Missused1983
03-19-2009, 05:10 PM
I'm 26, I've been an active person my entire life.
At the awesome tender age of 13 I was thrown head first into the shallow end of a pool (thank goodness for bullies, where would we be without them?). The end result at the ER was severe muscle strain and a loss of my Lordotic curvature.
As I aged I was involved in 2 minor car accidents, and a... moderate accident, the worst injuries received were seat belt bruising, a foot laceration and whiplash in my first and actually least severe of all three accidents.
As I've aged I have gained a new friend, I call it my Lump. **REMOVED***I understand the junction of my C7 should be exaggerated at Flexion because of the spinous process, but imagine cupping your hand and it being full of tissue, in which the bone sits very superficial to, it's pretty gross actually and I make a joke of grossing people out with it.
I have basically lived with constant pain for years now, but was raised to only go to MD's when necessary. This past year though my back pain had taken a turn for the worst. Standing in one position now for too long makes my toes and the bottom of my feet numb. If I sit for too long, I have severe burning pain. If I lay for too long I am stiff and ache. I decided I wanted to try and get to the bottom, but afraid of the worst, decided that I first wanted only conservative treatment.
I went to a chiropractor for the 1st time in my life. After 3 months of treatment I saw little improvement. After 6 weeks at the Chiro, my family MD sent me to PT. 4 weeks with 3 sessions a week, didn't cease any pain, but did give a slight increase of rotation in my neck. Both the Chiro and Fam MD ordered sets of Xrays. I saw the Xrays, my C4 is pushed foward, its nasty. The radiologists report once again only described lordotic curvature loss.
At that point my family MD ordered a nerve conduction study, which was passed with flying colors.
At this point, my Chiro can't treat me due to insurance restrictions, and my MD won't do anything but more PT. I'm fed up with the pain, in every case, after a medical professional(or not), (chiro,MD, PT, PTA, the nerve MD, friends who care, etc etc etc) has felt my back, I've gotten descriptions like "Blueberry Sized Gravel" "Lots of tension points" "muscles that feel like rocks" the list could go on.... seriously.
It seems I've hit a brick wall with no where to look to but the pain I've been staring down the last 10 years of my life.
Sidenotes*****
Pain is pretty continuous throughout back. Centralized pain runs the entire way around my shoulder blades, and on either side of my spine.
Since the pain begin, I am a chronic "back popper". Call me Rice Crispies. What's sad is all the ways I cracked myself were the "adjustments" the chiro made.
Pain is slightly relieved after I pop, and if I pop good enough and lay still I get a couple minutes of pain free comfort.
I don't know what else to do. I've researched Fibromyalgia, and related muscle diseases, and things of that sort. I don't drink heavy amounts of sweet soda drinks. I take a multivitamin, and have a B vitamin complex as well.
Recently my entire body has taken to doing the mexican jumping bean. totally random muscles will just painlessly twitch, fingers, toes, my back, my face, my legs my arms....
Please I'm so tired of this, common muscle relaxers don't seem to relieve any of the pain/symptoms, can anyone help....
At the awesome tender age of 13 I was thrown head first into the shallow end of a pool (thank goodness for bullies, where would we be without them?). The end result at the ER was severe muscle strain and a loss of my Lordotic curvature.
As I aged I was involved in 2 minor car accidents, and a... moderate accident, the worst injuries received were seat belt bruising, a foot laceration and whiplash in my first and actually least severe of all three accidents.
As I've aged I have gained a new friend, I call it my Lump. **REMOVED***I understand the junction of my C7 should be exaggerated at Flexion because of the spinous process, but imagine cupping your hand and it being full of tissue, in which the bone sits very superficial to, it's pretty gross actually and I make a joke of grossing people out with it.
I have basically lived with constant pain for years now, but was raised to only go to MD's when necessary. This past year though my back pain had taken a turn for the worst. Standing in one position now for too long makes my toes and the bottom of my feet numb. If I sit for too long, I have severe burning pain. If I lay for too long I am stiff and ache. I decided I wanted to try and get to the bottom, but afraid of the worst, decided that I first wanted only conservative treatment.
