I have had the results of my spine x-ray that confirm I have no fractures or indeed have ever fractured my spine. My bloods are all ok too, confirmed by the pain management consultant, as I do not see the rheumatologist until September. This is positive news, however, it does not help with the original reason for seeing the doctors about my back problems and poor mobility. I cannot stand for more than 10 or 20 minutes nor can I walk any distance, and have given up on my pilates and yoga due to back pain. Firstly they tried to say it was my MS but the MS consultant finally agreed that my problem was mechanical in nature and has signed me off as my MS is stable and he cannot do anything for me. The pain management consultant just wants to keep trying different anti-inflammatories or more injections. They didn't work the first time and I don't believe they are of any long term use. What did work for me was IDD therapy paid for privately (this is the modern form of traction). I was able to walk nearly a mile while I was undergoing this, yet all the professionals seem to want to do is give me drugs. If I can walk, then I can exercise and help my bones. I believe I need an operation, yet I just keep being fobbed off.
No fractures but back pain still an i... - Bone Health and O...
No fractures but back pain still an issue
So sorry to hear this. Have you ever been given proper physiotherapy exercises? Yoga and pilates may be fine for maintaining a level of fitness, but it sounds to me like you need something which specifically targets weak areas.
Thank you HeronNS. I have previously been given exercises some years ago that were the same as I have done in yoga and pilates classes. I keep trying to do things but if I'm not careful my legs go numb.
Oh dear, not good. My physio exercises, designed to strengthen the muscles supporting my spine, are completely different from anything I've done in yoga. They are boring and repetitive but I've gamely plugged away at them nearly every morning and evening probably for about twenty years!
Please will you share these exercises Heron? Thanks
They were specifically prescribed for me so I really can't advise anyone else to follow them. But I'm sure there would be useful exercises on the internet. Thing is, a physiotherapist can evaluate a person and discover which muscles need strengthening, and that could be very different depending on the individual.
Look up exercises for strengthening the core.
So sorry to hear they can't work out what's causing your pain. Have you had an MRI scan? X-rays only show up bone damage (and apparently don't always show up compression fractures), it needs an MRI to show soft tissue problems, including prolapsed discs. If you haven't had an MRI, I would go back and press really hard for one.
Hi Met00, I have had MRIs and they do show wear and tear, bulging/herniated discs in my lumber spine, but successive doctors have firstly fobbed me off with my MS and then they started on my osteoporosis as a factor. Now that I have had the x-rays to show no fractures the consultant talked yet again about injections and anti-inflammatories - none of which have worked. I think I must be unlucky in the NHS area that I live in. If nothing happens in the next week, I'm going to change doctors practice.
I went through much the same a couple of months ago. Used a walking stick when I could walk. A 'switched' on doctor sent me to a clinical masseuse . I walked out of first time. She explained that due to my constant hip pain my muscles need stretching. I have to go a few times and massage certain muscles daily. Works for me so far. Just a thought. Hope you get a bit better.Cheers
Collywobbles, has your lumbar spine been thoroughly investigated? After years of difficulty walking I'm currently undergoing a variety of test. I've known about spinal compression in this area for decades, and of course it's worsen over the years. I saw a physiotherapist this week and was told the problem may be coming from pressure on nerves in the area of L4, L5-S1 and given a few new exercises to do while investigations continue. I've yet to have a neurological examination of my legs and a full back MRI.
Hi nuigini, I have had MRI of my lumber spine which shows herniated discs but the consultant says it is not affecting my sciatic nerve, however, as I pointed out to them the MRI is shown in the horizontal position and it may well be that when standing the compression does affect my sciatic nerve. I am banging my head against a brick wall here as my doctor is always fobbing me off. I'm currently trying to get physio, but even though the pain consultant gave me a letter to give my doctor for a referral, a week later I get a call saying he wants to see me to discuss why he needs to do the referral and not the consultant. I feel like I am being passed from pillar to post with nothing being done.
