[Angel555]

Can anyone help me find a doctor to correctly diagnos my problem??? (Southeast PA)
I have had severe pain in my lower back (right above the buttocks). I was in a MVA in 1985 (I was 15 and a passenger) and have had back pain since then. I am now in my late 30's and the pain is getting worse. When I am on my feet for long periods of time, I get a sharp stinging pain that goes side to side and my right thigh goes numb (just started going numb about 6 months ago). I also have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome which causes me pain that starts around my ovaries and wraps around to by lower back. This happens about once a month. Basically, I am in pain almost every day. Over the past 3 years, between my family doctor, Orthopedic doctor and the OB/GYN doctor, I have requested pain killers so many times that I'm sure they think I am an addict or selling them. But I am truely in severe pain. I have been prescribed Vicodin, Percocet, nuerotin (sp), Cymbalta (sp), Flexeril, skelexin and of course I've been told to take Aleve or Tylenol. The vicodin and Percocet help somewhat but the others are a joke. I had an MRI of my lower back about 4 years ago and was told they couldn't see anything notable. (the report that I saw, not in laymans terms, stated that there was something around L4 but it wasn't reportable) Am I crazy or isn't this where I am feeling the pain. I have changed my Orthopedic doctor about 4 times in the past 2 years because they want me to go to therapy and take medication that doesn't seem to work. All therapy seems to do is make the pain worse.

[Robert_325]

hi angel ... back problems are such a drag. All of us who have had chronic back issues have gone through the same or similar situations as you. I can't count the times drs have told me to start physical therapy and it ends up hurting more than helping me. PT is great, but sometimes I think drs send us there when they can't properly diagnose our problem. They are obviously just hoping the therapy works sometimes.

I don't personally know orthopedic surgeons in PA, but I do happen to know that Hanover Hospital in Philadelphia is rated as one of the top orthopedic hospitals in the country. They have received especially high rankings in hospitals specializing in back problems. I just looked up the hospital and the dr they recommend for spine problems is a Dr Francis X. Kilkelly, MD, of the Hanover Orthopaedic Associates group at the hospital. Even if Philadelphia is a little far from you it might be a place to begin. I know if you hurt as badly as I have at times it wouldn't matter. Hope this helps some. Good luck.

[Angel555]

Thank you for your quick reply. I will consider this option. Yes Philadelphia is a little far, about an hour drive and the worse traffic you could imagine.

[mpvt]

Sounds like a herniated disc in the L4-5 region.
Can you ask your doctor to send you to a pain clinic???
You need a CT on the lumbar region of your back.
To be truthfull, opiates aren't alot of help for sciatica pain.Lyrica is proving to be a god send for chronic nerve pain sufferer's.
If they do decide on a opiate then try and stay away from the useless ones lice vioden or anything else with Tylenol or ASA in it.
A sustained release opiate is your best bet with chronic pain....Good luck and let us know how you make out.........Dave

[erinkj]

I agree with Dave, this sounds like a possible herniation at L4-L5. My husband had a rupture of both last year and had to have a double lamanectomy surgery. The sciatica is something that you don't want to let go, it is a sign of potentialy serious trouble. Do you see a chiropractor? If not, I reccomend that you find a GOOD chiropractor prefferably one who offers spinal decompression therapy. You will know they have this technology if they advertise "Spinal Aid" at their practice. Decompression WILL help! Our chiropractor actually ordered my hubby's MRI and diagnosed his prob when a nuerologist said nothing was wrong.....4 weeks later L4 +L5 ruptured....hubby ended in E.R with a handy CD copy of his MRI, on staff neuro took one look at the disk and the had him in the OR 15 minutes later....You could be surprised how much chiropractors know and can dx...can also send you to the right DR. Give that a try....Peace and Luck...Erin

[Angel555]

Thank you all for the advice. I will call my doctor today. Also, yes I do have a chiropractor. He is very good and old school so I doubt if he offers Spinal Aid. I just hate going to the chiropractor, the sound of bones cracking just erks me. I'll will keep you all up to date on what I find out. Check back to this post often. (Well give me a couple days) Angel.

[Angel555]

I have a doctors appt. on Friday with the Orthopedic doctor. I will respond over the weekend with what they suggest.

