Severe chronic Backache just when sitting

[rastabrix]

Hi there, I have an unusual back condition now for 11 months which I would like some advice on please.

The symptoms are severe lower back ache (deep, searing, nagging, restless causing but never excrutiating) mainly on the left side just above my bottom and sometimes left flank, which only happens when I sit down and worsens the longer I sit. When I stand up and walk around it's fine again and when I lie down I am out of pain so I can sleep ok, thankfully! The pain is better in the morning and worsens as the day goes on.

I am a fit 48 year old and weigh under 12 stone. I stretch daily, I walk, swim twice a week and use a stationary bike twice a week.

Treatments so far include: Chiropractor, Oesteopathy, Physio, Acupuncture and 2 x Cortisone steroId injections.Nothing to date has helped at all. The ache feels like it was on day one with no improvement whatsoever but also no worsening of it either. It is exactly as it started in January this year! Weird eh!

As for what might have caused it, I can only think that around that time I sat at work (office job) in a bad position for some time then got up too quickly and felt a strain in my lower back, however this discomfort wore off after a day or 2 and I thought no more about it.

My questions:

What is wrong with me for a start!

I paid to have an MRI scan which, according to my doctor, showed that my back is fairly typical of a guy of my age, showing some disc decompression/dehydration and a small annular tear but nothing unusual and all to be expected.

Will it ever heal on it's own?

If it's the annular tear causing the ache? then it appears the advice is to allow a couple of years then the body should heal itself, however I can't see how if there is no improvement at all in 11 months, why should it improve and heal suddenly within the next year? Shouldn't it be incrementally a little better by now or will it suddenly just heal? (wishful thinking eh...!)

Is there anyone out there that has gone through anything similar to this and come out the other side?

Help!! Thank you.

PJ

[suzie44na]

Hi, I would ask for another MRI scan if it has not healed. My MRI scan showed Tarlov cysts, which are agony. You can get these cysts from injuries, the pains from these cysts ease on lying down a little. Doctors do not know much about these cysts and usually dismiss them, but they can cause major problems, especially if they rupture and leak spinal fluid. I would make sure you have not developed these cysts after injury, just a thought.

All the best

Suzie

[rastabrix in reply to suzie44na]

Thanks so much for replying suzie44na - these cysts are new to me so I will look into this, also perhaps a new mri scan is probably due as it has been about 8 months since the last one and things can change inbetween. Thanks again.

[roger2202 in reply to rastabrix]

I think i also have similar symptoms.

I have pudendal nerve entrapment.

Its not excruciating pain but mild pain when i sit on office chair or inside a car.

Pain subsides when i stand up or lie down. Walking is best for me. Even sitting on a toilet seat, i have no issue.

If sitting on toilet seat, you have no issue then i also think you are suffering from same.