Lower Back Pain - Struggling

[elbosterix]

Hi Everyone,

I am a bit depressed already as not sure how to continue.

Everything started 3 months ago, I was completely healthy, never had back issues before.

Finished to have dinner and suddenly I felt stiff from by back. I could hardly move, so I just lay on the floor for a whole weekend. The only thing I did that day was, around 2 hours before dinner went back and forth with the bbq gas bottle to Bunnings for a swap, I had to do it 3 times as I found 2 gas bottles deffective, so I guess that the stress and carrying it so many times did something to my back.

My stress comes from still not knowing what the problem is, then not knowing what to do.

I went to a GP, he gave me anti inflammatory (voltaren), apply heat and rest for a couple of days.

I improved a little bit ( I started walking a bit better) but the pain was still there. I never had pain on my legs so I gues there is no nerve being pinched.

Later on I went to a Physio and she said it was something related to a disc, she gave me some exercises, did some massage, put some ice, some streching but after 4 or 5 sessions (about 3 weeks) I did not feel any improvement.

Through my wife I saw another physio who told me to stop the exercises that the previous physio had given me (I couldn't believe it), she told me just to do 1 exercise every 2 hours, belly down on the floor, lift my back as If I was just streching up. After a few weeks of doing it again I felt a bit better, not completely recovered but better.

Now three months after, I went for a swim two days ago as it was recommended to start doing some exercise and I got the pain again. Yesterday I was walking and I started to feel that uncomfortable feeling on my lower back...

I don't want to go to any physios as I feel I need to be diagnosed first, I have never been yet and I am sick of not being able to even go for a walk. I am also sick of being referred to magic Chiros! Also very scared of them...

I took some x-rays and they are not showing anything wrong.

I was told to get some MRI but one of the GP's I requested the MRI from he told me he was not authorized to prescribe one.

Does anyone know how to get one? Any good back specialist I could see to get the MRI done and be diagnosed once and for all?

Any hint or advise would be so welcomed, I need my life back

Thanks in advance,

Mariano

[KLM]

As far as I know only a specialist can refer you for an MRI eg a neurosurgeon or an orthopaedic surgeon. The problem is it takes so long to get an appointment. You can get a CT scan which is better than an X-ray and you can be referred by a GP (and possibly by a physio) - that would at least give you more information quickly? Hope this helps.

[tia-maria]

mariano,
I understand how you must be feeling,
After a major fall 18 months ago, and fracture my coccxy tail bone,and still 12 months after I also knew some else was going down,so I went to see a specialist and had a MRI scan at RPA that showed that my Disc l4/l5 that my l4 slipped onto l5 causing pain numbness and was recommended Physo which i went to (by women and their hot packs) after two months had no change so I stop and it flared up worse that ever.....and fortunately for me we had a releiving Physo Male who works with hands on the back releiving preasure from my disc (this has help me heaps)......BUT ONLY Temperory...just seen another neurosurgeon in the last 6 months,we had a good talk regarding the possibilities that are avaiable to me (very limited) as the operation is very major...........in my case.......where they do a fusing by putting a plate in your back with screws,so unfortunately in your either a situation ....dam if you or dam if you dont..........so i have decided yes i will go through with the operation because of my age group and not getting any younger 62yrs.
if you live in sydney i will keep an eye on the forum and if you want to know about the specialist i will tell you...top of his field. opperation early next year

[tia-maria]

has any one had an recent operation on the discs L4/L5 where they need to put a plate/screws/fusing plus you also have a skin graft done? not quite sure the name of this this type of operation.(fusin).
And if you had the operation done?
please can you send your experience back on how sucessful your operation was for you.
having surgery after Christmas. many thanks.

[elbosterix]

Hi Everyone, thanks Tia-Maria & KLM for your feedback.

I got kind of good news, I got a referral for a Specialist, which wasn't very helpful but at least he gave me the MRI order. I am saying not very helpful because after asking some questions about what and how happened. He recommended that the best thing to be done was to take panadol for a week !!! ??? !!!

That wasn't all, he also told me "you should exercise" That's it, very specific very handy for this type of problem !!!. I asked him to give me more info as you can't do everything with back pain, he showed me (a bit reluctant I may say) a few exercises and that was it...

At least I have my MRI result and I am now in the search for a different specialist... I don't think it is worth going back to the same for him to see the results... He may suggest to take some aspirins....

