My back...

[Amie]

So, back in February I threw out my back and I've been having trouble with it ever since. Actually, I hurt it in July of 2005, BAD muscle spasms and was in bed for about a week...well, this time the pain was much worse and I ended up in the emergency room literally not able to move...it was awful. Anyway, I've been going to physical therapy since then and have been on anti-inflammatory medicine, as my back is still swollen. My back healed to a point and then stopped getting better...I can bend if I'm careful and can do most things, like I mowed the lawn this weekend, but I can't sit hardly at all without pain and I've got burning in my muscles in my hips, outer thighs and just yesterday it moved into the rest of my thighs...
I went back to my PCP last week and she's heading me to a back specialist this week, so wish me luck...I don't have any idea what's wrong with me but I'm sick of not being able to sit down.
Today was a really bad day, it hurts no matter what position I get into...
weird thing too - I had the burning in my thighs quite a bit last Fall and during the winter, kept saying I was going to go to the doctor to get it checked out, but never did...and it never even crossed my mind that it could be related as I didn't have that pain while my back was at it's worst...now that it's healed some it's back. I don't understand that at all...

[Karen Hays]

Couple of things to ask about, think about or to try... do you like the cold over the heat? Is the electro- something called TENS or IFC? If it is IFC, the pain relief should up to 2-4 hrs after tx the first time and increase after that. Have they offered to get you a home TENS unit? Have they or you used a swiss ball ( a big ball you sit on)? Have you/they tried a traction table?
What kind of medication are you taking? Have you/Dr. tried a pain patch?
K. Hays

[Amie]

Hi Karen...we did core strengthening and exercise and then they did ultrasound and some sort of electro-something that they put on my back and I'd lay there for 20 minutes with a cold pack too...it helped, but only while I was lying there.

[Karen Hays]

Amie what kind of therapy did they do? Did they do traction? IFC(like Tens only better) or Nerve Block ( like Tens only better) Did they treat the pain or just do stretches and exercise.
Good luck
Karen