ok so i asked a question on here about 2 weeks ago about my lower back pain and a few of the answers were very helpfull well now im stuck in a thought: i have been given 4 different answers
1. I was told it was a compression fracture
2. I was told that it was a compression of the L1
3. I was told it was the nerved being compressed by a “peek-a-boo disk”
4. i am now being told it is just really bad muscle spasms
now this is all coming from 1 doctor as to wich why i am now stuck in thought today upon my visit with her she told me quite frankly ” i dont have magical powers, i cant make you better” and while telling her about the pain and how it effects on on what i do on a daily basis she says “oh just move around that will get you going, and make you better” i was sent to physical therapy by another doctor the one who told me it was possible nerve compression. and when i told that to the doctor i saw today again “there just physical therapists, they cant tell you what the pain is coming from”….. so after not being satisfied with seeing her she finally refered me to a back specialist whom of which i am hoping to recieve accurate results from i am a 24 year old woman who has gone from no back pain a day in my life to now have non stop back pain that radiates up and down my spine and into my left leg. (and because i could not pin point one specific area of the leg she said she was 100%sure that there was nothing other then back spasms) so if any of you can offer advice i am in great need of something any thing usefull that could better help me get to the bottom of this is greatly appreciated
#1 by SGT V on February 5, 2010 - 9:27 am
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Time to change doctors as yours sounds like the M.D. behind her name stands for “Mentally Deficient”! In reality it appears you have gotten two different answers. Items 1,2,3 are all variations on the same theme that it is related to the vertebrae. 4 is a separate, thing blaming it on the muscles. It could be a compression (type of) fracture of L1 which refers to an anatomical area the 1st lumbar (region) vertebrae. You have cervical (neck), thoracic (upper to low back), and lumbar vertebrae. There are 5 lumbar numbered from top to bottom L1-L5. A compression fracture would require at bare minimum an lumbar spine series of x-rays or more likely an MRI of your lumbar spine. I believe the “peek-a-boo” they refer to is a condition known as spondylolisthesis where the vertebrae moves (most likely when you bend over or twist) and compresses on the spinal nerve which would cause the problems of which you complain. It does not sound like physical therapy (PT) helped you which would make me discount “just muscle spasms” statements. The orthopedic (bone) or neurosurgeon (nerves and spinal cord) should get to the bottom of the problem. Pain is a symptom of a problem. Radiating spine pain is probably either caused or aggravated by nerve compression.
I suffered a “burst/explosion” fracture of C-6 with associated damage to my spinal cord (SCI) when I was 21 years old. I have a condition called Brown-Sequard Syndrome which refers to motor loss (paralysis, which subsided) on one side of the body and sensory loss (pain and temperature in my case) on the opposite side.I have been being treated for severe, chronic pain for almost 30 years as a result of this injury and resulting anatomical changes. I was also a medic in the USAF. My educated guess would be there is a good chance that you have compression of your spine at L1 probably with muscle spasms. You don’t mention any medications but you could try something like Ibuprofen (it has pain relief qualities along with an anti-inflammatory). I would try using a topical analgesic (Ben Gay, Mineral Ice, Tiger Balm) it will help ease the pain if it is even partially muscular in nature. You can buy hydrocollator pads from a Walgreens or similar place. You take the pad and heat it up in water on the stove top, remove it with tongs and allow the excess water to drain off and place the pad between two towels. Place the towels on your back and as the heat dissipates remove one of the towels. An easier way is to put the topical analgesic on and then after about 20 minutes take a hot shower and let the water pulsate on where it hurts and that should alleviate some of the pain. It sounds like your sciatic nerve might be involved which would explain the pain radiating down the back of your leg. Hopefully the specialist will get to the root problem quickly. Hope this helps you. Best of luck.
#2 by Ed Morley on July 13, 2010 - 5:05 am
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If you have multiple damage in your back like a fracture, DDD, herniated disc’s, etc; Im pretty sure theres some kind of test to pin point where your pain is coming from. you would have to talk to your doctor and probably get referred to a pain management clinic where they do some sort of preceadure like a lidocaine block, or something like that. Im not sure exactally what its called; but, they inject each individual area with some sort of drug or solution and its supposed to bring the pain out so you know exactly where the pain is coming from. Sorry im not sure exactly what the proceadure is called you would have to talk to your physician, or you spine doctor to figure that out. Im not at all a doctor so this is just something to ask your doctor maby it can help you. good luck