Im 27 and have back problems!!!

[mushroom]

Hi

This is my first post in this forum and would like to say "Hi" to all you good people!

Ok, I'm 27 years old and seem to have back problems and am hoping some here can offer some advice.

Last year "out of the blue", I had such bad back pain that I could not put any weight on my feet. Basically I could not stand for a week. After 1 week suddenly I was able to walk again, but with a little pain. After a few days, it was like I never had a back problem.

A few months ago, the same thing happened again. For example, "out of the blue", I was again not able to walk at all, because I could not handle the pain when I put my feet on the floor. This time I was in bed for 3 days and thought to myself, I should not be having this problem at this age. So I got my girlfriend the call the doctor. The doctor came down and examined my lowerback. He said that "one of your disks is slightly out of place!". He phoned the hospital. The ambulance came and said "can you walk" I said "No". So they gave me some sort of gas (the same sort they give women when they are giving birth.) They said this will take the pain away temporarily so you can walk to the ambulance van, and we will take you to the hospital.

After waiting in the hospital for a long time, another doctor looked at my back and said, I see nothing wrong with your back!!!

Im thinking "How can that be!". 1 doctor said only a few hours ago that I have a disk slightly out of place, and now this doctor is saying that you are perfectly ok? Then she said, you can go home when you are ready.

So I get up and start walking!!!! The effects of that gas were off very quickly so it was not the gas. My back was actually better, although a little saw. The only logical explanation I can come up with is the following:

While I was on that gas, and was walking, the disk must have slipped back into place!

But now, every now and again, I get sharp pains in my back and my back feels really weak. I am afraid that the disk might slip out of place again.

Does anyone know whats wrong with my back? and give me some advice?

Please help

Thanks

 

[Lisa V]

I don't know what's wrong with your back: possibly it was an intervertebral disc which had ruptured so that it was pressing on a nerve, causing the pain and weakness. Most of us have "slipping" discs: it's only when they press on a nerve that we realise the damage, as the muscles go into spasm as a response. The lie down and the relaxation caused by the gas were probably key to your recovery: the pressure on the nerve alleviated, the muscles relaxed and you were comfortable again.

Get your back strong and be aware of your posture. I'd advise Pilates (but then I'm a Pilates Teacher - I got into it because of a slipped disc myself, and I've helped many to strengthen their spines and so help prevent future painful episodes. ) or core stability of some form. Posture is very important, as is nutrition, activity, and state of mind.

If you search HP for back pain you'll find a variety of advice

Here's an interesting web-site about back pain. www.backdetective.com

Sharon

 

[iFree]

spinal music - Thanks for the reply. I have never heard of Pilates before and will be doing research to find out what it is or means.

Yesterday, I started feeling slight pain in my back when walking and thought "Oh no!!". When I got back home, I did some basic back exercises I found on the internet and felt much much better. While I was doing these exercises I could hear my back (possibly spine) clicking.

If you have any recommended source of information about Pilates I would appriciate it very much.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Linda Williams]

Have pm'd you
Sharon

 

[yogibooboo]

Thank you Sharon. That might be just what I need!

 

[Scooch]

Hi Narmi2.

I hope things have improved by now, so is no longer needed.

Vertebral or more properly intervertebral disks (as Spinal Music points out) don't slip in and out or even get a bit displaced. They can bulge (herniate), which may be the case or they can fuly prolapse (burst), which in your case sounds extremely unlikely as they take much longer to settle when that happens.

For it to come and go so quickly and as the pain is in the back only, then it's most liklely that the problem is known as a facet joint lock / irritation. Although painful this is not a serious problem and ususally remedied with a few osteopathic treatments and advice on appropriate stretches, etc.

Andrew.

 

[Yorkshire Gal]

Haven't been to this thread for a long time, got tied up in other issues I have!

Anyway, the back pain is back although nowhere near as bad as it has been in the past. But things are slightly different this time round. I feel the pain going down the back of my right leg slightly above where the lower leg joins the upper leg. I am also experiencing a strange uncomfortable feeling in my right foot?

 

[Littletexan]

Sorry to hear you're having problems again!

Have you tried pilates yet? It really can be very effective, so I hope you've given it some thought.

I haven't really anything extra to add, because I am far from an expert (let's leave that to Andrew and Sharon!) Re: your back pain at a young age- I am sure I remember reading that "slipped disks" can be quite common in younger men, even more so if they play contact sports....so perhaps you're not an anomaly after all?!

 

[ancewrine6]

PS-

Forgot to say: I suffered from back pain about 6 months ago at the grand old age of 17!!! It was in the lumbar and sometimes the pain shot down my leg, and hurt when I turned my foot out to the side so I wondered if it could be the piriformis. However, when I went to an osteopath (would recommend them!) She looked at my history in a lot of depth and it turned out that during the 10 week non weightbearing period following a severe knee injury, my leg stopped growing. This means that one of my legs is about 3/4 mm shorter, causing an imbalance in my hips (and knock oneffect tomy shoulders.)So you see, not all back pain is simply due to wear and tear resulting from old age!!

