Who to talk to about back pain?

magsandmattsmom

I'm still going with it being nothing BC related but my back - I guess back but that's not right - still hurts.  I say not quit back because it's right at the bottom of my back - right above the pelvis.  I've done some looking at sciatic nerve symptoms.  Some fit but not all.  Doesn't radiate down leg.  Right now I"m sitting and it hurts! Even into my hips.  I had class on Saturday and ended up standing quit a bit.

 Anyway! as I'm sure it's not BC - who do I call?  My regular dr?  And really will much be able to be done?  I'm taking Aleve and it's not helping. Chiropractor?

Any input would be great!

 Oh to add I've stopped running for now.  I haven't ran or walked since last week Wednesday.  I'm hoping that will help and then I can work back into it again.  Hate losing ground but I figure that's better than hurting myself more!  and yes I know I need to do some core work to build up my back muscles.  I can tell this isn't muscular tho.  Clearly different than that!

roseg

Some people swear by Chiropractors.

I think visit your PCP and see if you can get a referral to a Physical Thearpist. Usually back problems improve with self-care and you may just need to brush up on things.

My husband generally follows a plan of bomb the pain with Advil, do gentle back exercises then taper off the Advil. But any stress he has seems to settle into his back.

snowyday

See your family Dr. and ask for an MRI of the area.  You said the pain isn't sciatica, but it's not being managed by advil with as you know is an antinflamatory and after a week I woud think it would have improved.  I would go with a chiropractor unitl you know what's really going on with your back.  It could be a disc thats pushing on the spinal column and that is really painful and the pain doesn't go away with advil,  I have scar tissue growing around a previous surgical site and it presses on the spinal nerve.  I think what I'm saying is get a proper diagnosis for your back. And good luck. 

AnneW

You need the right diagnosis. Could be your SI (sacroiliac) joint acting up. That tends to hurt in the butt, and you get some decreased range of motion in the hip.

Like Rose says, start with your family doctor. Consider plain films of the lumbar spine and hips before spending the $$ on an MRI. Then look into physical therapy. Could be a really tight piriformis muscle, and they'll give you some interesting exercises for that!

I'm not a big fan of spinal manipulation--yet (I have an eval set up this week for chronic hip pain, but I don't have the $$ for their hard sell tactics right now. But, this helped my dh's neck and back tremendously.)

I would doubt cancer.

ginger2345

Your PCP is the place to start, and usually neither xrays nor MRIs are helpful in aiding healing. Physical Therapists are much more gentle than chiropractors, and your PCP may know one who does a thorough exam and is able to identify what your problem is and prescribe/teach exercises that will help you get over the current pain and, if continued, will give you exercises for life that may keep any flair ups to a minimum.

If your pain continues, then sometimes your doc will order a plain film xray or MRI.

magsandmattsmom

Thanks everyone!  I know it's not BC and it's not that bad.  i just walked for 30 minutes on the treadmill and I'm still standing! I'll be making some calls.