The findings on the MRI are:

L4/5 Disc dehydration without disc height loss.
Annular tear noted within the right foraminal region with a subtle right foraminal disc bulge, abuttiong the exiting right L4 nerve root, without imingement.
L5/S1: Disc dehydration with subtle posterior disc height loss. Subtle disc bulge with endplate osteophyte noted in the right L5 neural exit foramen, causing subtle narrowing, no definite neural impingement.
No slip, no pars defect.

Comment
Minor disc change noted at L4/5 and L5/S1 in the right foraminal location.

I am clueless about how serious this is, so I hope I can see now a good specilist to recommend a good treatment if there is one...

I have not done any further exercises since then. Not sure if anyone can suggest a specialist to evaulate an MRI?

Hopefully 2009 will see all of us back on our feet and active again.

Best wishes to all....

[kjwilkin]

Hi Mariano,

I am sorry to hear that you are struggling with your lower back pain. It is true that exercise is important. Doing the right type of exercise is crucial. I have had a lot of back problems since I had a car accident last year. Apart from regular physio I have found clinical pilates and a hydrotherapy pool to be the most beneficial. It is important to find a physio that specialises in backs, not just a general physio.

As a first step I would encourage you to go and see a good sports physician. They will be able to diagnose your problem and give you some guidance on the best type of treatment. A lot of GPs have no idea about these problems. I would stay away from a surgeon as long as you can.

What part of Australia do you live in ?

[tia-maria]

Hi Everyone, thanks Tia-Maria & KLM for your feedback.

I got kind of good news, I got a referral for a Specialist, which wasn't very helpful but at least he gave me the MRI order. I am saying not very helpful because after asking some questions about what and how happened. He recommended that the best thing to be done was to take panadol for a week !!! ??? !!!

That wasn't all, he also told me "you should exercise" That's it, very specific very handy for this type of problem !!!. I asked him to give me more info as you can't do everything with back pain, he showed me (a bit reluctant I may say) a few exercises and that was it...

At least I have my MRI result and I am now in the search for a different specialist... I don't think it is worth going back to the same for him to see the results... He may suggest to take some aspirins....

The findings on the MRI are:

L4/5 Disc dehydration without disc height loss.
Annular tear noted within the right foraminal region with a subtle right foraminal disc bulge, abuttiong the exiting right L4 nerve root, without imingement.
L5/S1: Disc dehydration with subtle posterior disc height loss. Subtle disc bulge with endplate osteophyte noted in the right L5 neural exit foramen, causing subtle narrowing, no definite neural impingement.
No slip, no pars defect.

Comment
Minor disc change noted at L4/5 and L5/S1 in the right foraminal location.

I am clueless about how serious this is, so I hope I can see now a good specilist to recommend a good treatment if there is one...

I have not done any further exercises since then. Not sure if anyone can suggest a specialist to evaulate an MRI?

Hopefully 2009 will see all of us back on our feet and active again.

Best wishes to all....

hi KJwilkin,
good to see you had the MRI done as this test is one of the best for the specialists to see what is going on.
Understand where your coming from regarding the specialist...to lose weight and just take panadol (knowing your in so much pain that its not realy helping you?.....so maybe you should seek an 2nd opinion......as I would to put you at ease.
But also I can definately encourage you to go to a Hydro Pool and take up swimming and exercise ........which has helped me, to strenghten up my spine and has got me ready for a major operation in couple months time.
do you live sydney or melbourne ? if Sydney ...may I ask who is the Specialist you was refer too?
hope this has put you at ease a little cheers Tia-Maria

[kjwilkin]

Hi Tia-Maria,

I live in Melbourne and was referred to my sports physician by my old physio. Just found my GP had no clue how to manage my joint problems. My sports physician is great.

Do you want to know the names of some good ones in Sydney ?

Am having an enforced break from exercise as I hurt my knee badly. Hoping to get back into things soon.

Have a good weekend.

[tia-maria]

kjwILKIN,
SORRY MATE IT WAS SUPPOSE TO SEND THIS REPLY TO THE OTHER PERSON COMMENT.
hAPPY THAT YOU HAD THE COURTESY TO WRITE BACK VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
HAVE GOOD WEEK-END.
TIA-MARIA

[kjwilkin]

Hi Tia-Maria,

No worries. Thought that was the case.

If you want to know of some good sports physicians in Sydney, let me know.

Seeing a sports physician has been the best thing I ever did. They are able to help manage my joint problems much better.