Low back/hip pain Lipping?

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foxgirl74

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I have had severe low back/hip pain for years. I was told that i have SI joint dysfunction and had SI injections. While recieving the injections, the Dr. told me I had a bony growth over my SI joint making injections difficult. He advised this was the culprit of my pain as when I walk, sit, etc it was bone rubbing on bone. It has been about one year since I was told this and I recently had x-rays to check the status....the x-ray report I recieved indicated I had mild lipping of L-4 and L-5 in addition to degen. disc disease, and facet joint arthritis. My dr. told me the x-rays were normal. So, I am very confused because im not sure what lipping means..from what I have read, im assuming that this is the bony growth my other dr. referred to. The pain in my hips gets so bad that sometimes my hip will just give out and I almost fall to the floor. The pain will radiate down my legs to the knee area and the pelvic area. I get so stiff that I can barely get out of bed in the morning. I am getting so frusterated, and do not believe that lipping is normal especially since I am only 38 and have not had any major accidents etc. to cause the pain. Any insight would be greatly appriciated! Thanks!
 
Hi. I'm sorry you are hurting like this. What kind of doctors have you been seeing? Have you had an MRI? I think you should see an orthopedic spine specialist to have things checked out, as the hip pain may be caused from your back problems and you need more than x-rays to get to the bottom of this.

Unfortunately, sometimes we don't need an accident or fall, etc to spark off problems....they just happen. I don't think we know why some people go all their life and never have a problem and others have trouble. I believe some of it is genetic.. Does arthritis run in your family?

At any rate, you need to get to the bottom of this and find out exactly what is going on. An orthopedic spine specialist can help you do that.

Best of luck.

Carol
 
Thanks Carol. To date I have not been to an ortho or spine speacilist. For years it was just assumed that my back pain etc. was secondary to my intercystial cystitis (a bladder problem in case your not familiar). The thought was that when my bladder flared the swelling was pushing on nerves in my back and causing pain. I had been on pain meRAB for years due to the bladder issue and finally my dr decided to send me to a pain clinic. I got lucky and the pain clinic specializes in IC but their main specialty is back issues. It was this dr who discovered the arthritis and SI joint problem. Arthritis does run in my family both sides. I have been to see a rhuematologist but it has been 3 yrs ago. At the time I went they could not find any problems other than fibromyalgia, vitamin D defeciancy, and a slighty elevated ANA (which my dr. explained just ment that I had widespread swelling throughout my body). Thank you for the tip. I will ask for a referral at my next dr. appt. I guess I had always assumed to see an orth you needed a broken "something" or some kind of major injury.
 
If nothing else, seeing a spine specialist and having an MRI will help in knowing if your back has problems that is causing additional pain. I wish you the best of luck and hope you will stay in touch.

Carol
 
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