Hi,
I hurt my lower back at work while crouching down the beginning of May. I was diagnosed same day with a lumbar sprain at a clinic. They told me to see an orthopedic if it was still hurting after 2 weeks. I have done that and began physical therapy. The physical therapist at my doctors office is also a chiropractor. I was feeling better after taking a medrol dose pack. 1-2 weeks ago the PT twisted me to try to realign my spine. It felt like my whole back cracked when he did this. My back has been hurting worse ever since. It hurts on the right side of the spine by my lower ribs going down to the lower back. I feel like I am getting a pinching feeling in the lower back that goes to my right hip. It hurts to sit more then 40 minutes even with a lumbar pillow. I can't sleep because every position seems to bother me. I am on vicotin and it is not helping with the pain. This week I started noticing my toes going numb (pins/needles). It feels like only the middle 3 toes on each foot but more often on the right. Has anyone had similiar symptoms? I am starting to wonder if this is something other then a lumbar sprain. :confused: If anyone has any advice on what I can do to be more comfortable (sitting/sleeping/etc.) it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

I would strongly recommend that you get back in touch with your doctor if you have not already. He may want you to stop PT. From your description of toe pain sounds like it is coming from L5.

Take care and good luck.

That is what is wrong with my back now and I did it by bending at the knees to pick up something light (less than 1 pound). I would get back to your PT/DC and DR and tell them. If you're like me your back muscles tighten up and when you stretch them by going into a catchers positions they get pulled. I'm using a DC and a technique he uses is inflection aka: Cox method to get muscles stretched. It helps alot. I find that when they lay me on my side and adjust me aka: side posture, it dosen't help loosen my lumbar. That may be the technique he used to adjust you, not sure.

The numbness should go away with time. Mine always has.

You can try elevating feet with a pillow if you sleep on your back and a pillow between your knees if you sleep on your side.

I brought it up to PT numerous times (including today). He says he isn't seeing spasms like before and it looks like I am getting better. In reality I feel much worse then I did prior to treatment. The doctor is out of the country at the moment. I see him on Friday. Should I just go ahead and cancel the PT session I have scheduled for Thursday?

This started last month when I was crouching down applying labels to cartons. I have been avoiding the crouching position ever since as well as lifting.

The PT/DC has been making adjustments using some tool that clicks (don't know what it is called). I was on my right side when he tried the other adjustment (pulling my shoulder towards him with his hand and pushing the hips away with his knee, I think) and I began having pain along the spine higher up that night (near lower ribs). I have had the pinching feeling to the right hip the entire time but the numbness just started last week.

I tend to be a side sleeper and I have been using a leg spacer pillow in hopes it would help but it has not yet. Both laying on my stomach and back is uncomfortable. I will try the pillows under the knees tonight.

I feel very frustrated and I am sure the lack of sleep does not help.
Thank you both for your answers!

Yes, it sounds like he used side posture. That works for me when my lumbar is loose. Tell him to use the Cox method. For this you will lay on your stomach and he will decline the table under you legs, which will open up your facet joints and help release some tension. It works great for me, helps with leg numbness too. If he does not understand what you mean when you describe this technique then you should probably dump him. Seriously, it's a standard technique and why their expensive table declines like it does.

On the other hand some DC's (very few) just don't use that technique.

If he is using a little pen tool that you say makes a clicking sound I would be skeptical of him. I've never known any DC to use them and I have my doubts about that working. Of course, if it works for you then fine but I have my doubts that it would work for you now.

The bottom line is you must get your lumbar loose and it doesn't matter if you go to a Physical Therapist or Chiro.. I don't suggest you try exercising to fix this yourself unless you have enough knowledge. It best to have someone with experience instruct you properly.

Also, that would be pillows between your knees on your side, not under both of your knees. (Not sure if you understood me)

I am very skeptical about this PT but it was in the orthopedics office that I was referred to and the doc wanted me to go to him. His course of action has been: heat & stim, ultrasounds, adjusting with that tool, massage using a motorized massager (manual massage was used at the PT place I went to in the past for my shoulder so I thought this was odd as well), bike, and treadmill.

