Sudden & severe back pain

[Drdogface]

Last week I was just standing at the bathroom sink washing my hands and something popped/moved in my lumbar area and a huge shot of pain hit me. I almost went down. It's just as bad as it was then and I really can't function at all. Tried to get an appt with my back Dr but he's booked solid for two weeks and then leaves town for three weeks after that. I went to urgent care and got some pain meds and an Rx for some PT as soon as I can get in. I can't even sleep but maybe three hours at night before the spasms start and it's like a painful elec shock. I've had back problems off and on in my life but this a whole new level. My average daily pain level is about 8+ but the spasms are a solid 10 if that's the top, and they can last several seconds or longer at times.

I'm 68 years old and have been told I have an overly straight spine. I have no pain in my butt or legs...thank God. Not many Dr's around this small town that specialize in back stuff and if I try to go to Sac it'll be another three weeks to get an appt. The E. Room here is a scary place...full of screaming kids, welfare folks, illegals, etc. Dr's are overworked and tired.

I have had spinal fractures before and thought they were compression/pathological fractures but am told they were traumatic and the result of a fall. My bone density is OK but just barely so. This pain actually resembles my last vertebral fracture now that I think about it..

Kinda don't know what to do from here or where to go. I'm on Vicadin almost all day but that has me so 'hung up' inside I have not gone in three days so trying to give myself a break on the drugs so I can get things moving again.

Any advice from Doc's will be much appreciated. I feel I likely need an MRI to find out what happend but no one to take the case and write it at this point.

[Zeke]

Wish I knew. That sounds bad. From what you've been saying lately, it's time to hook up with some out-of-town docs or a clinic.

[Drdogface]

Yeah, I suppose you're right. I've actually had back issues since January but not this bad. I'll see if my PT guy can make any suggestions on where to go... Thanks for the interest...

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Wish I knew. That sounds bad. From what you've been saying lately, it's time to hook up with some out-of-town docs or a clinic.

+1

I've been dealing with this on and off for the past 9 years. Get to a back specialist, get the MRI, get whatever PT they recommend. Best wishes on a quick recovery.

[Seahawk]

Chronic back pain is the worst.

I have had back "episodes" ever since I was hit by a car in college when I was on a bike. I can't help with current situation but I can tell you what has helped me prevent routine occurrences and "spikes" in pain:

- Exercise and stretching, especially the stomach and core. We had a renter who left one of those sit-up devices what you sit-in and do sit-up...brand new in the box. I set it up and it allows me to arch my back both directions. I do these stretches nearly every morning.

- Get as much weight off as you can.

- Walk. Walk nearly every morning and do a series of toe touches, back flexes, etc. on the walk. I don't mind looking stupid, so it works for me.

- Don't discount the stress in your life as a causal factor...your wife's injury and reduced employment will affect your health.

- Monthly massage. Worth every penny.

All that said, what also worked for me when my back would go ballistic:

- Get on hands and knees if you can. Gently arch your back upwards. It worked for me.

- Sleep in a chair/recliner

Good luck, Mark. I know exactly the pain you are in.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

- Exercise and stretching, especially the stomach and core.

- Get as much weight off as you can.

- Walk.

This has been my approach to dealing with my crappy lumbar vertebrae.

[Drdogface]

Thanks Paul, and all the rest. I would like to walk and will try today if I can. It's somewhat better during the day which implies that movement helps. My usual thing is icing but that does nothing this time. I will try to get an appt. with my internal med Doc if only to get an MRI done. I'm also hooked in with the VA but they are so slow and I certainly understand why. Add to that the closest VA hosp. is an hour away...I can't drive that far. Yeah, my wife's injury was hard on both of us and her work situation is another stress. It all adds up. Been trying to lose some weight for a while but it's slow as it should be.

I really appreciate the concern and suggestions...

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Drdogface

I would like to walk and will try today if I can. It's somewhat better during the day which implies that movement helps. My usual thing is icing but that does nothing this time.

Mark,

Talk to a Doc before walking too much NOW...I was referencing my routine once the episodes are over or I am cleared for movement by my Doc.

Don't rush it, Coboy

[Tobra]

sounds to me like you need an MRI to find out whzt is cooking

sudden onset makes me think you have something moviing that should not be

[KFC911]

Good luck Mark! They don't work for everyone, but I'm a firsthand believer in "inversion tables" when I occasionally hurt my back. I'm not alone, but it just depends upon the nature of the injury, etc. I'm not talking about the gymnastics routines you might see on a TV ad for one, but simply reclining at a decent angle for 5 minutes each day...works wonders for me when I "tweak" my back out as I occasionally do.

