Human back trouble

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Ezme

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25 February 2008
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North devon, Bristol (term time)
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I don't know what to do about my back so i thought i'd reach quite a wide audience on here, plus every horse owner/ user seems to get back trouble at some point! Bare with me with
the history.

About 10 years ago I came off a pony onto concrete (one of the few falls I've ever thought was a stables fault but thats another story) and every since i've had intermittant lower back pain, either side of my spine (i.e. muscular), normally worse on one side. It has also been made worse by epilesy, obv not the acctually epilespy but the act of falling repeatedly usually on a hard surface. Anyway, moving back to devon for the summer, then having a cross country driving lesson, then working agrevated it. This time the pain was a little higher up and more central. As usual I went to McTimmony Chiro twice and it sorted out. Now its a month later and its back, this time however without a cause and it feels like its my spine rather than the muscles surrounding it and it keeps clicking and grinding. I am overwieght and not massivly active at the moment due to a variety of reasons but because this is in a different place and making noises do you think I should go to the Docs or just head back to chiro? I will have to go back to docs in 2 months so i'll ask then regardless but i'm a bit concerned and I can be a bit overly cautious sometimes.

I've been lying flat alot and keeping it warm which lessens the pain but it still makes clicks.
 
Personally I'd go back to the chiro. I found the same thing with McTimoney - feels great at first, but the adjustments don't last. Each time they last for longer though, and I now go once every 2 years (unless I fall, slip etc).

If you're worried it may be something more serious though, go back to the doc's asap.
 
You could go to your doctor and ask for a physio referal. They can massage and manipulate your back if it needs it. Also, my physio advised pilates as a good form of exersice for backs, unfortunately, I cant comment on that as just had my cruciate ligament reconstructed and cant do it yet, but, I will give it a go once I'm 100% as its supposed to be really good, especially for us horsey peeps
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Good luck I know how you feel, its horrible to have back pain.
 
I think you need to be careful as what works with one person may be terrible for another. I have had back troubles since I was young, I put it down to competing heavily and at high levels on hard ground and it 'jarring' my back. when you're young you can have a good soak in the bath and it kind of sorts itself out. About 9 years ago I was lifting some things on a temping assignment and the next day I could not move, I had to be carried to the docs and put on some crazy pills that totally knocked me out, also I had a bit of physio and it again got better pretty quickly. A year and a half ago I felt a twinge but carried on, went and did the horses came home and drive into town, tried to get out of the car and couldn't move, Husband then had to lift me out of the car and drive me home, a day later he was taking me to A&E as it was over xmas time as I couldn't walk and the pain was unbearable, more pills and told to rest. It eased up a bit and then went to docs and they referred me to physio, physio said it wasn't my disc and it was muscular, put heat on it and literally it sent me into spasm I could not move from the treatment bed for 4 hours! Went to a chiropractor - had an xray and I had partialy slipped my disc - heat + inflammation (sp) = wanting to die with pain! However manipulation of spine and skeleton to make it in the right place for back to heal properly, followed by ice packs and maybe some ultra sound did work and after treatment it got better eventually. Pain will travel up your back so it could hurt your back and then next day your shoulders or neck ache - the pain travels.
Unfortunately unless you have MRI and then get specialist treatment doctors/Physio/Chiro/Osteo etc can only work with what they see. I have had a completely pain free year since and then a month ago I slipped my disc and at the moment the only treatment is a huge dose of drugs! I can walk again now and muck out but can't ride yet. Please be very careful and perhaps ask for a referral as you only get one back and if it goes say goodbye to the horses, one of the worst problems for me is that I can never have a soak in the bath as it sets it all off again - thank god for showers!!!!!!! Hope you feel better soon xx
 
Thanks guys, i'll try the chiro again, he gives me student discount thank god. I already have plans to increase my "core stabilty" when I get back to uni and can go to something regularly so hopefully that'll put it back for good.
 
wow lochpearl, that sounds awful. I know what its like to have misdiagnoes. I think i'll go chiro next week get him to have a good look and get a recomendation on what to do next. I have dislocated a rib and put verterbra out of alighment before (which the chiro fixed in 2 sittings) so hopefully its just that again, just a bit worse or a different one.
 
Back to chiro. I used to not be able to stand still for long and just kept going regularly with gaps in between getting longer. Down to an annual checkup now and non probs at all yet at one point I thought I might have an arthritic back it was so bad.
 
I personally would go see your doctor and see if you can get him to send you for a scan to find out what is going on.
 
Ezme, I think probably that with the passage of time and your increasing weight, that you have now got some arthritic changes in your spine.
Not a lot that can be done to reverse that, but losing some weight, core strengthening exercises and general analgesia will all help.
Physios can give you some useful exercises to do, keeping mobile will help.
A lot of the pain comes from the muscles going into spasm.
You could also try fish oil and / or glucosamine. (works for people too!)

I use a TENS machine when the pain gets really bad. If you get a physio he/she can tell you where to get one of these.

Lochpearl, that sounds awful!
Continue to take advice from the physios and move as well as you can.
 
Hi Ezme,

As in the horse world, human therapists are supposed to assist you once a doctor as assessed the issue, as undiagnosed pain is a contra-indication for chiro/physio/massage etc.

I would suggest that you visit your doctor and ask for an x-ray followed by a physio referral. Once that is done a regime or set of exercises can be given to you to help recover.

Good luck & keep us all posted on developments.
 
Not sure if it would help you but I went to see an Osteopath after slipping a disc a few weeks ago, he was brilliant cracked me all over and I've never felt better. Even fixed a 10 year old stiff neck from whiplash which £££ of physio didn't help at all.
 
Hi, i have suffered back pain for over 10 years, thanks to a fall off a horse, i went to see many doctors and a chiro, til someone recommended a osteopath ( can' t spell, dont have time to look up ). i went and for the first time was able to drive a car without pain everytime i use the clutch. this one is in northam bideford. if it is any use to you please pm me and i will get back to you with a number.
 
There is alot of arthritus in my family but it better bloody not be! I'm only 20! Its not so painful that I can't do things at the moment. Although it does get me out of attempting to pick up baby percheron feet! just want to nip it in the bud as I need to work to pay off student debt. Also i want to get riding the baby more, or at least riding out with on the oldie. Its friday now anyway so maybe i'll just give the weekend and asses monday morning.

I have found driving uncomfortable too, well not so much the acctual driving but the getting out after, i think being imobile is isn't a good thing.
 
OMG! Ezme! You're a mere bairn!
Help, I hope it's not arthritis too, but to be honest it sounds like it.
As has already been suggested, see the doc, then physio, chiro or whatever you choose.
(I personally prefer physio because I get it on the NHS :-) )
 
Thanks for the advice everyone. I think i will go to the chiro then where that goes to the docs. After my 21st birthday my mum can put me on her BUPA cover she gets from work. I'll keep updated. Hopefully i'm just out of alignment in a differnet place to normal.
 
With regards to xrays, these will only show arthritic or boney changes, and have no indication re discs damage, so if you are to have any tests via your gp if showing any neurology, you would need to have an MRI scan.

But as I suggested before, a gp referal would be your best bet if the problem is getting worse and you experience pins/needles/numbness etc to your legs.
 
Don't take any risks with your back, you could end up with serious, long term pain. Go to your GP and pester him for an MRI so your doctor can diagnose what the problem is. Physiotherapists, etc. can be very helpful, but they shouldn't be working 'blind', you really need to know the cause of the problem so you get the right help.

Hope you feel better soon.
 
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