Back pain from having different size legs and remedy?

Question

My physical therapist says my back pain is due in part to different leg sizes. She says I should correct by permanently wearing a gel rise in shoe of shorter leg. Does this make any sense (diagnosis and remedy?) I have been alternatively diagnosed with pelvic imbalance and sciatica

Answer 1

Leg length discrepencies are not considered significant until the difference is at least 1/2 inch...differences other than this are not considered pathological.

Significant leg length discrepencies can result in leg and back pain due to the prolonged sideflexed position of the spine as it flexes and rotates to accomodate for the shorter leg. Before addressing a leg length discrepency, it is important to determine the source of the discrepency. It is due to an actual anatomical variant of a shorter leg, or is it an apparent leg length discrepency because of pelvic malalignment.

Your therapist needs to evaluate your pelvic alignment in both sitting, standing and laying down to differentiate between this.

Personally, I believe very little in pelvic malalignments as this joint is covered with very taught ligaments and it takes either a traumatic injury (such as being dragged by a horse) or a significant relaxation of the ligaments (as in women who have just given birth to a child) to disrupt this alignment. When the joint does move, it's usually only by 1-2 millimeters...hardly enough to cause leg and back pain.

I have found that most people with pelvic malignments really had a lumbar disc related problem.

Yet, if you truely have an actual leg length discrepency that is great than 1/2 inch, a heel lift may help.

Answer 2

Go and see a chiropractor instead of just a physical therapist. My nephew had all the same problems that you have and was treated by a chiropractor who was able to readjust my nephew's pelvis which then fixed his legs. He was always very active, plays several sports, and always did so without really questioning the bothersome pain. Finally, he mentioned it to his mom and she got him to the chiropractor who fixed him right up. Don't just settle for an artificial fix. See if it can't be corrected. The sciatica can clear up from fixing this as well. A lift will just mask the problem without actually doing anything to physically remedy it.

Answer 3

See a reputable chiropractor, most of the time something is out of adjustment and is easily fixable - if you are not real young it could take a few visits.
The back pain is actually due to muscles that are too tight. I have yet to know of a physical therapist who relaxes rather than forces muscles to do what they should. Not only would I visit a massage therapist a few times but you and your physical therapist should read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It also teaches what to do for the pain.

Answer 4

It really depends on how much of a difference there is between your leg lengths. A lift could help or it could just throw everything off worse by the change.

I have all the same diagnoises as you do.
The thing that works best for me is exercise and walking.
It almost sounds to easy.....but it will help.

Answer 5

My dog Jasper also has a problem with his hine legs, the ligament are breaking down.We tried pain pills for a while but that can get quite costly. The vet suggested we try regular strength aspirin.On his bad days we give him one every few hours.It does seem to ease his pain. Make sure it is just plain old aspirin anything eles is not good for dogs.

Answer 6

Your physical therapist's suggestion makes sense. It's worth trying it out. If you have health insurance, it will probably pay for the gel insert. The insert will help your hips be more level, and that will put less strain on your back. I hope it works for you!