Deployment Related Back Pain Posted: 06-12-07 11:23am
Hello, I was deployed to Iraq for a total
of 2 and a half years. (I'm out of the
army now) After this second deployment I
came back with a lot of constant lower
back pain. I felt it while in Iraq, and
my medics usually told me it could have
something to do with all of the weight we
carried for up to 24 hours at a time. The
pain feels like it's right where my back
meets with my butt, in the center. And it
feels as if something is being pinched or
something. Sometimes the pain will just
be minor, but other times I'll bend over
to pick something up, and when I come back
up I get a shot of pain all the way from
my leg up to my upper back, and I almost
fall to the floor. I tried stretching
forward and touching my toes and holding
for a few weeks, which usually helped.
Then my unit doctor had told me that was
wrong and I should be stretching the other
way. (like doing a push up as far as I
can but keeping my hips on the floor).
It's been 3 months since I got out of the
army, and the pain has returned.
Sometimes it seems like it has to do with
my posture. So when I correct that it
eases the "pinching" pain, but then my
back muscles become sore.
I'm just wondering what this could be, and
what should I tell a doctor when I get the
chance to go. Any kind of educated advice
would really be appreciated.
