Back Pain Forum - Extreme Lower Back Pain

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What structures make up the spine? We review basic spine anatomy here...before identifying potential causes of back pain....

Q: Extreme Lower Back Pain

asked by: jessicx on June 16th, 2004

New User

I'm new to this forum and have never asked questions about my back pain before, so please bare with me.
Approximately 14 years ago, I was digging a water line for my father. I was 13 years old. I suddenly received a stabbing pain in my lower back, about 3 or so inches up from my tailbone. It put me down instantly. For 3 days I had trouble walking. Eventually though, the pain subsided, and I lived pain free for about 5 years. While attending school, I moved in such a way that the sudden stabbing pain returned. Again, after a few days, it subsided, but this time it didn't diminish completely. From time to time, I would aggravate it again, although not to the point of going to the ground, but enough that I couldn't lift a single foot off the ground without support. Usually, bed rest for the night would help.
Approximately 7 months ago, I again moved in such a way that the pain returned. This time, it hurt so much that I couldn't walk, crawl, sit, lie down, or stand for more than a couple minutes. The agonizing pain put me down for more than a week. In order to walk, I had to hold on to something, but it was more like I had to drag myself across the wall because sudden, jerky movements were agonizing. Crawling was no easier, other than that I didn't have to hang on the wall. Sitting in any position was not as painful as trying to get up from it. Using the bathroom was impossible. In fact, I broke the toilet paper holder off the wall in my bathroom. Sleep never came, especially in bed. I had to prop myself up in a semi lying semi sitting position so that I could get up in the morning. When I did stand, it was not straight. I couldn't even drive because picking up my foot to engage the clutch was impossible.
The pain subsided again, but this time it is far from gone. I feel it every time I move. The slightest movement in the wrong direction will tweak it a little. I can't do sit ups (which I need because i'm in the military) or push ups. I'm scared to death that I will bring it back full force again, only sooner. The pain brought me to tears more than once, and I know I wont be able to handle a repeat performance. Please, can anyone direct me in a way that I can find out what this is? Everything i've read doesn't completely fall in my category. Thanks for anything

Replies(12)

sandyallen

replied on June 16th, 2004

Extremely eHealthy

Iam no Dr.. It sounds like a sciatica, you should get this checked out, it could get worse without treatment.
Sincerely,
sandy

Venugopal

replied on June 24th, 2004

Experienced User

Extreme Lower Back Pain

Yes, sandy is right it could be sciatica or due to a condition called as lumbar spondylosis where there is either degeneration of the bone (which is unlikely at your age) or could be due to the intervening disc between the bones impinging on the nerve fibres and thereby cause pain at the site and also radiating down the lower limbs. An x-ray would clear the issue.
Homeopathic medicine has good remedies to see that the degeneration of bones is stopped from progressing and the inflammation of the nerve fibres due to pressure relieved and give you freedom from the pain. Medicines like arnica, rhus tox, calc flour, guiacum, gnaphalium, phytolacca, hypericum , gaultheria are very helpful in giving you relief.

Dr.Venugopal gouri.

algosdoc

replied on June 24th, 2004

Experienced User

You Need to See a Real Doctor...

Not a homeopath. Xrays absolutely will not show sciatic nerve compression...Only a mri will do so. There is no evidence any homeopathic therapies will reduce bone loss, reduce compression of nerves, or sciatica.

Venugopal

replied on June 25th, 2004

Experienced User

Real Medicine

An x ray would reveal whether there is any degeneration of the bones of lumbar spine. Mriwould definetely show any intervertebral discs or any pressure on the nerves. For suggesting a medicine to a patient of sciatica it is of significance if there is any osteoporosis but there is no necessity to know which nerve fibre is being compressed. So that is why as I said for a homeopathic prescription an x - ray would be good enough.

Homeopathic medicines have the capacity to limit the progression of osteoporosis, relieve the inflammation over the nerve fibres and get rid of the pain due to the same.

Dr.Venugopal gouri.
Bhms (bachelor of homeopathic medicine & surgery)

algosdoc

replied on June 25th, 2004

Experienced User

Dr. Homeopath...

Quote your literature source which has a randomized placebo controlled trial of your chemicals to demonstrate the effects you claim to be able to produce. Without scientific literature to support claims, doctors are no more than snake oil salesment.

Venugopal

replied on June 25th, 2004

Experienced User

to Mr.algosdoc

Homeopathic medicine is a science after everything has been proven, not whether somebody believes in it or not. It does not make any difference.

