Hi,

i am 25 years old, I weight around 230 and am 5ft 9. I am having horrible back pain! It started back when I was delivering appliances for a local store; I lifted a washer which unbeknownst to me was full of water onto the back of a pickup truck. I am a firefighter (which I love more than anything right now) and I work on computers for a living. Well over the past 3 years I have just dealt with the pain... I have gone to the doctor to no avail, the chiropractor religiously, and have had an mri and x-rays done. I have been on several pain killers (vicodin, darvocet, etc.), muscle relaxers (rather small dosages), and medicine along the lines of celebrex, advil, and aleve. I have done the standard physical therapy and electrolysis (this seems to help but only for minutes at a time then the muscles cramp back up) nothing helps! I am at my wits end, I cant stand it anymore, I can't sit in a chair for more than 10mins, I cant bend over, I cant lift things, nothing!... It's destroying my life!

The mri came back with this - lumbar disc degeneration most pronounced at l3 l4 and l5-s1. There is a small left paracentral protrusion at the l5-s1 level with no significant stenosis.

Here are the direct findings from the report:
disc degeneration is noted most pronounced at l3-l4 and l5-s1 with decreased disc signal intensity. At l5-s1 there is a small left paracentral protrusion with mild ventral impressions on the thecal sac. No significant lateral recessed foraminal stenosis is present. There is slight focal hyperintensity in the dorsal aspect of the disc consistent with annular tear. At l4-l5 there is a minimal diffuse disc bulge.

At l3-l4 there is focal hyperintensity in the dorsal aspect of the dic consistent with annular tear but without remarkable protrusion. Upper lumbar levels appear intact. Conus medullars appears intact. Posterior elements appear intact with no spondyloysis and no spondylolisthesis.
...

Here is what I am feeling:
in my mid-lower back there are large bumps, sort of like constantly spaziming muscles. They are all over the back from the middle to both sides and into the hips. These lumps feel large in size and when I push them hard they seem to break up (or move away from the area I am pushing) for a few seconds and then they come right back. I am feeling sharp beating pain the both hips (they vary by day), this also progresses into the front of my lower stomach/groin area, and this seems to be getting worse and worse. Also I have reduced reflexes in my right knee area (when tested by standard method).

I know my weight could be an issue and have been taking steps to rectify this including walking and stairs along with a strict 1200 calorie a day diet and have lost around 30lb… but this hasn’t help; instead it has gotten worse!

I really need help; I have been to several doctors and am just tired of being told there is nothing really wrong. I can't take this anymore! If anyone has advice please please please let me know, thanks!