please help..my future depends on it.

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scotthicks

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Hello im 19 years old and i need some help.
ive been planning on joining the army for at least 3 years now, i started the gym, everything was fine, then my back started to really hurt, ive been to doctors, ive had xrays and cyropracters but nothing seems to help. it is my dream to join the army and i cant do so because of my back, do anyone know any surgery or anything i can do to improve my back??:confused:
 
Scott,

Surgery should always be an absolutely last resort. Having a quick fix for back pain is so very tempting, but the reality is that back problems take a long time to heal no matter what treatment you are doing. Surgery will cause damage to the muscles and ligaments around your spine and can cause spinal instability leading to a life of restrictions. If at all possible, try every conservative treatment first before considering surgery, but again realize they may take time to work. Most people with back pain are able to get back into a productive life without surgery, but the majority of people on this board have had or will be having surgery.

Before we can help you further, we need more information:

1. Have you had an MRI? If so, what did it show?
2. Specifically where is your back pain located at?
3. Do you also have pain radiating down one or both legs?
4. Did your symptoms come on abruptly or gradually?
5. Was there one event, such as lifting something or falling, that brought on this pain?
6. How long have you been dealing with this pain?
7. What have your doctors recommended so far and what were their diagnoses?
8. Are you able to work or go to school right now or is the pain so severe that you are unable to do these activities?
9. What specific treatments have you tried so far that have been unsuccessful?
10. Is your pain worse at certain times of day?
11. Are there activities that aggravate your pain?
12. Are there certain positions that aggravate your pain (i.e., sitting, standing, walking, laying down)?

Get back to us with the above information and we'll try our best to help you more.

Take care!
 
Scott, just be careful. Life after back surgery has many ups and downs for SOME people. I just had my second surgery. I am almost one month out and my biggest fear is that I won't even be able to take care of my home and family. I would think army life would be very hard on your back but you are young so don't get too discouraged. See a doctor and good luck.
 
1. Have you had an MRI? If so, what did it show?
No i havnt had an MRI but have had a back xray, they found nothing :(
2. Specifically where is your back pain located at?
its located mostly all over my back, mainly at the top where those to pokey out bones ares, and the bottom, but it all hurts.
3. Do you also have pain radiating down one or both legs?
i some times get pain in my stomach.
4. Did your symptoms come on abruptly or gradually?
gradually, but it starts with low pain, and the more i move, the worser it gets.
5. Was there one event, such as lifting something or falling, that brought on this pain?
i dont really remeraber as i have had these pains for a while now.
6. How long have you been dealing with this pain?
to be safe id say around a year.
7. What have your doctors recommended so far and what were their diagnoses?
my doctor said it was a torn ligament and told me to rest it, i was off work for a month, and it got better for a while, then came back worse.
8. Are you able to work or go to school right now or is the pain so severe that you are unable to do these activities?
i go to work, but it hurts so much, if i have any more time off, i will lose my job. and i cant be doing that.
9. What specific treatments have you tried so far that have been unsuccessful?
chiropracters, and pilates.
10. Is your pain worse at certain times of day?
no.
11. Are there activities that aggravate your pain?
moving.
12. Are there certain positions that aggravate your pain (i.e., sitting, standing, walking, laying down)? standing : it hurts the most, ill sit down to try and avoid the pain, but it only decreases the pain a little bit, walking isnt to bad. i find it hard to sleep because when im laying down, it does really hurt.
 
Scott,

Based on your answers, I am inclined to think that your pain is due to muscle/ligament strain or damage as opposed to a problem inside your spine such as a herniated disc.

However, since your pain is so severe that it is interferring with your ability to work and has lasted so long, if I were in your shoes I would be really pushing my doctor for an MRI. You have pain in your upper back and lower back, and MRI's are done in 3 zones - lurabar, thoracic, and cervical. You may need to have all 3 done to make sure your aren't dealing with something more serious than muscle/ligament strain. If the MRI's are normal, then it is probably same to assume your problem is due to muscle/ligament troubles and a good physical therapist should be able to help you along with the correct medications such as NSAIRAB if you are able to take them.

There is also a very slight possibility that you may have an inflammatory condition causing your problems such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Again, since your condition is so severe and has lasted so long you might also push your doctor to do a blood work up or send you to a rheumatologist for a consultation.

Even though you're young and probably appear quite healthy, you may need to really be assertive with your doctor to get any answers or referrals, and you may need to visit more than one doctor to get more than one opinion. Be your own advocate and fight, fight, fight!

Good luck and let us know how you are progressing!
 
thank you very much, u have been very helpfull, i am going to book a doctors appointment and push him for one of those scans. i will let you now how it turns out. got an email to email you? Scott Thanks Alot! :)
 
Scott, you're welcome to private message me anytime by clicking on my user ID on one of my messages, then going to send a private message.
 
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