[Drdogface]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Mark,

Talk to a Doc before walking too much NOW...I was referencing my routine once the episodes are over or I am cleared for movement by my Doc.

Don't rush it, Coboy

10-4

Tobra, I know you work at a hosp in Sac but can't recall which one.. Can you recommend a back Doc down there that I might be able to see in a reasonable amount of time ? Like to meet you too, finally. PM me if that's a better way to contact...

[Mothy]

Agree with Paul - matches everything I have done to avoid repeat episodes of what you have described.

Couple of things to add:
- the pain/spasms are a vicious cycle - each causing the other. You need to break the cycle. Dulling the pain will ease the spasms. Fewer spasms will mean the pain eases.
- avoid tight belts/waist bands on trousers. For me it can cause the back to spasm and the pain cycle to trigger.
- Avoid sleeping with a twisted torso - best done by sleeping on side, knees together and legs bent at the knees.
- the drugs to dull the pain which can also have anti inflammatory benefits (like ibuprofen) will most likely get you 'hung up' inside as you described. Counter it by eating extra fruit or dried apricots or anything that would normally have the opposite effect. That is one element of 'strain' you don't need right now!

Best of luck - hope it eases off soon. In my case it usually loses the edge in a couple of days but can take weeks to get back to normal.

Tim

[LWJ]

+1 on the MRI. I was in an MVA in January. The PT was treating me for a stretched ligament when in fact it was a funky disk. The PT was making it 100% worse.

Good luck! I would see if you can leverage an appointment. What about sitting in the lobby of the back doc and pleading your case? Seriously. If the doc understood your situation completely, they would not turn you away.

Larry

[Tobra]

I work out of Sutter in Sacramento. I would probably go see French or Picetti. You will need a referral for anyone you see, insurance will dictate at least part of this, but none of the back guys are even going to speak to you without a referral.

[dlockhart]

Originally Posted by KC911

Good luck Mark! They don't work for everyone, but I'm a firsthand believer in "inversion tables" when I occasionally hurt my back. I'm not alone, but it just depends upon the nature of the injury, etc. I'm not talking about the gymnastics routines you might see on a TV ad for one, but simply reclining at a decent angle for 5 minutes each day...works wonders for me when I "tweak" my back out as I occasionally do.

+1 my table does not get used often but it is like magic when i need it

[Drdogface]

Thanks Tobra,
At my age it's Medicare plus a Supplement. I likely can get my internist to refer me. Maybe even the office where my normal back Doc works.

[vash]

good luck..i cannot imagine the pain.

[MRM]

I'm not a medical doctor, although I've cross examined enough that I sometimes get called "doctor" sarcastically for testifying in my closing arguments. I don't do personal injury defense work anymore, but I used to do a lot of neck and back work.

The first thing that comes to mind with a sudden onset of bad pain and/or spasms is a blown disc or other injury to the bony structures. You don't expect that kind of pain and spasm to come from an exclusively soft tissue injury. If the disc or bony structure isn't compressing a nerve you might not have radiating pain yet, but you could still have the localized pain and spasms. If you have damage to the vertebrae from prior trauma, you probably have some degree of degenerative arthritis that is involved. I really think you have some disc or bony structure involvement. I don't think you have just a soft tissue strain/sprain, especially with your history of prior trauma to the spine.

In any event, I would treat this as though you have something more than a bad soft tissue injury. If there is a herniated disc and it later moves around enough to impinge on your cord, it could cause permanent nerve damage. You really don't want to take that chance, so I'd recommend doing whatever you can to be scanned and seen by a specialist. I wouldn't do exercises or inversion tables until you've been scanned.

My second suggestion is that you don't necessarily need an orthopedic surgeon. That's your top choice, but any ortho is fine, and in fact, for acute back pain, you can go to any neurologist as well. They can order and interpret the scans as well as an ortho; they'll just refer you off to a surgeon if you do have a blown disc with impingement. So check around for any neurologist who is willing to take you. If worse comes to worse, you can see a family practitioner. They have broad cross training in orthopedics and neurology. One of them should be able to handle a possible blown disc. Anything is better than waiting two weeks for your regular doc to come back. I really think you need to be seen now.

[FLYGEEZER]

Ditto on the inversion boots. I couldn't get by without mine. Best of luck. Above all, get well!

[VincentVega]

Good luck. Be careful with treatment until you have xrays and/or mri to show what's actually wrong. Until then you can do more damage then good.