Lower back/Hip/legs pain, need help.

[ITExpert]

Hi,

I am new here and I am looking for guidance here as I am in pain since 2 months. I don't know exactly where to look and what kind of specialists I should see.

First of all, about me. I am 24 years old male, 6'3, has been overweight most of my life but always has been the sport type of guy and been going to the gym since I am 18. I also am an ex-college football player has a lineman and played through it while having a 290-310 pounds body with a good muscular shape. I retired football when I was 22 and then I gained considerable weight (350lbs now), having a hard time adjusting to my less intensive weeks. I keep trying to adjust my eating and life habits (which is tough working in the IT business) and my weight keeps swinging between 320-350lbs.

Anyways back to the problem, 2 months ago, I woke up one morning with a intense lower back pain, with a considerable swell too. It required cold packs dring a whole week to maintain myself able to work on my chair. The following week, I begin having massotherapist sessions who helped a lot dealing with the swelling and the pain overrall.

Fast forward 3 weeks of once-per-week massotherapists sessions, the lower back pain has diminished by about 70% but now the problem is located a little bit lower, in the hips and legs junction. I am dealing with severe pain while walking, having a hard time standing up without shifting my weight on something in my environment. 3/4 of the time, I have a hard time walking normally because everytime I move my legs forward and backwards to walk, it really hurts. It seems to get better after I walk after a while but NEVER gets away.

Now, everytime I move my legs, I have this pain at the base of the leg, around the hip and it's starting to mess up my life right now. I can't do my usual tasks without having to deal with mild/severe pain and I can't go to the gym either. I am pretty sure it's muscular-related but I don't know where to look for help.

I also have another symptom which may/may not relate to this: I have been feeling a little bit of pain in the testicular area on a random basis, maybe 2-3 times a week of variable duration. I am free of STD's and my massotherapist told me it may be related to a pinched nerve in my lower back.

Most people just said you gotta lose weight...I know that I have to but this isn't the definitive diagnosis of why I have that intense pain at the base of the legs and lower back. I am an active person which does his best to loose weight but cannot function properly with this problem.

Anyone wants to give his .02 cent on this matter? I will answer to questions ASAP.

Thanks a LOT in advance.

[helenlegs11]

Because u say your problem is in the hip etc check out piriformis syndrome. The piriformis is a muscle at the top of the butt, running from the spines base to the hip. If spasmed, can be due to a number of causes, 1 being sitting for extended periods i.e. IT expert ? ? It often gives rise to sciatic type pain and I don't think u have described that at all. Anyway google and you tube it to see if it matches your symptoms. Dr aaron Filler decribes it v well on you tube. Also Dr george Best.
Good luck with it
Helen

[ITExpert]

Hi again.

Thanks for the responses, really appreciated.

I am going to see a Doctor saturday morning to see If he can give me access to some tests and guide me where I should look next, as you suggested. I will keep this thread updated.

Also, some more symptoms that I have forgotten to tell: I also sometimes feel numbness in my left thigh when I am standing straight for a long time, another pinched nerve symptom?.

And lastly, the main pain come from the lower back, around the top butt cheeks. If I push there with my fingers, I sometimes feel a sharp pain in some random areas.

I'll update when I know more.

Thanks for the input and keep them coming!

[Mangee]

Have you been to see a neurosurgeon? I have pretty much the same problem and it is due to a herniated disc in my lower back. I saw my neurologist today and he is setting up an MRI to see if it has gotten any worse. Your spine can cause a of problems especially if a disc has moved and is pressing on a nerve.

[Airmid]

Yeah, the losing weight is a givin, I know IT is pretty sedentary but you, being a sport guy, know how this exercise/eating deal works right, so I can't rag on you about that, you know it's a choice.  But I know, exercise can't happen when you have pain and losing weight seems real far down on the scale compared to pain.  How about seeing an Orthopedics doctor?  Perhaps a practice that does sports medicine.  Have you talked to your primary doctor about it yet? Have they suggested anything?  Have they ordered any tests, an MRI or CT scan?  If you haven't talked to them, you should right away, to get a referral and possibly some pain relief, be it OTC or prescribed, anything is better than suffering.  I'm not a doc by any means but I know muscles can sometimes take a long time to heal and a pinched nerve(s) (personal experience) is excruciating, either way you need to see your primary first (insurance baloney, you know how that goes, right).  The testicular thing is particularly alarming and I'm a woman!  See a doc on that one right away if about nothing else!  Hope you feels better soon, hang in there.
Airmid.