Since November 06 I have had back pain that ranges from mild to intense along with constant swelling from the middle of my back down to my hip. I've been going through the local VA hospital to try to find out what is wrong with it and was recently refrad'd from a deployment due to it. The doctors I've seen both there and at Oceana (sp?) in Norfolk Va have both attempted to treat it as a severe muscle spasm in my lower back. They started with a couple weeks of rest then moved me to physical therapy to try to "work it out." When I began the stretching and exercises I was showed the swelling got worse. After that they checked my pelvis alignment to see if that was causing it. After they decided it was out of place they tried to put it back in place. Since then the swelling has be constantly visible, from the time I wake up to the time I goto sleep its always swollen.
I think the length of time and the fact they still can't say for sure what is wrong with me at this time is starting to depress me. They keep putting off MRIs which I have been asking for to try to find out what is wrong with my back and I have done 5 X-rays that came back without results. Any ideas on what could be causing this? I'm running outta time and patience with the doctors I've seen so far. October 3rd if no improvements or a solid diagnosis is given to uncle sam they may medical discharge me with only 2 months of service remaining in my contract. I'd rather not have that happen.
Again the symptoms I am currently having are, constant pain/swelling of the middle left side of my back to the lower left side of my back above the hip. The pain is constant, as in, if I've been standing up for more than 10mins or so even when i'm sitting down it hurts. The swelling is constant, from the time I wake up to when I goto sleep it is always visibly swollen. Any theories, suggestions, ect are welcome.