Walking against the water seemed to strengthen my muscles. It is impossible to walk fast, so it doesn't seem to harm the muscles. Try to get as much water exercise as possible. If you don't have access to a pool, try going to a hotel or motel where there is a pool, explain to them what you'd like to do and see if they can make arrangements to let you in - maybe for a small fee.
Also, if you do office-type work, get a chiropractic-type chair. They are not expensive. You sit on a forward-slanted seat with your knees resting on a padded bar. This forces your back into a straight position. As uncomfortable as it sounds, it is not at all uncomfortable. In fact, it is very comfortable and you do not even notice that there is no back to rest against. All your weight is being held up by your knees, so there is less weight on your lower back.
Chiropractic help is good if you can afford it. I try to not go where they take x-rays as a good Chiropractor can tell by feel what is going on. The chiropractor I use (when necessary - which is rare anymore) doesn't even have an x-ray machine. And if he feels I need to see a medical doctor - that is the first thing he tells me.
Put an ice pack on the affected area - the ice reduces swelling which causes pressure on the nerves. If it is extremely painful, go back and forth (10 minutes each) from ice to heat (this causes blood-flow to the area which is healing). If I have a flare-up the first thing I do is place ice on my back (10 minutes on, 10 minutes off) and it is gone within a few hours to the next day. Today, I have a feather bed which has been a god-send. Since I got the feather bed, I've had virtually no back pain. (03/12/2009)
By Noella
RE: Severe Back Pain
A chiropractor I used to work for recommended an Inversion Unit for patients who had chronic back pain (check out the Sam's or Walmart website). They work as a home traction unit, taking stress off the back discs. Several chronic patients swore by them. I'm considering getting one for my husband and myself. (03/12/2009)
By susanmajp
RE: Severe Back Pain
Hi Cyinda - sorry to see you're struggling with this awful pain. I have no secret wonder answers, but I will put up a prayer for you. God bless you! You've been a great contributor for a long time, we are here for you! (03/12/2009)
By kimhis
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Request: Severe Back Pain
Archived on 03/09/2009
Does anyone know how to get rid of severe back pain. I go to a Chiropractor, I have used moist heat, dry heat, ice; you name it! The muscles are in spasm to the point that the only way I can get comfortable is laying flat on my back on the bed with a heating pad underneath me. But that's no way to live, especially when I have a puppy named Lilli (see articles on her) who needs daily exercise. I can't even take her for walks.
Hearts1 from San Diego, CA
Answers:
RE: Severe Back Pain
You might ask your doctor about using a TENS unit (TENS=transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator). You need a doctor's prescription to get one but my husband's doctor prescribed one for him and it has helped a lot. (12/06/2007)
By June in Hayward, CA
RE: Severe Back Pain
I have had a back back for years. Then it got so bad I could not sleep. My doctor referred me to a physical therapist. I thought this is not going to do any good but it did. I can get a good night sleep finally. I know the exercises and do them at home now. (12/07/2007)
By SallyB
RE: Severe Back Pain
I have severe low back pain, herniated discs. I bought a lumbar extender online and it helps a lot. It stretches out your muscles and although uncomfortable at first, it really works. Buy it from someone who has a money back guarantee if you don't like it. I can't remember where I got it, but Google "lumbar extender" and you'll find them. Look for a free s/h coupon too! Good luck, Ms Min in GA (12/07/2007)
By MsMin
RE: Severe Back Pain
I've had this problem for years, too. I go for a chiropractic adjustment every two weeks. The weeks that I don't go, I have a deep tissue, Swedish massage. When I first had back problems, my chiropractor used electric stimulation on the problem areas 3 times a week for a couple of weeks. I no longer have the chronic pain, but I'm sure it would come back if I didn't keep up the massages and adjustments. (12/07/2007)
By sjackie2000
RE: Severe Back Pain
Perhaps this pain is caused from your kidney's malfunctioning. Please go see your medical doctor about this first. Simply blood tests can show him if they are not working correctly. We need our backs yes, but we need healthy kidneys first, for our backs not to hurt a lot of times. (12/07/2007)
By Paula Jo Mebane, NC
RE: Severe Back Pain
There are simple exercises that are wonderful for chronic back pain. I had lower back pain for years until I found these. I learned about them through a yoga class that I was taking. All our yoga moves started with lying on our backs. They started with legs together, feet out straight, arms at about 45 degrees from our body, and feet and toes straight up, at a right angle to the ankles. Slowly raise legs to chest and hold with arms around them for a count to three. Release and repeat. Then raise knees to chest and left arm out to side, slowly twist knees to right side as far as possible without pain. If you feel pain, stop. As the exercises progress, you will be able to eventually reach the floor with the knees. Repeat three times and do other side.
