Back Problems

cheesey1

I am not sure if this is the right place for this thread so feel free to move it.

I have been having back problems since January this year and went for MRI and to see a consultant who told me he doesn't like to operate and that it would correct itself and just advised that I stopped going to the gym and also told me that physio wouldn't help. The pain at the start was unbearable but then it subsided and I found that the pain went and that the only problem I had was that I walked with a limp on my left leg as the pain was radiating down that side of my leg.

About two weeks ago the pain flared up again and had to go back to taking painkillers and decided to go for physio. The first session was fine and I felt some relief for a day or so until I decided to go for a walk and then it flared up really bad the next day, I know I probably shouldn't have gone for the walk but it was such a lovely evening and I tend to go for walks every day so it was hard for me not to.

Went for physio again on Monday and this time it was more severe and maybe she aimed at more muscles, it is a combination of physio and accupuncture and she also put a tape down the back of my thigh, not sure what this is for but still have pain but the physio thought it could be a trapped muscle and have another appointment tomorrow for more physio.

I am just wondering if anyone else has ever had anything like this and did they find physio worked or did they just get progressively worse?

Thanks.

Beruthiel

You never said what the MRI showed up?

My lower back problems kicked off four years ago.
For the first three years I went for physio, it would be ok for a while and then back again. Eventually physio didn't even work. I got an MRI scan and now know I have two prolapsed discs in my lower back.
Went to a chiropractor who was recommended to me, he's a god send and since last August has kept me going and functioning. No more pain and as long as I don't do anything stupid, it's fine. I see him every month.

mitsy

Hi there OP, i have recurring back problems for years so i understand the pain and frustration involved.

First off, i dont know the nature of your back problem (muscular or skeletal) but in most cases doctors will not operate unless it is absolutely necessary and they will only operate on issues relating to slipped discs (ie fusing the discs).


Identifying what the possible causes are for your back problem is the first step in managing a bad back:

1. Do you have to sit for long periods of time? Finding time to get up and walk around throughout the day helps. Your physio probably has given you stretches/exercises to do. Try incorporate them into your day.
2. Is your chair providing enough support to allow you to sit comfortably? If your work chair isnt comfortable, find out if you can get a new one.
3. Is your posture good? Sitting correctly in work helps, maybe a lumbar support would help.
4. Do you have good abdominal strength? If your abdominal muscles arent strong enough, your back takes all the strain. Make sure you do any manual handling correctly and find ways to build abdominal/core strength ie pilates, yoga.
5. Are there any activities you may be involved in that might adversely affect your back? If your job or daily life has activities that have an effect on your back, find ways or reducing this effect.

I had a fairly prolonged period of back pain (2 partially slipped discs) and sciatica last year for about 4 months. I started swimming twice a week and after about 2-3 weeks, i noticed a huge difference. I also have shiatsu massge and acupuncture once a month and i have kept up with the swimming. I have done pilates course for nearly a year to help buidld core strength and have tried to incorporate some of teh excercises into my daily life.

The thing i realised is once you have back problems, they will always be there and in order to maintain a pain free back you have to be aware of the triggers for your pain and find ways of managing it.

RIRI

Without knowing what your MRI showed it's very hard to offer you any help or personal experience.

Having suffered on and off with severe lower back pain for almost 5 years I recently had a slipped disc removed & spine decompressed. Recovery has been slow & I still suffer some leg pain but am much improved.

The key to managing back/nerve pain is to make your life as "back friendly" as possible. For example my left leg gives trouble so I'm buying an automatic car, factor in time for your physio exercises religiously, make sure not to sit for too long without a break and so on.

there's a good website here www.spine-health.com

hope this helps

How Strange

That's quite odd. What did the consultant say was wrong with your back? He/She must have told you something. I think it's strange just telling you to give up the gym and that's it. Did he/she not recommend swimming or pilates?

Physio will only help if the problem is muscular otherwise you're throwing good money after bad. What did the physio say to you?

I'd advise extreme caution on chiropractors as they can give relief in the immediate/short term only to inadvertently lead to more problems in the future. I know this from personal experience.

How about visiting an oesteopath?

Beware of practices who claim to be able to cure back problems. There are alot of quacks out there who are only too willing to take money off desperate people who are living with back pain.

