Chronic pain from injury won't go away

[lior146]

Hi Mark,

I injured my lower back doing a squat back in early January 2013. I must have rounded my lower back on the bottom of the squat.

It has been 10 months since and the pain is still there all the time. I've seen 6 medical doctors and 1 therapist. I've gotten X-Rays and MRIs. Nothing. No one knows what the hell is going on and it's really starting to piss me off.

Any suggestions?

[Mark Rippetoe]

I know it's going to seem very odd that I can't help you, considering the giant volume of information you have provided here. Sorry.

[Paul1]

I don't know what's causing your pain, but I would strongly suggest de-medicalizing this. I get a ton ton ton of referrals for chronic unexplained pain (usually referred so I can rule out an infection of some sort) and in most cases these patients have been through this horribly frustrating ordeal of negative tests. The fact is that some people have pain that we just cannot account for. In some cases a real organic disease will 'declare itself' some day; in most instances it won't.

So here are a few suggestions to digest, with the understanding of course that this is just internet advice for what that's worth --

Take these negative tests as GOOD news -- hey, at least they haven't found a tumor or an obliterated vertebra. A negative test may not be an answer, but it can be reassuring.

If there is no organic disease to be found, then you should not have any restrictions. I have three primary prescriptions for people with chronic unexplained pain -- resume school or work, get regular and sufficient sleep, and exercise. Using and strengthening your back can do nothing but help.

Stay the hell away from prescription narcotics. (Ok, stay away from street narcotics too).

Complementary medicine practices like acupuncture, acupressure, and massage, as well as self-myofascial release like with a foam roller seem to help.

There are some drugs that are effective (more so than narcotics) but I avoid them when possible. Your goal here is make life normal -- that means de-medicalize this as much as possible.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Good advice. Sometimes it is necessary to just face the fact that your back hurts, and deal with it in a different way than with a doctor.

[Trewarin]

I thought/heard big doses of psilocybin mushrooms showed potential remove unexplained pain.

Like hitting a reset button on a stupidly important organ that maybe shouldn't have that button hit.

Worked for my ongoing neck pain, to a degree... If only because I was actually relaxed for 7 hours straight.

[Beacrys]

Intramuscular Needling. IMS. Very long story short. Debilitating back pain for well over a year. In bed some days. Great doctor. Every test and specialist there is. Final diagnosis. Can't find anything. Learn to live with the pain. I am a writer/researcher. Found IMS. Dr. Gunn lives in my city, has won medical awards the world over. First treatment I am 80% better. I do three more 20 minute sessions. My practitioner says go ride a horse which is one of the million things I had stopped doing. I looked at her like she was crazy, but I rode. I was fine. I did have slight twinges that sent be back for another treatment or to in that first year but never again. It took about another eight mos. for my body to forget I wouldn't have pain and settle down. (Anxiety, depression) I have sent a number of friends who have also had the miraculous recovery. A good practitioner can tell you if it will work for you in a quick consult.

IMS has been taught to Physiotherapists the world over so check the website to see if someone is close by. This year it is being taught to physiatrists at the UBC Medical School.

http://www.istop.org

[Brian Zahn]

try squatting. When my back hurts, either related or unrelated to my training, i sit there with it, then i go to the gym on my next scheduled training day. After my session my back feels better. Dont be stupid about it, but even squatting the bar will get blood flowing through the body which will assist in healing.