For example in this case significant relief can be obtained with homeopathic treatment.

In cases of sinusitis we can prove it through changes in the x ray before and after treatment, eosinophil count etc.
In cases of bronchial asthma apart from the relief the patient has we can prove it with increase in pulmonary function capacity after medication.
So on so forth.

This is a forum where some people are looking for people who have gone through similar problems and gained some relief , suggestions etc. Your language of snakes, oils, sales men........

Dr.Venugopal gouri.

algosdoc

replied on June 25th, 2004

Experienced User

Science

Homeopathy is absolutely not a science, is not medicine, is not proven, and is indeed snake oil. If homeopaths cannot demonstrate via the scientific method, ie. Double blind randomized placebo controlled trials (very easy to do when you are giving micrograms or picograms of chemicals), then homeopathy should definitely go the way of the mesmerizers of the past century who too fleeced many into buying their unproven wares. If homeopathy is science, then it must abide by the same rules scientists use, and not simply make up their own rules. If you can prove it, show it. If you cannot demonstrate effectiveness with scientific methods, homeopathy cannot be called science or medicine. In such cases, voodoo would be a more appropriate term.

jessicx

replied on June 27th, 2004

New User

Thanks For the Advice, And Homeopathy

First of all, thank you all for the advice. I will in fact go to see a doctor about this, I just wanted to see what someone else would say before I use my last resort.
Also, I want to say that I absolutely believe in homeopathic medicine. I've seen enough doctors to know that they can't possibly help me if they're not even willing to listen. I almost lost my third child due to a doctor's need to be right, rather than his need to help me. I would rather see someone who would teach me a way to heal myself, rather than rely on someone who's not really interested in me, just interested in a little ego boost. In fact, I believe so much in the power of homeopathic medicine, that I intend to attend college in order to obtain a degree in psychology. Afterwards, I intend on furthering my education by learning everything I can about alternative forms of psychiatry. I want to be able to teach people that they can heal themselves, without the use of medication. But I do agree that there are times at which we must all rely on modern medicine, and as such I agree that the only way to find the source of my pain is to get an mri.

algosdoc

replied on June 27th, 2004

Experienced User

Go For It!

There is certainly a number of people who belive medical illnesses are all in the head, and nothing a good shrink or homeopath could not cure. I wish you well.

Venugopal

replied on July 1st, 2004

Experienced User

Science yet has to define the mechanism of action of homeopathic medicine because as of today it does not have a measure for it.
Homeopathic medicine can be proved by the cause and effects.
In a case of sinusitis for example with a patient having an elevated eosinophil count, haziness of para nasal sinuses revealed in an x ray, the changes all due to allergic rhinitis,after the usage of homeopathic medicine apart from the patient expressing relief of nasal blocking, sneezings, nasal discharge, post nasal dropping of mucus, heaviness of the head, dullness etc. (which the skeptics like algosdoc do not want to believe), the same above investigations can be repeated and the results observed.
If this is not science what is science?
The attack on homeopathic medicine is because in the prescribed remedy there is no original substance from which it is made. That is the reason why when you talk of a double-blind study it is difficult to convince. Fine, today science is unable to show how the imprint is being transferred to every succeding dilution. Till then you do not want people to benefit from homeopathic medicine?
Also as a homeopathic physician I fail to understand how I can "listen & assure" a patient who happens to be an infant. And after this would like to know, how they are being relieved.
Talking about placebo effect, I wonder how this works on animals.

So enough of the nonsense of the skeptics about homeopathic medicine.

Dr.Venugopal gouri.

Venugopal

replied on July 1st, 2004

Experienced User

To jessicx
thanks for reposing faith in homeopathic medicine. All the same as one would know we ignore science at our own peril and appreciate it for our own advantage.
Once you undergo an mri, please do let me know the reports and I can suggest an appropriate homeopathic medicine. May be some skeptics get an idea about the efficacy of homeopathy and also prove to people influenced by their irrational talk that homeopathy is effective.
Dr.Venugopal gouri.

ouchy101

replied 35 minutes ago

New User

I am only 14 years old and i experience these exact symptms im into sports so this is cripiling for me. i go anywhere from 1day to several weeks with these pains. i try to lie or sit and it is impossible! im too young to be having these terrible pains all the time so why does this happen? i went to the doctors several time got xrays and am always putting heat on it but it not any better and worse nobody can tell me whats the matter. these pains run from my lower back to my butt it is terrible if you can help please write. thanks so much

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