How frustrating for you Collywobbles, no wonder you're thinking of chnging doctors! I slipped a disc over 20 years ago and have had varying degrees of back pain ever since, often extending into my bottom (when sitting) and sometimes down my legs. Yet, like you, I was told it wasn't due to the sciatic nerve, although could still be another nerve affected. I'm sure at times it is the sciatic nerve! Have you been shown how to lift safely and movements to avoid? I had physio at the time, which made no difference in itself, but being shown safe moving and lifting was really helpful, including being told to tense my tummy muscles before lifting anything. The other thing I found made a big difference was being given prescription strength co-codamol. I found if I took it at bedtime, I'd get a good night's sleep, which obviously helped my muscles to relax and meant the pain reduced overall. The other thing that gradually improved things for me was regular walking, but I guess with your MS that might not be possible for you?
It's not the MS that's affecting my walking. I started with low back pain over 10 years ago and I was easily able to walk 10+ miles over uneven terrain with my border collies. As the back pain got worse, my ability to walk distance has decreased and I can now slowly walk for a about 10/20 minutes before I need to sit down. I think what triggered this, was caving in NZ 12 years ago when I was underground in a wetsuit and gloshers wading through underground waters. I had to position myself over a hole in the cave floor by straddling my legs in a crouch and then bring them in to drop through into the water below with the added bonus that this was all in the dark. One of my greatest fears, and had I known about this would not have done the activity (possibly one to blame the ex-husband for as it was his idea). Anyway, I failed to drop through as I didn't bring my legs in sufficiently and was wedged with one leg and hip higher than the other. I did have to eventually drop through as there was no way back and then continue underground for another couple of hours. From that time I started to have problems with walking in that I seemed to veer to the right. Months later a friend commented that I had a limp although I was not aware and I know that my hips are out of alignment with one being higher than the other, making it appear that I have one leg shorter than the other. I have done chiropractors, osteopaths, massages, alexander technique but things have only got progressively worse.
Sorry, I wrongly assumed that your MS might limit your mobility, though I didn't think it would be that causing your back pain. How desperately frustrating for you that nobody has been able to diagnose and treat what sounds so very much like pain resulting from an actual injury. Have you tried seeing a podiatrist? I just wonder whether they could give you a shoe insert to make your shorter leg the same length as your longer one? I understand it isn't actually shorter, but if your hip is misaligned, it's possible that levelling out your walking might help with your back pain. (It was something that was tried for me for a similar problem, unfortunately didn't work, but I gather it can be very effective). The other thing that might help is pilates, as that helps build up core strength, which in turn gives support and protection to the spine.
OK, it sounds like you're caught between a rock and a hard place and not getting the support you need at all. Can you research physiotherapy service in your area and make a private appointment?
I was sorry to read about the very difficult time you are having. I had to end up trying private help as seem to be in an NHS area limited in resources (I waited 6 months to see an NHS physio who then didn’t feel confident enough to treat me, I was then referred to a senior spinal therapist who I saw 13 months after the problem started). I tried a private physio clinic, hydrotherapy and McTimohey chiropractic clinic. All very helpful, the therapy I have regularly continued to see has been the McTimohey practitioner. The first time I went my husband had to half carry me in, I was able to walk out with the aid of crutches. I now go for a ‘top up’ every 3-4 weeks. McTimohey practitioners ‘gently’ manipulate muscles. For me this has been the most helpful therapy, this combined with a spinal corset and pain relief patches has given me back a bearable level of life. It may be a worth talking to a McTimohey practitioners in your area? The physio I see on the NHS couldn’t believe the difference in me after a McTimohey session.
Hope you find something which suits you so you can get back to a more mobile life. Best Wishes
Posy White
Thank you Posy-White. I will look to see if there is a McTimohey practitioner in my area. I'm glad that you have found something that makes your life bearable. Like you I have tried so many different things and spent so much money over the past 10 years that I could have probably paid for an operation privately or bought a new car!
Best wishes
Kay
I see this post is quite old but just wondered if you found anything to help you?
I am much in the same boat and in the UK, I see a consultant from Oxford.
Hi cmoc, it turns out that my disc bulge is causing problems and I have grade 1 slippage of my vertebrae at s1/l5. I am on a waiting list for spinal fusion and disc removal. I have been given a provisional date for the operation next month. I did have to go privately for a consultation but the op will be on the nhs.
I have private messaged you.
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