Upper & Lower back, deep left hip pain

by Heather
(Baraboo, WI USA)

I am a 36 year old mother of two. About 3 years ago I started noticing upper back pain (bra strap level), but worse chronic low back and a deep pain in my left hip. These pains never go away, but over exursion makes them a lot worse.


I had 2 C-sections (03 & 05) and I am a good 20 pounds over weight. I am 5'10" tall and rather large framed. My back muscles seem to be in a constant state of spasm. MRI has indicated L5/S1 bulging disk as well as Degenorative Disk Disease.

I have seem many doctors and have been through a treamendous amount of drugs (nothing, and I do mean nothing, helps). I've had custom orthodics made for my shoes, I've had numerous bouts of Physical Therapy, I see a very knowledgeable Chiropractor weekly.

Recently I noticed while doing yoga that my left hip makes a snapping noise, doesn't hurt, just makes noise. However, being that I have chronic, deep seated pain in the left hip I saw an Orthopedic surgeon. MRI indicated a torn labrum, so they fixed it arthoscopically. I'm 6 weeks post surgery and have NO releif of back or hip pain.

My back is extremely difficult to crack and when it is I find it very painful. In the past I had steroid injections in my spine and facet joints. I also had medial branch blocks & radio frequency ablation, No Relief (2011 is when that was done).

So now I'm back to square one. I've seen neuologists, rhuemotologists, orthopedists, pediotrists, chiropractor....but no one seems to have any answers. I am way to young to feel this terrible. I just want my life back so I can enjoy my children and my life again. I can not work due to the pain, yet I have not been classified by the government as disabled either. I need to be able to work, but even something as simple as bending or twisting to tie my shoes or unload the dishwasher prove to be too much for my back and hip.

If you have ANY information or can help in ANY way, I would be forever grateful to you. One last thing, all blood work comes up normal, and I've included all findings through MRI, but there is one thing that may be of use.

I tested positive for the genetic marker of HLA-B27. No doctor wants to label me with any disease associated with this marker, but my Chiropractor feels it may be of significance. Again, I thank you in advance and hope to hear back from you soon.





Dear Heather,
I can well imagine your frustration. When faced with chronic poor health that doesn't respond to ANYTHING, what I always recommend is going back to the basics.

Firstly, at C-H you'll find some lower back exercises in the navigation bar on the left. Ask your chiro for guidance as to which might be most appropriate for your condition. Do them EVERY SINGLE MORNING before getting out of bed. They take less than two minutes. In your case I'd try and do them several times a day.

Once your hip starts to heal, ask the surgeon's advice and start walking EVERY DAY. Short distances at first. If walking hurts, then swimming or cycling.

Thirdly start eating fresh fatty fish regularly (if you can find it) and taking omega-3 capsules, and flax seed oil.

Fourthly, take a long hard look at your diet. Black and white? Eating your five colours per day? I aim for ten. If you're eating crap you can only expect poor health. When did you last eat an apple? Freshly cracked pecans, walnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds? A beetroot? Spinach, hummus... become something of a health nut.

Look at your relationships. Any serious issues that need to be addressed, rather than swept under the carpet? Ever talk to God?

Take ten minutes every day to lie down (do those back exercises at the same time) and listen to some music. Your email address suggests you have a Dutch or German background. Listen to this site whenever you are on the computer: http://www.classicfm.nl/luister/classic-fm

Twenty pounds isn't huge, but you'd obviously be better off without it. Cutting out the starches in your diet is the easiest way. Potato, rice, pasta, bread... See our weight loss programme at C-H.

If your cracking your back hurts, and is difficult, then I'd recommend another technique, like drop pieces or activator. Forcing the spine is like forcing a key in the lock. Something will give...

You can look up Ankylosing Spondylitis using the Search this Site at C-H. There are many false positives of the HLA B27 test.

It's probably early to start vigorously exercising that hip but some gentle exercise, perhaps just gently pulling the knee to the chest, would be good. Look at our pages on Hip Dystrophy and FAIS.

A short leg? An insert in the shoe can make a world of difference. Leg Length Inequality pages.

I hope this has made a contribution, Heather. Oh, perhaps a weekly massage?

Dr. Barrie Lewis


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