Severe chronic Backache just when sitting
Posted , 2 users are following.
Hi there, I have a back condition now for 11 months which I would like some advice on please.
The symptoms are severe lower back ache (deep, searing, nagging, but never excrutiating) mainly on the left side just above my bottom and sometimes left flank, which only happens when I sit down and worsens the longer I sit to the point it cannot be beared. When I stand up and walk around, it's fine again and when I lie down I am out of pain so I can sleep ok, thankfully! The pain is better in the morning and worsens as the day goes on.
I am a fit 48 year old and weigh under 12 stone. I stretch daily, I walk, swim twice a week and use a stationary bike twice a week.
Treatments so far include: Chiropractor, Oesteopathy, Physio, Acupuncture and 2 x Cortisone steroId injections.Nothing to date has helped at all. The ache feels like it was on day one with no improvement at all but also no worsening of it either. It is exactly as it started in January this year.
As for what might have caused it, I can only think that around that time I sat at work (office job) in a bad position for some time then got up too quickly and felt a strain in my lower back, however this discomfort wore off after a day or 2.
My questions:
What is wrong with me for a start!
I paid to have an MRI scan which, according to my doctor, showed that my back is fairly typical of a guy of my age, showing some disc decompression/dehydration and a small annular tear but nothing unusual and all to be expected.
Will it ever heal on it's own?
If it's the annular tear causing the ache then it appears the advice is to allow a couple of years then the body should heal itself, however I can't see how if there is no improvement at all in 11 months, why should it improve and heal suddenly within the next year? Shouldn't it be incrementally a little better by now or will it suddenly just heal? (wishful thinking eh...!)
Should I give it complete rest and stop exercising, walking, swimming, even moving?! I was told it was best to keep exercising and I certainly don't push it but then this doesn't appear to be helping at all with the healing process.
Is there anyone out there that has gone through anything similar to this and come out the other side?
I am aware that I am very lucky to be able to stand up or lie down to get out of pain but sitting is an everyday thing I used to take for granted and it would be nice to be able to eat sitting down in the evening instead of standing up, or go to the cinema or take a drive longer than 5 minutes without the debilitating ache setting in and ruining everything.
Help!! Thank you.
PJ
1 like, 5 replies
amkoffee p03935
Posted
welcome to my world. I injured my back when I was a little younger than you and that was 13 years ago and I am suffering more now than I ever did before. You didn't say whether you're putting any ice or heat on the affected area. normally they suggest ice in the first couple of weeks and then from there whichever one makes it feel better. Ice helped the inflammation and heat helps the muscles relax. does your doctor that you're seeing about this is he a specialist or a general practitioner doctor? If he's just a GP then I recommend you go see a neurosurgeon that specialize in backs. finally it could be your piriformis muscle which is in your butt. when you do ice and Heat I suggest you hit that area as much as you do your lower back. when my pain started out it was my piriformis and then actually that pain went away but my lower back pain got real bad. there are injections that they can do in your back that help some people some of the time, but it's not a for sure thing. as for your exercise routine! I found that sitting on the bike aggravated my problem so unfortunately I had to give up biking. you might try one of those padded seats or just stay off the bike for a couple weeks and see if it's gotten any better. you could try a recumbent bike and use a cushion . I like the cushions you normally put on kitchen chairs . But you can buy cushions that have the cut out at the back so your spine is not resting on the seat. Good luck to you
p03935 amkoffee
Posted
Hey Amkoffee, thanks so much for responding. I'm sorry to hear you're still suffering with yours, it's not fair that this happens. Is yours predominantly when you sit down like mine?
I didn't ice it at the time and as that was 11 months ago so I think I've missed the boat on that one but I do now apply heat patches which provide a little respite and allow me to sit a little longer. And thanks for the tip off re piriformis - I'll look that up. And yes, I had the injections which didnt help at all. I feel stuck.
I have seen a pain specialist who admitted to me that he has no idea what's wrong with me so even though that's annoying, at least he was honest! I just don't know what to do from here.
amkoffee p03935
Posted
welcome to my world. I injured my back when I was a little younger than you and that was 13 years ago and I am suffering more now than I ever did before. You didn't say whether you're putting any ice or heat on the affected area. normally they suggest ice in the first couple of weeks and then from there whichever one makes it feel better. Ice helped the inflammation and heat helps the muscles relax. does your doctor that you're seeing about this is he a specialist or a general practitioner doctor? If he's just a GP then I recommend you go see a neurosurgeon that specialize in backs. finally it could be your piriformis muscle which is in your butt. when you do ice and Heat I suggest you hit that area as much as you do your lower back. when my pain started out it was my piriformis and then actually that pain went away but my lower back pain got real bad. there are injections that they can do in your back that help some people some of the time, but it's not a for sure thing. as for your exercise routine! I found that sitting on the bike aggravated my problem so unfortunately I had to give up biking. you might try one of those padded seats or just stay off the bike for a couple weeks and see if it's gotten any better. you could try a recumbent bike and use a cushion . I like the cushions you normally put on kitchen chairs . But you can buy cushions that have the cut out at the back so your spine is not resting on the seat. Good luck to you
amkoffee p03935
Posted
welcome to my world. I injured my back when I was a little younger than you and that was 13 years ago and I am suffering more now than I ever did before. You didn't say whether you're putting any ice or heat on the affected area. normally they suggest ice in the first couple of weeks and then from there whichever one makes it feel better. Ice helped the inflammation and heat helps the muscles relax. does your doctor that you're seeing about this is he a specialist or a general practitioner doctor? If he's just a GP then I recommend you go see a neurosurgeon that specialize in backs. finally it could be your piriformis muscle which is in your butt. when you do ice and Heat I suggest you hit that area as much as you do your lower back. when my pain started out it was my piriformis and then actually that pain went away but my lower back pain got real bad. there are injections that they can do in your back that help some people some of the time, but it's not a for sure thing. as for your exercise routine! I found that sitting on the bike aggravated my problem so unfortunately I had to give up biking. you might try one of those padded seats or just stay off the bike for a couple weeks and see if it's gotten any better. you could try a recumbent bike and use a cushion . I like the cushions you normally put on kitchen chairs . But you can buy cushions that have the cut out at the back so your spine is not resting on the seat. Good luck to you
amkoffee p03935
Posted
Well as you can see I had some problems when I tried to send my reply. I never meant to send it twice. Anyway I forgot to suggest that you get a TENS unit. They help a lot of people. And if that works then ask your pain management doctor about getting a stimulator. They get inplanted under your skin in your back and basically do the same thing. Oh and if you do think it's coming from your piriformis muscle then ask your pain management doctor to do a trigger point injection in your piriformis muscle (yes your butt) it may not have worked before because he did it in the wrong spot.