Got back pain ? Read this.

[ursa major]

Several years ago I developed a chronic pain in my lower back and left leg. Not taking it lightly, I went to see my doctor who then sent me in for x-rays. They found nothing wrong with my disks, spine, sacroiliac, etc, etc.

The pain persisted and I went to see my doctor again and was forwarded to specialists, Orthopedics this time who again, found nothing wrong and declared I had "sciatica and should stretch often". So I did but the pain persisted. I tried chiropractors who helped somewhat and massage therapists (RMT) as well. These had the effect of 'band-aids'. My lower back pain has steadily increased since 1995.

Late December of last year I woke up one morning to find myself incapable of any movement without severe pain down my leg and in my lower back -- I am talking the kind of pain that is so bad that you start shaking from it and cannot breathe. Two days later, when I could finally stand up, I went to a DC (chiropractor) as I knew my doctor would only prescribe pain killers.

The DC suggested we take x-rays this time with me standing up (previously all x-rays were taken with me lying down) and sure enough I could see with my own untrained eyes on the x-ray sheet, my 4th lumbar had collapsed forward and I had in fact broken a facet (holds the lumbar to the spine). The pain was from the nerves getting sandwiched between the falling 4th lumbar and the 3rd lumbar. The DC told me that due to the scarring he could tell this (break) had obviously happened several years ago and that the pain I was experiencing during the last 10 years was almost certainly from my 4th lumbar as it re-fractured at the facet (left side) again... and again... and again.... and again... and again... and again.... he called it "traumatic spondylolisthesis". I'll say.

Right about then I had to ask why the specialists had not caught this before (I had been to several) ? My DC says that they typically don't take load bearing x-rays (with you standing up putting your weight on the spine) whereas DC's do. I had to admit all my previous x-rays were taken with me lying down on my back -- their idea not mine. Go figure -- ten years of pain and after several highly educated 'specialists' a lowly DC with an x-ray machine finds my problem in 10 minutes. I have to ask myself how can this happen to someone ?

SO I took myself with the x-ray in hand and went to see my doctor and after placing the picture very carefully under his nose so it was plain for him to see asked how it is that with this $20 x-ray I could see what the $250,000 a year surgeon missed ? He just shook his head.

Since then I have gotten alot of info on this condition mostly from the web believe it or not -- the medical system here in Canada is pretty poor you really are on your own. Having diagnosed what my problem is I went back to see the Orthopedic specialist (again with x-ray in hand) who then prescibed appropriate action on my behalf. Does anyone see the irony here ?

To sum, I cannot train for atleast several months or more. I have been given a number of daily excercises designed to strengthen the area surrounding my 4th lumber region (stomache and back muscles for the most part). I am pretty much shutout of any martial arts training -- I cannot do any forms or forms related excercise until the facets have re-attached and grown sufficiently strong enough to take the strain of training.

If I/we had caught the fractured facet when it first occurred so many years ago it would have been dealt with appropriately (it is a common injury) and I would probably be ok today. As it is the scarring along the facet fracture line is now so predominant that even after it has re-grafted itself I will probably need an operation to grind down the areas impinging on the spinal core (this is called "de-laminating") which is causing my continuous lower back pain and leg pain.

Live and learn.

regards,
UM.

[Watchman]

UM:

Thanks for posting your story. Good luck with your recovery.

[No_Know]

It was informative and helpful.

May I go about helping your pain be less there?

[David Jamieson]

And that's why chiropractic is loathed by mainstream western medical pracs.

Because they keep doing things that make sense!

Hope you get well, back injuries are hell. Having been through it. I still see a shiatsu practitioner and occaisionally an acupuncturist to deal with a back injury I sustained in the late 80's.

regular doctors just kept giving me codiene and relaxants, which in turn often lead to more damage because you can't feel the pain.

cheers

[Laughing Cow]

Thanks, for sharing that.

I also suffered from "chronic" back pains, starting TJQ a few years back got me off the medication and I am now nearly completely pain free.

Same with my Knee problems.

All the best.

[M_ArtsMargie]

regarding chiropractic.

We we had went to a Las Vegas tournament, I had thrown my hip out (dancing and such). I woke up one morning and I had a numbness and soreness througout my body. It got to the point where I couldn't even walk or get out of bed, or feel my body. My mother, who has been seeing a chiropractor for 1 year now, says that I may have had a pinched nerve. Instead of going to the doctor, she recommend that I see a chiropractor. After 3 visits, I was able to start feeling my legs and such. He said that I would need 4 months of therapy and that my hip was out. I also had a pinched nerve, and my neck was starting to curve in the opposite direction. So I am now on my wellness care program. I have never been more satisfied. I can eat better, sleep better, sit better, and jog better. Even working out feels better. My migrains and headaches are of no more. believe it or not!