Dravokivich

We can't give any medical advise, if 1 consultant doesn't satisfy you, or give you enough anwsers... Ask for a report of some sort, go see a second consultant.

cheesey1

Beruthiel wrote: »

You never said what the MRI showed up?

The Consultant told me I had a disc pressing on a nerve in my left side of my lower back and whereas the pain is mostly confined to my leg and not my back. I have only gone for 2 physio appointments and have another one tomorrow.

I found it strange that he told me to give up the gym and when I asked about swimming he said no as what if I got a back spasm in the water.

I have asked my physio about yoga and she said that some of the exercises might be good but for the moment to do the back exercise she has given to me which i do.

dan_d

OP, my OH slipped a disc a few months ago and ended up getting operated on. He had pain flashing up and down his leg, from a trapped nerve...sciatica.

He was told they rarely operate on this problem, but he could barely move so they sent him in straight away.

In contrast I have a relative with back pain, who has not had any operations. He gets pain from time to time and literally spends several days flat on his back. He's in and out of a chiropractor a lot and he gets a lot of relief from swimming, as does my OH.

You haven't said what your consultant told you about the MRI. I think you need to revisit either your consultant or another specialist. Be wary of the physio/chiropractor...each has their place, however they may not solve your problem.If you haven't been told what your MRI showed, go and find out. Either way, start asking questions, because you may find yourself throwing money down the drain and not solving the problem at all otherwise.

cheesey1

The Consultant just told me that the MRI showed I had a disc pressing on a nerve but by the time I got to see him after the MRI was about 3/4 weeks and the pain had eased and I was walking better and was off the painkillers. I know another person who was with him and he also told them that unless its absolutely essential he doesn't like to operate. Which is fine by me but I just want to know if anyone had symptoms like this and if they found physio any good.

I know it differs from person to person and obviously you have to rest it and do the exercise the physio gives you. I am not a swimmer but maybe it would be worth my while going to the pool and having a splash around.

How Strange

cheesey1 wrote: »

The Consultant told me I had a disc pressing on a nerve in my left side of my lower back and whereas the pain is mostly confined to my leg and not my back. I have only gone for 2 physio appointments and have another one tomorrow.

I found it strange that he told me to give up the gym and when I asked about swimming he said no as what if I got a back spasm in the water.

I have asked my physio about yoga and she said that some of the exercises might be good but for the moment to do the back exercise she has given to me which i do.

cheesey1 wrote: »

The Consultant just told me that the MRI showed I had a disc pressing on a nerve but by the time I got to see him after the MRI was about 3/4 weeks and the pain had eased and I was walking better and was off the painkillers. I know another person who was with him and he also told them that unless its absolutely essential he doesn't like to operate. Which is fine by me but I just want to know if anyone had symptoms like this and if they found physio any good.

I know it differs from person to person and obviously you have to rest it and do the exercise the physio gives you.

OP, all that info paints a very different picture to your original post.

You should be directing these questions to your consultant. No-one here can give you advice on your back pain.

I personally would be reluctant to visit a physio and engage in any exercises they give unless that physio was recommended by the consultant as part of my recovery.

I also don't think it was strange for him to tell you to give up the gym considering how easily you could cause further damage to your back by using alot of the machines.

With regards to other exercises I would defer to the consultant's opinion unless I had serious doubts in which case I would seek a second opinion. I was told to give up pretty much all exercise last winter with the exception of yoga or pilates until my back muscles started to heal. I was told to stay indoors during the cold weather but like you I thought I knew better and I headed out for a walk one day and was back to square one the next day after feeling great for weeks.

Go back to your consultant and put all these questions to him. He's the only one who can give you answers.

shoes34

How Strange wrote: »

OP, all that info paints a very different picture to your original post.

You should be directing these questions to your consultant. No-one here can give you advice on your back pain.

I personally would be reluctant to visit a physio and engage in any exercises they give unless that physio was recommended by the consultant as part of my recovery.

I also don't think it was strange for him to tell you to give up the gym considering how easily you could cause further damage to your back by using alot of the machines.

With regards to other exercises I would defer to the consultant's opinion unless I had serious doubts in which case I would seek a second opinion. I was told to give up pretty much all exercise last winter with the exception of yoga or pilates until my back muscles started to heal. I was told to stay indoors during the cold weather but like you I thought I knew better and I headed out for a walk one day and was back to square one the next day after feeling great for weeks.

