What's the problem with my lower back?

[Pammyjune]

Hello...I'm in my 40's and I have not had any injuries or surgeries, but I am having a lot of lower back pain that I cannot understand. The pain does not start until I have been walking or on my feet for a while (30-45 minutes). It's usually when I go somewhere that requires me to walk along at a slow pace such as the supermarket, mall, museum, park, etc.

My lower back begins to get very achy and super stiff to the point that it feels like I am being cut in half. I have to find a place to sit down and even then I have to sit down slowly since the back is so stiff and hurting. After a few minutes some of the stiffness disappears and the pain subsides enough that I can get up and resume walking.

I noticed it about a year ago and it would happen once in a great while but the past month it has been pretty often.

My doctor says it sounds like a muscular-skeletal problem and prescribed back exercises. I hope he is right and it is nothing serious. Does it sound like something else?

Does anyone have this or had this happen? Thanks for any information you can share! :-)

[Rhonni]

sounds like what my back felt like when I found out I had herniations. I would also notice the bottoms of my feet hurt like I had been on them all day when I first put them on the floor.

Your doctor could be right.. it could be muscle related, but ask him to refer you to a back doctor and have them run an MRI with contrast anyway...just to rest your mind.

[Pammyjune]

I got my x-ray results back. They took pictures of my back and knees. They were all normal results. The doctor has me taking lodine once a day and says to come back in 2 weeks if I'm not better. Coud this still be herniations TxHunni?

Has anyone ever had lower back pain that starts out really stiff and then feels like a lot of pressure and pain and did you ever find out what was causing it and what I can do for it? It is only when I'm on my feet for an extended amount of time, usually when I'm casually strolling down the street or inside the supermarket. Once I sit down, a lot of it is alleviated and the process starts over once I continue the walking.

He also has me doing these floor exercises to strengthen my back. I'm doing them hoping this is really going to work because the exercises don't seem too strenuous.

Anything you can offer me? Thanks. PJ

[carol632]

Well, the x-rays are useless. They will not show problems with the disc or muscles, only with bone. If I were you, I would make an appt with an orthopedic who will probably order an MRI. That is what is needed to find out if you have a bad disc that is causing your problem. I wouldn't do any physical therapy or anything else until seeing a spine specialist and getting an accurate diagnosis.

Good luck to you.....and please, let us know what you find out.

Carol

[ladybug8372]

i do need to let you know that x-rays do show problems with the disc. my DH is a long time back sufferer--with 2 surgeries 20 years ago for ruptured discs. 3 weeks ago, his back/leg started hurting severely...nothing the dr's prescribed for pain even touched his pain. my DH is one that will not sit still for a minute--he has to constantly be doing something....well---for 2 straight weeks he was in the bed..only up to use the bathroom. i have been married to him for 14 years and never seen him this bad. so, they sent him for x-rays...the x-rays were sent not only to our family dr...but also to a chiropractor....both saw the same thing......a slipped disc.


he is the opposite of pammyjune....he feels good after 20 minutes or so of moving around...but when he sits down or is laying down to sleep....it doesnt take 10 minutes for him to start hurting miserably and becoming stiff.

had the x-rays not showed anything...his next step would have been to get an MRI done.......so if I were pammyjune....I would try to have one done. hope you get to feeling better.