Alot of people think that chiropractors are a joke. I think they are good for the correcting, but it is up to you to keep in shape so that you may never return.

In your case ursa major...you got ripped off. I would sew If I were you. If you were complaing about your back, and the doctor had taken x-rays and says there is nothing wrong. There is. Pain is a way of telling us that something is not right with our bodies. Sue!!!!!!!!

For future reference, you may want to just check into chiropractic care. I know that it can be a bit skeptical...but make sure they take x-rays first. That is how you know if they are truly serious about your pain.

[anerlich]

I spent a good deal of my twenties suffering from a spndyliolisthesis with L5 slipped anteriorly over S1. It started with a fall when someone pushed me off a platform at an ocean pool at a school swimming carnival and I landed awkwardly.

Doctors were completely useless - no exercise for six weeks, take pain killers. I took up KF when I was 22.

Chiropractors were better, but I still had to undergo almost a decade of trying various practitioners to get satisfactory results. Some made important and permanent improvements to the structure of my spine but these were isolated events between long periods of frustration. One guy would help me, but run out of ideas, I'd find someone else who'd successfully try another tack but then he'd get stuck too. There are lots of chirpractors, a lot less good ones.

I tried acupuncture for pain relief too, I found it useless, but that doesn't mean you will.

I got to the point with chiropractic where I'd got most of my flexibility back but couldn't train hard without getting back pain. When it was really bad, I'd need a stick for several days. Chiropractic treatment would reduce the symptoms, but I'd got beyond the point where adjustments alone were useful.

I decided to see a physiotherapist instead. Whereas everyone else had told me to do careful stretching and not ot overdo anything, he had me doing exercise after exercise. After 3 months of this, I was pretty much cured - these days (I'm 48) I do six mile runs on rough terrain, kick head high, spar semi and full contact and roll BJJ with much younger and heavier guys. I'm planning on competing this year.

My back pain is a thing of the past. I'm not saying this will work for everyone, but it sure as hell worked for me.

My advice? Seek 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th opinions. Don't be afraid to try different modalities of treatment. And NEVER, NEVER, NEVER put off seeing a practitioner who might be able to help you - life is way too short. And NEVER give up.

[TaoBoy]

The problem is generally with the practitioners and not the practice. Western medicine has a lot to offer but the practitioners are in too great a hurry to prescribe drugs when they should be fixing the problem (or I should say the cause).

I love my chiro and my tcm doctor. Both chiro and tcm therapies (inc. acupuncture) have helped me greatly.


Thanks for your post UM - and good luck.

[Cheese Dog]

Best of luck on your recovery, Great Bear!

[joedoe]

Originally posted by TaoBoy
The problem is generally with the practitioners and not the practice. Western medicine has a lot to offer but the practitioners are in too great a hurry to prescribe drugs when they should be fixing the problem (or I should say the cause).

I love my chiro and my tcm doctor. Both chiro and tcm therapies (inc. acupuncture) have helped me greatly.


Thanks for your post UM - and good luck.

This is an interesting point that I have been pondering lately. I am 30 and suffer from gout, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and fat infiltration of the liver. Lately I have been thinking about all my medications and I came to the conclusion that while they do much to relieve me of the symptons, they do not offer a cure.

Most doctors nowadays seem to take down your symptons, listen sympathetically, then send you off with a prescription. There is little or no effort made to actually cure the problem itself, rather simply to treat the symptoms.

Am I the only one who has a problem with this approach?

[Former castleva]

Thanks for your story.
I have had/have back issues myself so I can relate.

As to offer some insight,I´ll reply to joedoe.

"Most doctors nowadays seem to take down your symptons, listen sympathetically, then send you off with a prescription. There is little or no effort made to actually cure the problem itself, rather simply to treat the symptoms."
Unfortunately it can be like that way I´d think.I like to point out that it can be "alternative medicine/healing" peeps who like to point this out about general practice (school medicine) to support theirs maybe (not to deny that there would be some truth to it)
The problem is that of putting symptoms aside,which are actually a sign of the body trying to heal itself.
I think that most certainly,a good doc´s goal is to get rid of the disease (there still is not the "whole scene" approach of tcm but if there´s a disease to stomp on,then jump)
I think these both have great value,and I think it would be cool if there would be more alternative methods around here (as there are actually in a way,improving I assume) as there is so much western medicine in China.
In various cases,tcm may be a very good idea and even better,while if we would not have western medicine,we would be doomed.
Rambling a bit here.

[dezhen2001]

I am 30 and suffer from gout, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and fat infiltration of the liver.

joedoe: dont u mean gut? :D but seriously im sorry to hear that man :( hope u can get at least some help with it.

dawood