Your Back Pain Cause And Cure Guide

i am 26 years old and have had fibromyalgia since i was 14 (!! i know!)

i was initially diagnosed when i was 14, but was so young and naiive, i shrugged it off.

about a month ago, i thought i had double ear infections and my jaw was killing me. i was diagnosed with TMJ. i started wearing a night guard and the symptoms have subsided for the most part other than occasional clenching.

i suffer from almost daily migraine headaches, dibilitating trigger point pain, brain "fog", i have battled insomnia since i was a child, occasional depression, horrible "bathroom" issues, and most recently, constant back (spinal) pain. there is some history for you.

about 1.5 weeks after the whole TMJ issue, i started to have these awful knots in my back in the "common" fibro areas. i could feel them when i breathed and every masseuse cringed when they felt them. i got two massages within a week they were so bad. i got no relief.

then, one day about a week later, they subsided for the most part (thank god!)… but they were seeminly replaced with spinal pain! the pain shifts between my lower to mid to upper on a daily basis. my doctor has tried me on at least 12 medications since then, none work. my stomach does not tolerate medications well and i am either puking or no reaction to the meds. i get no relief from anything.

i have found that if i walk "too" long… like, an hour max… i start to cripple in pain. same if i sit too long.. yesterday i cleaned house for a long period of time (6 hours or so)… and once i was on the couch resting, i could not get up… it is the first time i couldnt get off the couch or from a resting position and i am scared..i have never had an injury nor any accidents. i sit at a desk 8 hours a day.

my question is this. my doctor has posed that i see a pain management specialist. i have had xrays that only showed spasms (this was when i had knots, not when the spinal pain started). i am scheduled for an mri to ensure there is no slipped disc or anything. the dr has brought up epidurals and spinal "blocks"…. i have never had either. the thought scares me like no other…

sorry so long, but i am so lost about all of this. i’d like to hear everyone’s thoughts about my symptoms and about the proposed treatment. i am open to everything. thank you so much.
fyi, they ARE referred to as trigger points. it seems they use both "trigger" and "tender" depending on what you read.

http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/guide/fibromyalgia-symptoms

car acciddent?

My wife was recently in a car accident. She was on her way back to work from her lunch break. she was stopped at an intersection waiting to turn left on a green arrow. She was turning left at a green arrow when a truck ran the red light going 30+ mph hit her almost head on. There were may witnesses but only 4 gave their statement to the police. She was taken by ambulance and was hospitalized for a whole day. The guy that hit her denied running the red light despite of having 4 witnesses. My wife is now complaining of head aches, specially sharp pain going down her arm to her hand. Lower back pain and neck pain. She cant sleep and has nightmares of the crash and now she is even afraid of driving. We have a 4 month old baby and she breastfeeds her. She cannot take no pain medicine because she breasfeeds. So she has to deal with the pain. We decided to go ahead and hire Larry H. Parker. I dont know if it was a good idea. Does anyone have an opinion on Larry H. Parker? Please help.

I have never heard of the guy. But there is alternatives to pain medications. Her insurance should cover a portion of medical costs, depending on her provider and insurance. Have her see a chiropractor. They are not bogus. I have been going to one for a few years, mainly when my neck goes outta whack. They are miracle workers and many do not believe in either pain meds or surgery. They get your life back on track.

Any ideas with what this is. (I’m only a teenager)

My daughter turns 2 weeks old today. I had a second-degree episiotomy because a vacuum-assisted delivery was necessary to avoid a c-section. It hurt like hell for a while, but now my perineum is tolerable pain-wise. The last few days, however, I have a horrible pain in my vagina whenever I stand. Not the opening…up in there. It makes it hard to walk even to the bathroom and back. I didn’t have any problem with this at all until the last four or five days or so. My clit is also really sensitive, and it started hurting around the same time.

Still, I’ve been on my feet more than people say I should…I hate being cooped up, so I’ve been going out a bit. Just to the store and out to eat or stuff like that. I thought maybe it had something to do with that? I don’t think it’s related to weight, because I’ve lost all but 10 lbs of what I gained during pregnancy (I’m 5′1" and currently at 105 lbs). I’m NOT dieting, I know it’s too soon for that, especially since I’m breastfeeding. I’m also not doing exercise beyond walking.

Did anyone else have this problem, or know what could be causing it? Is this normal?

Pain above/around my shoulder blade when sitting, what could it be from? And anything to help it?

I have a severe “stabbing” pain on the left side of my upper back (above and around the shoulder blade). It is at its worst when I am seated, almost unbearable at times. Any ideas as to what this could be from? Maybe posture?
Also, any suggestions for relief of pain?

heya – it is very likely that it’s to do with posture because if you slump around your back is crumpling up with your muscles or it maybe something to do with the way you are sleeping. I would consult your doctor to ask for some medication to ease the pain. In the meantime just alter your posture by walking around with a straight back and broaden your shoulders without looking silly. it worked for me. Also try some simply back and shoulder stretches. i hope this helps and don’t worry it doesn’t sound very serious -x-

I am having very bad lower back pain. I have had an MRI and have seen two different orthopedic surgeons. The MRI has come back completely clean as they say. Doesn’t show anything serious at all. I went to PT for 2 months and the only thing that helped during that time was when i got a short massage at the end of the session. I am now seeing a chiropractor who also says he can help. I am going to him three times a week. I feel good when I leave but just a little while later pain comes back. I sometimes wish I had a herniated disc because at least someone could tell me whats wrong. Can anyone offer advise? Has anyone else experienced this?

