Chronic Lower Back Pain (From Crash in Oct)

I crashed off my bike in October and landed flat on my back. I hurt pretty bad for a while in the tailbone area. I couldn't transition from laying down into a sitting position without stabbing lower back pain.

I spent about 6 weeks off the bike when it happened until the sharp lower back pain went away. Now I have a constant pain in my lower back. It's there 100% of the time, sitting seems exacerbate it. I had a bike fitting at the path to make sure that the ergo of my bike was in check and not contributing to the issue.

I'm currently doing PT and the doctor took an XRAY of my spine and said that everything checks out A-OK. I've got about 3 weeks of PT under my belt and it doesn't seem to be helping. I've got a big ride scheduled for end of march and I'd really like to be able to get back on a bike some time soon.

Any suggestions you folks would have would be really helpful. Thanks.

 

I have a history of back issues, some caused by crashing on my bike. Chiropractic, PT, exercise and stretching have always solved the problems in the past.

It took me months to convince my Orthopedist that I was having back issues (because the symptoms were focusing in my knee/hip). He eventually relented and ordered an MRI. That's when I found out that I have a herniated disc and pinched nerve. I opted for Chiropractic (Blair) treatment and Decompression therapy instead of surgery. You can read more here: http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/rider-down/32028-herniated-disk.html

 

Thanks for the response.

I feared the worst. I guess it's a good sign that I don't have any leg issues and everything is centralized in my lower back. I just made a follow up APT with the doctor and I'm going to request an MRI.

I've never been to a chriopractor as I'm super skeptical... but at this point I think I need to make an appt... I'd give anything to be able to get back on a bike and ride without my back hurting like crazy. I always took it for granted, now when I'm on a bike and I feel the cardio/leg burn it's welcomed compared to the lower back issues.

 

I highly recommend the Blair Upper Cervical Care method of treatment. You can check it out here: http://www.blairchiropractic.com/. Most of my back issues are caused by my neck being out of alignment. When the neck is aligned, everything else follows!!!

 

If it's muscular (as your x-ray seems to indicate), you might want to try acupuncture. I had on-again off-again lower back pain for years, sitting at my desk was the worst. I had tried a chiropractor, but that only gave me temporary relief. I had four acupuncture sessions in December, and have been pain-free since. As a side note, he helped me get rid of the Vicodin cravings I had developed as well.

 

Don't be too leary of the chiropractic approach. It should never be done by itself as a cure-all, but when combined with massage, accupuncture and proper stretching it can do wonders to reduce pain and speed up the healing process.

 

FWIW, about 20 years ago I had the same injury from falling off of a horse. I did nothing other than lie on the couch for 3 days to get rid of the really bad pain. I thought I would be stuck hurting for the rest of my life but in a year I got completely better and my back hasn't bothered me since.

 

Due to jobs and playing hard, I have had back problems. I have a great bone cracker, that also does accupunchure. I had three buldged disc's and the needles are the only thing that worked. Traction also helped. Might try an inversion table.

 

If you're looking at the spinal decompression route via an inversion table, I would recommend this unit. It will allow you to isolate the back, unlike many of the conventional units that stretch your entire body.

http://www.comfortchannel.com/prod.itml/icOid/8582

GL with your healing. I am actually off to get an MRI today to check why I have sciatica for the last month. I believe its probably a bulged or herniated disc. I have had back problems my whole life but never any nerve issues.

 

Note: Inversion tables are not always recommended for herniated disks. I asked and was told that it could make mine worse.

 

Very true !

When my sciatica first appeared a few weeks ago, I did not invert myself but did a quick traction method I have always used and it instantly tripled the level of pain.

 

Same with me, but after 25+ years it graduated to a 5cm herniated disk and a pinched nerve (hence the sciatica).

 

Your best bet would be to ice the injured area as much as you can and ask your doctor about anti inflammatory medicine.

If you go to a Chiropractor make sure you do a long term plan about three months. Don't go to one that claims he can fix you with one adjustment.

 

I was in a bad car accident in 2004 and my back has not been the same. (two discs out 4mm @ l4-l5 and l5-s1). I opted to not get the surgery. PT exercises after biking followed by ice and not pushing too hard when inflamed from a long ride works for me.

 

While one visit isn't likely to fix anything, I would definitely avoid anyone who is trying to sell you a pre-paid plan for 3-6 months or more of care. There are many causes of low back pain and in many cases 3+ months of care is overkill. I wouldn't pay up front for anything beyond a 2-3 week trial of care. Doesn't mean it will necessarily be fixed in that time but you should have some signs of improvement in that period to justify continuation of care. You don't want to be dependent on treatment and once you have improved to the point where you can take an active role in your rehab with home exercise you should be good to go. I would say this applies to any form of physical medicine type treatment.

 

Its not over kill if you have the right doctor. Long term does not mean getting adjusted more often. It takes a while for the body to become re adjusted and the right doctor will work with you to heal properly over time. I can recomend a real good one right here in Newport his name is Dr. Rick Stockmaster. Send him a email and ask him for advise tell him you were referred by Vaughn.

www.newportwellnesscenter.com
[email protected]

 

My lower back pain did not originate from a crash, but it nagged me for months. Finally went to see an acupuncturist, but the session brought only a temporary relief.

Happened to drive by a chiropractor's office the day after a particularly painful ride. It was my first time ever seeing one. He offered a free consultation. He put me on a scale with two digital displays, one for each foot. My right side's reading showed 15 pounds more than the other! My pain was on the left side of the lower back.

He signed me up for 6 sessions for $250. I am 4 sessions into it, and my back pain is about 90% gone.

This is not to diss acupuncture because as one of the posters said, it is probably good if the problem is muscular. Mine was structural, needing forced adjustments.

I've always thought "cervical" pertains to the female cervix only. Wikipedia tells me that it can pertain to the neck too. LOL. You learn something new every day.

 

The idea that no matter what is wrong with your back will always require X-amount of treatment over X-amount of time is just false...and pre-paid plans of any kind beyond a reasonable trial period (4-8 visits over 2-3 weeks) is shady to say the least.

The idea that any method of treatment (chiro, acu, PT) will work well best for any condition is also totally false. Certain conditions (and people) respond better to certain types of treatment.

All I'm saying, is don't buy huge, expensive, protracted treatment packages up front from anybody. Let results speak for themselves and use some common sense.

Ask your friends who they would recommend and why and go in educated...and be skeptical of sales pitches that force you to rely on passive treatments for long periods of time.

Treatment should progress from passive to active to independent as time goes on.

That's all....

 

I posted above a success story with a chiropractor, but now it isn't true any more. I felt much better after 3 treatments, but 3 more treatments and 3 weeks later, the pain is back. The chiropractor's name is no longer in my post.

 

I got my MRI the other week....not pretty but not a disaster

two bulged discs T2-T3
two herniated extrusions T5-L1
multiple Tarlov's cysts on the cord at S2 level.
bone spurs on two vertebrae(I already knew that was there from a childhood injury)

Funny thing is that where the disc issues are, is nowhere near where I am feeling this nerve pain.

After a few weeks of doing 3x/week at my chiro and doing afferrential ultrasound and electric muscle stim, no pain relief but he is continuing to keep my wrecked out spine in alignment which is very helpful.

that was until I started my own therapy. I have since found about 75% relief through my own routine of long stretching, light calisthenics, and stabilization movements. Of course I have tailored this for what I believe is my particular issue. I don't believe it is sciatica, but instead spasms of the lliopsoas muscle on my left side.

Although it's much more bearable now, I still can't ride w/out loading up on the anti-inflammatory because the position puts that muscle in a short stance.

this sux!