By: Ed Morley

Ed Morley — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:05:20 +0000

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

By: SGT V

SGT V — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:27:44 +0000

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.

Comments on: What To Do: I Have Very Bad Lower Back And Leg Pain And Have Been Given 4 Different Answers!!! What Could It B?

By: Ed Morley

By: SGT V