Go back to your consultant and put all these questions to him. He's the only one who can give you answers.

How does it pain a different pictures she said she had back problems I am presuming that may have been a typo - but I also have back problems and just because the pain is in your leg doesn't mean it doesn't start in your back.

username123

I have personally found that where an orthopediac problemm is concerned you have to do a lot of your own research and come up with the right questions to ask, plus see more than one consultant when you get no joy. Ive had a number of orthopediac issues over the years and none have ever been dealt with in an efficient manner that solved the problem quickly.

Ive been suffering back problems myself for the past year, after an MRI, physio, and sports massages I discovered its the chair/desk set up in work. This became clear after 2 weeks off when the pain abated and then hit again within an hour of being back at the desk. I have now rearranged my desk, changed my chair, changed my keyboard/monitor/mouse etc loads of times and although I get it mostly right, I cant seem to get it quite right. The situation is vastly improved from this time last year though and I am starting a pilates class to address core strength so hopefully that will also help.

OP - Id advise either a second opinion (although the back guy I saw was pretty useless in terms of indicating what was causing the problem), or a follow up visit where you ask a lot more questions.

I would strongly avoid chiropractors - they are not properly regulated in this country.

My OH also suffered back pain a few years ago and it turned out to be his chair/desk set up also. Id say its a very common contributing factor in back pain - its the longest time you spend sitting in roughly the same position most days. Certain jobs would carry more back straining than others, computer work is bad, any kind of leaning over, reaching from a seated position etc...

Try to look at the whole situation and see where youre flaring yourself up the most.

ddef

If you having back problems I feel bad for you son.
Ive got 99 problems but my spine aint one!

trebor28

i have had back problems since i was quite young, for about 13 years now i have been on and off seeing someone.

it depends whether it is muscular or skeletal.
in my case it seems to be muscular.
certain muscles seem to tighten over time and evertually cause me back trouble.
every morning i get up now i stretch.
my thighs, groin, glutes, hips, scorpian stretch, etc.
the whole area gets a good going over.

i found out that i had an old thigh muscle injury that i didnt realise i even had, and imo this was causing my pelvis to rotate forward and cause my back pain on the left side. when i work on this injury the back doesnt trouble me at all as much.

alot of the problem is we dont even know what is going on with our own bodies. we dont know if we have an old injury which is causing trouble for some other part of our bodies.

you should also consider getting insoles for your shoes.
i would not be able to walk know if i did not use these, walking 20 yards in shoes without them would be absolute agony.

i used to go to a chiropractor, and although they give you instant relief it doesnt really sovle the problem over the long term. and stay away from quacks.

dan_d

cheesey1 wrote: »

The Consultant just told me that the MRI showed I had a disc pressing on a nerve but by the time I got to see him after the MRI was about 3/4 weeks and the pain had eased and I was walking better and was off the painkillers. I know another person who was with him and he also told them that unless its absolutely essential he doesn't like to operate. Which is fine by me but I just want to know if anyone had symptoms like this and if they found physio any good.

I know it differs from person to person and obviously you have to rest it and do the exercise the physio gives you. I am not a swimmer but maybe it would be worth my while going to the pool and having a splash around.

Disc pressing on nerve....what my OH basically had, though it was worse then you sound.

Go and talk to your consultant. Very, very important. From what you're saying you seem to be just blindly accepting what he says. Go and have a look at how the structure of the spine works if you haven't already. I'm not diagnosing you OP, but if this guy is saying the disc on the nerve is your problem, then it's not muscular and it's not a case of "just resting it". Nerves don't operate like that.

If he has recommended the physio as a solution then fine, otherwise I'd be very careful there. You could do some serious damage. Ditto the gym. All you've to do is stretch awkwardly, the disc pops further and you're flat on your back. You really, really need to go back to this guy, no matter how good you feel, and ask him about the extent of the problem, and what you can do to help it.

Check out this thread here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055899870
Not trying to scare you, but you seem to need to understand how much damage you can do if you don't start asking questions.

The Recliner

OP we cannot offer medical advice which it seems you need

Please take some of the advice given here if you are not happy and seek a second opinion