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Mon 15 Jun, 2015 09:10 pm
I'm 17 years old and I've been having unexplained back pain for the past 3 years. I have been through two rounds of physical therapy, an orthopedic, pain management doctor, hernia specialist, neurosuregon, x-rays, 4 MRIs, bloodwork and no one could give me an answer. I was told I have minor scoliosis, a pinched nerve, two herniated discs and my discs are degenerating. But I don't have a diagnosis. My journey:
First, I was diagnosed the summer after eighth grade, I was 14. My pain didn't start until I started high school in the fall. After 3 months of experiencing the worse pain of my life (burning throughout my back, pins and needles, stabbing, pushing on it) my ma brought me to my pediatristion at the time. She mentioned scoliosis but thought something wasn't right. I was told to go to orthopedic and supposed it scoliosis spdcialist. He sent me to physical therapy for my pain after he said I was having muscle spasms in my back from a growth spirt occurring and the muscles not stretching properly. He was confused though because of how flexible I am. I stayed with him for about ten months to keep an eye on my scoliosis. It was changing, evident of x-rays.
Second, the pain was getting consistently worse, now effecting my hips. I went back to because of the continual pain and I couldn't find anything to help it. He said I have ultra sensitive pain receptors. He said this wasn't a surgical matter, nothing are wrong with my discs, I don't have a pinched nerve. He sent to me for more physical therapy which I stopped early because I was getting too much pain in my hips. He also gave me 7.5mg of Meloxicam. I barely use it because the side effects for me are extreme drowsiness and being dizzy.
Third, I went to my new primary doctor. I was sent for an MRI and x-ray of my pelvis and my lumbar spine because the doctor said it was very tender and the symptoms I described was very strange.
Fourth, I went to see I was told he is a hernia specialist. I was told by him that my hips are fine, but on both my x-ray and MRI, the impression on the reports exactly "slightly left curvature . . . Please note that a Salter - Harris type I fracture cannot be excluded." Of my lumbar spine though the impression on the report exactly, "Multilevel degenerative disc disease with multitude central and left - sided disc herniation at both L5-S1 and L4-5 . . ." He didn't seem to care much and that I'd have to deal with the pain so I told him to order me an MRI for my thoracic and cervical spine. From an x-ray of my thoracic spine quoted "apparent slight narrowing of the T7-T8 intervertebral disc space." From the MRI of my thoracic spine quoted, "nonexpansile simple syrinx with mild scoliosis." From the MRI of my cervical spine quoted, "loss of normal cervical lordosis, nonspecific but my be seen with muscle spasm."
Fifth, I went to pain management doctor who was a waste. He couldn't help me with my pain after I told him where it was and he said there is no such thing as a problem having pain all over my back and in my hips.
Sixth, recently I've went to neurosuregon. After describing my symptoms, what previous doctors have told me and what he did basic testing on. He sent me for a brain MRI with and without contrast and blood work. Both were unremarkable and normal to what he was trying to figure out. Neurological I'm fine. He requested I go to a rheumatologist.
It's the middle of June and I have seen too many doctors since February. I'm 17 and living with pain that somehow has no cause. I understand this is atypical. I've gotten used to that term after I describe the pain and then the doctors see how flexible I am. I am dumbfounding more doctors than I'd like. I don't know why my discs are degenerating so horribly. I don't know why I have flare ups (I call them back attacks) that can last from 10 seconds to 3 hours. My most recent one was a few days ago and I had to be taken out of school. The pain lasted 1.5 hours. The aftermath is awful: soreness, a headache and immense fatigue.
@mrreality68,
Welcome to.a2k.
There are few, if any MDs in our ranks. And, if there were, they would be unable to advise you as well as your GP. If your GP can't seem to help, find another. And, if needed, another.
You are welcome to hang around, though. We are the most outrageously funny deranged gaggle of misfits you are likely to find anywhere
And as a person who has lived with identifiable pain for over 60 years, let me express my heartfelt wishes for your recovery. It must be ever more distressing when the cause of your pain is unidentified.
@mrreality68,
I'm really sorry you're feeling this way.
The only thing I can suggest is asking them to test you for various disease processes that can show back pain symptoms, such as viral spinal meningitis, and Lyme disease if you're in the right area for it.
And welcome to A2K.