Back/Neck problems. How concerned should I be?

I've had pretty serious lower back problems for all of my adult life. Occasionally, I'll just twist the wrong way (never lifting anything or doing anything stupid. Worst I had it recently was getting into the shower.) I'll hear/feel a "squelch" and I'm berkeleyed.

Anyway, I'm used to that. Happens a couple times a year. I've just got to load up on ibuprofen and fight my way through that E36 M3.

But a few months ago, I was helping a buddy's band set up, and hurt the bottom of my neck/kinda in between my shoulder blades. It was really sore for about a week but went away eventually. Now it's pretty much on and off sore all the time.

The thing that's freaking me out is that the skin will get totally numb in that area occasionally (like right now.) Muscles are sore, but skin is numb.

Is that weird?

You're going to die!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . But then, we all are one day.

The numbness is a pinched nerve. And before someone hollers chiropractor DEFINITELY NOT ANYWHERE NEAR YOUR NECK!!

depends on the chiropractor ... I've used some I wouldn't let near my neck (didn't continue seeing them) I've used others that I'd give a shot at something like that before I let a MD look at it ... surgery isn't always the answer

In reply to carguy123:

Agreed on the quack docs. I lived next to a chiro school and those students were straight annoying.

And much like surgery can't fix everything, straightening out your spine can't fix everything.

I've pretty much decided not to do the chiropractor thing. Ever. I've been tempted to shell out a few hundred for an MRI, just to know what the berkeley is going on. But what good is that really going to do me, you know? "Senor Poop, you need $20k worth of surgery." Prolly not gonna happen.

Probably worth seeing a neurosurgeon to see if they can identify the problem and recommend treatment. Surgery may not be the recommended answer. When I saw one about a ruptured disk, I was surprised by the number of options he listed as preferable to surgery. It's been 10 years or so and I still haven't had to resort to surgery.

The biggest concern would be trying to avoid permanent nerve damage which can occur in just a few months given the wrong circumstances.

I wasn't saying the "quack" docs, as you call them, was always the answer ... but I believe that alternative measures should be considered, especially if you're not in imminent danger ... I've met very few people that were actually better off after back/neck surgery than they were before ... not saying it can't/won't help .. just my free (worth what you're paying) advice is try alternative measures first

wbjones wrote: I wasn't saying the "quack" docs, as you call them, was always the answer ...

I wasn't meaning to direct that at you about the "fixes everything" line. (damn internet) It was more about the people that I knew that went to the school and were absolutely against any medication or vaccines. It was pretty damn annoying hearing them tell my that pain killers were a bad thing. As if I would prefer to have my spine adjusted instead of have pain killers if I was in a serious accident with serious pain.

I was in a similar situation about five years ago, so I know the feeling.

It really sounds like its posture related resulting in a nerve getting pinched somewhere. Before you pay for an MRI scan, try to get an appointment with a GOOD physical therapist to check your posture. Check with your local professional sport teams. It will be MUCH cheaper, and there are good chance that he will be able to tell you what's wrong right away, or point you to a good clinic to get your MRI, if need be.

Now the problem is what to do with this problem. You can take pain killers for the rest of your life, but it won't take care of the root problem. That's like dumping trans-medic in your tow truck and hope that the transmission will heal itself. They are great to make life bare-able while you get better, but it's not a solution. If you get a good therapist, he/she will be able to give you some specific exercises to correct the problem.

You will probably need to change your life habits and do those specific exercises every day. Its hard and long, but it's much cheaper than surgery and in the long run, you will get better, longer lasting results. The secret is to not get discouraged.

Just like mechanics and everything else in life, there are good and bad chiropractors. I used to caddy for a good one. Say what you will about quacking, but after five minutes I was standing straighter and was pain free. I didn't even know I was in pain.

That being said, they are not miracle workers, and there are some things that they won't be able to help you with. The good ones should tell you, I can't help you.

Poopie...

BTDT. I have something going on in my lower back that makes my hip hurt all the way down my right leg. If I don't do anything it'll effect my gait -- foot doesn't work exactly right and I'll stumble.

