Unknown cause of chronic back pain?

Question

I have been having mild to moderate lower back pain since around May. It got better for awhile and then got worse again. It is usually the worst when I am trying to sleep or sitting down for long periods of time.

I went to the doctor a few times but it seems like all they want to do is sell me pain medication and not actually examine my back. Throughout this whole ordeal, no healthcare professional has actually examined my back. I'm not sure if this is common practice or not but it seems rather counter-productive to me.

I'm sure I didn't injure my back and the pain sort of came out of nowhere. It isn't a major strain on my life, but it is still annoying and I feel like it should have gone away by now. I mean I'm only 22 years old.

As sad as it is, I'm pretty confident I cannot trust my doctors because all they want to do is keep me on pain killers for months on end to mask the symptoms and to get me to stop asking them questions they don't have answers to.

What should I do?

Answer 1

Try going to a massage therapist we can help with some of those things. Just tell them that is the area you want worked on the most. Hopefully this works, or go to a chiropractor. Hopefully it works out for you.

Answer 2

Back pain is actually the most common pain that Dr.'s and pharmacists treat, which might be why they're just trying to brush you off with pain killers. Still, that doesn't help, does it? You can change your Dr. without needing a reason, so I'd suggest you phone your Patient Advice and Liaison service, or NHS direct or something, and ask to see another Dr. Its no good if your Dr. wont examine you, as they actually might be missing something really important? I think its quite bad that no one has examined you yet. I had chronic back pain for years, after a horse riding accident, when I was 15 (I'm now 23), and my Dr's kept fobbing me off. A couple of years ago I finally got referred to a specialist, after a battery of x-rays, on which the Dr. couldn't find anything, the specialist found that I have a condition in which my vertebrae doesn't sit properly, my spine goes off to the right, and my coccxy isn't fused together. (It's supposed to be, is quite rare, and didn't fuse in the womb! Hurrah!) So I really suggest going and getting a second opinion.

Answer 3

I have endometriosis( i dont think there is such a thing as endometritis, but i may be wrong) I would definitely be seeing an OBYGN. To me it sounds like endometrosis because thats the same kind of symptoms I have. I use vicodin and heating pads or sometimes ice packs. Ive had 2 laproscopys. You can ask your doctor about putting you on continuous birth control pills(not use the placebo pill) or even get a diagnostic laproscopy to get an idea of what you have because they cant diagnose until they do that. Go to google and look up some endometriosis sites and there are many different things that help different women. I currently am not working because of my pain and am going to have a baby sooner than i hoped because otherwise I will become infertile. Good luck!

Answer 4

I went through the same issues about 2 years ago. After repeated visits, the Doc finally scheduled an MRI. Come to find out, I have Deteriorating Disc Disease and the discs which act as "shock absorbers" between the vertebrae had burst. In my case, my upper body weight was putting pressure on the nerves between the vertebrae and causing almost constant pain. My two choices - Surgery or Pain meds. I'm still fighting it but it's not getting any better. Hope your situation ends up in a more positive light. Good luck!

Answer 5

Since May is a very long time, I agree w/you regarding Dr.'s being very fast on giving pain meds. You must have ins. according to your stating you've been seen by a DR., can't u ask for a MRI, that is better than a X-ray, be persistent w/your Dr. & if you are on ins., depending on what ins. you are on do this (I used to wrk.
w/HMO's & PPO's) HMO: cl. ins. & put in a complaint against the
treating physician, explain to ins.Dr. only wants to give more pills.
PPO: you can change Dr. I had a similar back probl., thought also I didn't hurt my back, but must have. Fortunately my pain went away after a couple of mths., you might have a slipped disk
or who knows what else, back pain have so very many reasons.

Answer 6

If problems persist, I would even consider getting a second opinion from a different doctor.

Serious back pain can lead to worse problems in the end.

I used to get chronic back pain from large amounts of stress, poor nutrition, and improper posture. I changed minor things and it made a difference. I didn't even use pain medication at all. Eventually, the back pain diminished.

Changing little things to see if they affect it may help.

Answer 7

Try this... Lay flat on your back with your knees bent. Place both hands on your hips (thumbs up, fingers down).. Use your hands to rotate your hips until you feel the flat of your back touch the floor. Close your eyes, relax and stay in that position for at least 15 minutes to start.

It sounds like you have a pinched nerve and this exercise will help alleviate your pain.

P. S. - If it does come to surgery find a neurologist not an orthopedic surgeon.. I had the surgery on my L5 back in 1986... It was Friday the 13th... If you live in Northern NJ I can give you my neurosurgeon's name if you request it.

Answer 8

I've had the same type problem over the years and have seen
numerous Doctors and they all reacted the same as you have experienced. I finally analyzed the situation and determined that
eact time my back bothered me, I had been exceptionally uptight
about something and didn't realize it. Stress can do strange
things to a person. Muscle relaxers help but don't solve the problem. Obviously this may not be your solution but you may
want to consider whether this could possibly be the cause.
Good luck

Answer 9

go to a back specialist..an orhtopedic surgeon...but make sure he/she is very reputable. They can do all kinds of x-rays...MRI's, C-T Scans, disk-o-grams....to find out where the problem is coming.....good luck..I know what back pain is like...try putting ice on it...for 20 minutes x 3 a day..if that makes it worse use a heating pad on low.....good luck

Answer 10

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