Cause of back trouble

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chris67bug

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Yes I know it's the 'million dollar' question but I just wondered if anyone had any thoughts on my situation.

I've been an office worker for the past six years which of course involves a large part of the day sitting at a computer. About 2 years ago I began to notice a low level nagging pain in my lower back as I sat at my desk. To be honest I ignored it and carried as normal. However in the past year, the pain began to get worse and a few months ago i decided to get an mri done which showed a degenerated disc at L4/L5 which was bulging and possibly hitting a nerve.

I've been trying the usual round of painkillers/ physios/ osteopaths etc and sadly no improvement. However, i'm concerned that the pain I'm experiencing isn't the actualy disc problem. Basically it centred on two points on the pelvis about 2 inches either side of the spine. The physio says these points are where ligaments attach to the pelvis and the area can become 'knotted' with excess tissue. He says that with manual manipulation, he can 'strip' the area down. He began to do so last week, and be pain was unbearable at times.

I do trust him, but just wondering if anyone has any experence of the problem i am describing

chris
 
Hi,

I'd recommend a good INTERVENTIONAL Pain Management Specialist with a physio background if you can find one. They can help you by either giving you epidural steroid injections (ESIs) (and they can be done w/ mild sedation if need be and under fluoroscope guidance) or you're not keen on that they can give you a Medrol dose pack (oral steroiRAB) to help calm it all down.

Also, you may have some other issues going on that may not show up on the MRI. My PM Dr. did a Discogram and found a tear in a disc that was causing me terrible pain. I sat at a desk as well for years at an IT worker.

They can also write a pretty specific Physical Therapy regimen for you to help get that disc back in place, that's what ours did for my hubby.

Yours kind of sounRAB like sciatic pain too. I'd definitely ask about that.

CJ
 
My Aunt has had good success at the pain clinic with injections. I like no34's suggestion and I would look into that.
Sorry you are hurting. I have 5 herniated discs throughout my spine and I suffer a lot. I take pain meRAB and I am very careful about what I lift (less than 10 lbs) and I watch how I sit and sleep when I can. Have you thought about one of those pillows that are made to use at the office while you are sitting so long?

I think for me, I want to also get one of those things that go under my knees at night (I have to sleep on my back because of my jaw) so that I can relieve the stress on my lower back.
 
Thank you to you both for your replies. I have to stress that I am not in huge pain but in what I can only describe as constant discomfort with this. I so admire the many people on here who seem to cope so well with much higher levels of pain.

I would certainly like to try the injections. My mri does also mention the following (in relation to the SI joints) which (I think) sounRAB like the symtoms I am having:

"There is a little low signal change on the iliac side of each joint superiorly representing sclerosis."

Can anyone explain this properly- i think 'superiorly' means above the joint which sounRAB like the area where I'm exerperiencing pain. So I am wondering if the pain and stiffness I get are a result of the schlerosis- ie the muscles or ligaments have become stiffened with age (im 37) and 'wear and tear'

chris
 
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