Lower Back & Knee Pain

[jjams21]

My pain started with knee pain that was diagnosed as runner's knee. I've been to physical therapy for two separate 4-6 week sessions (focusing on my knee and hip). I have had MRI's on my knee and hip - both are normal. I developed lower back pain. I saw a chiropractor for about 6 weeks and the pain got worse. I had an MRI and have two bulged disk (L4 and L5) with annual tears between L4 & L5 and L5 and S1. I have been in physical therapy for the last three weeks and don't feel like it's getting better.

Has anyone experienced anything similar? I would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks

[Heidi]

Hi
I'm afraid I don't have any experience with similar injuries, but given you have problems with two discs which is not being helped with chiropractic treatment or physical therapy, I would be considering a referral to orthopedics to discuss further options. This may depend on the extent of the pain and disability you are suffering?

[mattw]

It sounds like you are running into the common problem of treatments focused on the symptom and not on why the symptom is there. Check out the book Pain Free by Pete Egoscue and it will make sense why these treatments haven't worked and will explain what you can do to fix the underlying problem. The knee and back problems are very interrelated and can be fixed without surgery.
Good luck.

[jjams21]

Thank you. I appreciate the feedback and look forward to reading the book.

Denise

[Joker3000]

Hey Denise I am actually in the same boat as you if you want to call it that I am going through a similar ordeal. I had a lot of knee pain but it turns out that the source of the pain was being caused by my lower back. I busted my toe playing soccer and walked on it for a month which messed up my right leg and lower back. And that was back in july 2009 and it still hurts. I am seeing a bunch of Doctors and physical therapists and a chiropractor as well. I will also take a look at this book and see what it has to say.

here is the original thread:http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1726&page=2

For some reason when I posted a new thread here it got deleted for some reason and then I got a spam advertisement in my PM box the same day. I will post it again here and keep at this until my leg and back get better.

I hope you get better Denise


Cheers

Dale

[Darren_H]

I want to quickly address three of your issues originally posted. First off, if your looking on information regarding pain there is a great book by David Butler called "Explain Pain". This is one of the best books out there to explain the entire pain experience in a straight forward manner.

My next point is in regards to back pain and MRI's. I don't know how old you are, but as we age things wear out. Part of things wearing out in the back includes small clefts or fissures in the discs themselves and even small disc bulges. Believe it or not, someone can have one or more disc bulges and have no pain at all. But, on the flip side discs can also produce pain themselves and impinge on sensitive structures nearby that can cause pain (e.g. nerves). But again, I do not know how old you are so it may or may not be related to wear and tear.

Did you have a specific incident that brought on your back pain, or did it develop over time with no specific reason?

The best predictor of future back pain is previous back pain. Hence, if you have had an episode of back pain then you are more likely to have pain in the future regardless. The health care professional's role (physio/chiro) will be to educate you on things to avoid, things that can help your pain, and hopefully work with you to figure out a way to decrease the symptoms you are having over the long term. The long term may mean much more than three weeks.

Lastly, if you have questions or concerns then talk to your physical therapist or chiropractor about them. Or else they cannot and will not be addressed. Hope this helps.

[shane]

Well its seem like you are suffering from chronic lower back pain . the chronic pain is very disgusting. but now it can be treated well in the therapy clinics ....

[shane]

Well I had a lot of knee pain but it turns out that the source of the pain was being caused by my lower back. I busted my toe playing soccer and walked on it for a month which messed up my right leg and lower back.

[Sophie Hart]

I’m 30 plus and having the same symptoms, just want to know these are natural age factors or exceptions.

[jjams21]

Thanks for the replies.

I am still having pain...2 years later. I recently had another MRI and the disk loss has gotten worse from a year ago and the annular tears are still present.

I have gone back to PT with a back specialist who confirms that there is an issue that she can't help with. Her thoughts are nerve compression. My spine surgeon and pain management physician think that the leaking disc matter from the annual tear is causing problems.

At this point, I have had 5 sets of epidural injections...which didn't relieve the pain for more than I few days and a radiofrequency nerve ablation which didn't provide any relief. I am curious if anyone has had a lumbar spinal fusion and if it helped. I am so tired of having to limit my activity at 36 years old. I have pain standing or sitting for long periods of time, I can no longer run, walk long distances or do much exercise. I have always been very active and want to get back there. I am beyond frustrated!

Thanks,
Denise