Severe Upper Middle Back Pain

[KellyDuarte]

I tried posting this in the back and neck community, but no one responded, seems like a dead forum. Here goes:
Hello everyone, for the past 6 years I've been experiencing severe back pain. It started when I worked in a factory in which I stood all day and worked on car headrests. I've since left that job 5.5 years ago because of the pain that it caused me. I went to my doctor when I first started having the pain and I was given Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs. They unfortunately did not help. I also went to a physiotherapist which didn't help at all. After all that, I decided that I would just let it go and see if it just gets better(I was only 17 so be kind). I went to college and it wasn't too terrible, although I still did experience back problems, they weren't as severe. No I have a job where I sit down all day and it is absolutely unbearable pain. I can't handle it. I've gone back to my doctor, gotten x-rays(they were clear, so no skeletal problems) and he's just been prescribing me the same old things again. What can I do to alleviate my pain? It hurts so much that I sometimes break down into tears and I don't think my doctor realizes how much it hurts. I've gone to emergency and they tell me to talk to my doctor. I want to live a normal life, not just laying down after work. Anyone's suggesting would be greatly appreciated. Anything to help me with this pain. Btw, anyone wondering, I'm in Canada and with our doctor shortage I'm not able to just pick another doctor. I'm starting to not feel comfortable with my doctor, I called him to talk to him about the most recent prescription and asked him what I should do if they're not working. His response was "I believe they will work" and then hung up. I think I need a new doctor, but I can't keep going to the hospital because I don't have 5+ hours to spend waiting to see a doctor only to find out that they aren't going to do anything for me. Also, I'm doing massage therapy and I find that it helps, but only for a short time. After a couple of hours, the pain comes back. Thanks in advance everyone

[KellyDuarte]

Thanks for the information woodsprincess. I'm sorry to hear about your condition and hope things get better. The whole thing about an MRI being expensive, I wouldn't really know how much an MRI or fMRI cost because we don't pay hospital bills here. Everything is paid for by the government(except for prescriptions, but I'm covered with that through my work, so that's no biggie either). If you're saying an MRI won't do any good, I'm a little hesitant to have it done. Not that I'm scared, I've had one before, but there is a 200+ day waiting list to have one done. This is most likely a simple statistic that is out of date, but it can't be far off. What field is a pain doctor in? I've never been to one. Thanks in advance.

[woodsprincess]

My nerve pain was found out by a test . It is not showing up on mris or any were else. This test is done by a pain doc. and it saved me fighting for meds. no more I have it on paper.I came down with this 4 years ago .I just found out it is from arthritis in my back, pinching nerves.Your young to have this. I'm so sorry. Hope you can get this inexpensive test done for you.( well I'm sure its less than an MRI) I don't know may be it's something else going on,it cant hurt to ask.it's a nerve pain test.

[KellyDuarte]

Thanks everyone for you help. OtisDaMan - Those symptoms that you describe, sitting for too long, standing for too long are EXACTLY the same as mine. It's helpful to know that I'm not the only one who is suffering from this, although I hope it doesn't last much longer for both of us. To clarify things a bit as to where the pain originated, I worked in a factory about 4 years ago which wasn't very ergonomic and I had gone to see my doc about the back then, but wasn't offered much more help than some strong ibuprofen. I guess it's my constant sitting at my new job(I'm a computer programmer) that is aggravating it. OtisDaMan, have you ever gotten a clear diagnosis as to what the problem is and what the recovery route would be? From the looks of it, it appears we have the same problem. I will be looking to find a new doc(It's going to be hard because there's currently 30,000 out of 300,000 people here without a family doctor) and hopefully they will offer me the help I need. Also, I know for a fact that where I live, the inventor of the world's most powerful MRI, an fMRI(Functional MRI) works at the University here, which would be great if I could get an appt. for that. Plus, we have a few MRI machines. Thanks everyone for your help.

[OtisDaMan]

I too suffer from sever upper back pain (thoraicic back, T5 vertebra). If I am standing upright for too long, or sitting for too long, especially in low-back chairs, I get a pain like a screwdriver is being pushed through my back from T5 to the chest, horizontally. The longer I stand, the stronger the pain becomes. Lying down for awhile will let it subside somewhat.

