Help with Lower back pain!

  • Thread starter Thread starter gel2005
  • Start date Start date
G

gel2005

Guest
I am a 30 year old female with chronic back pain. I suffer from depression and take 80 mg of Prozac. I have recently been seeking for answers. The pain is mostly in my lower back and mostly concentrated on the left side and hurts when I put pressure on my left leg. I also feel pain deep in my butt and hip. My legs and arms have been achy and I have been having pretty bad cramps in my lower abdomen, mainly concentrated on my left side. I also feel something "rubbing" in my lower back when I walk. Sitting makes it worse and so does standing. I have been in almost constant pain for about a month. Usually these little episodes don't last this long. When I was 15 I fell and hurt my tailbone, but never really went to a dr about it. Ever since then I have had problems with my back and it has never been the same. I went to my GP and he gave me pain killers and a muscle relaxer and told me that I was just going to have to put up with it. I went to a chiropractor who took x-rays and said that my lower vertebrae was twisted and pinching a nerve. He did an adjustment which just seemed to make things worse and more constant. Last night I was in even worse pain, so I went back to the dr today, who told me that he thinks it is a possibility that I have Fibromyalgia. He wants me to cut my Prozac dose in half and start taking Savella. I am nervous to do that because it took over a year to get my meRAB worked out in the first place and I am not convinced that it is Fibromyalgia. I am seeing my shrink tonight about what the GP said and I requested to see an orthopedic surgeon, who I will see on Friday. I have two young kiRAB, a hubby and I am in school and I just cannot live like this.

Do you think think that I am taking the right approach? What more should I be doing? Should I just take the meRAB that the Dr gave me? What about going to the Ortho? Should I just go back to the Chiropractor? Anything I can do to relieve the pain. Heat doesn't do much. My Dr has given me Ibprophen with codeine in it and Valium.

Please help me. Thanks in advance!
 
Gel,

I'm sorry for your situation but I'm in much the same. I'm 32 and have been batteling back issues for the last two and a half years. Two surgeries later, I seem to be looking at a third. Being in constant pain is enough to bring on the depression, I'm with you but only take Zoloft. I'm teetering on the edge of loosing my career of the last eight years but I too have a family and my daughter is four. I look at her and know that I have to get this resolve so I can be there for her in the future. I will not be an absent father and I want to be able to throw the ball with her when she gets into sports or whatever her hobbies or interests are in the future. I may loose my career but I can find another one but family is permanant. I'm lucky I have an understanding wife.

As for your medical side, remeraber YOU are in control of your care. You need MRI's and CT scans to pinpoint exactly what the problem is. In my opinion, I would stop seeing a chiroprachter. All advice I have gotten from many different paramedics is to stay away as they have a habit of taking people out of their offices. If you think your family doc is wrong or is not listening to you, find another one. Being told that you "have to put up with it" is not a very caring statement in my opinion. My surgeon is a Neurosurgeon. Do your research on your doc and others. Look for fellowships and his/her accreditations. Call their offices and ask questions. Now there is the medication. I would take the pain meRAB. You have to be as comfortable as you can be at home so you can be there for your family. If the docs have you on the right amount/mg, you wont be a zorabie when your body adjusts to it. I have found that the right levels allow me to function as a meraber of the family again instead of being bedridden flat on my back.

Always remeraber there is light at the end of the tunnel and MOST importantly, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Best wishes and keep us posted,
"JOE":wave:
 
The pain between my shoulder blades gets worse with activity and deep breathing. It is more a tightness then anything.

My Son, Logan, is 3 yrs 9 months and my Daughter, Grace, is 5 years 7 months. I just picked her up from school and she is making herself a peanut butter, jelly and chocolate sandwich:confused: Oh well, at least she is doing it herself. Logan asked me the other day how my back was feeling and I just don't know how to answer that. They want mommy to be well, not sick. Grace is a big help and can do a lot. She really tries to look after me.

