Neck and Lower Back pain

by Crystal
(NV)

I had my first child about 4 years ago. I had a horrible pregnancy and extreme lower back pain. I was taken off my feet and put on bed rest at 5 months because I went into early labor. Everyone reassured me that after my son was born that the lower back pain would subside, it has not. I can not sit or stand for long periods of time without the pain becoming unbearable. I stretch all day long and occasionally feel a "pop" that seems to relieve the pain temporarily (an hour or so).

Last year my back pain was accompanied with neck pain. I get pain right in between my shoulders. Sometimes it feels like a knot at the base of my neck. The pain becomes worse at night while trying to sleep. I toss and turn all night long and can never get comfortable. I wake up sometimes with one arm asleep ( I have not noticed one over the other) sometimes both are asleep. There have been mornings I wake up and can not turn my neck in one direction with out a shooting pain down my back. This is becoming more frequent. I am not sleeping well and have noticed that when extremely fatigued I suffer from headaches.

I have been to my doctor and a neurologist who tested me for everything. I have had a CT scan, nerve testing in my arms, hands and legs, ultrasound of my neck, x-rays and finally physical therapy. All of the tests showed nothing and the therapy did not help at all. I was heated up then stretched and massaged three times a week for 6 weeks. There were times when they could not massage my neck because the pain was too great. They tried ice and heat but again it was just a temporary fix (a few hours).

The pain and fatigue are wearing on me know and I'm so frustrated. Please help me.

Hello Crystal,
Yes, not a nice story, I can imagine that you feel down.
We have a saying: "If you don't have a chiropractic problem, chiropractic won't help you. But if you do, then probably nothing else will help you."
I've just had a new patient, and her story was similar. The first incling that she was pregnant was the beginning of lower back pain. Traditionally "it's supposed to start in the last trimester, and stop after the birth." But backs don't always follow the rules do they!

My first thought is a "leg length deficiency". Type it into the Search this Site function at C-H. When you have pain right through your back and neck, in the absence of "medical disease" then I always think first of a short leg, causing a curvature that runs right through your pelvis, back and neck.

My second thought is a simple set of lower back exercises that do you very faithfully every morning before you get out of bed. EVERY MORNING. IN BED. Type "lower back exercises" into that search function.

The third is to accept that when it comes to heavy lifting, you turn around and walk the other way.

The fourth, perhaps the most important, is start doing your homework, and find a thorough, experienced and conscientious chiropractor. And accept that there won't be miracles, your back will be a challenge, and s/he will certainly have to earn their $'s.

Lastly be informed. It's good that you've started scanning the net. Don't believe everything you read there of course. You'll find a lot of information at Chiropractic Help on back and neck pain. Good luck, I hope this has contributed.

Dr B.