To fix things I've seen a spinal specialty team, done the PT thing, and seen a chiro. What I've learned from having this is that there can be no right thing, no one fix that fixes. All I try to do is keep ahead of the pain. What that means is low doses of anti-inflammatories when the pain first crops up, and then start with the exercises I learned in PT. That usually takes care of it most of the time. If it doesn't then I seek out the spinal guys for a cortisone shot in the lower back.

The chiro helped a lot -- got to go almost 3 years between cortisone injections. Now the chiro won't see me because I just had surgery for prostate cancer. Go figure......I thought that was interesting -- went to see him recently because the pain started up and I didn't get on my exercises fast enough -- he starts a adjustin' and asks if I had any surgery. I tell him I just had a prostatectomy 4 months ago.....he stops what he's doing and basically tells me to have a nice day. No more adjustment for you!

I feel my pain. I'd feel your pain, but it's probably different from my pain.

My best results have been from a physical therapist giving me stretches and strengthening exercises to do as a preventive measure. i.e. once I'm having some sort of significant issue, it's time, rest, and anti-inflammatories. But once I'm back to normal-ish, if I stay on the exercises, I'm much less likely to have issues.

For the Nth time in my life, I exist only as one data point, possibly completely unrelated to your situation...

Okay, I'm getting straight on my soapbox. BTDT on all the above, and at least for me, I've found THE CURE. Inversion table. I only go about 45 degrees, for the length of a song(3.5 min) every day until its better, then apply as needed. I got mine at goodwill for $40, but $150 on amazon for new ones is common. Now, it seems just having the thing makes my back better-scares back problems away-I swear. I've got several friends who have experienced the same. It makes sense-your back is compressed by a heavy head and upper body all day, why not reverse the squish to an aaaahhh? Soapbox relinquished.

Got no problem with chiropractors. Been to some who were awesome, been to a few who were not effective, never walked out in worse shape than when I walked in. That said, one of the best things I did for the lower back was a massage. I got a couple massage as a romantic gesture, but holy E36 M3 that stuff is for real. And my masseuse did hardly anything that looked like what you think of as massage. 90+% of it was stretching, but after an hour I was better for months.

I've also finally figured out how to pop most of the trouble spots in my own back. Essentially it's a toe touch coupled with relaxing all the muscles, and just letting my upper body weight stretch things out.

I've been to one Chiro, and it was a disaster.

DILYSI Dave wrote: Got no problem with chiropractors. Been to some who were awesome, been to a few who were not effective, never walked out in worse shape than when I walked in. That said, one of the best things I did for the lower back was a massage. I got a couple massage as a romantic gesture, but holy E36 M3 that stuff is for real. And my masseuse did hardly anything that looked like what you think of as massage. 90+% of it was stretching, but after an hour I was better for months. I've also finally figured out how to pop most of the trouble spots in my own back. Essentially it's a toe touch coupled with relaxing all the muscles, and just letting my upper body weight stretch things out.

I guess it's totally different for different people though. Have you met Carol? Awesome chick, went to school for massage therapy. Twice now, if I'm hurting, she'll work on me. Feels berkeleying AMAZING while I'm on the table...then I can barely get off the table (no, not because she didn't finish me off...okay, maybe partly.)

Anyway, I've addressed the lower back pain thing before, and it turns into chiro-wars.

I was more just concerned about the big numb area (not the one between my ears.)

Start with your doctor for a check up. then go from there. There have been cases where correctional exercises work.

Hey, maybe you are wearing the wrong shoes. Don't laugh.

Oh, I have been adjusted and it feels great, especially when I was a barback and used to carry beer and ice all damn night. I agree that it is good for regular visits and getting adjusted. I just hated seeing the mindless anti medication and vaccination drivel I used to see on Facebook from the students that I lived near and worked with.

That was just a side rant. I just like calling the chiros that believe all that E36 M3 they are fed in school about medicine, quacks. It's like because they can't have access to a prescription pad that they have to turn it into pure evil.

