Back pain

[EN710]

The Physio tested my hamstrings at last appointment and they only go to 70% instead of the normal 80 for my age (33) he also told me to push my buttocks out and arch my back all the time and I was good for a few days up until it returned, now gone again I feel laying on the concrete has allowed the pinch to be released for the mean time but my question is: why does it keep returning?

Wish you well soon

Hubby and I have back pain issues (and we're 25!)
We frequently go to Osteo, acupuncture and Thai massage. A relative (physiotherapist) recommend trying moxibustion and wet cupping. But these all just to relief the symptoms, it keeps reoccurring as the problem is bad postural habit, especially because of 8hrs+ sitting in the office. Hence why the goal to retire early will help our back too

 

[westminster]

At 38 DH ended up with an artificial L4/5 disc and fused S1/L5. He is in daily pain, on meds and didn't respond to 3 rhizotomy attempts to kill the nerves to stop the pain.

That was 2.5 years ago and he is truly gutted it hasn't been able to be fixed.

We are basically waiting for medical technology to find an answer or fuse multiple more discs.

Get a ct scan and see a neurosurgeon to see what the physical issue is. If it's muscular then time and treatment will help. If it's structural then it will most likely be awhile.

 

[Crabnet]

Probably not of any relevance to your situation But...

When I was in my late twenties one night I made the mistake of using my back as a crane. I heard a loud cracking noise which unbeknownst to me at the time was a disc in my back giving way.
Later when I visited a specialist surgeon he said I could have an operation but there was a high possibility that i would be left paralysed, so I declined the operation. These days, though, I believe they can access the spine more safely gaining access from the front and side of the body as well as the back.

Anyway from time to time I suffer from prolonged periods of back pain associated with swelling in my lower back region. This swelling can be associated with the inability to move my legs normally.
For instance getting from a laying position to an upright position can be a matter of forcing my legs to move through will power, so when the inconvenience is at it's worse I will sleep propped upright in the corner of the lounge to avoid the need to go from the horizontal to vertical position.

Most of the time i am not in pain but I hold my body in a position to avoid aggravating my injury but there is always a niggle there.
There are occasions when i get caught out though.
It can be as simple as walking along and unexpectedly putting one foot in a depression. This can lead to jarring and a couple of weeks of pain.
Playing football and other sports that involve jumping and landing will guarantee that i will be crippled for a couple of weeks before the swelling subsides.
Driving a truck with unergonomic seating can aggravate the injury.
Doing physical work or lifting something that involves a twisting motion will set it off.
A sudden change of atmospheric air pressure has been known to instantly give me a pain in the back.

The Doctor said that if the pain bothered me I could use an anti-inflammatory pain killer but fortunately I have a high pain threshold so I just grin and bear it and force myself to walk, knowing that after a couple of weeks of endurance things will be back to normal.

Most of the time I can avoid the triggers by careful posture but there is always the odd occasion when I get caught out.
"Bend the knees" because back injuries are a massive inconvenience in life.

 

[investor2009]

Ok, the doc gave me some prescription Voltaren and I had to ask for an mri which was granted(!)
Thanks for all the recent posts, will read asap, just busy

 

[Nikolina]

Im 27 and have had lower back pain for years now. My L2-L5 discs are stuffed. L5 being the worst. I have scoliosis, Lumbarisation and fusion. I had pins are needles 24/7 for a good 4 months before i finally went to the docs about 2.5 years ago and got scans done. I started of going to physio twice a week and now go once a fortnight. The pins and needles have settled, they now come and go every so often. Medicare wont give me surgey because im not fat and im still young, too much of a risk. I have back pain everyday but physio does help. I do a set of stretches daily to strengten my core and I also do ham string stretches. Unfortunatley their is no real fix. Its been recommended that i get Perineural and epidural injections but i refuse to. Its not a fix, its just a temp pain relief .

 

[datto]

Ok, the doc gave me some prescription Voltaren and I had to ask for an mri which was granted(!)
Thanks for all the recent posts, will read asap, just busy

Oh wow Voltaren. Your doc really knows how to deaden nerves. What, is he too scared to prescribe something with a bit more bite?

 

[macca446]

Darwins theory in action surely? lol

Who says the worker has to pay it themselves? Make it like super, deduct XX from their pay every week. If they make a claim, the premium goes up and more gets deducted next year.

The savings to business and government. Im telling you, MASSIVE. No one would have the balls to make a change like that unfortunantly.

You think like O'Farrell,you seem to forget about the real tragedy the person injured,seriously the new workers laws protect the companies not the worker tell that to the family who life has changed forever,loss income their home and now medical expenses businesses are laughing all the way.
Macca446

 

[lizzie]

Mate go see a Osteo. You need someone that will stretch and massage the area rather than a quick 'crack'. Worked for me.

