Lowe back pain only whilst standing

[Darkin]

About 2 years ago found I could not stand for more than 10 minutes without severe pain and I feel loss of left leg signal. Immediate and complete relief on sitting down . X-ray and MRI scan revealed nothing. So I am more or less housebound. Offered both pain killers and Physio but declined both ,one the pain is much too acute, and Physio could prove catastrophic.

[Jjflash]

Hiya darkin,you're suffering.im pretty similar.my back went on me almost 8years agoad2 back scans,proved negative.im in pain from my back into my legs,loss of balance,plenty of falls.I just think that there are so many injuries out there that are undetectable for all medics.my GP thinks I'm making it up and I have very little confidence in them tooYou could try lying on a heat mat,tens machine,pain gone pen,yoga,general exercise so your body doesn't stiffen up totally.im thinking about the tens machine,I've got or tried the others.Also,the more I walk,the less pain I feel.you could also get some painkillers but only take them when you need them.good luck darkin.

[Darkin in reply to Jjflash]

It is impossible for me to stand for more than about 10 minutes due to the intense pain on top on that my left will gives way. I simply cannot afford to fall due to other conditions/ age etc. To my mind the only way this may possibly be seen is if I could find a upright MRI scanner , if such a thing exists. Laying or sitting down I have no pain whatsoever so I cannot see how the specialists could identify the problem anyway. I have a course of codeine to counteract another ailment I developed recently, PMR, no change whatsoever to either pain , might as well have had smarties ! I suppose my age does against me ever being able to fix the problem as I'm 69......

[Hidden in reply to Darkin]

Upright MRIs are available but not on the NHS, the cheapest I've found is £495. I am the same as you. In agony when I'm upright but fine lying down. Each time I have the discussion about having an upright MRI I'm told it wouldn't make a difference. These companies that do upright MRIs accept self referrals so you can self refer if you wish.

[Darkin in reply to Hidden]

After the scan proved negative the consultant told me they would have seen some evidence of a stenosis etc even although i suffered no pain whilst lying. Therefore I don't think she believed me. As an ex engineer im surprised the technology to detect pain signals emanating from a site seems not to exist. Primitive !

[Suffragette]

I suffered with the same symptoms as you for a long time eventually I had a couple of MRI'S AND several injections into my spine they had no effect, I moved to Wales in the meantime and was recommend to a spinal surgeon again

injections into spine he had to know exactly where the problem was coming from this time they worked for several

weeks no pain, then I had an operation on a badly crushed nerve in my lumbar area T.L.I.F the op is extreme so if

offered really research all the consequences good and bad. Hope this helps.

[Darkin in reply to Suffragette]

Was your surgery successful ?

[Suffragette in reply to Darkin]

The surgery was a success on one hand as having a very badly crushed nerve I would have eventually lost my left leg the surgeon told me and its taken almost 2 yrs for the nerve to recover.

On the other hand I get lots of pain in my hips and thighs now which I think is probably arthritis setting in, I so miss going for long walks now.

[Darkin in reply to Suffragette]

Im sorry for you. I also walked regularly but am virtually housebound now as regards walking . At least i can drive . All my problems stemmed from severe diabetes i did not know i had, resulting in major surgery to save my leg. My heel was removed along with the tendon and a toe, took months to heal. The powerful antibiotics given to counter 3 MRSA type infections acquired after 2 months hospitalisation and to assist the healing of my wound , severely damaged my Kidneys . After being supplied with orthopaedic footware I attempted to walk but found my back was shot. However i am greatful im completely pain free whilst sitting, although i recently developed PMR and take steriods providing a miraculous 'cure'. Good luck to you and thanks for the reply.

[Emma2017]

That sounds horrible. Have had 4 ops on lower back. Luckily my condition was visible on a normal MRI. But l heard of a guy who like you had the most awful pain when standing but nothing showed on various MRI’s he had. He was in so much pain though when upright that he went and paid for an upright MRI which showed a large herniation at L4L5 so he went with that disc to the surgeon. A week later he had an op and has been fine since. There are 4 upright scanner in the UK last time I checked, 1 in Leeds, 1 in London and 2 more. If you can find the money it might be well worth it. Good Luck.

[Darkin in reply to Emma2017]

Thank you , my GP was not aware of this , or perhaps unwilling to recommend private treatment. So few machines , quite puzzling . Hard to believe the NHS has not invested in them. Given the long time an MRI scan takes I wonder how long the chap suffered the pain whilst standing. I doubt I could suffer more than about 8 minutes. Perhaps he was given an epidural.

[Emma2017]

I cannot comment on how this chap fared in them, I believe you can either stand or sit in them. But for the sake of moving forward it’s worth a shot. Once there you can discuss on how long you can stand up etc. Your GP should be aware of them and am sure he is. Anyway you can book them without your GP’s referral I believe. Just look it up on the internet. These scanners are hugely expensive and of course with the underfunding of the NHS by this government for the past 10 years they won’t have the resources to invest in one. Anyway political issues to one side have a look, if you can’t find them let me know.

[Darkin in reply to Emma2017]

The nearest to me is Leeds. I could well afford the cost. Since my health broke down 3 years ago the NHS had spent a fortune on me. I cannot complain. The solution to my type of problem lies in physics and technology not clinicians, why in this day and age pain signals cannot be mapped beats this ex engineer. This would at least remove all doubt that pain is real or imaginary.

[Emma2017 in reply to Darkin]

You must be close to me then as Leeds is near me. The one is Leeds is a state of the art one. Just put all your doubts to one side about technology and book a scan in the upright scanner, they give you a disc of all the images after so you can look at them yourself and take it to a surgeon if appropriate.

[Babygirl4497]

I have the same issue and was just recently diagnosed with Arteriosclerosis and peripheral artery disease supposedly that's what is causing the pain in my back and legs, the burning in my legs is intense and I have no choice but to sit and rest.. It sucks but I wish u the best

[Neckback]

Hi Darkin - Have you got anywhere with your back pain? I too am an ex-engineer, who has diagnosed neck/back problems with similar symptoms.

[Darkin in reply to Neckback]

I' m afraid I never pursued this as I am in no pain provided I am not upright for more then about 7 minutes. This allows me to drive to my local LIDL store daily and with the aid of a shopping trolley can do a few minutes worth of shopping. The only other times I leave home is to attend hospital outpatients. I am seventy now and have accepted I will never walk more than a few yards ever again. I do like a few cans of beer which makes my day !

[Neckback]

It sounds as though you have accepted your limitations, I’m back in the same situation after being involved in a RTA 6 months after surgery and I have also accepted my limitations eventually... Yes, I enjoy a dubonnet too!

[Darkin in reply to Neckback]

Thanks. After my original MRI scan at Arrow Park hospital a couple of years ago the 'consultant' offered physio. only . I was not best pleased and declined. Too risky. Seems like the default response when they haven't got a clue ! I have a good neighbour who is the hospital based occupational therapist and she advised me to stay well clear of the Physio dept. Can you believe it !

What happened with the RTA ?