Chronic Thoracic Back Pain And Spasticity Posted: 10-25-07 11:56am
I have been dealing with chronic back pain
and spasticity for years. My problems
started with extreme tightness in the
hips/legs with radiating achiness in the
low back. After a change in lifestyle a
few years back which involved healthy
eating and a lot of working out, I started
with pain in the thoracic region. I have
large ropy bands of muscle that will not
release no matter what I do. Within these
muscles, I have tender points which cause
pain sensations at skin level. After
physical activity like lifting and
housework, these tender points cause the
muscles to contract further causing
burning pain. The muscles in the thoracic
region always feel strained and I need to
have my back supported when sitting
otherwise the pain increases. Sitting and
standing for long periods makes it worse.
Moving makes me feel better.
It feels like I have seen every Doctor the
state of CT has to offer. Everyone that I
have seen tells me the same thing...we
have no idea what is wrong with you. I
have seen Neurologists, Orthos, PTs,
Osteopaths, Chiropractors,
Rheumatologists, and Endocrinologists. I
have had X-rays and MRIs and ridiculous
amounts of blood work. I have done
extensive massage therapy, Accupuncture,
TENs, Ultrasound, and Graston Technique.
I have been prescribed a laundry list of
pain and anti-spasmatic medications all of
which do nothing. I have done Botox and
Cortizone. I have not yet found someone
who believes in TPI. I have been told
that Prolotherapy may or may not help.
Heat and cold do not help. Stretching
makes my low back feel better but makes my
mid back feel worse. Massage causes
severe inflammation. I feel better when I
am warmed up at the gym but feel horrible
when I cool down.
I am 31 years old and my body is stuck in
a vicious cycle and I can't find a way to
get myself out of it. I am wondering if
there is anyone else on here who has had
similar experiences.
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 910
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Posted: 10-25-07 15:13pm
Hello Tpula,
It really hurt just to read what you have
and are going through. You certainly have
tried every avenue one could think of.
May I suggest that you go to the "Laser
Spine Surgery" thread and take a look.
You may also wish to check out the web
sites of Laser Spine Institute and Bonati
Institute. Both are located near Tampa,
Florida. It may be worth a look.
A fine lady, Fran, lives in the Boston
area and has a SUPERB spine doctor. She
also posts on the above mentioned thread.
I only wish I could give you more options
to look into.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
RichT
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tpula
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 5
Posted: 12-27-07 22:41pm
I have recently relocated to Dallas and
have an appointment at the Texas Back
Institute in a few weeks. Hopefully
someone there can shed some light on my
situation.
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RichT
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Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 910
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Posted: 12-29-07 07:30am
Hello Tpula,
I hope your appointment at the Tx Back
Inst. goes well and that they can help
you.
Let us know how things progress for you.
RichT
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pledge01
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 1
Posted: 02-05-08 23:09pm
Let me know if you have learned anything
new. A lot of what you wrote sounds like
me and I am still looking for an answer.
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stacy1111
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 6 Location: new york, USA
Hello Posted: 02-11-08 22:19pm
I am so sorry to hear that you are going
through all that. I not sure if you said
but has the MRI's and X-Rays revealed
anything? Did they give you any possible
diagnosis?
I can seriously relate to your pain. I
have been dealing with chronic upper back
pain going on 9 years (I posted in the
forum under chronic back pain for 8
years). I have tried the TPI which helped
for about two weeks but then had to stop
them. The docs say I have too many "knots"
so the injections won't work.
I hope your appointment goes well. Please
keep us posted.
~ Stacy
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sleepyhead303
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 10
Posted: 02-12-08 18:07pm
i have very bad middle to upper back pain
too. i've been going to a chiropractor
but i'm afraid after 3 visits it doesn't
help a whole lot. i can't seem to find
exercises to do at home, from a chair (no
room to lay out) which i wish i could do
along with the chiro. i've lived with
back pain for years and have told myself
that i had to put up with it. alot of
trouble going to the doctor everyday for
little lasting help.
very sorry you are suffering so. dont
have any answers for you can just say you
are not alone.
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tpula
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 5
Posted: 03-08-08 19:32pm
8 weeks of PT at TBI and zero progress to
report. I am really devastated at this
point. Daily stretching, ball routines,
and Medex twice a week have made my
symptoms worse. I have a follow up
appointment with my PCP this week and am
trying to get into a highly recommended
pain mgt Doc in North Dallas. I am in
complete disbelief that none of the
doctors I have seen have been able to
correlate the signs and symptoms and at
the very least give me a best guess as to
what might be wrong. After 4 years of
searching, I am no closer than when I
started.
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 910
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Posted: 03-09-08 08:05am
Hello Tpula,
Sorry to read that all your PT has not
helped you.
