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lower back pain?

swimmed

Greenlighter
Joined
Feb 21, 2014
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26
I'm a 23 year old male, I've been having lower back pain for a few months now.

I went to my Dr he said its just muscle aches.. But I don't think so. I have a new appt soon to talk to him again about it. Just wanted to hear some opinions here first.
The area that hurts is low, probably in the if my back was in 5 sections it would be the second from bottom.
I get some relief momentarily by popping it. Its always consistant it gets worse by bending over, and noticeably worse when I wake up for work at 5am. The pain is pretty center to the spine and goes out about 2 inches each way. It makes my legs ache pretty bad.

I'm usually lifting alot at work but lately slowed down a lot.
Please and thanks on the advice

Edit. I'm at work on break and standing after sitting for a bit I got the spins and it happened a few times before.

Edit 2: I go a scan turns out I have a spina bifida occulta on my s1. I cant find out too much info on it, and it seems like most info says it shouldn't hurt?
Its to the point if I work hard, the next day I'm confined to my bed at least half of the day before I can work my way out.
I was prescribed skelaxton, and tramadol, both are doing nothing at all. MY dr seems like he does not want to give me anything that will help the pain.. I went for a kidney scan to see if I ad any stones or what not.. Going Wednesday to talk to him and find out. I need some relief and I can not find it!
I used a tens unit and that helps my muscles but the actual pain is still there and I'm getting worried that its not getting better.

HOW CAN I GET SOMETHING STRONGER THEN TRAMADOL?
Anything I say he just keeps on with "Tylenol and stretching"
I do that and it does not help!
I do not currently take any opiates, but I have in the passed and I know they help.. I cant just tell my DR that of course..
I know its getting harder and harder to get the meds you need since so many people are getting them for nothing..
But I'm in need. What do I say to my DR?
 
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Could be a pinched sciatic nerve ? But we can't diagnose you here...
You probably need to have an x-ray

Second Opinion --> Healthy Living
 
Wouldn't that heal over time?
I've been in a few car accidents and played football for A few u
Years, pain started about 4 months ago
 
Unfortunately, you'll need physical therapy and/or medication (depo-medrol injections are often very helpful) and/or surgery if it turns out to be a pinched nerve. Get some rest, and go see an orthopedic doctor.
Are you overweight ? That could be a factor.

Good luck :)
 
What's your daily lifestyle/job like? Are you sitting all day. I'm a business owner who spends a large amount of time behind a computer screen, so i opted to purchase a standing desk where I've trained my body to be on my feet 18 hours a day.. www.varidesk.com
 
If you don't already, make sure your back is straight when you lift things and that you're using your legs. You could also maybe try foam rolling, just make sure it isn't painful because that could be the sign of something more serious...

 
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I'm 6'2 160 so I'm not overweight.
I used to go out to the racetrack or end up working on a car after work, now once I'm off I go home, laydown and don't move until going back the next morning.
I make window frames so I'm lifting daily. I have good lifting form. I have almost a week to see my doctor
 
One thing I will say...

If you think the dr is wrong, ESPECIALLY if they don't do any imaging (but even if they do), listen to your gut instinct and keep pushing for an answer. You know your body.

I remember in my early 20's, I was complaining of very bad back pain... the ahole kept dismissing me,"Oh it's probably just a muscle strain from your job..."

He FINALLY, EVENTUALLY ordered me XRay and MRI...I KNOW he only did it to get me to stfu....

So, the results came in and I go back to hear em... he's reading over it in front of me, and I see his face change.

Without even asking or knowing what he had just read yet, I knew what was up. "What did I say? I TOLD you. THANK YOU ...."

Yeah, he had been wrong. I was right. Stupid, female, young me.

Trust your gut until you find your answer. Back pain is nothing to eff around with. Get that diagnosed correctly, and research your azz off, and do all you can to heal.

Good luck to you.

Peace.
 
Have you considered going to a chiropractor? I hurt my back and the chiropractor has helped me a LOT! For issues like that, they use techniques similar to physio. Anyway, that's what I would recommend.
 
Here is the bad thing about back pain and a lot of other ailments. You try one thing, then another, followed by others. At some point the back pain diminishes and one is left with the impression the "cure" is the last thing they tried. Maybe it was.

I have a few back remedies I sort of favor but I'm likely operating from that bias that the last thing I tried worked, when maybe I tried it when back problems were ready to resolve anyways.

The one thing I feel certain of is bed rest and inactivity tend to cause back problems to set in. As soon as possible do gentle, reasonable exercise. Extended light duty & bed rest in most situations are not helpful imo.

I also think the Dr Sarno books about back pain being psychogenic, especially related to suppressed anger, have some merit. not saying Sarno has it 100%.
 
If it's radiating down your leg then you're looking at sciatica, which means your problem is likely L4-L5 on your spine. Honestly, the only thing that fixed that for me was a good chiropractor, and you need to stretch that lower back daily. Eat foods rich in magnesium to relax the muscles, and find a way to reduce lifting load at work?
 
Find a good physio (not all physios are good physios) and let them treat you symptomatically.
 
I'm late to the game here but noticed your second edit.

Do research. Research is your friend. Research conditions that sounds bifida is associated with. It's how I figured out I have a connective tissue disorder. I read about POTS and thoracic outlet syndrome.... Which fit me to a fucking t. Then that lead me to read about ehlers danlos.... Again, perfect description of my problems, beyond just pots and tos. Then found out a cousin of mine was dx with a connective tissue disorder, and they are genetic... Etc.

No doctor ever figured it out. They treated me like shit.

You are your best advocate.

Best of luck to you.

Peace.
 
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