Summoning all back pain sufferers to this thread!

[scho63]

Quick background before the bad back problem:

-I'm 55 1/4 years old
-Lost 85 pounds in the last 18 months and only 15-20 pound away from recommended weight. Did it through exercise at gym and good diet.
-I'm muscular and active at the gym and golf
-Very few medical issues; two detached retinas, one in each eye. Operations on both eyes, right 14 and left 16 years ago
-No stitches in my life
-No real issues for the most part with any major health issues or any broken bones except fracture of my hand when I got into a fight in high school and punched a kid about 20 times in the head

Back issue:
Over the last 18-24 months I began having some MINOR discomfort and morning pain in my left hip. It went away after warming up and walking around, never preventing me from any activity or event.

Fast forward to the last 2-3 weeks.
-Suddenly I begin having this sporadic shocking pain that lasts a few seconds just above my left hip then lessens. Didn't think much of it as I am aging and just think it's a muscle strain. Over the last two weeks it has become so severe so quickly that if I move or position myself in a bad way it's like someone is sticking a cattle prod in my lower back and I buckle. I nearly have tears in my eyes and the pain is substantial, just below my Pancreatitis and Gout, the two worst and most painful things I've ever had.

My fear is that with my bad posture over the last 20-25 years working at a desk on a computer along with my recent overly aggressive gym workouts and golf, I have screwed up my back really bad.

I know the Sciatic and a herniated disc can be really painful.

I'm hoping someone can share some insight who has suffered from a bad back that is not the result of an accident or work injury.

Thanks in advance and while I typed this I moved he wrong way and was shocked with the pain!

[Nickhead]

My back pain started when I was 22, and was diagnosed with a pulled muscle. Am 44 now, and am still dealing with the same pulled muscle

It's proper sciatica, predominately on the left side but from over correcting thru the years, sometimes it pops up on the right side.

Shoulder blades are misaligned and pop often as a result.

I've been thru so many instances of traumatic stress to the body I have no idea which came first. the chicken or the egg.

Oddly enough I can function like everyone else, it just hurts more for me to do it.

[Naptown Chief]

If you've had negative scans I'd talk to an orthopedic specialist or neurosurgeon and ask about sacrioliitis or SI joint pain. Took months for them to figure out mine were ****ed up, albeit from a work accident (19 months ago) which destroyed my neck, back, and hips as well. It can absolutely be caused by deterioration though and one article I read stated something like 25% of low back pain can be attributed to it (maybe it meant 25% of cases where clear imaging didn't find anything else, I don't recall). Mine got so messed up that you can see it in images, which is not always the case, and can actually see it pinching/impacting the nerve. The best way to diagnose is with injections. You get any kind of relief and there you have it.

That may very well not be your issue but the pain caused by it can spread anywhere from your low back, to your groin, thighs, HIPS, etc. and cause sciatic pain as well. I wouldn't wish this shit on anyone. Like you mentioned, there's times I'm on the verge of tears even with pain killers and nerve pain meds. The pain is constant but the severity fluctuates. After numerous injections I'm actually having surgery in November. That is another can of worms in of itself.

Anyway, maybe someone much more knowledgeable than I am will chime in. Regardless, I sincerely hope you can figure this out and get some relief. Back pain is horrible brother..

[Sassy Squatch]

Try a Chiropractor yet?

[chinaski]

Read the book healing back pain by Dr. John Sarno MD.

Edit: To add, Been dealing with similar issues for years. I have gone through three epidural steroid shots, and was literally laying in pre-op to have surgery when the surgeon point blank told me that he, personally, wouldn't have the surgery. I got up and left the hospital...On a recommendation from a friend, I read this book. It has helped me more than anything else.

Watch:

[BigRedChief]

I'm not a Dr. or play one on TV but that sounds exactly like sciatica. That nerve is getting pinched by a vertebra. I didn't fall, get in an accident.. nothing. It's mainly a malady of over 45 year old white males with European descent. Its a defect.

Dealt with it for 7 years. Over the years the pain varies from ibuprofen to shit I've got to go to the ER for a morphine drip from sciatica notch pain in the hip. Never went but it was some serious pain. Chiropractor didn't work for me. Acupuncture lowered the pain level. They can give you a steroid shot directly in the spine that will cure some people. Most get some benefit from the procedure.

Get an MRI and see how bad its getting pinched. If it is scaitca. The treatment is different for that than general lower back pain.
They can go in an shave part of the vertebra off thats pinching the nerve. But, the scar tissue from the procedure could grow into that space and your right back where you are before the procedure.

No magic bullet out there that works for everyone. People will tell you "THIS" is the solution. May or may not be. Going to have to try several options. Maybe the shot will work for you?

[Gravedigger]

Swimming 3-4 times per week. Take 2 ibuprofen before you go, take a few laps in the lanes then get out and get into the hot tub and let the jets hit the problem areas. Do bicycle kicks in the hot tub to keep your muscles moving and stretched, then get back into the lanes and take a few more laps, switching up your strokes every lap.

[BlackHelicopters]

Try various concentrations of antifreeze and lots of tequila.

[threebag]

Alcohol, drugs (for pain) and work it out by ****ing chicks.

[Sassy Squatch]

Weed or CBD oil if you want to keep it legal.

[notorious]

Back stretches do it for me, before and after working out (which for me is a 4 hour workout at a time).

Stretch before bed and when you wake up. I am talking about laying on your back, shoulders flat and rolling your hips with one leg pointed outwards parallel to the ground. Count to 30 and roll your hips the other way and repeat with other leg.

Rest also helps. I made my employees so all the work for a while now and it helped. I’ve tapered off hard-core physical activity and it’s gotten immensely better.

Believe it or not, your workouts are hurting you. Stay away from the lift and turn exercises.

[KCUnited]

Stretch

[redfan]

Sciatic nerve impingement. I've got it from time to time, esp. if I overdue things.
Try to strengthen your abdominal muscles, that's what helped me.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

Try a Chiropractor yet?

This would be the cheapest intervention option. Be careful though. There are a mountain of quacks. If they start talking about lowering blood pressure by popping your back or some shit, keep walking. A lot of them want you to come back every week or whatever. You may need it, your muscles can pull the alignment back out after a day so, but if they’re wanting to do anything other than come in when there is pain, keep walking.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Stretch

This has helped me also.