Are these pain symptoms similar to yours, or do you have a different set of physical pain sensations (eg throbbing, bone crunching/crushing, stabbing, burning etc.)? If the pain sensation feels like it moves, then the direction (eg from chest to back, or from back to chest, upwards, horizontal, etc) can be important information for the doctor. Some pain like this can be referred pain from an organ, such as the spleen, and the direction the pain "moves" can indicate that.

As for diagnostic imaging, I agree with the others that you should try something like MRI. However, not all MRI equipment is the same. Make sure to ask questions about whether the MRIs at the clinic that does them are *actually* capable of identifying nerve injury and stuff like that. You want the best odds you can give yourself of identifying any physical cause.

Finally, did the pain just slowly come on due to the job for instance, or did you have a sporting accident or something as the original injury, which the job just kept aggravating?

All the best.

[Tuckamore]

Hi Kelly,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum of MedHelp. I am so sorry that you are having so much pain and for such an extended period of time. I must say that I agree with all the above posts.

I don't know a lot about the medical care delivery system in Canada but I have been told it is very slow. I agree that you should have an MRI. They are a much better diagnostic tool than an x-ray.

I also agree that you should discuss your pain with your physician again. Just because he thinks it will work doesn't mean it is working. You can tell him that you have given the meds he prescribed a lagitament amount of time to be effective and they just smply are not. I would be kind but firm and ask him/her what you are to do when the medication is not effective and you are not able to function. It is very important that you impress upon him the amount and intensity of your pain. Write down all the things you want to discuss with him, along with examples of how your pain interferes with your life. Be assertive. No one cares more about your body and your pain than you do. I would pick up that phone today and talk to him or if possible make an appointment.

In the mean time the massages, warm baths and heat rubs as Sandee recommended too may be beneficial. And don't forget to make the appointment with another PCP.

Please let us know how you are doing. I will look forward to your next update. And as always, please take care, Tuck

[Mollyrae]

Hi Kelly,
I'm wondering if you have actually had an MRI done. The x-ray that was taken will not show nearly as much an MRI. It is very possible that you have alot going on with the narrowing of the spine or ruptured, bulging discs and that is something the MRI will find. I would call your Doc again and request an MRI or another option is if you have to go to the ER again, request an MRI at that time. I'm not familiar with your health care system but is it possible to make an appt. to see an Orthopedist? They specialize in that area an might find the source of your pain.  I hope you can resolve it soon. Take care and good luck, Mollyrae.... Keep us updated

[KellyDuarte]

Thank you Sandee for all your suggestions. I'm afraid that I'll have to wait until the new year to look for a doctor because of my job situation. I just graduated school and I'm still on an internship, so I don't have the same securities that a regular employee has until January when I'm hopefully hired on.

[sandee1818]

In the mean tme talk to your doctor and tell him you have to have something done and you need some pain relief and the meds he is giving you does not work and demand he help you. Tell him you have no quality of life liing like this in constant pain and your desperate for some relief.
Make SURE he understands and do not let him brush you off.
Tell him you have treid his way , his meds and it just simply is not working so he needs to take a new approach.

[sandee1818]

I know it is difficult to find a new Dr and in Canada your wait will be awhile I understand. But do NOT give up. Think of all the pain you have suffered so far and it will not just get better on its own and using the ice and heat and over the counter meds is not going to ive you relief. You need to do everything you can to get a new doc. I am not sure what the procedure is there but can you get a referral to a pain management doctor. When x-rays and MRI's are done and show nothing then that does not mean your not in pain it just means it did not show up on their test. Such things as nerve damage will not sow up! As soon as you can get the ball rolling to get a new doctor and do everthing you can to accerlerate the process.
Your in pain and need help and no matter what you need some relief and to find out why your having this pain. I think it could be some nerve damage invovled with the kind of work you descibe but you need to get a diagnosis so you can be treated.
Don't give up!
You can try deep massages and ice and heat and hot baths and showers and even something like ben gay or the other patches like ben gay. There is one called salon pas and it works well.
Good luck and keep trying and don't stop looking for the Dr you obviously need.
Please excuse errors.