Long Term Back Pain Won't Let Up

For the last year, I have had low back pain, more on right side, that won't get better. It seems to be in muscles or nerves and sometimes moves across lower back. It has limited me to do many things. If I get on knees to plant something and lean over, it is much worse afterwards.

I've tried the chiropractor, self-massage, hot and cold - nothing seems to help. Not even sure whether it is Lyme, co-infections of EBV causing it. Anyone experience this and found an answer? Thanks.

Astroman - thanks for information, as always. I can only assume this is infection related impacting nerves as MRI is no different than it was 6-7 years ago in lower back? I remember it hurt back then.

I also stretch hamstrings, quads, calves and IT band. But it is consistent where it hurts - right SI area and sometimes goes across to left side. Leaning over really sets it off.

1)Emo oil and Australian Dream cream- despite claims are not even close to the combination found in Penetrex. This is not a sudden healing, but does over time.

Thanks to 1000Daisies, I tried Penetrex over again with more patience(!!) second time around. Used regularly it works better and its results are noticeable weeks later (like the instructions say LOL). It add$ up but worth it in the long run.

2)I also use Magnessium and epsom salt gels- again had better immediate pain reduction with DMSO over it. This is felt much faster than #1 above. Calms in one minute, prob wont heal though.

Post Edited (astroman) : 12/18/2019 10:31:03 AM (GMT-7)

runningwild - you have my sympathy. although my back pain is upper - Instead of lower - it is - has always been one of my worst (and longest standing) symptom.

I have had some days of relief so I’m optimistic that it can go for good.

I am very close to having my husband slather the dmso on the area.

He has had several successes with it - one instance he avoided surgery after using it. (Lower leg tendon injury)
He has also used it for back pain from an injury (car accident) and has not had trouble since.

It has been very effective for him -

Why haven’t I done it sooner?
Well I did try it a couple times on my left hand - but didn’t continue - not sure why...

Now I’m more desperate - was hoping for the upper back pain to resolve with treatment - and a few weeks ago I was feeling optimistic - but this last cycle - hasn’t gone well.., so very disappointing

“ If the body healed itself structurally 100%, there would be no chiropractic or physical therapy industry.“

True

My “chicken winging” was the worst thing I did. It turned into frozen shoulder because I was not using it and guarding too much.

But at the time I was in so much pain from the initial incident (ER worthy pain) that I was over protecting it.

Have you had spinal X-rays done? I’m only asking because I suffer from excruciating spinal pain. We all do to some degree I’m sure. My entire spine is damaged save for a few discs. Lyme causes scoliosis in all of us, and a spinal x-ray can get to looking ugly in a Lyme patient.

Do you have problems sleeping because of spinal pain? Are your hips painful too? What you’re describing is somewhat similar to what I experience in my lower back. Lyme bacteria has been feeding on the spinal discs which are supposed to be lubricated and thick enough to absorb stress on the spine. As you age people w/o Lyme disease experience Degenerative Disc Disease, which is what’s happening to us, because the discs dry and thin out. My disc between L5-S1 (lumbar and sacral, respectively) is all but gone. Near Bone on bone. I’m not saying you’re bone on bone though. Muscles and nerves are certainly involved.

As for questions popping up about repair/regeneration and clearing the disease, I have this to offer: after repeatedly hitting my LLMD over the head with “How am I going to stop all of the degenerative bone and joint issues, weak tendons, and the pain that comes with all of it” a week ago?

He stated remission is necessary first and second, a round of stem cells helped him as a former Lyme disease patient. I certainly don’t have the money for stem cells, plus the company he uses hasn’t released enough scientific research trials. I do know that others I've chatted with have said that in time (years) after remission, tendons and joints regenerate and the pain is reduced drastically. I don’t know if age is a factor in this regeneration, if it is, I might have a hard time getting to that point.

Fade2Blonde - I have slight scoliosis and some disc degeneration, had two disc issues as well. . Had (past tense) really tight tendons. Pain was horrific in the past. Ended abx in 2016, still improving.

It feels like parts of my left to right "S" curve have decreased. As you know when any vertebra bends, it twists making an inner or outer rib bulge since the rib moves with its vertebrae.

I had chiros popping these ribs back in place for years, and leg length would get more even but only temporarily. Have not had this done to me in two years. I feel they somewhat hold in place on their own and I removed my shoe insert /foot lift as it was feeling weird all of a sudden. I walk normal without it now.

I did a lot of tendon work on my inner and outer legs as these must be evenly tensioned for proper hip alignment. Used very aggressive studded dense foam rollering and Aductor and Abductor leg machine at a gym. The floor exercises I was prescribed didnt do hardly anything.

My body loosed up enough that I could crack my own upper back. The gravely creaking neck was the first thing to improve.

So yes, you can get better. How much better,? wish I knew. Obviously takes time. I can do a lot of stuff again, but dont over do it.

Post Edited (astroman) : 12/18/2019 9:10:47 PM (GMT-7)

astroman,

I never thought about long term Pharma antibiotics as a possible cause of the disc degeneration. It certainly makes sense. I’ve been on them for a year. My LLMD generally turns to herbs more than pharmaceuticals, but he’s been trying both with me, which I’m sure he does with all of his patients.

I’m glad to read that your curve feels lessened and chiropractors help you. That’s invaluable. I wish I could say the same. It takes a knowledgeable and easy going chiropractor to deal with spinal issues related to Lyme disease. I’ve found 2, but I’m far away from both now. My current city is hopeless in this area, so I quit seeing any because these people only harm me more.

I would love to get back to the gym and be able to use that leg machine. I also think it’s important to exercise to bring back strength in tendons and muscles. I used to workout 4-5 times a week for 2 hours at a time, and I’m down to daily walks with my dog. I experience exercise exhaustion now like so many of us. In the future though! I’m training my mind to think I’ll be absolutely ok and back to a new normal soon. 🙂

Thanks for weighing in! So glad to read of your excellent improvement!

I have seen a lot of improvements with Egoscue methods and they are not intensive. You can probably find it at a library

Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain

Girlie said...
Did Astro say the abx were possibly the cause of the disc degeneration? I quickly read the posts - must have missed that.

How wouid the abx do that?

Ah....nope.

What I did say- ....."Ended abx in 2016, still improving."...........and..................."My personal structural healing "plan" became more effective after ABX, "

Meaning ABX stopped the spread of pain, stopped the infection. . Healing took, and is still taking time.

I accumulated a lot of injuries during my decades of lyme which did not heal properly because I kept doing crazy stuff, until it became impossible. ABX will not heal injuries, time and my "healing plan" have made big improvements though.

Lyme can slow or almost halt tissue healing which is why chiro and PT are even LESS effective during "active infection" (or immune response or whatever you want to call chronic lyme).

“Ah....nope.

What I did say- ....."Ended abx in 2016, still improving."...........and..................."My personal structural healing "plan" became more effective after ABX, "


Okay - I didn’t think you said that.

It looked like Fade2Blonde said that .

I learned long ago (before Lyme) fluoroquinolones caused pain in my tendons. Good point. And because of suggestions from astroman, I am waiting for DMSO to be delivered today. Am very curious on how it might help. Thanks for suggestion.