My back hurts - advice please.

I have had a bad back for 3 years now and have been backwards forwards to the hospital with no resolution throughout this time.

However in the last 3 weeks it has been significantly worse than previously and is now causing a loss of power and movement in one of my legs.

Over the past 3 years I have had the following:

MRI Scan
Bone Scan
Physio x 2

I have even tried Pilates, accupuncture, osteopathy but none of them have helped. Running normally helps to take the edge off of it but even that isn't touching it.

My most recent visit was to the pain clinic where I was hoping for an injection, but instead got sent to a TENS clinic, another waste of time. Now I am stuck and don't know which way to turn.

It is making me grumpy, tired and very short tempered........should I go back to the doctors and try to get re-referred? Which may take up to 6 months again.

[pookie]

do you know what the cause of your back pain? I did mine playing paintball. I went to a chiropracter which made me feel better didnt cure it straight away. They mentioned weakness in the muscles on my right side and gave me extra exercises. Occsionally it gets tight down from my backside to my thigh. I think a combination of strengthening exercises, getting abit more active + chiropracter and ensuring I am warmed up before exercises has kept it at bay so far. Hope you get sorted out soon

No everything so far has been 'in-conclusive' which doesn't really help too much.

I'll second that. Last few months I've had a crazy lifestyle, so not been running, cycling, going to gym or practicing kendo as I usually do and guess what, my back has crapped out as it does every time I'm not keeping fit and strong. Old age sucks, but it can be largely beaten by exercise and good diet, but it's easier said than done. But sounds like your already doing the exercise thing with running. When things got really bad last time I was having pysio twice a week, exercising daily and kendo three times a week and it was amonth or so before things got better.

[maviczap]

H'mmm. I would have thought that all these would have picked something up. As one who suffers from cronic pain, I can sympathise with you (mines facial) and know how bloody frustrating it can be.

I've been through major surgery, which didn't cure my problem, and now I would always advise trying anything else first. Trouble is I live miles away from any good centres of treatment.

I'm sure my problems are result of bad posture, as some of my symptoms have been helped by visits to the Osteopath. But obviously it hasn't helped you.

Where you live you could try this Egoscue method. Its not alternative therapy, but something like a combination of physio & osteopathy.

http://www.samafitness.co.uk/html/egoscue_.html

It got a good write up in my cycling magazine and seems to make sense. Read up what it says on the site about the method.

What have you got to loose? Just a few quid for the consultation.

It might be worth it

Remember surgery is the last option, but they won't do anything if they can't find anything wrong.

That's annoying they have done all that and found nothing - go back asap and get re-referred, before doing anything else first. Then get on the net and see if you can find anything similar-it may be you need a CAT scan, whats happening sounds like something pressuring a nerve, and a CAT would help show that better than an MRI maybe.

I had a disc protrusion on my sciatic nerve for a year thanks to the NHS and have been left with permanent nerve damage because they treated me for a pulled muscle, so I have zero faith in them.

I urge you to make a nuisance of yourself on this one-I didn't and wish I had.

get thee to a good osteopath. they'll be able to diagnose and cure it.

Just made another appointment at the doctors for a re-referral.

I suspect your problems are a little more serious than this, but - try a new mattress?

had thought of that actually, but the back issues started before the matress was bought.

How are you doing fella?