Anti-stance wrote:

wbjones wrote: I wasn't saying the "quack" docs, as you call them, was always the answer ...

I wasn't meaning to direct that at you about the "fixes everything" line. (damn internet) It was more about the people that I knew that went to the school and were absolutely against any medication or vaccines. It was pretty damn annoying hearing them tell my that pain killers were a bad thing. As if I would prefer to have my spine adjusted instead of have pain killers if I was in a serious accident with serious pain.

understood ... I try to steer clear of the "spinal manipulation" can CURE ANYTHING ... from the common cold to pancreatic cancer .... snake oil salesmen are higher up the trust ladder as far as I'm concerned

Numbness might be a big deal, and might be nothing. If its a nerve being pinched, then usually they will try steroids, either oral or injections much sooner than surgery. But if you have collapsed vertebrae or disc herniation, then you're talking surgery. Could also be muscle spasms, in which case Valium!

A good neurologist can probably determine your problem without an MRI. Not that they won't want an MRI.

Are you comfortable with administering your own anesthesia? It's not that hard once you get a feel for it. I'd get a mirror and some exacto knives and open it up. The problem is likely obvious once you get a look and you can save a lot of money going DIY with neck surgery. That E36 M3 gets expensive really fast.

Make sure you do a build thread.

Serious question - how much do you sit? After three years of working for myself, mostly sitting at a computer, my lower back couldn't stand (no pun intended) being upright for more than about half an hour at a time unless I kept moving. Last September I built myself a standing desk.Took about six weeks to get used to it, but my lower back problems have almost completely disappeared.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Are you comfortable with administering your own anesthesia? It's not that hard once you get a feel for it. I'd get a mirror and some exacto knives and open it up. The problem is likely obvious once you get a look and you can save a lot of money going DIY with neck surgery. That E36 M3 gets expensive really fast. Make sure you do a build thread.

Why yes! Yes I am!!! I do it every night! I have actually done booze + painkiller oral surgery to remove a chunk of wisdom tooth left over from the dirty dentist. Back might be a little more difficult.

As for the crappy shoes, sit vs. stand, excercise, posture stuff, the suggestions are appreciated, but when I say "pain" (as it relates to the lower back,) I'd file it under "excruciating/agonizing" when it goes out. During the worst recent one (couple years ago) I had to have my wife help me get into bed, and vividly remember screaming in pain. That kinda pain.

Back(har)story:

When I was maybe 10 or 11, I did what all the cool, bored, non-wealthy kids in my town were doing in summertime, and spent the day swimming in the local canal, jumping in from the 30 or so foot bridge. I hit the water ass-first at some point, and I'm guessing that's where this E36 M3 all started as my back was berkeleyed for days.

Never had any more trouble until I worked at a carwash for a couple years in college. I never realized how bad it was until I quit, and felt like a teenager (which I was) again, instead of an old man. The pain was constant, and it took me a long time and a "routine" just to get out of bed every morning.

When I was 23 or so, working for my last employer was when it got bad. I was helping our delivery dude unload his truck, grabbed a box of glass, turned, and felt/heard that squelchy deal in my lower back, and hit the ground. I had to learn to clutch with my right foot as it was agonizing to do with the left.

I hated to do it, but I filed a claim under workers comp. They took an xray, and basically said "everything's fine. HTFU." and sent me to a physical therapist, whom I waited for for an hour only to have her basically hand me a couple pages of stretches/exercises, which I still do to this day.

As far as the original post, like I said, I was moving a bigass bass cab when I berkeleyed my upper back up. It sure as E36 M3 ain't from sittin around all day!

Honestly, this sounds like surgery to me (non-professional opinion). Then again, up here, you wouldn't have to worry about being covered

Another issue is that you didn't take care of it when it was first a problem. These things only get worse the longer you let them go, and eventually, there simply might not be a final, definite fix for it

You need to go see a doctor that actually knows what they are doing though... I'd hate to suggest if you are out in the sticks going to the "big city", but it sounds like you've had a lot of crappy doctors.