Low Back Pain at 21?

[perfectenemy]

So I know I'm not the youngest person to post on here with back pain, but I still don't think I should be having these problems at this age.

Back History:
- Low back pain and stiffness since June (no known trigger)
- SI and back muscle inflammation and soreness (almost constant)
- Occasionally shoots down backs of legs to knees
- Rarely shoots to calves/feet
- Shooting leg pain with prolonged sitting for 4 years
- Frequent hip and hip area pain (more lateral than SI pain)
- Worsened by flexion, extension relieves it somewhat
- Rheumatoid panel, lyme test, and CBC normal (done in June)
- Normal spinal X-rays
- Trigger point injections at orthopedist scheduled for Nov 10
- PT on-and-off since July
- Oct 26- PT said left thigh muscle atrophy and weakness (normal reflexes)
- 2400mg ibuprofen daily (4 x 3 times a day)

Other health history: wide and varied, mostly unrelated. However, I do have occasional shoulder, knee, and finger pain that hasn't really been addressed, either, since I'm told it's "unrelated."

The only diagnoses I've really been offered are soft tissue injury, joint hypermobility syndrome, and that my core muscles are weak. But as I'm sure I wouldn't be suffering from an injury for this long and I'm not the only 21-year-old with a flabby stomach (my BMI is a 24 and while I don't get a lot of active exercise, I'm not sedentary by any means), I don't think any of them fit. I've been told the joint thing can't cause pain like this.

I guess I just want to know what the heck is going on with my body and if there's anything else I or my doctors should be doing. My ortho's been pushing trigger point injections for a while, but I've been hesitant. Now that I've been in unbearable pain quite frequently the past few weeks, I can't wait for Wednesday. I know they can be diagnostic, so I'm interested in what it shows. I'm hoping if it does nothing he'll do an MRI or block. Is there something else?

Also, please don't tell me to "sit less." I'm a college student who also works as a data analyst/mouse handler in a lab, so I can't not sit.

 

[danabarb]

Did you check your bed to see if you need a new one? A bad or old bed can cause all sorts of problems.

 

[Jeff Beeba]

Have you tried inversion boots? I have been a huge fan of these little gems for MANY years although I only use them when I'm experiencing lower back pain. Silly me, if I would use them regularly, I probably wouldn't ever NEED them. Most common name for 'em is "Teeter's Hangups" and they are probably the most comfortable and well built. They sell for about $100 (not including the chin-up bar). Hope this helps, I recommend 'em to all my frienRAB and they love to come over to use 'em. Several have bought them for themselves.

 

[perfectenemy]

My bed is less than 2 years old, and even when I sleep in other beRAB (when I stay for a week at my parents' house, etc.), I still have problems. Thanks, though.

 

[perfectenemy]

They sound...interesting. Just from a quick Google search, it looks like a lot of people promote it for easing back pain. If I were to try it, I'd have to talk with my doctors to make sure it would be ok with my heart and orthostatic problems (i.e., I wouldn't want to pass out while hanging upside-down).

Also, I would rather find the source for my pain than just treat the symptoms. At 21 years old, I shouldn't have to spend a few minutes hanging upside-down every morning just to be not in pain. I'll talk to my PT and family doc about it, though.