I'm with OC1 on this ... I went to a Chrio for years - once a month - and by the time the month was up I was desperate to go back ... three trips to the Osteo and 15 years later ... still no pain (except when I overdo the horse riding)

 

[ok180]

You think like O'Farrell,you seem to forget about the real tragedy the person injured,seriously the new workers laws protect the companies not the worker tell that to the family who life has changed forever,loss income their home and now medical expenses businesses are laughing all the way.
Macca446

Macca,

As I said, there are legit cases but there are far more bogus claims. I have dealt with this stuff now for over 10 years. In that time I have been involved in 6 cases regarding workers comp / public liability. Not to mention the stories I have heard from other people in the game. Of the cases I dealt with only 1 in my opinion was a legit claim (forklift through the leg) the rest was just people milking the system. Mole hills made into mountains.

The system as it stands is a shambles. As I said, too many noses in the trough, too many minor cases turned big by lawyers and doctors on the take. Make it a user pays system and overnight claims would be cut in half. Billions of dollars saved that could go to real victims instead of Johnny Smith 57 year old who has been a labourer for 25 years, worked for the company for 6 weeks and now has a sore back - DUHHHH

 

[Selinarra]

Hi investor2009,

I have scoliosis which, by the end of the day, would leave me in extreme back pain. I am only 25 and have suffered from the pain ever since I can remember.

For about 3 years I saw an Osteopath every 3-4 weeks. I tried 2 different professionals, both different in their technique. Whilst it would help for a few days (at best), I would be screaming to go back after that. I found it didn't matter how often I would go, they could only provide me with a few days relief.

I was then referred to a Chiropractor about 8 months ago, for a completely unrelated issue. This specific Chiropractor is also qualified in Kinesiology, Organ Manipulation (which is what I originally wanted to see her for) and Nutrition (she has her Masters in various things as well). She has been amazing for me in not only completely relieving my back pain, but also helping with other unrelated issues. I see her when I need to; sometimes once a week or sometimes once a month - it depends on my physical and nutrition choices.

I think it is really important to find a professional (whether that be a Chiropractor, Osteopath, Physiotherapist) that is highly trained in the area that is of problem to you. What works for one person will not always work for you.

Just another suggestion... I have found that Yoga has really helped to strengthen my entire body, especially my core and back. I believe that this has contributed alongside my Chiropractic treatments in relieving my pain.

I hope you are able to find something to aid you soon, I know how consuming of your life it becomes.

Selinarra

 

[Simon]

You are a diagnostician right?

I've got a spinal injury. Because I look fine people assume I am fine.

Other people think I won the lottery and get to stay home on a pension.

I reckon I'd rather a forklift through the leg than a hidden chronic pain injury, especially being judged by people who don't have a clue.

 

[Aries]

TENS machine

I also find TENS machine to be helpful when it comes to pain relief...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcutaneous_electrical_nerve_stimulation

 

[ok180]

You are a diagnostician right?

I've got a spinal injury. Because I look fine people assume I am fine.

Other people think I won the lottery and get to stay home on a pension.

I reckon I'd rather a forklift through the leg than a hidden chronic pain injury, especially being judged by people who don't have a clue.

So you do a job that involves physical labour then cry after a few years because you dont feel like when you were a teenager anymore? Its ok, the rest of society can support me even though i am still capable of doing the job i was doing or another suitable job.

 

[baby blue eyes]

Deleted by request

 

[weg]

Oh wow Voltaren. Your doc really knows how to deaden nerves. What, is he too scared to prescribe something with a bit more bite?

Voltaren is highly effective in reducing inflammation and pain. Lots of people absolutely swear by it for certain conditions/situations, ie. gout (you usually see a dramatic reduction in inflammation here), post surgery, Voltaren suppositories instead of Pethadine post caesarean (works just as well as Pethadine in many cases), Voltaran gel for arthritic, as well as neuralgic pain.

Don't sports clubs suggest/give out these suppositories to their players as the preferred 'legal' painkiller??

 

[chrispy]

Remember Voltaren killed my husband

He was allergic to it and did not know...he took the lowest over the counter dose. Ambulance arrived under 15 minutes but could not save him.

He died in 15 minutes!!

BE VERY CAREFUL

Chris

 

[investor2009]

I'm so sorry to hear that Chrispy.. I've never been a fan of meds before and will stop taking these now. I felt strange last night after taking a dose

Thanks for the Blackmoores tip too, it seems to be working a treat! I haven't bought the liprynol but have the blue banded fish oil anti inflams and they've been good enough I thibk

Scan comes back tomorrow

 

[investor2009]

Well the scan came back. I didnt get to see it nor read the report but apparently its nothing serious.. A disc at l4 or sonething is protruding.

The physio then made me do weird excercises and now its sore again. I'll never go to a physio again, they either don't understand scars need to heal or enjoy making money out of my continuous injury

I was doing just fine up until now

 

[whiteduck]

Scars are already healed tissue Investor. What you got there is an acute injury. What you don't want is a chronic one, after it's healed to a "scar" and the nervous system thinks it's still injured. Active recovery is best. Most physio's these days know this. If you are not happy with your current one, ask or google around to one with a good reputation.

 

[whiteduck]

Oh, and the disc thing could be an incidentaloma and not the pain generator. If you went out and scanned a hundred people you'd find a percentage with disc protrusions who have no pain. I've got three of them.