Lower Back Pain And What to do?
Posted , 3 users are following.
I'll leave my Xrays here for starts https://imgur.com/a/Ji9RysG
I'm 24, male, lean and exercise 5+ times a week though this back pain has rendered me useless beyond swim work.. And I'm barely kicking as it flares pain in my back. My symptoms are: Pretty bad pain centered in T12-L1 area then some pain to the left of it and occasional on right side. Can't sit up or stand without pain. Can't walk without pain. Can't do push ups, can't even do pull-ups without pain.. And I consider myself to have a high pain tolerance. Legs go to sleep on toilet. Hands go numb when I lay certain ways but this definitely relates to neck issue and is usually fixable with different neck position.
I've seen 2 chiropractors and an Ortho. Chiros weren't helping and expenses were becoming too much and with Ortho, my pain mysteriously subsided for 2 days leading into appt so he wrote up MRI but I was feeling optimistic and didn't discuss further options with him. I'm now scheduled for MRI.
So far, things I've been doing for it: I eat a very low inflammation diet. Inversion table 3 times a day, rice bag heated, IR sauna 5 times a week, sleeping on back with small pillow under neck and lower back. (Not doing all exclusively for the back pain)
The guidance I seek here is what you might do if you were in my position with my Xrays? Those of you that cycled through doctors, please let me learn from your mistakes 😃. Is there a certain type of treatment or doctor I should seek out to possibly avoid surgery? As someone with minimal savings, it kills me surfing through the sea of doctors hoping to find "the one". Any particular traction device, stretches, etc that helped you with a similar issue to mine shown between those discs? So I can further investigate it and ask my doctor about it?
0 likes, 8 replies
alpine Darwinism
Posted
Hello Darwinism
I wasted money on chiropractors. I had an MRI but my problem didn't show up till a surgeon
ordered a CT scan. L4 & L5 were getting eaten away. The surgeon replaced both vertebrae
with man-made material . After surgery the pain has gone , what a miracle. I had suffered
enough over the years.
alpine
Darwinism alpine
Posted
Thank you and thanks for sharing your experience with Chiros.. I think I was headed down a similar path of wasting $
Darwinism
Posted
And awesome to hear about your improvement!! You mostly hear horror stories from back operations in the main stream.. I bet there's a lot more success than widely believed
Darwinism alpine
Posted
Inspiring story Alpine. its great to hear how much you improved. I have an MRI next week to see what's what in there so i may be following a similar path
thank you for the input!
Darwinism
Posted
oops forgot i already replied
lis10127 Darwinism
Edited
Definitely get that MRI as it gives you much more idea of what is going on. I have had backpain on & off for years & I am now 53. I have done a lot of sport:- running, swimming, cycling, weights etc & i m still reasonably fit. I have multiple disc herniations but the worst are L4/L5 & L5/S1. My back has been so sore at times that any movement hurts but it DOES get better. I go to an Osteopath & he highlighted i have weak hips which means by back has picked up the strain hence worn out discs. I do core & hip strenghning exercises ever day and i walk or cycle each day as well as weights but i never do squats or put weight over my head. Swimming is great as long as its not breaststroke & freestyle fine as long as no hip rotation. I also stretch gently & do spinal mobility exercises each day to avoid stiffness. I tried an inversion table but found hanging by my arms much more effective. Backpain is awful but it can become more manageable you just have to give it timecto heal & be gentle with it. I tried chiros, physios, massage, accupuncture & resorted to prescription meds but now realise that time is what heals and tgere are no quick fixes. Dont stop exercising just get advice on what you should or shouldnt do or source out your own advice on the internet but get that MRI so you know what you are dealing with.
Darwinism lis10127
Posted
Really really good advice that i needed. I'm glad to hear how much better you're doing with self-implemented methods.
I'm going forward with the MRI next week. Your words motivate to finally put all this pain behind me. I'm happy to put the work in required to maintained a sturdy spine.
Cool, i don't feel like i need to waste my money on chiros and other therapy oriented docs. I ordered "back Mechanic" and have incorporated a bunch of lay-down stretches.. Will try more hanging from arms. Thank you!
Evan
lis10127 Darwinism
Posted
The 'Back Mechanic' was one of the first books i bought and i thoroghly recommend it. I still do Stuart McGill's exercises every day. I meant to say too i bought a 'Renpho' massager (£40) on Amazon and that helps to loosen the large muscles that go up either side of your spine and get knots in them. I use it very gently. Disposable stretchy heated pads that work with the heat from your skin really help to take the edge off when the pain is bad.Good luck & stay positive.