I am really hoping to stay away from surgery, if all possible. My son neeRAB to have surgery in a few months and I really do not want the extra medical bills, but if it is a must, then we will do it. I might seriously have to consider dropping out of school for a bit, but I really do not want to.

Well, I guess I am off to "try" to focus on homework while Phineas and Ferb is playing in the background. Ahhhhhh..... the life of a parent.;)
 
Agreed, you need testing and then possible consultation with an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon and/or Neurosurgeon who can talk to you about non-surgical and surgical treatment options.
 
Thanks guys. I am also having a tightness between my shoulder blades. Do you think that the orthopedic surgeon is the way to go then. Get her opinion. She sees my husband for arthritis in his hip. He too is 30, with the hip of a 65 year old man. She is an awesome Dr and we really like her.

Joe-sorry you are in pain. I know that it is hard, especially when you have little ones. I stay home with mine, so I think that makes it harder. My son is being so active today and requiring so much of me and I am in so much pain. I have school work that neeRAB to be done too, but at this rate I don't see how I can continue in school, much less hold down a job. We got through my depression. That was rough, but we made it through it. I have an Awesome husband, who does as much as he can, but almost 2 weeks ago, he severely sprained his ankle, so he is still healing too. I did take the pain meRAB not too long ago and they are helping some, it just hurts to move around too much, or sit in this chair for too long. I just want to look after my family. I am afraid that all this pain is going to make my depression flare up again. Thanks again.
 
Hi, gel. I am really sorry you are in so much pain and I agree that you need to see a specialist.....the ortho is okay as a first step, but if he isn't a spine specialist (ther's a difference), then ask for a referral to either a neurosurgeon or an ortho who specializes in the spine. Same goes for the neuro....neeRAB to specialize in the spine.

Once they have pinpointed the cause of your pain, it's possible they can work out a treatment plan that will not include surgery. Ask them if pain management is an option.

Please don't go back to the chiro; he most likely will cause more problems rather than fixing them. They get you in the office and have you come back over and over and over again and in the end you end up seeing a specialist anyway.

I sure hope you keep posting and stay in touch. This is a great forum for getting answers to your questions and for finding support from people who know what it is like to be in perpetual pain.

Best of luck to you.

Carol
 
Gel,

Its funny you mention tightness between your shoulderblades. After my first surgery failed, I got a burning sensation that would creep up my back to just below my shoulder blades and end with a stabbing feeling under them. This was brought on by activity and got worse the more i did. I still have the same problem after the second surgery which makes me think its still not right.

I'm home with my daughter today and mom is at work. I work 12 hour shifts so I actually get more time at home than she does. Ive found that she can be as active as she wants, running around nuts but when it comes to me...she is just craving attention of any type. I'll let her go nuts and when it comes time for me, we can sit on the couch together and watch a movie or ill sit with her and color. Try to keep the depression at bay by focusing on what you can do with him. Enjoy the time and build it up so after surgery, you can heal and he will begin to understand that Mommy has a boo-boo that neeRAB to heal. (sorry not sure how old he is) Lilly actually liked helping me with getting stuff.

You can still focus on your family by continuing to focus your love on them. They in turn can focus their support for you. All this has to be kept in perspective. You are on the path to getting back to your old self. There is an end to the journey and all is not lost. You may have to make some lifestyle changes but in the end Mommy and wife will still be there. I know its hard to keep the faith when everything seems to be going down the toilet. I know that if I loose my career, there will be another one out there somewhere but I will still be husband and dad. Thats the important thing and always will be.
 
maltluver - There are several Drs at the office I a going to and they all specialize in different things. I just checked and there is a spine specialist at the practice, so that will be my next step. I do not think that I will be going back to the Chiro, I think that he made things worse.

I saw my psychiatrist last night and he was not at all impressed with the GP's diagnosis. He said that it was too quick and we needed to explore other options first. We totally agree with him. He suggested that I see an ortho, which I already have an apt for Friday morning. I took my muscle relaxer last night and am feeling better this morning, but I always feel better in the mornings. I don't think that anything can be as bad as yesterday.
 
Back
Top