Over the last 5-6 years I’ve developed pain in several areas of my body; upper & lower back, neck, sit-bones, wrists, etc. To be more specific…
a. chronic pain between shoulder blades
b. frequent low back throbbing
c. constant pain at sit-bone area that spreads down back of thighs (this is the worst one, daily pain 2+ years)
d. cramping in both wrists, up to elbows sometimes
e. tendonitis on top of left foot

I’ve sought medical help for all, and only saw minimal relief upfront, but pain always returned and meds or treatments no longer worked. Here were the treatments for each…
a. initial treatment was 4 months of chiropractic (some relief, hard on pocket-book) – then 3 years worth of physical therapy (on and off roughly 2-3 months at a crack)
b. same as “a”
c. naproxen, something stronger than naproxen, 4 steroid injections by Ortho, 2 months physical therapy, iontophoresis (electro-therapy), x-ray guided steroid injections into ischial bursa, coidal epidural steroid injections, Facet joint block injection testing; which worked to prove I needed a Lumbar Radiofreqency Neurotomy (that didn’t work)
d. anti-inflamitory and wrist support
e. naproxen, worked for the first flare up, but never again.

In addition to the above treatments I’ve also been given the following pain meds: Tylenol-3 (gives me a 12 minute rush, but never touches the pain), Valium (no “woozy”, no relaxation, no pain killer), 3 other “azepam” muscle relaxers (all worked once or twice, but not again), Skelaxin (no relief). The only thing I’ve gotten from any treatment has been sore muscles from PT, sore injection sites, and one time frostbite from sitting on an ice pack too long out of desperation.

Notable facts: I am a “super” narcoleptic, according to my sleep doctor. Have the ability to fall asleep in less than 2 minutes and do directly into REM sleep – even after 8+ hours of quality sleep (per sleep study results). Take double dose of Provigil daily to stay awake, Ritalin is a backup just in case. Also, I suffer from TMJ disorder, which causes neck and jaw pain.

When I have a headache I take advil or tylenol and the pain goes away in like 20 minutes. When I have a cold I take alkaseltzer or other OTC’s and feel relief to make it through the day. It’s like only certain types of pain/discomfort are receptive to treatments.

The worst one is the pain in the butt – I know sounds funny right. It started a little more than 2 years ago. For the first couple months I experienced discomfort when sitting for more than 10 minutes; which i wrote off to gaining 10lbs and my body was mad at me for having to support it. The discomfort though caused more back pain as I seemed to compensate for it and soon became restless enough to stop whatever activity I was doing and go home. The docs original thought was hip bursitis, or ischial bursitis; which is common on both sides of the buttocks in people who sit on hard surface ( ie, bleachers at a football game, also called weavers’ bottom). Now I’ve been through 3 specialists + yoga + PT + massage + heat/ice, blah blah blah. I’m sick of it.

I swear my brain is telling my body to keep the pain despite what I put into it. Fyi, drinking and weed also don’t relieve it – trust me i’ve tried.

Anyone else experiencing this dilemma? Not necessarily the same issue, but same reaction to pain relieving measures being an absolute waist. I’m going broke here constantly in and out of ambulatory operating rooms.

Any guidance is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Always hurting

I was a passenger in a car accident( rear ended ) 6 weeks ago I cannot think past the pain?

I was diagnosed as myofacial pain, then by physio as wad 2 . I have medication called celebrex 200 mg. I am in constant pain and am very frustrated. I went to the doctor due to extreme pain. i almost received “no work” Paperwork and had to convince doc that I do feel batter to move than to sit. I have pain in my neck, arms, numb fingers, low back , hips and really sore legs. I tried to solve the problem on my own by doubling the dosage of my medication. It did not help at all. Is there something that I can take that may be better? I tried to get x rays to see what may be worse wrong did not work. Neither did asking for a chiro since they have to x ray before … Insurance pays physio lump sum to get me back in shape, I have to wait until they use that money up before I can proceed to any other treatment, I think thats dumb.

You sound like you have a compression injury in your cervical spine. The symptoms you describe of numb fingers and pain in your neck and arms are indicative of cervical radiculopathy.

It also sounds like you received an injury to your hip and lower back. You need a lot more than celebrex which is nothing more than an anti-inflammatory, you need an MRI of your back, screw the x-rays.

If physical therapy isn’t working, and it certainly sounds like it isn’t, you need an evaluation by a neurologist, a neurosurgeon or an orthopaedic surgeon.

If you were in a car accident, and it wasn’t your fault, I hope you have filed a law suit. Your medical insurance from your auto policy should cover these needed tests. Don’t let these people screw you around. Get some legal advice fast so you can get the help you need. Good luck.

I have had atleast two herniated discs in my lumbar region for the past year I have tried physical therapy and many other treatments in this time and none of them have been succesfull, I was wondering what are my chances of returning to normal activity with this problem.

I say atleast two because I only have MRI proof of those two but I have been having pains in my back inbetween my shoulders and in my stomach/ribs area. The pain is very intense and sometimes feels like I have been punched in the stomach.