bad back pain

[Boosted131]

I am trying to figure out what is causing my issue. It feels like there is a kink half way up my back in my spine. I have to stretch and crack my back tons of times a day. I've done massage, chiro many times. When I went to the doctor he couldn't see any issues...

If I am sitting this is when it is most painful, especially when hunched over. It feels like someone is constantly pushing down on the top of your head putting pressure on your spine. Going for walks and swimming is the best way to relieve the pain... anyone have someone like this or know any doctors in Calgary that would have a better idea? This has been years now with daily pain

[nzwasp]

Time to get an MRI?

I used to get bad back pain every 3 months or so that would feel like it would cripple me for about 3 days before the knots slowly worked themselves out but that process would only happen after a intensive massage and physio. I am very careful to not get stuck in using my back unwisely now though.

[Pacman]

Originally posted by Boosted131
When I went to the doctor he couldn't see any issues...


Can you elaborate on this?

Was it a primary care physician? From my experience (herniated disc at L4/L5 which resulted in a lumbar fusion surgery) the only way anyone can see anything is with an MRI. Once those results come back, your family doctor will come up with a treatment plan or refer you to a specialist.

If the pain is extreme enough that you don't want to wait for the public system, you can pay for a private MRI for around $800. You will still need the requisition from your primary care doctor.

[Boosted131]

Originally posted by Pacman


Can you elaborate on this?

Was it a primary care physician? From my experience (herniated disc at L4/L5 which resulted in a lumbar fusion surgery) the only way anyone can see anything is with an MRI. Once those results come back, your family doctor will come up with a treatment plan or refer you to a specialist.

If the pain is extreme enough that you don't want to wait for the public system, you can pay for a private MRI for around $800. You will still need the requisition from your primary care doctor. It was my family doctor, who then sent me to another place to get a scan done (I forget the name, I was standing up the whole time and they moved a couple machines around me? The doctor never called me back after all this so that means there was no issue he could see.


(I'm thinking it wasnt an MRI then? I got in half hour after my doctor appointment for this scan)

[ricosuave]

read here:

http://forums.beyond.ca/st/396210/lower-back-pain/

[A790]

Originally posted by Boosted131
It was my family doctor, who then sent me to another place to get a scan done (I forget the name, I was standing up the whole time and they moved a couple machines around me? The doctor never called me back after all this so that means there was no issue he could see.


(I'm thinking it wasnt an MRI then? I got in half hour after my doctor appointment for this scan)
That wasn't an MRI. That sounds like an Xray.

You need an MRI, broski.

When I herniated my lake (L5/S1) in 2010, it was constant pain. Xray showed nothing. Physio did nothing. Get an MRI?

Oh, what do you know: herniated back and a bunch of arthritis going on.

Several years of core conditioning, movement therapy, etc. and I'm back in the gym and moving weight again.

Don't fuck around with your back. Get an MRI, and ask for it soon, cause it's going to be months until you actually get one.

[Boosted131]

So for the MRI, whats the best way to get recommended for one? Family doctor?

[A790]

Originally posted by Boosted131
So for the MRI, whats the best way to get recommended for one? Family doctor?
Yea, start there.

"I have consistent back pain that is impacting my work. Physio/chiro is not helping. I am concerned I may have a herniation."

[nzwasp]

You will know if you have had an MRI, its a super loud machine and you have to lie inside it perfectly still for about half an hour. You are basically inside a tube of some huge round thing as it spins around for what seems ages.

In the public system the MRI machines are only at the hospitals as far as I know.

It took me 12 months to get my family doctor to send me for an MRI for my torn Meniscus ligament.

[Nav13]

I am going through something similar as I have thrown out my lower back about 5 times in the past 7 years. Everytime its happened they send me in for xrays and everything looks fine so they say I just over did it and that rest, stretching and massage will fix it. For the most part it does work and I do agree but they can never explain my sciatic pain.

Anyways I just threw it out a month ago and begged them for an MRI and they said only if something looks off with the XRays. Turned up normal again.

It has been 2 years since I last threw it out and during that time I had been focusing on strengthing my core. I am convinced that strengthening it will be the only solution but a damn MRI sure would be nice for peace of mind

[Pacman]

The reluctance to send people for MRI's is because it jams up the system.