[Angel555]

I am so mad...
I just got a call from the doctors office regarding the results of the nerve test. I was informed that I didn't need to come in on Friday and that I should see a neurologist. He said that since the nerve test came back stating that there was nothing wrong that it would be hard to say what my problem is. I said to him that basically I will have to deal with the pain and numbness until someone can figure out why I feel this pain and numbness. He said yes.

I've gone to a neurologist before for the back pain and all they did was prescribe therapy and Neurotin (sp). I am only 38 years old, I shouldn't have these many issues, this is nuts.

[lotus21]

the pain you are having sounds like the pain I have as well.....when I am on my feet for long periods of time I will get a sharp stabbing pain in my lower back/upper part of my buttock, and if I am walking my leg will give out on me. This usually happens on the right side for me. By the end of the day my leg from my hip to below my knee aches no matter what I do. Nothing I have taken for pain works. I've been to my doctor multiple times, had x-rays (nothing really showed up, slight scoliosis) and he recommends advil and heat application. I recently saw an RMT and mentioned this problem to her. She seemed very knowledgeable about the problem and offered me more information than my doctor ever had. She thinks it may be piriformis syndrome, having to do with your piriformis muscle and sciatic nerve. She said you can have pain on both sides, or across your lower back, or one side more than the other. There is even a way she can test to see if its that muscle causing the problem, unfortunatley since I am pregnant there is not much she can do to help me right now, but I will definately be going back to her once I have the baby. Try talking to a few massage therapists and see what they say, I am going to try it.

[Joooeee]

Hi there,

If this condition also affects your bladder and bowel control then this is serious condition. There is an acupuncture machine that tests LOCOMOTOR and you might want to check that out. Massage therapy especialy the stress release really really helps with some vitamins and good homeopathic doctors. It also depends on your history whether you took any drug or not. Good luck!

Originally Posted by lotus21

the pain you are having sounds like the pain I have as well.....when I am on my feet for long periods of time I will get a sharp stabbing pain in my lower back/upper part of my buttock, and if I am walking my leg will give out on me. This usually happens on the right side for me. By the end of the day my leg from my hip to below my knee aches no matter what I do. Nothing I have taken for pain works. I've been to my doctor multiple times, had x-rays (nothing really showed up, slight scoliosis) and he recommends advil and heat application. I recently saw an RMT and mentioned this problem to her. She seemed very knowledgeable about the problem and offered me more information than my doctor ever had. She thinks it may be piriformis syndrome, having to do with your piriformis muscle and sciatic nerve. She said you can have pain on both sides, or across your lower back, or one side more than the other. There is even a way she can test to see if its that muscle causing the problem, unfortunatley since I am pregnant there is not much she can do to help me right now, but I will definately be going back to her once I have the baby. Try talking to a few massage therapists and see what they say, I am going to try it.

[Aeroman]

acupuncture.

[StephLuvsMichigan]

I was also in an auto accident 10 yrs ago. just last dec (07) i finally had a lumbar fusion of the L-4 L-5. they put in 4 titanium pins, 4 rods, and a metal plate in my back. this was my second surgery. i had the first one directly after the accident. i was on pain pills for yrs. i did all the pt, water therapy, acupuncture, and all that. i really didnt want to do the surgery at such a young age (im only 30) but i finally couldnt take the pain anymore! i broke down and had the surgery, and i am so glad that i did. i will never be 100% but it is such a better quality of life than what i had before. i hope you can find a dr. that can help you relieve your pain. i am so sympathetic to what you are going thru! i completely feel for you i also did cortisone injections in my SI joints and spine that helped relieve the pain and numbness temporarily. but it never lasted long, and the procedure is not pleasant

[siamacupuncture]

You should see an acupuncturist about your back pain. While acupuncture is useful for many types of injury, I have found clinically that it is even more helpful to patients that are not able to get a clear western diagnosis.

Your description of your accident and the PCOS most likely means there is "Blood Stasis" in that area of your body. While the terminology may seem odd, these Chinese medicine concepts accurately describe constellations of symptoms that often don't fit into western frameworks.

Read this article on using Acupuncture for Back Pain for more information.