man, sounds like you've got a tough time. with all the tension you talk about, i'd suggest maybe trying a therapeutic deep tissue massage therapist. that has been by far the most effective thing for treating my symptoms. but we've got different-sounding cases, so might not be the thing for you. might be worth a shot though. i found out by accident how effective it could be when my physical therapist tagged on a few minutes massage to the end of one evaluation. it was extremely painful as she pressed around on the trigger points in my twisted muscles in the lower back, but when those points finally released, it was a euphoria of relaxation and i literally felt like a new person. that PT said she couldn't give me massage as a matter of regular practice but to find a good massage therapist. it took 3 trys and some research to find a really good one, but when i found him he was able to duplicate the release that the PT was able to get to happen. so whenever i get really messed up i have a massage and it's a real god send.

big respect to you for pushing through the pain! it might be worth noting too that i've been doing specific core-strengthening exercises, too, during this time. those exercises have helped a lot with my ability to do regular labor. i didn't realize how weak my core was even though i *could* lift 100 lbs into a truck, etc... but my curve is largely a lumbar curve. sounds like maybe yours is upper back?

thanku so much for ur reply.yes it is my upper back and i will try the massage.im feeling u on the weak core thing , its just happened in the last year for me.i had huge strength as a chick but now im just a chick.i feel a bit like samson and delilah shaved all me bloody hair off.hahahha thanx mate.

I have it in my lower back and it causes my hips to pop out of socket and so when I go to bed at night it is torture. The only thing that I have found that relaxes me enough to help me fall asleep and stay asleep is a heating pad. I seen that u cant take pain medication except for tramadol, but have u asked or tried a muscle relaxer? There are also some medications better known to treat things like depression or anxiety that are also used as a muscle relaxer/sleep aide. I was to the point that if I got 3 hrs of sleep a nite that was a good nite, but being a mom it finally took its toll on me. So my doctor put me on a muscle relaxer and OMG it was wonderful. Took a week or two to get used to it as it made me drowsy but after that it was so helpful. Unfortunately no matter what ur on though u build a tolerance and so now I am on a medication known for anxiety/depression yet its used as a muscle relaxer and sleep aide in my case. If u cant take pain medication, get a heating pad quickly and see if that helps, then ask ur doc if it would be safe trying a muscle relaxer that would also be good to help u sleep better. This disease is hereditary in my family and so I have 3 generations of people I can turn to for advice. Some have had surgeries and some have not, I am in the not category. And those who did have surgery say they r no betr or r worse than b4. And so over the years they have tried enuf different things that I talk to them when something changes or something new appears then I consult my doctor. Experience to me means more than someone who doesnt know first hand what I am dealing with and is helping me simply because they have a degree and know the medical science part of things. Hope this helps and that somehow some way u find relief and get some real rest.

thanku my doctor has prescibed me imipramine as yet tho i havnt taken it and u r so right about our bodies building a tolerance.im finding its hapening with the tramadol already.this bums me out .thanku so much for ur advice xx

is you're Dr.an orthopedic that specializes in complex spinal reconstruction & scoliosis?Mine is.as a teen in the 80's I was sent 2 a Chiropractor.that's it.I also had inserts put in my shoes 2 even out my shoulders & a back swing.In 2010-my Dr.said I should've been sent 2 an orthopedic 1st ,& they knew better-bordering on malpractice.all the massage advice & exercises are well meaning-but u know what they say about good intentions.B4 surgery I was a housekeeper with a hump in my back & pain so bad that after work I couldn't stand up straight after an 8 minute drive home.my surgery took 281/2hrs & 2days.while I am an extreme case,my back looks normal with almost no pain.My dr. always said his end goal was 4 me 2 only need over the counter pain meds.Life is great.I even asked about a tempur-pedic matress & he has no preference.all the quick-fixes & pain relieving products in the world are only keeping u from the better life u could have.look on north american spine society or scoliosis research society for a good dr. someone who is up 2 date on new techniques etc.

Hi, everyone. I just came over from the Myofascial Pain Support Group page. Wow. We are a sore and sorry group over there but you guys seem to have it even worse on the pain front. What I was going to suggest as an addition to any other treatment you do was self massage. It might not work, but it is free, so you can at least try it. Get 2 old tennis balls and put them in a sock. Sling it over your shoulder and stand with your back against the wall. Place the balls in the little trough on one side of you spine, lean back and try to roll the balls up and down, starting at your neck and going down to your tailbone. Then do the other side. If there are places that are extremely tender, they are trigger points. Try to massage them out. Only use as much pressure as you think safe.

There is also this book that has become my bible: http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1572243759/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297124022&sr=1-1

I don't know if it would be helpful in your case, though.

man thanks so much guys.youve given me heaps to chew over in me head.i do have a little worry about trying massage as even the smallest tap or nock on my tailbone can leave me in a real bad way.a moderate nock can leave me unable to walk for days sumtimes.really sux.is this part of the scoliosis??i just thought it must be.