I have really bad lower back pain :(

[cutiepie316280]

I have been suffering with lower back pain for years, but it got a lot worse after I had my 2 boys! Every single time I move it hurts, and if I am lying down, I can't lift my bum up without being in excrutiating pain! I have been to the doctors god knows how many times, and I have only just been referred to a back clinic! The pain goes from my lower back into my hips and down my legs sometimes, but it is mainly in my lower back and hips.

 

[seeingred]

Hi Loopy Loopz

This sounds sooo much like sacro iliac joint pain. The sacro illiac joint is the joint between the sitting bones and the sacrum. The ligaments that link the bones, hold the pelvis in place, and are not meant to move very much at all. Childbirth can cause these muscles to stretch, which can be incredibly painful afterward, causing pain the hips, thighs, and sometimes even done to the foot. Often it is mis diagnosed as sciatica, because of the pain running down the leg. Sitting at a desk for many years can exacerbate the problem. Also, it is often better in the morning, as the pelvis has not been moving, however once up and about, the pain returns. I have had this myself on and off for about 4 years. Finding a good one on one pilates instructor can help, by building up the stomach muscles, so as to try and hold everything in place, and allow less movement of the pelvis. Secondly, I found a physiotherapist with a dvd who specialises in this - the dvd can be taken to a physiotherpist to assist with rehabilitation - you can find it on www.sipress.com. It's called Understanding Scaroiliac Joint Pain and what you can do about it. As a last resort, there is an injection (called prolotherapy or something to that effect), which is injected into the ligaments between the iliac and sacrum, to hard them up, which reduces the problem of movement. There are specialists in London who do it, and there are a number of forums about it on here. However, it has mixed reviews, and I myself am not going to try it. I've found with the right exercises, it has got a lot better over time. Be careful with swimming, and yoga, which can over stretch and rock the muscles and ligaments around. I hope this has been helpful for you. x

 

[aaron t]

Hi

For what its worth, if the pain persists and is severe I would get a referral to see a neurosurgeon. If you have private insurance invoke that by teh same means.

The only way to really know is to get an MRI scan. These are expensive and it generally takes ages to get one and you will need to be pushy under teh NHS.

Rod

 

[Tommy C]

Hi loopyloopz, sorry to hear of your back trouble. I agree totally with rod_1 and bluemagpie. The only way to get to the root of the problem is with an MRI, but you have to push and there is a long waiting list on the NHS. However, you've had this problem for a while so waiting another couple of months would be worth the diagnosis. You could pay for it yourself. Pilates is the best way forward and whilst one to one is a great way of doing it, it is very expensive. It will certainly help stabilise the pelvis by strengthening the core and all the other supporting muscles. You can find out all you need to know at www.vitalflow.com There is so much you can do for yourself and the less you have to rely on injections and surgery the better. Hope you sort it out, but be prepared to put a lot of hard work in and don't expect it to go away over night. Little and often and be consistent

 

[HotHolley]

half the women in my family including me have had problems with lower back pain. my mum and auntie have both seen surgeons and had the scans and everything. my mum, auntie and nana all have the same thing. its one of the discs at the bottom of the back, so a lot of things other than pain killers and not doing too much worked for them.
my mum had to have surgery on hers to correct it, and my nana's corrects itself but still aches sometimes but she copes. my auntie should have the surgery but she wont cos of the recovery time and she has 3 kids to look after.
it probs is nothing like it, but like its been said, push them at the docs for a scan, cos u never know.