Okay, see your PCP and see what he/she has
to say. I hope the recommendation is for
you to see a spinal surgeon. If so, look
for the best one that you can find.
Tpula, you have done your research well in
seeking out "a highly recommended pain mgt
Doc in North Dallas" DO make an
appointment with the PM doc. Call and
make an appointment tomorrow.
For my ole body, be it a torn rotator
cuff, or back pain, PT by itself was never
the answer. What has helped a great deal
is a combination of having an injection of
a corticosteroid (Kenalog) and some PT.
In my experience/opinion a very critical
"ingredient" as to whether the injection
works is the skill and expertise of the
doctor giving the injection at exactly the
right precise location. No assistant, but
the doctor himself/herself. AND the
doctor must review the MRIs very well, and
use a fluoroscope to help him/her guide
the needle to the exact location it needs
to be for the corticosteroid to be able to
reduce the inflammation. Such at least
has been my experience.
I wish you well. Do keep in touch and let
us know how things go for you.
My thoughts and prayers are and will be
with you.
RichT
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tpula
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 5
Posted: 03-10-08 11:48am
I have an appt with the pain management
doc next week. I will keep you posted.
Thank you for the response.
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 910
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
GREAT!!!! Posted: 03-11-08 07:12am
Hello Tpula,
EXCELLENT!!! I'm glad that you have made
an appointmnet with a PM doc for next
week. I'll look forward to your update.
I hope and pray he/she can help you.
RichT
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Citadel72
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 4
Chronic Thoracic Back Pain And Spasticity Posted: 03-17-08 11:05am
Tpula,
I called Dr. Michael Perry of the Laser
Spine Institute where I had my surgery
done in July 2006. My results were
incredible � simply amazing!
I won�t go into all of the
misery and restrictions I went through,
but I am now pain-free and symptom-free
after suffering unspeakable pain for 27
years. I have been a BIG advocate of LSI
ever since that wonderful, momentous day
in July 2006. Dr. Perry said if you will
mail or fax your MRI report to him at LSI,
he would be happy to diagnose your problem
for free ... no obligations whatsoever.
Tell him you chatted online with
Citadel72. Remind him that I spoke with
him at 10:32 AM on 03/13/08 about you. I
sent him via email your symptoms as you
described them, cut and pasted from your
first post of 10-25-07 at 11:56 AM. Email
him at edited to remove link attaching
your MRI report, if possible. Or the best,
least intrusive way is to fax it to him at
edited to remove information with a short
note on the cover sheet mentioning the
above so he�ll have a point
of reference. He will follow up with you
as soon as he gets it. And again there is
ABSOLUTELY NO CHARGE OR OBLIGATION for
this service.
-- Citadel72
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 910
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Posted: 03-22-08 06:51am
Hello Citadel,
Thanks for sharing your successful surgery
and receovery. Wonderful to know that the
doctors at LSI were able to eliminate the
terrible pain you were having.
I invite you to "stop over" at the Laser
Spine Surgery thread and say Hello.
I hope Tpula will look into LSI and have
Dr. Perry give his opinion after review of
her MRIs. He also reviewed my MRIs and
sent me a report of his thoughts. At this
time I'm staying away from the knife as my
PM doc has helped a lot. I have an
appointment with him this coming
Wednesday.
Take care.
RichT
|
tpula
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 5
Posted: 03-23-08 17:28pm
Pain mgt doc wants me to go see
Neurologist #2 to discuss a possible nerve
conduction study. I didn't get much of
anything out of this initial visit. He
wants to do yet another round of blood
tests and feels that my problem may be
endocrine related. My new PCP in Plano is
taking an interest in getting me better.
She had me do a series of chest and back
x-rays this past week and also wants to do
additional blood work. I am pushing for a
sit down MRI as my last MRI is now a few
years old. The large areas of congealed
muscle tissue in my mid and lower back
continue to flare. And so the saga
continues...
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Citadel72
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 4
Chronic Thoracic Back Pain And Spasticity Posted: 04-02-08 12:03pm
Thanks, RichT. I appreciate the invite.
Which url here at eHealthForum were
referring to? I see several that might fit
that description. And I would love to join
in those discussions. Thank you.
Have we heard from tpula? How's she doing?
Any word? I sure can relate to her
predicament. I sure hope she finds a
solution or, at least, finds some relief,
whether it's at the Laser Spine Institute
or elsewhere. My heart goes out to her.
I see where the moderator or someone
edited out the phone numbers I included in
my last post. It must be against the rules
to provide info like that. I didn't
realize that. My bad, as the kids say.
