Lower back pain help

[Rockinthecasbah]

So for about a month I have had pain in my lower back ocasionally shooting down my left leg with severity of pain going from a 2 to a 7 on the Ow it hurts scale. I cant think of any tramatic event to cause it so i was thinking maybe it was my mattress. So i slept on the floor for a couple days with a pillow under my knees and still no relief. I think its time to actually go to the doctors even though i know its going to end up being about 15 trips by the time its over going to different departments. Anyone else have any ideas on relieving back pain? I'm not that old , 23.

[DBD]

Originally Posted by Rockinthecasbah

So for about a month I have had pain in my lower back ocasionally shooting down my left leg with ...

I will go out on a limb here and say you might have a pinched nerve. Depending on where it is traveling down the leg would decide where it is pinched but some thin' is pinched. The spine is probably out of alignment as well and that could be causing the pinch.

There are a few different reasons for it so the Doc would be a good idea. If you happen to see a Chiro BE SURE they take x-rays AND know how to read them before proceeding with any treatment.

Until then try some heat and a muscle relaxer (even aspirin, anti-inflammatory, if you have nothing else) before going to sleep.

[TrojanInsomniac]

I agree w/ DBD........sounds like you have a compressed nerve in your spine. I had a herniated L4-5 disc a few years back. I would have these episodes of insane pain in my lower back and shooting pain in my right leg that would keep me in bed for five straight days. They would go away but would always come back. I went through the four months of physical therapy to no avail. I ended up having a microdiscectomy in Oct 2006. The surgery wasn't bad at all, and the recovery/rehab was relatively easy.
I'd definitely recommend seeing a spine surgeon for your problem. He/or she will likely order an X-ray and write you a prescription for physical therapy (and maybe some good pharmas). Hopefully, PT can help you out. PM me if you have any questions or need a physician referral.

[Rivet]

Sounds like Sciatica. I battled this twice for 8 months each time. You need to push your doctor for an MRI. If it's an HMO they will try not to do this as it's expensive. I had to literally threaten my doctor to get one. They know nothing until they see an MRI (X-rays are pointless), they'd rather just prescribe pain pills and keep you coming back. Also, don't rule out piraformis syndrome, looks like sciatica but has nothing to do with the spine.

EDIT; Also, surgery should be an absolute LAST measure.

[Rockinthecasbah]

Thanks for the opinions ill be making an appointment this week I have kaiser and they are usally good about getting you into MRI's I have had alot of x-rays MRI's ultrasounds etc so im getting used to telling the docs what i need.

[bighit8]

Ricky, I have the same problem, Sounds like the sciatic nerve is pinched. That nerve goes down the back of your leg. I get cracked every so often to relive the pain.My last back injury was really painful,popped my hip out and ruptured a disc.

[Rockinthecasbah]

great more painful things on my body to go with my wrist and knee lol

[denmother]

There have been several other threads on the same subject. Try checking these out.

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain?

Back

[Liquid55]

you may have degenerative disc disease, at 20 I was told thats my problem. Back always has a dull pain to it, and takes a while to wake up in the morning when its the worst.

[TrojanInsomniac]

I feel for both of you. Back pain and sciatica absolutely suck! It makes my current hip problems seem like nothing.

Take good care of your back and let us know how your appointment goes!

[ryandood]

Sounds like early signs of AIDS.

[sdyeti]

^^That is not even funny, man.

[foofighter]

so i need to bump this because i went riding last night and when i'm standing up and mashing to clear a climb etc my lower right back muscle tightens up etc so i have to stop and stretch that bugger out.

Well this morning my wife found two tiny knots the size of a garbonzo bean in my lower back; one on each side of my spin where it's sore coincidentally. well she was rubbing the knot out and OMG i wanted to cry because it hurt so bad. the left one went away and didnt hurt as bad but the one on the right where it was tight last night is still there but not as bad.

WTH is up with that knot...how does it even develope and wtf does it hurt so much???

[reflux]

Odd coincidence, as I'm "scared" to ride my SS because of similar lower back pain the last time I rode her. Part of my problem might be with my climbing position. I have a fairly horizontal climbing position: my torso is so that my head is over the cockpit. This position, to the best of my knowledge, puts unnecessary stress on the lower back. I hope to try more of an upright climbing position in an attempt to alleviate that lower back pain. If I can sneak out on the SS this upcoming weekend, I will post my results.

Does any of that mirror your situation?

[~ Pakiha ~]

I am out on a Back issue, and from what My Dr. went into it was a Sacroiliac joint strain. It is VERY common to a sciatic, but is not a nerve issue. Although it have been about 5 weeks of no activity and still a literal pain in the a$$. I think I am going to go in a request an MRI.

[foofighter]

see mine comes from standing up and mashing or doing extended climbs pushing hard...i think it has a lot to do w/ my core muscles not being strong but on the flip side i can go for rides sometimes and not have that issue at all.

[6packguywith5spot]

I had the same question and started a thread regarding lower back pain a while ago.

I end up getting x rays and I was told that I have a mild case of ( a medical term that I don't remember now ) but it means a mild case of artheritis, thining of the bone due to age, friction, use and abuse.

She ordered PT. It is bad when off the bed and it goes away during the day, while staying active.

Good luck with yours,

Originally Posted by Liquid55

you may have degenerative disc disease, at 20 I was told thats my problem. Back always has a dull pain to it, and takes a while to wake up in the morning when its the worst.

[reflux]

Originally Posted by foofighter

see mine comes from standing up and mashing or doing extended climbs pushing hard...i think it has a lot to do w/ my core muscles not being strong but on the flip side i can go for rides sometimes and not have that issue at all.

In my case...
SS = pain
Geared bikes = perfectly fine

My plan of attack at the gym the past month or so has been to strengthen my erector spinae and other hip muscles. The lower back doesn't need flexion or flexibility, it needs stability...or at least that is how I'm attacking my problem. When I hover over the cockpit and mash the pedals on a climb, my lower back is rounded and a lot of force is being put through that area. (Note: rounding of the lower back is a very common source of back pain.)

So, my solution...try to climb more upright and strengthen lower back muscles.

[Royster71]

Get your wallet outta your back pocket. Keep it in your front pocket. When your sleeping make sure if you are laying on your side put a pillow in between your legs. If your laying on your back put the pillow under your legs. Take a hot bathe everymoring and do stretches in the back EVERY morning. When sitting in a chair dont sloach in it make sure you are using the entire back support of the chair. Chiropractors help. This has helped me hope it helps you. Its not fun to live with.