Resume lying on floor in position, left arm out to side. Slowly raise left leg to about 90 degree angle to body and try to touch the floor on the right side. Repeat 3 times, repeat with right side.
One of the things the yoga instructor taught, was to send positive energy to the points of our body that was in pain. I was amazed that by using these yoga positions and exercises, my back pain has completely gone. Stretching those muscles is what is important.
BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL, THOUGH THAT YOU DO NOT DO ANYTHING THAT CAUSES PAIN! There were a couple of times in class that the only thing I could do was to scoot up to a wall, place my buttocks up against it where the floor met the wall and raise my legs up the wall, so I was, essentially, sitting on the wall. He had me sit there 5 or so minutes at a time. The results, though, were amazing!
Many exercises can be found here:
http://www.bigbackpain.com/back_exercises.html (12/08/2007)
By Noella
RE: Severe Back Pain
My husband and I both have found tremendous relief from pain with magnesium oil. You can get that at various websites. Magnesium is so good for you as well.
Best wishes. (12/09/2007)
By Laurie
RE: Severe Back Pain
I had chronic muscle spasms for years. Meds put me to sleep and left me with no quality of life. Physical therapy did not work for me. My muscles were in such tight spasms and would not loosen, that the stretching the physical therapist told me to do just put additional strain on attaching ligaments and tendons, causing tears, additional pain, and more problems. They knew it was muscular, but did not know what to do to help relax my muscles. I worked in the medical field. Here's what I suggest:
While calcium makes the muscles contract, magnesium makes them relax. Most people do not get enough magnesium. It must be taken in ratio to calcium. Get a good calcium and magnesium supplement, take more than the RDA amount suggested for the first bottle, then take the RDA amount. Muscles that do not relax sorely need this--you'll be amazed at how much this simple act will help. Also avoid foods that inhibit magnesium absorption, like chocolate. Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk and preprocessed food.
Keep getting your chiropractic adjustments. It took years to get in this shape and will take time to get out of it too. If you can, try another doctor. Different chiropractors give different adjustments, and different people respond differently to them. Your body is changing, what worked in the past for other problems may not work now for this one.
If you cannot afford or do not want to take a muscle relaxer, take Ibuprofen (if you can). But do not take more than needed (may cause liver problems) and do not take it on an empty stomach (will cause stomach problems). It should take the edge off and help you sleep.
If you use a heating pad, do not just leave it on. I know it feels good, but if left on for hours, it will re-inflame the area causing more pain. Most doctors say to use one for 20 minutes every hour, at most. Go ahead and soak in a tub of hot water (moist heat is best) and make sure to add epsom salts to the water. It will help relax the muscles and draw out the soreness. While you're soaking, take the time to meditate. It helps with the pain too.
Your body is already in a vicious cycle, thinking the spasms are normal and fighting to keep them. You'll have to retrain your brain, which takes quite a while. Do you have a massage school near you? If so, call and ask if you can volunteer to have students work on you. They'll get hands-on practice, and the continual work will help retrain your brain to allow the spasms to relax. Be patient, the body has several layers of muscles. As the top one is worked through, deeper muscles will act up. This is a process and takes time. Do not give up. (12/17/2007)
By susanmajp
RE: Severe Back Pain
I forgot to say that at times, total rest is the only thing that will work. The back must heal before you can rebuild healthy muscle tissue. Don't push it too quickly, or you'll find yourself back at square one. Be patient. (12/17/2007)
By susanmajp
RE: Severe Back Pain
I am a physical therapist and have first hand experience with back pain. I have found yoga and meditation to be extremely helpful for myself and my patients in terms of relieving back pain. There are many inexpensive yoga and meditation videos and CDs available that may help to induce relaxation and allow the body to open and stretch in its own time. (06/19/2008)
By Alicia
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