Ask the expert: back pain
May 19, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Do you have a question about back pain that you’ve not been able to get answered or you’re just too shy to ask? Well, here’s your chance to ask it and have it answered by a clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy, Malton Schexneider, PT, MMSc. He is also author of Back Pain Relief Secrets, Healthy Back Essentials, and The Metamorphic Weight Loss Program. 
He is a back pain specialist and has treated thousands of people from all over the country – including celebrities, professional athletes, doctors, other therapists, and even a few chiropractors.
If you would like to ask Malton a question related to back pain, please post your question in the comments section below. Don’t be shy! By posting your question, you may be asking something that other people have been wondering as well.
Over the next 6 days, Malton and I will be choosing questions from those that are left in the comments section, depending on how many are asked and their suitability for this blog. If we have too many questions for one session, we will have another one in the near future. Please keep in mind that this Q&A session is for information purposes only and does not replace medical advice from your physician or healthcare professional. If your back pain has not been diagnosed or has been worsening, please visit your doctor for care.
We’ll be back on Tuesday, May 27th, with the answers to as many of your questions as possible.
~~~~~~
Technorati Tags: chronic pain blog,ask questions about back pain,physiotherapist,Malton schexneider,learning about back pain,back pain,pain blog
Hello, I will start with I am a nurse and had L-3 L-4 L-5 and S-1 all cleaned up about 2 years ago. Great results for the most part but occasionally I get that all too familiar nerve pain that starts at the right midline right above L-4 and goes down right butt cheek and into hip. I know it is probably inflammation around that area. I am very active and like I said pleased with surgery. What exercises/stretching would help that area and help keep that pain at bay. I know once a back patient always a back patient but when that burning pain comes on….I take anti-
Thanks in advance!
inflammatories and walk/jog/elliptical 3-4 times a day. I need to start stretching again- that is where I need the help. Help me please…
Kendra
Hi, I have 4 herniated discs…the bottom four with affects on my sciatic nerve and numbness in my legs and feet. I had a course of physical therapy for awhile. Now, every once and awhile I get bouts of stiffness and muscle spasms. How do I improve my quality of life? surgery? more physical therapy?
I have cervical degenerative disc disease, which exacerbates my chronic migraines. Can you suggest the best ways to sleep in order to avoid worsening the pain I already experience? What kind of pillows and how many? Are there special types of pillows or other tools you would recommend? What sleep positions are best?
I have two questions but they’re both related to travel and back pain, so I hope that’s ok. I am also a nurse like Kendra and I hurt my back many years ago. I haven’t had any surgery or anything but I did have a spinal injection about 25 years ago. It didn’t help that much and I remember that my blood pressure plummeted; the doctor had to wait a long time before I could slowly be sat up in an upright position. So, I’m afraid to do that again.
My problem now is when I drive long distances, be it as a passenger or the driver, I end up having pain in my lower back and right hip. Actually, I develop this pain more often as a passenger than as a driver.
I recently did a 6.5 hour drive. I stopped at every single rest stop along the way, so the longest I drove without stretching was about 50 minutes. I would walk around for a bit, stretch and then move on. Yet I was still quite achy when I got to my destination.
Now, I’m scheduled to fly – a 3 hour flight, non stop – and I’m afraid that the pain will kick in, especially since I did the long drive so recently. What can someone do in that situation?
My second question is what does someone with a sore back to do when they are traveling and staying in different accommodations? We have no control over our beds and I’m always concerned about how my back will react to the mattress.
Thank you for answering my questions.
Hi, it’s my turn for a question.
What, if anything, can I do when my back pain flares up and is an acute phase? I can go weeks without back pain and then one unexpected movement will send “electric” shocks across my back and sometimes down the sciatic nerve.
I’ll have a constant dull ache but these shocks of pain depending on movement or position. For example, I was doing fine until yesterday morning when I bent over (incorrectly, I admit) to pick something up. The sudden familiar jolt of pain shot through my lower back. It has since gone (it is very quick) but I’m now in that fragile stage where any movement may bring it on. Is there anything I can do when this happens.
Thanks,
Marijke
Hi, I hope I am not too late! I have chronic migraines with aura (and sometimes with hemiplegia) and also was diagnosed with idiopathic brachial neuritis in December. Since then I have treated the neuritis but continue to have excruciating upper back pain and tension.
How can I effectively treat the tension? I feel that it is triggering more migraines and quite frankly, I am exhausted from the constant pain of the migraines during the morning and afternoon and the back pain throughout the rest of the day. I have tried muscle relaxants and opiates, which dull the pain a little but do not make it go away. I am also having trouble sleeping due to the pain, which I am sure is contributing to more migraines. What do I do??
Hi Anna - we’ve already posted the questions and answers but I’ll see if we can squeeze yours in.
Hi,
I had an L5-S1 fusion last yr when I was 18 yrs old after suffering from back pain for 4 yrs for spondylolisthesis w/ pinched nerves. I have been told now that it did not fuse.
Now I am in just as severe, if not more pain that is radiating down my right side. I had a discogram last week at L4-L5 & am trying to understand the results. It reproduced my pain.
If anyone can help me, or enlighten me about treatment options, it would be greatly appreciated.
…L5-S1: the interbody cage is partially incorporated with a small amount of intact interbody fusion bone at the posterior aspect of the disc space. On the current examination, there is no definite solid fusion noted posterolaterally.
L4-L5: There is a large annular tear at the six o’clock position with contrast extending into a central to right disc protrusion which contacts the anterior aspect of the thecal sac as well as the proximal right L5 nerve root and may minimally contact the proximal left S1 nerve root. The facet joints remain patent & no lucency is noted along the pedicle screws.
Thank you!! Just trying to feel better so I can continue college without pain:)
Hi Christine, I’ll put the word out and see if maybe we can’t get some advice for you.
Good luck.