...Brief
History...
My name is Jon. I'm 24 and I have been
suffering from chronic back pain for about
3 years. It all start one day playing
football with some friends. We were
trying to see who could throw the ball the
highest. I didn't win, but I did feel a
shooting/numbing pain on the left side of
my lower-middle back. I didn't think
anything of it at the time, but one day at
work (construction) about a year later I
felt the same pain and it literally took
my breath away. I took the day off to see
the doctor.
...First
trip to the Doctor...
A couple of x-rays, nothing shows up. I
got prescribed some anti-inflammatory meds
and told to "take it easy for a few
weeks."
...The
story continues...
I did what the doctor said by keeping to
easy work with hardly any lifting, or
twisting. But pain never went away... It
hurt when I sat for too long, it hurt when
I slept, I could feel it anytime I did any
physical activity. That got me worried
and I went to another doctor for a
different opinion.
...Second
trip to a Doctor...
I explained my previous experience and he
was sympathetic. A couple of x-rays,
nothing shows up. He prescribed some
anti-inflammatory meds and physio-therapy.
The physio-therapist gave me some
exercises to do regularly and told me not
to do any strenuous physical activity.
...And so
it continues...
It was another year of the same crap. I
did the exercises 3 times a week, and they
got progressively easier, but my back
didn't get progressively better. In fact
I'm starting to notice a significant
swelling of that part of my back that
doesn't seem to go away. This time I
figured I'd try a sports doctor.
...Third
trip to a Doctor...
Same crap as before. Small physical,
x-rays that show nothing, some meds and
physio-therapy. The physio-therapist
tells me to increase the frequency of my
exercises, which has accomplished
nothing.
...WHAT
THE HECK IS WRONG WITH ME?...
I'm not paranoid about health, but I am
genuinely worried. I eat fairly healthy
consuming lots of greens, lean proteins,
and healthy fats. I really only go to the
doctor if I am seriously worried about my
future. My back seems to be getting
worse, not better... The swelling seems
larger than ever. It hurts to sit for too
long, it hurts to walk/run, it hurts to
lay down in any position. It stays
tremendously uncomfortable no matter what
position I am in and it is driving me
CRAZY! And, no doctor seems to care...
"Take these pills, do these exercises,
you'll be fine."
I want the
truth!
If nothing can be done, then just say it.
Don't lead me on by saying it'll be fine
in a few months. It's been a few years,
and it's not fine, IT'S WORSE!
Anyways... I just really wanted to vent.
If anyone has some suggestions I welcome
them. I don't normally seek advice on the
internet, but I don't know where else to
go.
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 900
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Posted: 01-17-08 14:57pm
Hello Skid,
Welcome to this forum and the super people
who post and try to help others.
First thing I noticed was that you
apparently have not had an MRI. I'm no
doctor, but in most cases an MRI is 2nd
after an x-ray because it shows so much
more than an x-ray will.
You have seen several doctors, but you
don't say what kind of doctor. Would you
please let us know what kind of doctors
you have seen? Thanks
RichT
|
skid_ofshame
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 3
Posted: 01-17-08 15:49pm
Thanks for your quick reply...
I live in Ontario, Canada. We do get free
health care, however, we don't get very
many options in the way of doctors.
The first doctor was my family doctor. I
have no idea if he specializes in
anything... The second doctor was a
walk-in clinic doctor. Again, I don't
know about any specialties. The third
doctor specializes in Sports Medicine.
I have never been told to get an MRI (even
if I did it takes about a year to get one
here). I actually asked the last doctor
about it, but he said it wouldn't be
necessary.
-Jon (is my actual name)
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 900
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Posted: 01-17-08 16:25pm
Hello Jon,
My apology for not addressing you properly
in my post to you. You had your name
"Jon" stated right at the beginning of
your post.
Thanks for the info regarding your doctors
and where you live. Is there some way you
can get someone to approve your seeing a
neurologist/spinal surgeon? Sure would be
good if you could. As well as that MRI.
You mentioned that the third doctor
specializes in sports medicine. Do you
know if he is an orthopedic doctor?
Sure hope you can twist someone's arm hard
enough so that you can see a spine
doctor.
RichT
|
Tmddyan
Supporter
Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 4346 Location: post falls, id usa
Thanks: 93
Thanked:63
Posted: 01-17-08 16:35pm
i hate this kind of treatment--i got it
for a different condition---ive learned
thought that being persistant is the best
thing. twist that arm hard and dont stop
untill you get definated answers
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 900
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Posted: 01-17-08 16:40pm
RIGHT ON Jon!!!! I like your spirit.
Go get em!!!
|
skid_ofshame
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 3
Posted: 01-17-08 23:54pm
Thanks for all your support...
Quote:
ive learned
thought that being persistant is the best
thing.
How did it work out for
you in the end? I hope you got the
answers you were looking for.
I forgot to mention that the Sport's
Medicine Doctor also sent me to get custom
orthopedics. I did go and now I wear
custom shoes with the molded orthopedic
inserts.
I'm assuming that now I just go back to
the doctor and insist on an MRI? And ask
to get referred to a neurologist/spinal
surgeon?
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 900
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Posted: 01-18-08 03:51am
Hello Jon,
That's what I would do.
RichT
|
expatient
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 126 Location: Finland
Posted: 01-18-08 04:45am
80% of back pains doctors don't know what
is causing them. But that is because they
look only problems in spine and discs.
They don't understand others.
You can have locked sacroiliac joint or
uplifted ilium. That is causing a muscle
spasm. It is very common cause of pains.
Go to see an osteopathian.
|
Tmddyan
Supporter
Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 4346 Location: post falls, id usa
Thanks: 93
Thanked:63
Posted: 01-18-08 14:33pm
skid_ofshame
wrote:
Thanks for all your
support...
Quote:
ive learned
thought that being persistant is the best
thing.
How did it work out for
you in the end? I hope you got the
answers you were looking for.
I forgot to mention that the Sport's
Medicine Doctor also sent me to get custom
orthopedics. I did go and now I wear
custom shoes with the molded orthopedic
inserts.
I'm assuming that now I just go back to
the doctor and insist on an MRI? And ask
to get referred to a neurologist/spinal
surgeon?
yes I got what I wanted. stick up for
yourself. I did get answers ---its just a
matter of healing now.