I'll have to go back and re-read their
policy on content, paying closer attention
to the rules, because my last post sounded
a little stilted edited like that. I do
wish they had placed brackets around the
portion removed from the post though --
something like [edited to remove link] or
{edited to remove information}. Along with
the hieroglyphics that appeared in my
post, I thought something strange had
happened when I entered the text, causing
portions to be omitted, others to be
garbled and to look and read somewhat
non-sensical.
Anywho, I love this website! What a great
FREE service to people around the world
looking for help from their maladies and
miseries! I wonder how they do it though
and make money. There seems to be only a
minimum (non-intrusive) amount of
advertising per page. Not like other
websites where you have to navigate around
a slew of ads that comprise half the page
content.
Oops, sorry, I got off topic here.
Tpula, keep us informed. You have friends
here in this community. God bless!
-- Citadel72
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srfnson
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 4
Posted: 04-10-08 09:53am
Wow tpula...you story reads like mine
amost exactly! Only difference is my
ropiness is in lower back area not the mid
area.
I've got the ropy bands on my left side
around my transverse process...hard tight
mass and bands of gritty ropy muscles in
that area. Originally I injured my back
deadlifting 7yrs ago...recovered then 4yrs
ago another injury pushing a vehicle.
About 5 months after that developed tender
point and grittiness in lower back
muscles. Feels like I've got a chunk of
scare tissue in my lower back!
Seen 3 docs, had 3 mri's, ultrasounds, cat
scans, bone scan etc. with no diagnosis or
relief. Tried everything you've
done...tons of stretching, core workouts
massage, accupuncture...currently doing
prolo but that hasn't helped. Just had
special blood test to determine
"inflamation index" which may explain why
I'm not responding to prolo. Like you, I
want to get a sitting MRI so will be
interested in hearing your results.....
Totally relate to your vicious cycle
feeling...I'm only 43 and feel like I'm
falling apart! There has to be an answer
out there and that's what keeps me
going...
Best of luck and don't stop searching!
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gwiloa
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 1
you situation sounds similar to mine Posted: 07-18-08 13:35pm
I had similar simptoms and found out that
I had a hip misalignment. Having this
problem causes relocating pain all up and
down your spine because your body keeps
constantly trying to compensate for the
misalligned hips with other mustles on
your spinal column. And this wears out
your muscles up your back.
The radiating of the pain up and down your
back is a symptom of hip misalignment.
Anyway hip reallignment is a routing
chiropractor procedure. I don't know why
doctors don't ever refer patents to
chiropractors. They really ought to
interact better.
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jada3
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Missouri, USA
tpula Posted: 07-18-08 21:21pm
hey!!! i am new to the world of forum
chatting and all the support and great
advice that can be found here.... i have
just posted my first message "bulging
disc, why wont any of my doctors
acknowledge it"
just reading about your obstacle of
doctors, specialists and tests makes my
stomach turn and knot... i have a work
related injury, thoracic spine, i first
noticed pain around august/september of
07. i began telling or safety coordinator
( nurse had quit & she wasnt replaced)
that i was having back pain...(he said it
was just a muscle strain) time and time
again i told him on numerous visits it was
to severe and persistent to be muscle...i
have 1 spot in my spine when it is touched
my shoulder "jumps" and just the touch
brings on so much pain i think i am going
to vomit.. the right lumbar muscle burnes
so badly, when i extend my arms, and work
is when the pain gets the worst, by the
time i am finished brushing my teeth, the
burn and spasm is so terrible..finally in
march of this year i was sent to the
occupational doc. he has provided NO
answers, even though the mri i had stated
that i have a bulge at the T2, every doc.
i have seen says that they cannot find any
reason for pain.....please let me know if
your doctor has yet diagnosed you, and
what tests or procedures you had that may
have helped with diagnosis, I am 27 yrs
old and dear god i dont want to feel like
this for the rest of my life.......is
there hope?
It's not easy to cure any chronic disease.
modern classic medicine can not help you,
all prescribed remedies simply mask
symptoms or even make your situation
worse...
you actually have two options, each of
them takes time and patience
1 - find good oriental practicioner who
uses alternative medicine
2 - try to use Zalmanov emulsions, they
have good statistics
Best regards
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jmt
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Sep 2008 Posts: 4
Chronic back pain Posted: 09-19-08 01:44am
I am sorry that you are going through the
pain that you described. I have been
suffering the same symptoms as you. You
described my problem exactly. I have had
XRay, CT and MRI scans but, the most of
any diagnosis that I have had is arthritis
in my facet joints all along my spine. I
really question this as I am only 32 years
and am in so much pain. It must be
something else. I have another appoint
with my Spine doc and going to ask for
another opinion. I go through physio about
twice a week,,, I have good days and bad
days. Today was a bad so , and it really
getting me down. It has been 1.5 years of
this pain and emotional turmoil.
