Normal MRI still having pain

[Slappiduck]

Hi

I have had lower back pain for years. Managed very successfully with exercise. My second pregnancy I had PGP and could barely walk after 14 weeks, I used to walk 50miles + a week.

Got referred for physio as was in a lot of discomfort and the exercises really helped the pain. I’ve been left with an overwhelming stiffness that eventually turns into pain and affects everything I do. I work full time and have 2 kids, am not overweight and exercise 2-3 times per weeks. Yet still notice stiffness when moving, rolling over in bed, walking etc etc.

Saw a rheumatologist who has told me that the MRI is negative for AS as were all my bloods, but I am very stiff. My basic understanding of what he has said is that there was some trauma ( probable preg related) and for some reason the nerves that made me feel pain to protect the area have remained turned on after the injury has healed. He has offered to refer me to the pain clinic which I don’t really want at this time. So am to continue with what I am doing.

Just wondering about other people’s experiences in this situation.

Thanks

[Sazntef]

Give the pain clinic a go, they help you with approaches to manage pain as well as how best to cope with you daily life around it. It's not just drug treatment there, they can be of help. If they suggest medication there is no requirement for you to take it, all your decision.

They may also suggest things like a TENS machine, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, massage, pilates and Alexander technique.

[Slappiduck in reply to Sazntef]

Thanks for the reply. I am actually looking in to Alexander technique and acupuncture myself, finances Permitting.

[johnsmith]

You say: "My basic understanding of what he has said is that there was some trauma ( probable preg related) and for some reason the nerves that made me feel pain to protect the area have remained turned on after the injury has healed."

This is very standard B**s*t produced by rheumatologist.

You say: "I’ve been left with an overwhelming stiffness that eventually turns into pain and affects everything I do."

Are you getting enough sleep? Lack of sleep will cause the issues you have. You also may have over contracted muscles in a number of places. You will need someone like a massage therapist to lengthen out these muscles.

I do not know what PGP is. So I cannot say any more at this point.

[Slappiduck in reply to johnsmith]

PGP is pelvic girdle pain, commonly

Occurring during pregnancy as the hormones cause ligaments etc to relax too much.

Sleep deprivation, it is variable as I have 2 young children. I am shocked that rheum have bullshit ( all drs do). Is that because they don’t know what the problem is?

[johnsmith in reply to Slappiduck]

Thanks for the reply. I have looked it up on google.

You say: "I am shocked that rheum have bullshit ( all drs do). Is that because they don’t know what the problem is?"

The issue of "the nerves turned on" is something that the pharmaceutical companies use in their literature for pain medication. Doctors have been taught it and have absorbed it and repeat it as a manta without putting much thought into the situation.

The problem is a diagnosis based on your symptoms as you have described to the rheumatologist as well as the circumstances that the pain developed ie pregnancy. The causes for the problem is multifaceted.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelvi...

says

"

Pregnancy related Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) can be either specific (trauma or injury to pelvic joints or genetical i.e. connective tissue disease) and non-specific. PGP disorder is complex and multi-factorial and likely to be also represented by a series of sub-groups driven by pain varying from peripheral or central nervous system,[9] altered laxity/stiffness of muscles,[10] laxity to injury of tendinous/ligamentous structures[11] to ‘mal-adaptive’ body mechanics.[12]

"

Wikipedia says a bit more. It will take time regarding tightening of ligaments to support the full forces like they did before pregnancy. This issue is a matter of time. Their are other issues which need investigation.

1) Did you handle increased weight by learning back? This will cause muscle pain problems. Or did you handle increased weight by altering you point of movement.

2) Did you handle increased weight by curving your back? This will cause muscle pain problems.

3) Your breasts would have changed in size and shape to accommodate the providing of milk to an infant. This will modify body movement and adaptation. This modification can be a well balanced one or a maladaptive one which causes pain.

Find a female Alexander teacher. A male Alexander Teacher would have problems with aligning your body to an upright position in movement and standing because of where they need to put their hands.

An Alexander Teacher would be unable to stretch out contracted muscles it is not in their training. A McTimony chiropractor would be able to do this. It is worth noting that every part of the human muscle and ligament system affects every other part. This has been established by scientific method. The first international conference on fascia was in 2007 at Harvard Medical school in 2007. Your rheumatologist is unlikely to know much about it. The complementary medical people have been working with fascia for years without being able to scientifically explain what they have been working with to provide pain reduction and relief. At the same time the medical profession dismissing them as quacks.

Hope I have been able to be helpful.

[Slappiduck in reply to johnsmith]

You have been really helpful thank you. I have no idea how I handled the extra weight frankly. I am sure not well! I think I may have curved everything.

I’ve made a couple of enquiries regarding Alexander technique so thanks for the suggestions.