Cronic Lower back and hip pain - help please

I had the lower back, L buttock and hip pain. Mine was from herniated discs. I also had sciatica pain because of this. I remember all too well how it feels. I was in constant pain every minute of every day. I walked with a limp,because the pain was worse every time I stepped with my left foot. There were times my leg almost wouldn't go, I would slide my foot to walk. Sometime my left foot would flop down. Mine was really severe too. I think it was,no I know it was the worse pain in my life. I do feel for you. I am sorry you are going through this. You do need to see you doctor and get a proper diagnosis so you will know what kind of treatment that you need. He will probably order a MRI,too. I did have the back surgery 2 weeks ago today. I said I would never have back surgery. And at the time I said that,I meant it. But my quality of life was effected so bad from this. I got tired of suffering and working like this was torture. I do hope that this is not what you have. However, I will say that the surgery I had was successful so far. I am dealing with the pain from the surgery itself. And that pain is just in my back. I do have hip pain on both sides, but I think it is because I can't lie on my back but for a few minutes at a time. I lie on my side with a pillow between my knees and then rotate. I think that will get better as I am able to lie different ways. Good luck to you. Please don't let this go without treatment. Sorry to tell you my entire story,but it may not be what you have. you need to see you doctor asap.
Anice

Nice to meet you Hara, but sure wish it was under better circumstances..
I've had low back pain for over ten years now, due to a car accident and well
it can take a toll on you..and I agree with anice as well, get a lower lumber
MRI and maybe even a contrast one..
good luck to you and keep us posted...
HUGZ
((((((((((((((Hara))))))))))))))))))))

You guys just made me cry. My chiropractor has helped me with my headaches. I am feeling better about that. I'm at the same pointwhere I am thinking I need a good neurologist or orthopedic doctor because I already know that x-rays won't show anything. But I'll get them just for my chiropractor.

I am going to my doctor tomorrow (Thursday). I'm going to tell him everything I told his nurse today.

I am thinking my lower back pain is from several falls off a horse when I was 11-12 before I found out how to stay on...I know when I was at that age in Junior High ( Middle school), I would bend over and get sort of stuck on the way back up. Then my father opened the Back Center. I was on a back swing, where you are upsidedown, and I hear a loud pop on day and then I could bend up and down all I wanted without getting stuck.

HARA 

Hara

I hope you get the right answers and find a good MD. Try not to wear the back brace a lot, take breaks, my neurosurgeon doesn't believe in back braces. He told me the brace makes one's back muscles lazy and weak. I had my lumbar spine fused and he didn't allow a back brace. he wanted me to walk. Do you use a heating pad? That might help calm the pain. Good luck. cshelp

PAlady said...
Hara,
I'm sorry if we made you cry! I know we were just trying to help and offer our opinions. It's the best we can do since we're not doctors.

I hope things work out for you.

PaLady

I was crying because all of you are so helpful and I know I'm not alone in this.

Hara,
Whew! I'm glad nothing I said caused tears!

You are definitely not alone, and I know how good that feels. I think everyone on the site does. It's an amazing family we have here!

PaLady

Hara,

Do you also go to a PM Doc?  I know that my PM won't let me see a chiropractor...I have had a bad experience with one in the past.  I can't imagine going to both... They seem to work against each other...

Me/

uniquelyme said...

Hara,

Do you also go to a PM Doc?  I know that my PM won't let me see a chiropractor...I have had a bad experience with one in the past.  I can't imagine going to both... They seem to work against each other...

Me/

What is a PM? I don't understand.

Hara,

Welcome to our forum. I'm sorry about some the abbreviations we use. PM can mean pain managment as in a specialized doc or a pain program depending on the context of the sentance. It can also mean pain medication, again depending on the context.

A pain managment doctor is one who limits his/her practice to the treatment of chronic pain. A good PM doctor will treat chronic pain with a broad array of tools in the arsenal. The pain managment program is developed for a specific patient's needs and desires. It may or may not include PT (physical therapy), medication, electronics (TENS units - transdernal electric nerve stimulator), SCS (spinal cord stimulator) and many other techniques.

PM is a very specialized area of medicine and not all aspects of pain treatment are fully understood even by the doctors. Nerves and the way they respond to disease and trauma are very complex. The interaction between nerves and the brain (pain perception) are especially complex. A good PM will have spent many years in school learning the specialty and will constantly be reading the new research material as it becomes available. Unfortunately, PM docs can be misunderstood as only narcotics dispensers. There is much, much more to pain treatment than just narcotic pain medications.

I hope you find a good one. It may take some time and research to find someone you feel comfortable with. But it's well worth the effort. Every step toward pain reduction is a step toward a better quality of life.

I've rambled on enough. Let us know how we can help you.

Best,

Modelmaker

Hi Hara, sorry to hear about your pain. I also have only just started with lower back pain and hip pain, my rheumy feels my problem is probably osteoarthritis with bursitis in my hips, so different causes but I can still relate. I took 2 codeine tabs 2 hours ago and I'm hanging out for 2 hours to pass so I can take 2 more!!! One of those days. Do cortisone injections help does anyone know? It seems to be all that I'm offered except for hydro therapy which my dr is looking into. Hara I hope you get some answers soon. I see an osteopath but he has got to the stage where he says its all inflammation and he can do no more for me...such is life, roll on the next 2 hours....

skeye said...
Hi Hara,

Welcome to the CP board! I'm sorry that you have to join us here, but we are more than happy to have you! As you've probably already noticed, we are like a family here. The people who post here are some of the most caring, understanding, knowledgeable people out there! I always feel so privileged to have found this site!

I hope that your doctor's appointment today went well, and you are on your way to getting some answers!

One other thing about pain management doctors - I've learned from my friends here, that some only do procedures (ie. nerve blocks, epidurals, & other pain relieving injections and surgeries), whereas others do both procedures AND prescribe medication. Ideally, you want one that does both. Nerve blocks, etc, can be life-savers for some people, but not for others (unfortunately, I am one of those who does not respond to blocks), so you want to be able to attack this thing from many different directions. Medications are not necessarily just opioids, they include things like certain antidepressants & seizure medication which have pain relieving properties, especially necrologic pain. If you find something that works, it will usually be a combination of several of these modalities! Best of luck, and welcome to the family!

Skeye

I have Fibromyalgia also. I told my Internest doctor that the Gampentin 600mg 3x's a day just wasn't cutting it. It was not helping with the pain at all.

Hara
Prednisone can really be a double edged sword, it can do so many good things and it is such a useful drug, but it can have some really nasty side affects and can in some cases be very harmful! And some people just can't take it! It definitely sounds like your one of them!
I wish you well!

White Beard