Stiff and painful lower back---advice please!

[Albertagirl]

Hello everyone!

I have had problems in the past with my back but it was always just usually muscle spasms.

Well for the last 2 1/2 weeks I have been in pain and so frustrated!
Honestly I have had this happen before but it had never lasted this long but used to get better after a few days.

O.K here is my problem, I have such awful stiffness in my lower back.
Feels like just above the tailbone to between where the hips begin.

It doesn't feel like its actually my spine, seems like its more in the muscles or tendons on each side of my spine or something.

Well this stiffness has been CONSTANT for over 2 weeks now and its worse when I sit.
If I do not sit in a semi reclined position but instead sit straight up I seem to feel this intense pressure but at the same time feels like a painful stretch!

You know how it feels when you overstretch something? Like imagine trying to do the splits and then you get the painful, pulling, stretching, burn type feeling?

Well that's how it feels but an intense pressure at the same time and at times it feels like my back wants to crack in half or something.

I know this description sounRAB strange but this is the only way I can try to get the feeling across.

Also after sitting for a while, even if it is a short time, than getting up is horrible!!
I need to very slowly get out of my seat and so slowly straighten my back out.
Rising after lying down isn't so bad.

Bending over to try to pick anything up is miserable and very painful BUT most times cannot be avoided as I have an 8 month old baby who is crawling and constantly neeRAB attention.

So when I do get up from sitting or bending over I usually need to hold on to something to help raise up and straighten as it is too painful to try it without support.

I am only 33 yrs old and I also have a bunch of other neurological health issues but I do not know if this could be related or not.

I have never injured my back in any way that I know of, do not have arthiritis or any other known bone conditions.

Anyone know what this could be and/or what could be causing this pain?

Please advise!!
Thanx to all in advance.

 

[beachgirl01]

Hey there my canadian buddy!

I am also very young, 27, and I have been through 2 major spine surgeries and am awaiting my 3rd. I won't get into all my details. What I do want to say is because you have had this happen before and are somewhat aware of back pain, I would suggest going to your doctor. My biggest mistake was waiting. I thought things would get better and even though I know no one wants to run to their doctor for every little thing, this might be one of those times. Because you live in Canada you are lucky in a way. You can go to your doctor and get an x-ray right then and there. THis should tell you whether there is something wrong that might need some Physio, accupuncture etc or maybe you might then need to get a ct. It might not be anything but a pulled or strained back. Your doctor should be able to help you and at least if by chance you need to see a specialist, then you won't have to wait forever. If you wait a few months to go see your GP then you will have to wait even longer to get in to see a specialist. It's worth the time that it takes you to go see your doctor. It might be a good idea to go see a physiotherapist anyways, this way they can show you what good core exercises to do with back problems and this will also help you and your pain. Having a strong core is imperative when you suffer with even minor to severe back pain. THey can also do massage therapy and accupuncture etc, it's something you may want to ask your doctor for a referral anyhow because like you said you have had problems in the past.

Take care and let me know what the outcome is.

Beachgirl

 

[mznell]

If you're into doing some research, look up "piriformis syndrome" and see if the symptoms for that sound familiar.

 

[lucylucy]

It could be a lot of things. Go to a doctor, specialist or Physical Therapist to get evaluated. Like a lot of things, if you catch it early, you could prevent more serious problems. Some back problems are due to bad injuries, but the kind that comes on like yours (and mine), is often caused by a milllion of little thiings we do everyday. It can be controlled with some knowledge and effort, with a minimum of pain medication.

A common cause of lower back pain is a bulging or compressed disk. I usually feel it just in the middle, but when it gets really bad, I feel it in the muscles on both sides, from my waist to my butt with burning shooting pains down my butt and legs.

Mine took several years to get really bad. I ignored the pain for a very long time, hoping it would go away. Sometimes it did, but it always came back. Lying around makes it worse. The PT taught me some useful exercises and everyday tips, to reduce the pain and keep it from coming back.

I was lucky I had insurance to cover most of the cost of PT, but with what I know now, I would be glad to pay the full bill myself, just to learn the techniques to prevent a lot of misery.

 

[Ashleymichele23]

Boy do I feel your pain. I also started back on Aug 1st my lower back went out. It is right above my rear end across my lower back on both sides. The pain was so bad I could not even walk, it went down my groin into my legs and after heavy doses of advil and steroiRAB it got better. This week, Oct 1st had the same thing happen to me again but I was not doing anything when it happened. The first time I was carrying something and went to put it down and my back went into this pain, this time I was doing nothing and happened after I got up on Wed. morning. Again, I am taking ibuprofene and steroiRAB again. It is such an awful pain and I know I sit at a computer and have poor posture so that may be causing it. Back in 2005 I had a few back aches and they x-rayed my back and it showed nothing. The frustrating part of this is, it takes weeks before you actually feel better even on the steroiRAB.

Not sure what part of the back this is.