where can I go for help with lower back pain the medical doctors havent helped so far?

Question

I've had x-rays,chiropractic x-rays etc,and no one has been able to tell me the cause of my extreme lower back pain some say its a disc and some say its just a muscle pull I have a hard time believing its just a muscle pull after 2 yrs of pain.I am not able to stand in one place more then a couple minutes without it aching and getting tired.WHAT SHOULD I DO IS THERE ANY RELIEF AT ALL?

Answer 1

It seems this is the common trend for back patients. I too waited three years before the doctors finally ordered an MRI. X-Rays do not really show what is going on with the spine. An MRI shows the doctor different angles and can determine if you have herniated disc or something worse. If you are experiencing that much discomfort I would request a visit with a Neurologist and maybe even a Neurosurgeon.

I got to the point where I could not sit or stand. I had to use a cane or walker to get around. Once I talked to the Neurosurgeon, he did a lumbar discectomy and relieved the pressure from the nerves. Once the nerves are "pinched" the chances of nerve damage increase.

Answer 2

Most people with sciatica are prescribed pain-killers or anti-inflammatory medications to relieve the pain. These generally provide some relief but have the potential to cause serious adverse side-effects. Medications are usually used in combination with physical therapy and stretching/strengthening exercises as well as hot and cold packs. In severe cases of sciatic pain that does not respond to the usual treatments, conventional health practitioners may advise injections of anti-inflammatory steroids into the affected area. These injections are not always very effective and can also cause serious side-effects. Because of the dangers, there is a limit on how many of these injections an individual can receive, not usually more than three per year. Surgery to remove the herniated part of a disc is sometimes performed on people with severe symptoms like weakness or incontinence or if the pain is worsening despite treatment. An alternative to conventional medication can offer the same benefits without the unwanted side effects. Natural herbal and homeopathic remedies have been shown to greatly relieve the pain and discomfort of sciatica, as well as prevent reoccurrence. Herbs such as Matricaria recutita, Arctium lappa and Devil’s Claw all have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and have been used for centuries in the treatment of backache and muscle cramps. Homeopathic ingredients such as Rhus tox and Colocynthis are also well known for the treatment of pain, muscle soreness and stiffness as well as nerve pain.

Answer 3

Have you seen an orthopedic doctor? If not, ask your family doctor to refer you to one. Have you had any MRI's or CT scans? If not that is the next diagnostic step your doctor would take. If the orthopedic doctor can't find any reason for the pain, you can go to a pain clinic. Most university hospitals and other larger hospitals have pain clinics. They can help you manage your pain and have various interventions to try. I had severe back pain and went the the Sister Kenny Institue in Minneapolis where they specialize only in back pain. They were helpful. If you can tolerate any Yoga, even a couple very simple poses, that is one thing that helped me. Two years is too long to go with that pain. It can't be just a muscle pull after two years. You are right. Have you tried heat or ice application? Go to Walmart and buy a gel pack that is made to heat in the microwave or freeze in the freezer for heat or cold. The advantage of this over a heating pad is it conforms to the natural curves of your body so that the contact is continuous and more helpful. Good luck!

Answer 4

There are three types of causes for back pain:
- muscle strain
- alignment problems
- internal disc problems

My wife had a "bone spur" inside the spine that was poking and irritating the disc. No amount of massage, muscle relaxants, chiropractors or acupuncture could fix it. After two years of almost crippling (had to walk with cane, could no longer drive), she had surgery to remove the bone spur and has had no pain since.

So if all the advice about exercising your core muscles, chiropractors, etc. are not working then I suggest keep pressing the doctors to look for an internal disc related (maybe bone spur) issue and subsequent surgical intervention.

Answer 5

Educate yourself - read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It deals with muscles, pain and referred pain and teaches you how to get rid of it.
If you use a chiropractor use one who knows how to use an activator so they not only don't harm the bone if it is a disk but can also help the muscles to not be too tight.
Make friends with a massage therapist at least until the pain is more controlled

Answer 6

Massaging the back muscles by applying pressure will reduce the pain.Apply an icepack to the affected area. This will make the area numb and reduce the pain or apply a hot water bottle, heating pad or a warm compress to the painful area of the back .Sometimes alternating a warm compress and an icepack will reduce the pain faster. More details and remedies at http://aches.in/backpainremedies.html

Answer 7

It all depends on your diagnosis. Have you seen a Doctor for this ? Is this a sports injury ? . Anyway I think you might want to check with your health insurance to see if they cover visit to a licensed accupunturist. It does help ...to alliviate the pain.
You need to keep the area where the pain is warm, wear some heavy clothing to keep your lower back warm at all times, this will help. It helped me. So far so good. No pain at all.

Answer 8

You might overweight and that is causing the strain. If you look at a picture of the lumbar discs, you will see how much thicker and stronger they are. that is because they are the load bearers for the upper body. You could not be overweight, just too heavy for your frame. This happened to me with shin-splints, so I dropped 10Lbs and they went away. Or, you could have poor posture, or a bad mattress. But it doesnt sound like it is anything anatomically wrong with your back.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Medical doctors and back pain are like oil and water. Seek out a reliable chiropractor. Your problem will go away.