Back issues

No_Knock
No_Knock Posts: 52 Member
in Motivation and Support
For the last year, I have dealt with a back injury. I was able to have a rotating string of good and bad days often enough to work around it. Then I got to a point where I couldn't work around it.

I haven't been to the gym in months. I thought just stopping would allow my body to heal, but I wake up every morning with unbelievable stiffness in my midback, running along my ribs. The pain seems to be at the outer portion of my lower ribs in back. Whatever it is pulls on my lower back. Initially, I thought my injury was in my lower back. It turns out, after rest, it's all centered right along where my rib cage ends in the back.

I see a rheumatologist next Monday. Been waiting for that appointment for 2.5 months. The orthopedist basically did nothing and referred me to the rheumatologist. I dont have arthritis, but I guess they can treat the inflammation?

Anyway, just venting frustration.

Replies

  • StargazerB
    StargazerB Posts: 425 Member
    Have you had any imaging done?
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
    No_Knock wrote: »
    For the last year, I have dealt with a back injury. I was able to have a rotating string of good and bad days often enough to work around it. Then I got to a point where I couldn't work around it.

    I haven't been to the gym in months. I thought just stopping would allow my body to heal, but I wake up every morning with unbelievable stiffness in my midback, running along my ribs. The pain seems to be at the outer portion of my lower ribs in back. Whatever it is pulls on my lower back. Initially, I thought my injury was in my lower back. It turns out, after rest, it's all centered right along where my rib cage ends in the back.

    I see a rheumatologist next Monday. Been waiting for that appointment for 2.5 months. The orthopedist basically did nothing and referred me to the rheumatologist. I dont have arthritis, but I guess they can treat the inflammation?

    Anyway, just venting frustration.

    The orthopedist did nothing for it? Sounds like you need a 2nd opinion. Look for an orthopedist that specializes in spinal injuries and you may get somewhere. Did they do an MRI at all? Any bulging discs? A Rheumatology appointment assumes arthritis, so is that what they diagnosed?

    I have degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and have had at least 3 bulging discs in my past, one of which had to be dealt with by a lamenectomy a few years back to relieve the pressure on the nerves in emergency surgery (I had lost all the feeling below my waist). I've been back to my Ortho surgeon a few times in the recent years, usually when I manage to injure a disc again, but what's kept me going more often that not these days is yoga, and specific stretches for my spine that I do daily. That, and working out often to keep the stiffness down. I use less weight and more reps when lifting and I am not supposed to put more than 25-30lbs of weight on my lower spine so that limits me for some things. Anyway, I hope you find a good doctor, what were you doing in the gym before you had the problem start?
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    So you hurt your back a year ago, you haven’t seen a doctor until 3 months ago, you explained your symptoms, and orthopedic referred you to a rheumatologist with no statement of diagnosis or other discussion? Did I miss something? How did the injury occur?
  • JayFromThatOnePlace
    JayFromThatOnePlace Posts: 26 Member
    No orders for PT either?
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,404 Member
    If you've been compensating for an injury for a long time, there is likely all kinds of stuff going on at this point.

    I hope you find what works, I agree that PT and lots of stretching is what helps my (old) back problems. It is a daily reprieve, and I can't do heavy lifting or running.

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