Back Pain Support Group

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. In fact, about 3 in 4 adults will experience back pain during their lifetime! The term back pain includes pain affecting the neck, midback and low back. Acute back pain may begin suddenly with intense pain but typically lasts fewer than three months. Usually, chronic back pain is persistent, steady, and...

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Brain & Nervous System
/ Back Pain Support Group

Possibly a pinched nerve

megsmom8816
megsmom8816
I wrote last week about maybe having sciatica as my legs and back hurt terribly and I was having a hard time walking. Well I still am, but did see my doctor today. He suspects a pinched nerve He sent me for an xray today, and prescribed physical therapy. He says I need an MRI, but my insurance will not approve an MRI without physical therapy first he says. Today the pain is the worst it has ever been. I have taken a muscle relaxer, Aleve, and on a heating pad but still really hurting. Any other recommendations? I can't miss any work at this time....although I did today for the dr. appts. He suggests I sit in a hard straight back chair...I can try that.

My question to those of you who have had a pinched nerve: Did you have to have surgery or did more conservative treatments help?

Thanks!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I would say try the physical therapy I have heard that it does great for some people. I do agree with your doctor you should get a MRI done to ensure that it is not something more that is causing your pain.

Did your doctor say anything about the Xray as for reasoning for the MRI? The reason I ask is that my doctor seen something he didn't like in my Xray that made him order an MRI.

Good luck, and I hope the pain gores away for you soon...
Evamoose
Evamoose
Have you tried ice packs instead of heat? Heat swells and so anything that's trapped may get more trapped if heat is applied.

Either use a cold spray or ice pack every few hours and see if that helps.
annettearizona
annettearizona
I wouldn't think surgery as an option for a pinched nerve.But physical therapy is a good place to start and then if need be the MRI once you make the insurance company satisified=even though they aren't theone in pain huh!
megsmom8816
megsmom8816
Just to update. I started PT today, and she said my muscles in my legs, hips and back were so tight she had no doubt I was in extreme pain. After the eval. she had a massage therapist come in and he said he hadn't felt muscles that tight in a long time. She said we will have to proceed slowly. The xrays taken showed "slight swelling in the spine" according to my doctor, but the nurse who gave me the results could not elaborate. Anyone have any idea what that means?
annettearizona
annettearizona
glad to hear they're working with you ok! Have fun :)
megsmom8816
megsmom8816
I know it has been a few months since I wrote this post, but the pain is back and worse. I feel positive it is a pinched nerve, although I do not recall any activity that caused it. I am almost unable to walk, except a little bit around the house, without extreme pain now in BOTH legs. Before it was primarily in my right leg. I can see my family doctor next week, but I tried to get into a pain management doctor in the area and cannot see him for two months. I have done all of the stretching exercises, ice, heat, pain meds, etc recommended for the past six months and saw some relief UNTIL I went to a chiropractor this summer and I have gotten progressively worse since having adjustments with him......and everyone I knows swears by them but I kind of think he made it worse......