I went to a chiropractor for the 1st time in my life. After 3 months of treatment I saw little improvement. After 6 weeks at the Chiro, my family MD sent me to PT. 4 weeks with 3 sessions a week, didn't cease any pain, but did give a slight increase of rotation in my neck. Both the Chiro and Fam MD ordered sets of Xrays. I saw the Xrays, my C4 is pushed foward, its nasty. The radiologists report once again only described lordotic curvature loss.
At that point my family MD ordered a nerve conduction study, which was passed with flying colors.
At this point, my Chiro can't treat me due to insurance restrictions, and my MD won't do anything but more PT. I'm fed up with the pain, in every case, after a medical professional(or not), (chiro,MD, PT, PTA, the nerve MD, friends who care, etc etc etc) has felt my back, I've gotten descriptions like "Blueberry Sized Gravel" "Lots of tension points" "muscles that feel like rocks" the list could go on.... seriously.
It seems I've hit a brick wall with no where to look to but the pain I've been staring down the last 10 years of my life.
Sidenotes*****
Pain is pretty continuous throughout back. Centralized pain runs the entire way around my shoulder blades, and on either side of my spine.
Since the pain begin, I am a chronic "back popper". Call me Rice Crispies. What's sad is all the ways I cracked myself were the "adjustments" the chiro made.
Pain is slightly relieved after I pop, and if I pop good enough and lay still I get a couple minutes of pain free comfort.
I don't know what else to do. I've researched Fibromyalgia, and related muscle diseases, and things of that sort. I don't drink heavy amounts of sweet soda drinks. I take a multivitamin, and have a B vitamin complex as well.
Recently my entire body has taken to doing the mexican jumping bean. totally random muscles will just painlessly twitch, fingers, toes, my back, my face, my legs my arms....
Please I'm so tired of this, common muscle relaxers don't seem to relieve any of the pain/symptoms, can anyone help....
Sponsor
janewhite1
03-19-2009, 05:36 PM
Have you ever had an MRI or myleogram to see if there's any major soft-tissue problems in your neck or upper back? At this point, I would say that's a good idea.
What exactly did they do in PT? Did they do any manual therapy or massage for those hideous muscle knots? Did they use electronic stimulation? Did they teach you stretches to do at home? If they didn't do this stuff, find a new physical therapist, seriously.
Assuming that you get an exam by an orthopedist or MRI or something and there's no major damage in there, the following are options for relief:
Muscle relaxants, antispasmodics, or tricyclic antidepressants
Trigger point injections, directly into the knotted muscles
Deep tissue massage. Not chiropractic, muscle work.
Very specific exercise. I've not had much luck with PT for this, but I see a personal trainer on and off who has physical therapist credentials. Insurance doesn't pay, but it works (and we exercise in the gym where the hot guys are, instead of in the physical therapy office with a bunch of old people!)
The blueberry sized gravel does sound a lot like my upper back, which is filled with myofascial trigger points. All of the above have helped me.
However, it could be the muscle knots are the result of an underlying injury. In which case the drugs and injections are still good, but the exercise and massage might not be safe.
What exactly did they do in PT? Did they do any manual therapy or massage for those hideous muscle knots? Did they use electronic stimulation? Did they teach you stretches to do at home? If they didn't do this stuff, find a new physical therapist, seriously.
Assuming that you get an exam by an orthopedist or MRI or something and there's no major damage in there, the following are options for relief:
Muscle relaxants, antispasmodics, or tricyclic antidepressants
Trigger point injections, directly into the knotted muscles
Deep tissue massage. Not chiropractic, muscle work.
Very specific exercise. I've not had much luck with PT for this, but I see a personal trainer on and off who has physical therapist credentials. Insurance doesn't pay, but it works (and we exercise in the gym where the hot guys are, instead of in the physical therapy office with a bunch of old people!)
The blueberry sized gravel does sound a lot like my upper back, which is filled with myofascial trigger points. All of the above have helped me.
However, it could be the muscle knots are the result of an underlying injury. In which case the drugs and injections are still good, but the exercise and massage might not be safe.
Missused1983
03-19-2009, 05:56 PM
Jane-
My insurance won't do a MRI, which is why the MD had to go for a nerve conduction to hope there was something there to get the MRI.... no luck, or something.