The PT is going on vacation next week so I am going to see if the doc can refer me to the PT I had for my shoulder surgery. She was very good. I have never been to a Chiro before so I have no idea if what this guy is doing is right. I will bring up the cox method but to be honest I think he just uses the plain flat wooded beds (no elevation). I think I am ready to go elsewhere but I am afraid of complicating things since it is a workman's comp claim.

I understand the pillows. Under the knees if laying on the back (have not tried) or between the knees if laying on the side (have tried).

Thanks again for all the advice. I wouldn't have known what to ask for!

Well, he used a lot of different treatments didn't he? I think stim is useless and i've had it for shoulder (PT), knee(PT) and backpain (DC). My DC uses a motorized massager, that's ok but not really going to help you now.
I don't know about your WC claim but I think going to the other PT is a good idea.
Or find a better DC. I'm going to PT in a few weeks to find out what I can do myself (in addition to Chiropratic care) to keep my lower back loose.

Is anyone esle seeing "red flags" in this sentance?

1-2 weeks ago the PT twisted me to try to realign my spine.

Hi Bzzzzerk, I have not been on this board long, but I can tell you many of us here have learned the hard way chiro's can cause more damage to you when they "adjust" you after an injury like the one you describe.

You need to find out what's going on inside your lumbar spine by way of an MRI.
If it were me, I would stop the PT and the "adjustments" till you get in to see a surgeon who specializes in spines.

I am sorry you are in pain and not getting rest.
Hopefully you can find relief soon. Let us know what happens ok?

I would suggest you ask your doctor to do a MRI.

bzzzz, keep in mind that PT and Chiropractic care can increase your pain short term. It will go away. I went to PT for a knee tendinitis and the exercises they gave me increased my pain. Don't be swayed by people who damn a modality because it increased their pain , it's a part of healing.
Find a competant caregiver.

I saw the doctor today. He thinks I could have a herniated disc. He gave me an injection in my lower back while I was in the office. He wants me to continue physical therapy but continue with the therapist in his office. They will be bringing in someone new for the next 2 weeks since the other PT is on vacation.
They are waiting on approval from the insurance company for a back brace and an MRI. I go back in a week.

He talked about giving me pain patches but he never did. Do these help much? What about the back brace?

I brought up the upper back pain but he was not concerned.

Thank you!

[COLOR="Navy"]Please stay away from the chiro until a good back doctor has done an MRI and they have discovered what is actually wrong. You can only cause more damamge in the mean time. The PT willl know what to do and will make sure that you don't do any more damage. I know that K2 believes that a chiro will cure most any thing, but there are those of us here who won't let a chiro within a 100 yards of our backs. Paul is right, you need an MRI for a true picture of what is wrong.

The back brack will depend on what type he has ordered for you. It is probably one that is a heavy elastic that straps around with some support bars that run vertical in it...some of us have had hard 2 piece "clam shells", but those are custom fit jobs that are used after fusion surgeries.....

Anyway, you might have a herniated disk. If he gave you a cortizone shot then remember to rest and don't let the lack of pain give you a false sense of wellness. Avoid aggravating it by sitting too long, bending at the waist, etc.

This is to everyone that replied:

No one here has the knowledge to know for sure what someone else needs, so do not make assumptions that you know.

As for chiropractory VS medical interventions, the same applies. Both opinions are welcome. Do not attack others' advice/opinions

I was reading some articles recently written to a chiropractor and some of your symptoms sound like it could be related to spinal stenosis....? The numbness in the foot and the pain in the lower back just made something click.

The click could be the lights going off in my head so I'm with the suggestion of "see a doctor". ;-) Good luck!

Hello ,
Why not see everyone possible ? Any professional with ethics will honestly tell you if they can help. When I first felt pain a year ago a few people told me to see a Chiro. I took my MRI's to her and she sent me right to a surgeon. So in a sense she took a large part in my healing without touching me ..

I am feeling much better from the injection the doctor did on Friday. The spot where he injected is tender/sore but my pain has decreased. Hopefully the MRI (if the insurance company approves it) will tell us everything we need. I am hoping it is not anything serious. I have been out of week for 4 weeks now and my employer seems to be getting a little irritated.

Thank you all for your support. I am glad I found this board!