There is also the private option. Cost is roughly $750 and the wait time is less than a week.

I paid for my last one as the public system was a 9 month wait.

[nzwasp]

You will know if you have had an MRI, its a super loud machine and you have to lie inside it perfectly still for about half an hour. You are basically inside a tube of some huge round thing as it spins around for what seems ages.

In the public system the MRI machines are only at the hospitals as far as I know.

It took me 12 months to get my family doctor to send me for an MRI for my torn Meniscus ligament.

[ercchry]

Soft tissue or herniation, it all sucks. For me the herniation wasn't bad enough for surgery so I have had to learn to live with it. T5, right between the shoulder blades. Such a tricky area to treat

Busting up scar tissue has been a big thing for me since I have a lot of repetitive sports injuries too.

For me I like those harder foam rollers, tennis or lacrosse balls taped together, those knot releasing balls (actually I find dog toys to work better) and a good dose of anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxer type "meds" before bed (I've gone the "natural" route on those though since you really don't want that shit in you long term, CBDs ftw)

In the other back pain thread I also mentioned a treatment I got done, if you're a candidate for it it's pretty awesome. I still have pain but now treatment actually feels like it's doing something unlike that helplessness I use to have

[tonytiger55]

Have you tried seeing a Physio? Not just any physio but finding one who has a speciality or works with athletes?

I used to (still have sometimes if I get lazy) have lower left back pain. It got bad pretty a couple of years back to the point I could hardly walk.
I saw chiropractors and physios over the last ten years and none of them could figure it out.

I saw a physiotherapist who also works with both the National Short Track and Long Track Speedskating teams. So I took a chance.
I got diagnosed right away with a fix on muscles groups I had to work on. In short I took up yoga and the pain is reduced massively and is almost gone.

[Boosted131]

Originally posted by A790

Yea, start there.

"I have consistent back pain that is impacting my work. Physio/chiro is not helping. I am concerned I may have a herniation." Thanks, I just made an appointment for next week (soonest available) and we will go from there.

[Boosted131]

Originally posted by tonytiger55
Have you tried seeing a Physio? Not just any physio but finding one who has a speciality or works with athletes?

I used to (still have sometimes if I get lazy) have lower left back pain. It got bad pretty a couple of years back to the point I could hardly walk.
I saw chiropractors and physios over the last ten years and none of them could figure it out.

I saw a physiotherapist who also works with both the National Short Track and Long Track Speedskating teams. So I took a chance.
I got diagnosed right away with a fix on muscles groups I had to work on. In short I took up yoga and the pain is reduced massively and is almost gone.
Never tried physio no, I go for walks daily which helped get rid of my upper and lower back pain , but I still have that kink which may be the herniation like people are saying

[ExtraSlow]

Physio is the ticket

[Boosted131]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
Physio is the ticket What if you're laid off with no benefits? Whats the best option? Physio seems fairly pricey

[A790]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
Physio is the ticket
Did nothing for me.

[ercchry]

Physio is useless, just youtube different stretches and use the items I mentioned for the "massaging" type of effect

[revelations]

You have mentioned much about your lifestyle:

- do you (did you) sit a lot at work?
- are you active after hours?
- have you considered hot yoga? (start with easier classes) since activity seems to be helping (walking)

[Boosted131]

Originally posted by revelations
You have mentioned much about your lifestyle:

- do you (did you) sit a lot at work?
- are you active after hours?
- have you considered hot yoga? (start with easier classes) since activity seems to be helping (walking)

I sit most of the day at the office, after hours I try and get outside as much as possible. Dirt bike , quading, walking, swimming, etc.

Never considered or tried hot yoga.

[Tej.S]

Does your company provide you with benefits? I know you asked what to do without benefits, but didn't specifically clarify if you have them or not. Personally, I feel like it all boils down to how much you value your own health.

[gwill]

im 50 treatments into physio now over the last 4-5 months. I am going as much as possible but not seeing the results. Ive got spasms in one area, crazy whiplash pains in another and my lower back would hurt more while sitting and not moving.

I got fed up with no improvements between accupuncture, massage and chiro that i was losing patience.

