Lower back pain

[oneilarmstrong]

Hello, I need someone's help desperately. I have been having problems with my back, serious back pain. This has been going on for years (pain), however it has gotten worse now I don't know why. I cannot play a sport as soon as I begin within minutes my back feels as if it will rip apart with pain.

I cannot stand for too long, its unbearable now. I now feel the pain streaming down into my thighs and my groin area. I have had many doctors look into the problem, I'm given tablets and that doesn't help. If I am urinating it the urine will intermittently stop, I believe this is as a result of the back situation. An x ray was done, which proves that nothing is wrong with my bone structure, therefore they have said that its a muscle problem. Is there anything I can use to get better; exercises, home treatment/conditioning etc. Please I need someone's professional help, I cannot afford the high medical bills associated with this.

I even have a bump on my in step, as a result of a past injury the doctor said maybe it was fractured, I didn't know and it just healed in that fashion. Of course once I kick a ball two times that's it for me, the pain reigns for a few days and if I go again then it starts all over, please offer me the best advise you can, Thank you in advance.

[Al-Emran Ahmed]

Ice tapping on painful area- 10 to 15 minutes daily 3 times for 1 month.I think it may remove your problem.

[physiofixme]

Do you have pain to cough or sneeze? Do you have numbness anywhere?? You mentioned problems urinating....what about bowel movements??? Do you have problems stopping bowel movements or any numbness around that area?? Look up a condition called cauda equina and see if you have any of those symptoms.

Are you feeling unwell at all??

If your doctor has given you a full medical check and the cauda equina doesn't sound like you, then look in to a treatment programme for disc prolapse but do this with caution...... either see a physiotherapist for help with this OR look in to the McKenzie Institute for back care advice (you should be able to find this online)

[tsehao3685]

The condition sounds complicated, it's better to have a direct contact with your physician.

It would be important to note down any changes in the pain intensity since the past few years. And give your physician all treatments you have tried.
It'll also be important to note down any particular movements that will cause pain
and show the physician how you do these movements
(e.g. bending & kneeling)

I see that you also mention about urinating,
do you ever had experience of incontinence?
there are several muscles that support the lumbar spine,
these also includes the pelvic muscles.

Some female patient after giving birth complains low back pain
due pelvic muscle weakness.

I hope some of these information is helpful.
But I suggest to give a visit with your physiotherapist/ physician

[alophysio]

Hi,

an XRay might show the bones are normal but you can have a disc injury or nerve impingement without seeing it on XRay.

See a back sepcialist. The symtoms you have sound serious.

[jonathan_PTRP]

Did you do some exercise? For Low Back Pain Exercises try to search about McKenzie and Williams Exercise.. that might help..

[alophysio]

hi,

i would be careful about doing the exercises without first finding out why you have the pain and urinary dysfunction.

The change in bladder/bowel habits or any change in sensation in that area are called "red flags" - that means there *might* be something seriously wrong.

The immediate action i take with my patients who present to me like this is to send them off to the doctor immediately (i ring the doctor or the hospital).

Then, once everything has been clarified, i would then decide treatment options, of which specific exercises would be part of the total solution.

Hope that helps!

[msk101]

Hi,

I would definitely agree with Alophysio.... See a doctor who can thoroughly investigate why you are having changes with urination/bowel habits before anything else, even though your Xrays showed nothing abnormal, they don't show soft tissue like nerves, discs, ligaments etc. You may require a more indepth scan (eg MRI) or some more detailed xrays (eg side view when you are bending forwards and when you are bending back) as often plain Xrays in standing or lying down don't put you into the posture when you get symptoms. This means if you tend to get symptoms when you're leaning backward, then you should be xrayed in this position to see if there is any "instability" or shift in the normal bone alignment with the postural change.

Either way, make sure you're all clear for anything "sinister" with the soft tissue and nerves, and bones in different postures etc, before launching into an exercise program unchecked.

Good luck.
msk101

[jonathan_PTRP]

I agree, seeing a doctor would be the best way to do first..

[idealstretch]

Better to consult with physiotherapist and also you can try some stretching exercise.We all hope can recover from lower back pain.

[alophysio]

Hi oneilarmstrong - again, please be careful with stretching without knowing what is wrong. If you have an irritated nerve, it will not like stretching exercises at all.