Chronic lower back pain

I've posted about this before, but now I'm starting to become confused and very frustrated. I have a lot of symptoms, but the one symptom I have that never goes away is constant dull lower back pain, and it's always stiff and hurts when I bend in backwards. I had an accident last year, I fell on my back on concrete stairs. Of course I went to a chiropractor shortly after that, they took an xray and nothing was wrong. Months later my back started hurting, and has hurt for about 10 months now. I went back to the chiropractor and they took another xray and there were no visible problems ( by xray standards) or changes. Being a young white male in his early 20's.. I suspected maybe AS. I did a shobers flexation test, and had a normal value. I also have no family history of any arthritis on either side of my family..

Does this warrant an MRI? Or is this lyme/bartonella/babesia messing with me?

I have no idea what's wrong with my lower back, but it's starting to worry me, not to mention I'm always in pain.

I have been in the same boat as you and for years. Yes, an xray for anything OTHER than bone is misleading, and does not tell the whole story.

Please get the MRI asap. It could help you with a lot worse problems if you wait. This might be rvfersable AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

Hang in there, keep moving forward, and hoping you get what is needed to heal.

And, personally, I thank you for writing. I think the more of us who are dealing with the 'bone/joints' issue that also have L/co, and we address it publically, like in your post, we then can help others going through this realize it's more than 'getting older,' it might be worth an MRI.

I, personally, now INSIST with a lot of passion that my symptoms warrant, and that I want that MRI, because now I know what is happening inside my body, and EVERY TIME I've brought up an issue I knew what going on inside of me, I had to be forceful and demand what I know I needed, and I'VE BEEN RIGHT EVERY TIME!!!!!! Not kidding, EVERY TIME. It's sad, because more people than not do not know, or have the ability/strength to stand up for what is needed for treatment. So, we suffer for longer, and we shouldn't have to!!!!

I wish we had health advocates who were HEALTHY who knew all about this horrible illness and we could get to REPRESENT US when we go to dr's., social security for disability, or any place we need that person to stand for us, because we arent' able or don't have someone who can stand for us. Maybe one day.

I wish I could be that person one day, but for now, it's all about me. I don't even have what I need most days to do/get/be what I need, but maybe one day..... I will be healthy enough, I'LL BE EDUCATED ENOUGH, so that I could be that person.

Maybe at least for one other....we do need one another, right where we are now. Otherwise, this is all hopeless, and I REFUSE to give in to this and be defeated. I've NEVER backed down from any challenge, I pray we all have what is needed to follow through until we are healthy/healed. Let's stand together.

Even in our suffering and mysery, pain and sorrow, there is enough joy and peace, love and hope within some of us at all times, so thank God we have this forum, so that when one is down, the other is not and can reach out and offer words of comfort, support, love and hopefully, hope.

Peace to us who deserve it.

Post Edited (Breaking Free) : 10/30/2014 7:19:23 AM (GMT-6)

I wrote another post about my back issues and my now knee issues. It's right up there with what you are dealing with.

My issues now are from trauma that happened to these areas years ago. It seems that every area of my body that at some time in my past, either long, long ago(40 yrs), or more recent (13 yrs), that had some type of trauma, is NOW being hit and damaged extensively by l/co.

So, get the mri. see what the L/co is doing to the area that was injured last year. I bet it's something.

And, it will show up on that MRI. I'll be interested to see what shows up. ;) Hang in there. One step at a time. And, how great for you to be asking questions, and NOT just taking their word for it. Bravo!!!

JohnRed33 - I've had cycles of whole body pain and cycles in specific areas since the 1980's. Wish we had the internet back then.

I was infected in the 80's, but I also had my share of sports injuries.

My injuries back then mysteriously took forever to heal. When I was not in pain, I was still tight all over, which in turn made future injuries more likely to happen.

It is now known that lyme (and co inf.)slows muscle recovery, thus creating the overall tight feel that many of us have. And it can re-expose old injury pain.

But since you had a fall, an MRI is a good idea to rule out structural injury.

I've had years of chiro and physical therapy.

What I learned:

Chiro is not as effective if your whole body is tight from infection. Physical therapy doesnt work like it should either. Its best to use these in combination with manually loosening tight muscles.

Loosening tight lyme muscles is difficult. Lengthened pressure application 3-5 min, is what works. U tube myofacial release. Get several small athletic balls to lay on. Start slow, see how you feel the next day.

All the above in my experience was WAY MORE EFFECTIVE for me while on antibiotics. As my infection is killed off, my body loosens up and heals better. When I take an ABX break, (for liver) it starts over again, thats proof.

If PT for your lower back is needed to get it stronger than tight leg and hip muscles that can pullit out of alignment look for a place that has the MED-X brand of back machines. They are patented and work way better than all other back lumbar strengthening re-hab gym machines - its true.

I also use MSM topical cream- its noticably helpfull and does not smell.