Someone said to try a traditional chineese accunpuncture instead of the ones at a physio place. After one visit the pain was noticeable better for my lower back. I could actually sit withouy it hurting. The stabbing pains and grinding of my bones got better..

Everything else still hurts like heck but ive at least seen improvement in one area. I would recommend adding accupuncture into the mix.

[ercchry]

This is what I got done, used the guy in Crawford bay (he also does Alberta tours now and then)... he is also damn good at back adjustments. The techniques feel similar to what I have had chiro and physio do... but they feel more dialled in

http://www.atlasprofilax.ch/eng/

[tonytiger55]

Originally posted by gwill
im 50 treatments into physio now over the last 4-5 months. I am going as much as possible but not seeing the results. Ive got spasms in one area, crazy whiplash pains in another and my lower back would hurt more while sitting and not moving.

I got fed up with no improvements between accupuncture, massage and chiro that i was losing patience.

Someone said to try a traditional chineese accunpuncture instead of the ones at a physio place. After one visit the pain was noticeable better for my lower back. I could actually sit withouy it hurting. The stabbing pains and grinding of my bones got better..

Everything else still hurts like heck but ive at least seen improvement in one area. I would recommend adding accupuncture into the mix.

Thats quite a lot of treatments. I'm assuming you were in a bad car accident? (whiplash etc)

I was rear ended three years ago in the winter. The teenage girl that hit me had worn out all season tires.
I had really bad neck and right shoulder pain. The insurance paid for ten massages and some physio. But I had the same problem, not much difference.
So I went back to what I knew. I signed up to Hot Yoga again. I did the one month intro that was $30. I went five days a week. Within a week the pain was down 95%.
The pain was still there. But I kept on going and after a few months the pain completely went away.
I asked my insurance company instead of the massages and physio that were costing $80-90, could they just give me $30 for the hot yoga. They declined.

As for the lower back pain. Its pretty much what Revalations posted. Hot yoga perhaps being an option (take the easy classes, or take a normal class and do 40%). Pilates or core exercises with stretching.

I had to do a lifestyle change. My physio identified the problem/muscles that were tight/not working. But the rest was up to me to strengthen the weak muscle groups that were forcing the other muscles groups to over work and put pressure on my nerves.

[gwill]

yeah it was a bad one.. i should maybe try hot yoga. At this point i wont be any worst off.

[mzdspd]

I would also suggest hot yoga or some sort of core exercising (nothing too intense though).

It is cheap and you can try it out for a month and see if it does anything, then push for an MRI if this is not helping.

[scboss]

Hey original poster by any chance have you tested to see if you have an imbalance in your shoulders? Easy way to test is to stand with your back against the wall with no arch in your back. Then all you have to do is run through a shoulder press motion trying to keep your hands/wrists against the wall. Could potentially be tight traps or early signs of thoracic output.

Almost all injuries occur from either 1 massive event (bad form, accident etc) or an imbalance effecting your posture. If you can try to find a physio guy that deal with athletes. I spent thousands trying to sort out my back issue last year. I tried massage, chiro, acupuncture, physio etc.

If your physio does not do a posture analysis and muscle testing on the affected area DAY 1 run away!!!! General rule of thumb is that if you are doing the homework you should be getting relief in pain gradually right from the start. Once I found the right physio to help me my pain started going away after 2 sessions of active release and being stretched out.

For most low back injuries it is a combination of tight quads, tight hip flexors, weak glutes, tight hamstrings and a weak transverse abdominis. Hope that helps!!

[Boosted131]

When I went to the doctor he showed me the results from the xray and I have a little bit of scolio, but that's still not whats causing the main pain. He set me up to get in line for the MRI and a spine specialist? (forget the name). For now I'll just keep walking everyday as that seems to give the most pain relief.

Things that get my back moving seem to be great as well. Swimming is the best. It's weird because I can sit in a chair and it hurts alot, but I go and ride my ATV yesterday and i feel perfectly fine. As long as I keep moving it doesn't seem to hurt at all, or near as much.

[sexualbanana]

Originally posted by Nav13
I am going through something similar as I have thrown out my lower back about 5 times in the past 7 years. Everytime its happened they send me in for xrays and everything looks fine so they say I just over did it and that rest, stretching and massage will fix it. For the most part it does work and I do agree but they can never explain my sciatic pain.

