I injured my back 4 years ago,i was bending over, and could not stand straight for 3 days. awful pain in my lower back. i went to dr, was put on pain meds. I started to see chiropractor, and still see him when i start to get pain again. In the beginning doing little things like sweeping, vac******, washing dishes hurt my back. sometimes just walking would hurt, and pain would go right down my legs. i had xrays done at the hospital in 2003 and they came out fine. well. last week i was getting minor lower back pains, then i woke up last saturday and could barely walk the pain was so bad. I fell
a few times because it hurt so bad. went to the dr's monday they gave me tons of pain meds and muscle relaxers. i am gradually felling better, iwent to the mall yesterday (stupid me) i was walking for like 20 minutes or so, and really needed to sit. i though i would fall down again. iwas so scared. I am now 32 years old. why is this happening to me? should my dr be doing something else? should i have an mri even though my xrays in 2003 were fine?
I should mention i was fine and chiropractor free from dec 2003 to dec 2004.
but here i go again. please help.
I think you should definitely ask for an mri. If your back problem is at all disk related, it probably won't show up on an xray. Until then, take the meds your doc gave you and try icing your lower back in 20 minute intervals.
Hi there
I would def. get a different opinion if your doc is reluctant to order a MRI. Try to stay away from the chiro or PT until you have a diagnosis, they can not treat what they do not know. x-rays do not tell the "story" of anything other than the boney structure and even then it is not detailed. Good luck and nudge your doc some more.Only you can take care and be responsible for you. Keep us posted.
shelley
You have gotten great advice also I wouldn't wait around any longer 4 yrs is a long time and you don't want to wait until you have permamant damage, you know your in pain and it's not right so don't settle for just meds and no answers okay..
Best of luck.
Linda
You should definitely see a spine specialist and have an MRI. I wouldn't wait any longer as it sounds like you may have ruptured a disc. An x-ray will not show disc problems as a rule, so the MRI is needed.
Avoid bending, lifting, twisting, etc. Use ice and/or heat. Once you see the specialist and have the MRI and are given the results, get a second opinion. Do not let anyone rush you into surgery. There may be other options available.
Once you have your MRI, get a copy of the written report, come home, and type the terms into your web browser and learn all you can about your condition. A patient with knowledge is a pt with power. And in this world of chronic pain and spine issues, power is priceless.
In addition to the MRI suggestion (which has already been made & I wholeheartedly agree) is a disgnosis to "demand" if even the MRI results are negative.
Is this going down the back of your thigh and then to the top of your feet??? If it is, then the "demand" might have to be for your PCP to place pressure along your Piriformis to see if you have that achy pain there.
My MRIs found NOTHING! So wierd, but it's true. My PCP placed pressure on my Greater Trochanter (hip @ thigh bone - on side) and I yelped. He then injected my Piriformis with an anesthetic, and I felt better. That's how my Sciatica was diagnosed, since an MRI found no disc impingement. My ANNULAR TEAR wasn't even found, even in my 1 MRI AFTER the discogram diagnosed it! Unbelievable, but true.
Keep fighting for the truth...and your right to be diagnosed before they start bleeding you dry in treatment! Good luck!
thanks again everyone. after 2 weeks of constant pain, i finally had an mri done yesterday............hmmmmmmm should have done the open mri. I did
not like the closed one. very creepy. now i am just waiting for the results. but today i am felling better. i have been living with pain too long. i will let you all know when i get the results.
I would definately ask for an MRI. X-Rays do not show the big picture when it comes to disc problems. I also would not wait too long to do this, because you never know if nerves are involved and if nerves are involved, the longer you put it off the worse things will get.
undefined Hi, I would stay away from the chiropractor until I had a MRI, he could be doing more damage than good. X-rays don't tell the whole story, so, don't wait, get a MRI scheduled as soon as possible, keep us posted, we care
Hi there
Re: hi. new to board/please help w/lower back 