In PT, I was taught specific stretches and exercises, I have all the cute bands to prove it. They did heat therapy(the best part). They did ultrasound on the trigger points, which after talking with other PT's appears to be useless. We did theracane exercises and trigger points. And the last thing at each session was massaging Bio-Freeze into the area.
I'm definitely interested in the TPI, as it's the course I haven't tried or can afford, dang the LMT's!!!!
My insurance won't do a MRI, which is why the MD had to go for a nerve conduction to hope there was something there to get the MRI.... no luck, or something.
In PT, I was taught specific stretches and exercises, I have all the cute bands to prove it. They did heat therapy(the best part). They did ultrasound on the trigger points, which after talking with other PT's appears to be useless. We did theracane exercises and trigger points. And the last thing at each session was massaging Bio-Freeze into the area.
I'm definitely interested in the TPI, as it's the course I haven't tried or can afford, dang the LMT's!!!!
BlueAtlas
03-19-2009, 08:20 PM
Hi Miss Used, and welcome to the board.
I'm sorry for all you've been through. What a bunch of bully jerks that started this whole thing off! Were there ever any repercussions for any of them?
You mentioned seeing a chiropractor and your family doctor. Have you ever seen an orthopedic or neurosurgeon? I think that would be my next step. Look for one who specializes in only spines and who has done a fellowship. They are generally the most skilled and knowledgeable for these back issues.
I hope you get the help you need. Living in chronic pain is truly the pits!!!
Blessings,
Emily
I'm sorry for all you've been through. What a bunch of bully jerks that started this whole thing off! Were there ever any repercussions for any of them?
You mentioned seeing a chiropractor and your family doctor. Have you ever seen an orthopedic or neurosurgeon? I think that would be my next step. Look for one who specializes in only spines and who has done a fellowship. They are generally the most skilled and knowledgeable for these back issues.
I hope you get the help you need. Living in chronic pain is truly the pits!!!
Blessings,
Emily
BackHelper
03-20-2009, 11:59 AM
Another possible option is a cervical traction unit (for the upper part you were discussing) or a inversion table to reduce pressure on your lumbar spine (very similar to traction's effects).
On a side note - having been to a chiro for years - popping your own back or neck is VERY different than having a professional move the one that's stuck :)
On a side note - having been to a chiro for years - popping your own back or neck is VERY different than having a professional move the one that's stuck :)
want a good out
03-20-2009, 10:18 PM
If you ahve documentation that this is from a car accident, the auto insurance should pay for the MRI.
Missused1983
03-30-2009, 12:22 AM
I talked to my Fam MD about the TPI treatment. He says he refuses any steroids bc of the permanent muscle dystrophy it causes. and he said that other then that, it's just lidocaine and that it's def not a permanent solution. He thinks I should do Electrical Stimulation.....
janewhite1
03-30-2009, 09:26 AM
Your doctor doesn't understand how TPI actually works. The theory is a bit uncertain, but research published within the last year is backing it up with hard science.
The trigger point injections have nothing to do with steroids, and the lidocaine is just to reduce post-injection soreness. It's actually massage with the tip of a needle for severe muscles knots (trigger points) that don't respond to stuff like stretching or regular massage. The needle allows the doctor to treat the knot with minimal damage to the skin and none to surrounding tissue. (Overenthusiastic massage can actually leave bruises.) TPI works just as well using a "dry" empty needle, but leaving off the lidocaine results in more soreness for a day or two.
Is it permanent? No. But the relief usually lasts for weeks, if the doctor puts the needle in the right spot. If you take advantage of the temporary improvement with stretching and self-massage to keep the muscle loose, you might stay better for a long long time.
The trigger point injections have nothing to do with steroids, and the lidocaine is just to reduce post-injection soreness. It's actually massage with the tip of a needle for severe muscles knots (trigger points) that don't respond to stuff like stretching or regular massage. The needle allows the doctor to treat the knot with minimal damage to the skin and none to surrounding tissue. (Overenthusiastic massage can actually leave bruises.) TPI works just as well using a "dry" empty needle, but leaving off the lidocaine results in more soreness for a day or two.
Is it permanent? No. But the relief usually lasts for weeks, if the doctor puts the needle in the right spot. If you take advantage of the temporary improvement with stretching and self-massage to keep the muscle loose, you might stay better for a long long time.