Anyways I just threw it out a month ago and begged them for an MRI and they said only if something looks off with the XRays. Turned up normal again.

It has been 2 years since I last threw it out and during that time I had been focusing on strengthing my core. I am convinced that strengthening it will be the only solution but a damn MRI sure would be nice for peace of mind

If you're feeling the pain in the lower-lower back (around say the tailbone), it might actually be a hip problem (like the psoas or iliopsoas). I strained my hip a few months back, and it was discovered that the crazy lower back pain I'd been feeling since was because the psoas connects from the front of your hip to same side of the lower back next to the spine. When that strains, it's basically pulling on your back from the front - like pulling the front of your t-shirt down.

Stretching and hip exercises were my prescription.

[Boosted131]

My tailbone and hips don't hurt at all. It's just right in the middle area.

[Pacman]

Originally posted by Boosted131
My tailbone and hips don't hurt at all. It's just right in the middle area.

the MRI should give a better understanding as to the current state of your back.

Once you have the MRI and if there are any issues, you will probably get referred to the CALEO spine clinic which is where a lot of the spine surgeons have their office.

[Boosted131]

Thinking its time to sell off some stuff and skip the line for this MRI... doesn't seem worth waiting any longer to me.

[reijo]

Compressed disk in my lower back from a weight lifting injury. Bought one of those tilting beds and it has worked great! Compressed? Well pull it apart I figured ... sort of common sense ... even a couple of minutes makes a difference say if I wake up at night ...back to sleep right away. Back has been pretty good lately tho' so haven't been on it in months.

Also MRI, down at Chinook Mall area CDC Canadian Diagnostic Center's got the latest in MRI machines ... much quicker, clearer etc.

http://www.canadadiagnostics.ca/

Dr. Jay Zelazo is a friend and another motorsport enthusiast and is a specialist there.

Reijo

[reijo]

This is the new MRI they installed just a few months ago:

http://mri.canadadiagnostics.ca/#home-private-mri-calgary

[Boosted131]

I got in for tomorrow at efw radiology.

[ickyflex]

You may want to dry Christopher Hankins @ Bridgeland Sport & Spine. He does active release therapy. If you are financially strapped I have had a few friends he'll discount his normal fee a bit. I was referred through a co-worker after going to physio for a year and seeing no results. Also had a few friends with back problems get referred to him from various doctors etc. Three sessions and I was all good to go on with normal life. I go once every 6 months or before a long vacation. Not saying it's going to work but sometimes you just gotta try every method available.

Best of luck, back pain sucks

[Dumbass17]

Fuck, what a way to start the holidays.
Bent over to tie my boots this am to go to work, felt my back tweak and couldn't move once I managed to slide to the floor.
Couldn't get myself to a car let alone roll onto my back so girlfriend called the ambulance and am currently awaiting emergency doctor to see me. Have a flight to Ottawa for Xmas at 630 and Mexico jan 11th. Last time I tweaked my back this bad I was on disability for 3 months. I am not a happy person today. /vent

[Boosted131]

Got a call back from the dr assistant . I have a mild disc protrusion, and also mild scolio . Have to wait til Monday to go in and see what the treatment options are.

[chathamf]

I started a huge thread on this about a year ago and went through the same thing. Actually I am still going through it. If you have benefits I do recommend physio. I wouldn't say my back got
Better since going to Physio but I learned a lot about how to take care of yourself and I continue to go because it feels good getting the treatment they give you. It really comes down to you though. They will teach you what to do and it is up to you to actually do it. With that being said you really don't have to go. Research and do a lot of stretching that includes your back and core. Strengthen the shit out of your core the best you can, and be mindful of what your doing and how you do it. I can't just do whatever I want anymore not thinking about my back. I still suffer back pain but not like I felt when I posted on here about my pain. I still need to stretch and do core work at home I haven't listened to my physiotherapist much. I find it hard to do as I work in camp and do 12 hour days but my New Years resolution is to start taking better care of myself.

Good luck with it man. It really sucks and it seems like it's going to be a life long battle for myself. Getting old sucks.