Question:
Since this last year I have been experiencing back pain. I never had it before in my entire life. I don't know how it started because I did not have a sports or other back related injury. I haven't lifted any heavy weight either. It started rather suddenly. It started with pain in the lower back and also in the middle torso (back region and only one sided radiating to the right side - around the rib cage). The pain was highest when I woke up in the morning and would slowly recede after about two or three hours and pretty much disappear later in the day. I have always liked to sleep on hard surfaces and avoided mattresses and beds. I have been sleeping like this since the last 10 plus years. With some trial and error, I figured that if I placed a rolled up towel underneath my back (upper and mid torso region) when I sleep, the pain was slightly less in the morning.

This continued for several months and the pain receded and almost disappeared even when I got up in the morning. Feeling confident, I wanted to retire the towel, and about three weeks ago, I stopped using it. The first week was ok. But after that, my pain has returned and this time it is much more. It is as if my back "stiffens up" overnight. It pains a lot in the lower back when I try to stand up getting out of bed in the morning. It is a "shock" like pain in the lower back (in 3 or 4 pulses). Same thing happens when I sit for a while and try to get up. Again, like before, the pain is highest in the morning and lessens as the day passes. There are no other symptoms - no tingling feeling in the legs, no loss of sensation anywhere else. The pain in the mid torso (thoracic) back side (radiating to the right) is almost gone. Only the lower back (lumbar) pain has gotten worse. Running/jogging is paining the lower back. Also, walking, climbing up/down stairs and bending forward, getting in/out of the car, standing up (after sitting a while) are all causing severe pain in the back. I started using the towel again but this time with limited relief.

If I walk for 15+ minutes, the pain reduces substantially. I used to perform very light strength training with dumbbells but stopped since the last month due to my back pain. For the last year or so I had a bad sitting posture at work without any back support. I have changed this since the last couple of weeks. I also started getting up once every 30 min or so and also stretching myself throughout the day.

I have the habit of sleeping on my back (since my teens) and my friends suggested I change my sleeping position to sideways. I did this a week ago. The first couple of days, the pain almost disappeared (specially when I got up from bed in the mornings) but has slowly made a comeback. Would consulting a chiropractor or a pediatrician help? I have been scared by people saying that chiropractors can be "hard" on the spine with their techniques and pediatricians suggest surgery at the drop of a hat. Please advise what I can do to solve my back pain.

Answer:

I'd try the doctor first, then the chiropractor. It sounds to me like something a chiropractor and a little physical therapy can relieve, but I'd want a doctor to look at it first.

Everything you have said sounds very familiar - I have the stiffness in the morning and the sharp stabbing pains when I move quickly or stand up after sitting for a while. I would definitely suggest seeing a doctor first, and stating all of this to him/her.

By the way, I am 31 and also work in IT. I've been in pain for several years now and am contemplating surgery (I recently had a discogram, suggesting that I'm a candidate for surgery). I'm glad to hear you've stopped the weight training, but can I make a couple more "lifestyle" suggestions that might help you?

You've already mentioned that sitting is something that seems to worsen the symptoms, and walking helps ... and this is very common for lower back pain sufferers. Sitting is clearly to be avoided whenever possible! I don't know what your work setup is like, but would it be possible to stand or even lie down for some of the day? If you have access to a laptop and a high enough surface (such as a windowledge or filing cabinet) you might be able to work like that, or lying down propped up against a beanbag. Can you find the time for a couple of 15 minute walks during the day - perhaps instead of a full lunch break? Is it possible to work from home occasionally? (I do all of these, and find especially that a midweek break from having to get to/from the office really helps me).

I know this probably won't cure the pain completely, but I've (slowly, very slowly!) realised that if you want to avoid surgery then you have to do everything you can to keep your pain levels as low as possible throughout the day.

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