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Conditions and Diseases > Back Pain Forum > Severe back pain - MRI shows nothing
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Q: Severe back pain - MRI shows nothing
asked by: rosyjo11 on October 12th, 2009
New User
Spinal pain in lumber and sacrum, feels bony pain.
Plus a burning pain in spine strongest around the L1 region at a guess.
Often burning hip pain usually in the right side.
A few tender spots on my spine, just off to the side of the bony prominences.
Tender sacro/iliac regions.

Muscular type intense spasms/aches in right and/or left side of spine, upper lumbar.Best described as similar pain to the intense waves of renal colic (not sharp pains)

I sometimes feel an odd tingling running up and down my spine, it feels as if there is something moving under the skin. If I had earthworms slithering up and down below the skin on my spine it would feel the same. It is not painful, just the sensation.

I get sharp pains in right leg when I walk, the longer I walk the more severe the pain.
A 15 min walk nearly has me in tears with the leg pain.

Sitting is painful as is standing in the one spot, leaning, bending, twisting, raising my arms up, arching my back, pretty much everything seems to aggravate the pain.

Its been two months.

Pain started after physio did a deep muscle massage on my back on the right side and a manipulation of my right hip. The week prior I had felt a twinge in my lumbar spine but I wasnt suffering with it. Occasional twinge during the week if I bent over (3 times in the space of that week I felt the twinge) but no other aches and pains apart from generalised lower back pain after work. ONly worked two shifts in that week. Exercising didnt caues back pain then. Problems started only after that physio, treatment.

Have been on Celebrex BD, valium for spasms.

I can't believe nothing has shown up on the scans but I do keep telling everyone I believe the problem is from the hip manipulation and they only order spine tests.

Any ideas?

thanks, Jo
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pete81241
replied on October 12th, 2009
Experienced User
just a guess but you may have problem with the periformis muscle that may have been irritated by the manipulation. periformis trouble can mimic sciatic pain. your scans are normal so that is excellent. i would be evaluated by a specialist familliar with the spine such as a physiatrist. treatment usually consists of stretching exercises.... if it seems more serious than muscular he may refer you to a spinal surgeon.i have had pain like yours although my problems are very serious so i know how you feel and hope that physiatrist has solution for you....pete
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rosyjo11
replied on October 13th, 2009
New User
THanks Pete.

Have seen DR, Physiotherapist, Orthopaedic surgeon, Chiropractor.
Apart from the chiro, all the others are just looking at the spine and not the hip despite the history and symptoms. Wish they would stop stereotyping my injury and actually think a bit harder. Even when the CT showed no major herniations the workcover surgeon and workcover GP still said it sounded like a herniated disc :/

A one hour slow walk with stops (was photographing my old highschool) nearly crippled my leg (but it recovers almost immediately I stop walking) and had me awake literally most of the night with severe back pain and I was bedbound all the next day.
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littleonefb
replied on October 13th, 2009
Extremely eHealthy
Was the orthopedic surgeon one that specializes in spines?

What did your MRI show? Do you have a copy of the written reports that you could post of the CT and the MRI if you had one?

Just because the CT shows no major herniation, doesn't mean a small one isn't causing your pain.

Also lumbar spine problems and disc herniations in the lumbar spine can cause hip pain, especially if you are not walking, standing, moving correctly.

Do have any kind of burning, tingling, numbness.

The hip adjustment you got could have just created further lumbar pain that is now presenting in the hip as well, but not necessarily a hip problem.

Fran
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pete81241
replied on October 13th, 2009
Experienced User
hi jo
the ct isnt the greatest for checking disks. its good for checking bones. mri is better...not perfect...you do want to rule out the spine...ask for mri. how is pain when you sit?....pete
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rosyjo11
replied on October 13th, 2009
New User
MRI, CT and Xray were all basically NAD (no abnormalities).

Pain on sitting too.

Occasional sciatica.
Very tender area in the tissue around the L5, (chiropractor told me the actual spot), makes me jump with even the lightest touch.

Sorry, too tired to do this message any better, am off to bed.
Jo
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