MIDDLE BACK PAIN

[*missmolly]

Hi Steve
I hurt my back 2 years ago and have seen various doctors, physios, massage therapists, chiro's and even an orthopedic surgeon.  I have a problem with the SI Joint on my left side which the physio is trying to get to stay in place by getting me to do core stability exercises but it seems to be stubborn.  For the past month or so I have been getting a great deal of pain around my T10/11/12 area.  My MRI in February 09 said "there is evidence of an indentation on the thecal sac by the disc osteophyte complex at the T10/11 level and another extradural indentation is noted on the thecal sac, with a mild compression the the cord at the T11/12 level - this is probably a small migrated disc".  My physio has next to given up on doing anything with this area so I have started back at massage and he says that my left side is so, so tight.  I can actually feel and see that the left side of my back is highter than the right.  My massage therapist thinks that it is the tight muscles (spasming??? - I don't understand what it all means) that is causing my pain and is trying to do everything he can to help me but it just doesn't seem to be working.  I wish that you had a therapist here because I am so desperate for some help.  I'm at the point where I believe it's never going to go away but stupidly keep looking for someone to help me.  I don't want to purchase your self treatment program because I've got to the point where I'm too scared to do anything because I don't know what's going on and I'm scared of making the injury worse or creating another one.  Do you know anyone near Bundaberg, Queensland who might be able to help me.  I just want to enjoy being a mum to my 3 year old.  Desperate for some help please.

[Steve Lockhart]

Hi Molly,

My website directory is still down at the moment so I am not sure but I don't think I have anyone in Bundaberg.

An SI joint problem comes from the rotated pelvis and when the pelvis locks up with core strength exercise it moves to the mid back. So I would be pretty confident your problem is a rotated pelvis and your therapist should be solving the problem in the legs and pelvis not by working on the back, (which you have already found out).

I hope that helps
Steve

[*missmolly]

Hi Steve

The physio has been working on my pelvis as it does rotate when it locks up.  He has also done some massage work on the inside of my left leg which he said if tight can lock the SI Joint.  He tells me that I have no strength in more core muscles and that my left gluteal muscle has wasted away.  I do all the exercises that I get from him but still I can't get strength back in the glute and my SI Joint keeps locking up.

Molly

[Steve Lockhart]

Hi Molly

That is because he treats your body as a sum of parts rather than one integrated unit. That is why physio doesn't fix chronic pain.

Try and see an SLM therapist if one is in your area or reconsider the self treatment porogram which will help you make the physio much more effective.

Regards
Steve

[Steve Lockhart]

One of the biggest causes of upper back pain for women post pregnancy is the holding of the baby to feed for extended periods. The muscles in the upper back, shoulder and arm are just not use to it and get fatigued and lock up. It is this fatigue that sets up the ache and so the best remedy is deep tissue massage to improve circulation and remove the fatigue.

Regards
Steve