 

[Laurent]

Hi Azalia

Sorry to hear about your back problems too.

No I have not tried out pilates. Havn't built up enough "courage" for that yet.


That bit rings bells! Something similar happens to me but the pain doesn't shoot down and stop, it shoots down and stays.


Wow, I never knew you couldhave "grand", "old", and "17" together in a sentence together!

Best wishes
Narmi

 

[iftpehlv]

Yeah, maybe you're right. Should have justoptedfor 'grand' and '17'[8D]

 

[deonejuan]

Narmi it sounds like sciatica, which can have a few possible origins - all advice as before.

Or you could try tapping on it! "Even though I have a funny feeling in my footetc......" Get down to the nitty gritty of it and you may find your symproms clear up this way. I've used tapping with some success with client's pain, and it works - and with your previous experiences it may just work for you when you are in pain.

Sharon.

 

[Jim Manson]

Hello - I'm new here and can sympathesise with having LBP in your 20's. When I was 21 (I'm now 24) and I was 3 months post qualifying as a physiotherapist a patient fell on me prolapsing my disc at L4/5. I have had to give up work as a physio and still rely on Cocodamol and Tramadol daily to keep going. I stillonly getbetween 3 - 5 hrs sleep at night. I went through a time of feeling like there was no hope (I was a marathon runner) however now realise that there are so many people worse off and have concentrated my energy into music.

It is very frustrating and I do wonder what I'll be like in 10 years time.

Iwould have to agree that narmi2 should concentrate on core stability pilates type exercises to improve the stability of your lumbar spine and hopefully prevent recurrence of the problem.

 

[dorriskrausS]

Thanks for all the advice. It is VERY appreciated!

titch11 - Sorry to hear about your back. But it's great to know you've found interest in music! Each time I get an episode I also think, what am I going to be going through in the future. Hope things workout for you.

I haveFINALLY decided to pull myself together and go get this checked out. But first I have the monuments task of trying to persuade my doctor to refer me to an osteopath.

spinal music -I was able to get into your website when you first PMed me, but I can't get in anymore. Have you removed the website?

Also, what kind of nutrition do I need to be looking into to help with my back problem? Only reason I am asking this is because, I've just noticed when IDONT eat unhealthy foods, I always seems to get back problems. I'm quessing its because, although the food is unhealthy there is a lot of nutrition in there to, which I am probably loosing out on when I try to eat healthy!

So if someone could suggestion nutrition that would be great.

Best wishes
Narmi

 

[hezpkbjd]

HI Narmi - my web-site is being re-furbed - should be back up and running in the next week or so. Was there anything you wanted to ask?
As far as nutrition is concerned - you do need a balance of fats, carbs and protein, so if your version of"healthy" is no fat, loads of fruit and veg, and a bit of protein, then your body will suffer. How much you need depends on your height and build. Are you quite a big person?
Sharon.

 

[kxepmurrikgifzeaz]

Hi Sharon,

I've just been to the doctors and he would not refer me! He gave me some
Diciofenac Sodium Tablets and said take them for a week and if nothing happens we will have to talk about physiotherapy. The problem is this back pain of mine always seems to last a week lol. But I wanted to go to the osteopath to find out the real reason why I am having this pain, but he would not listen.

Anyway, currently my back pain hurts the most when I sit. If I sit for about 30 minutes I can hardly walk because of the pain. But if I keep walking or if I lay down its not too bad.

I would not say I am overly big. I am 5ft 10" tall and weigh slightly over 13 stones. I checked out a height to weight ratio chart and I should weigh 11 stones for my height. So am about 2 stones over weight.

I'm thinking about taking vitamin tablets to make up for any loss or nutrition. What do you think?

Also about your website, I wanted to know if there is anyplace close to where I live which does Pilates classes.

Thanks for the info
Narmi

 

[Rat-A-Tatter]

Should I be concerned about the following:

the first time this happened the frequency of stool passing decreased dramatically but now the frequency has increased4 times!

Sorry for being so blunt!

Narmi

 

[Pompal 09.]

Narmi you could try the [link=http://www.bodycontrol.co.uk]www.bodycontrol.co.uk[/link] site for an instructor, or e-mail me if you like and I'll see if I know someone in your area.
The Guardian/Observer newspapers are offering an on-line diet plan - it looks pretty sensible -[link=http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/]Here[/link]
Yes to the vitamins and minerals.
The tablets might be causing the problem - have a look at the side effects.
You can take yourself off to an osteopath if you want to. It depends what sort of relationship you have with your doctor - if doing your own thing would interfere with a good relationship and he can refer you to a good physio, then that's fine. Otherwise do your own thing.
Sharon.

 

[nzbzxkyo]

Sharon thanks for the links! Some really useful info in the diet link. I seem to have found 2 pilates teachers in my town! Thanks

I'm not sure how to go about finding a ostiopath without my doctor? Do I look in the yellow pages or something?

 

[the world of danger]

Great stuff.
If you haven't a recommendation to go on then there's certainlya directory of osteopaths - Anahata would be the person to ask about that. Perhaps you could start a new thread?
Sharon