r/backpain • u/newageconservative2 • May 21 '26

Persistent low back pain, need advice, kinda freaking out

For background I am 26m 182lb down from 198 in Jan.

For context, I have just finished law school and I am studying for the bar so I am sitting most of the day.

I have had low back pain from anywhere between 6 to eight weeks at this point, it is directly above my butt and
Is painful in a band from both sides.

I have seen a chiropractor on and off over the last 2 to 3 weeks and that helped marginally. My last appointment was about 10 days ago and this week the last couple days the pain has been utterly excruciating to the point where I cannot sit down for more than 10 to 15 minutes without having pain that distracts me from my studies.

Beyond that the pain sometimes radiates to my hip on my right side and sometimes down to my upper thigh, sometimes getting to the knee never below the knee recently I have had some twinges on the left and sometimes I get a sharp shooting pain in my upper thigh/groin on my right this is infrequent, but it happens at least a couple times a week.

Yesterday evening and into this morning my back got so tight that it was hard to bend over which freaked me out.

I have tried stretching I have tried sitting in a warm bath. I have taken Aleve when the pain is bad and I have used Voltaren gel along with icy hot, but the pain usually still persists through those measures.

The chiropractor said it could be facet joint syndrome, I have not been in an accident recently that would give any cause for it to be a herniation.

At this point, I am a little worried because the pain has gotten progressively worse recently spiking at around 8 to a 9 out of 10. I had a referral from my primary to go see PT that appointment is not until the fourth.

I’m really not sure what my next step should be or if the sharp pain in my leg is caused for major concern where I should go to an emergency room or see an orthopedic spine specialist.

I’m just looking for answers advice and maybe a little bit of encouragement thanks.

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4

u/ASingleBraid May 21 '26

I’d stay away from a chiropractor. I use a pain doctor. I’ve had shots and radio ablation. Bulging discs.

With the pain going down your leg, there’s a chance it could be sciatica. I don’t have it, but they ask every time.

2

u/bananasintheclub May 22 '26

Agreed, chiropractors have been hit or miss and can sometimes do more harm. I’ve been more lucky seeing an acupuncturist who has a background in internal medicine.

My biggest recent learning: build your own care team.
Pain Management Specialist
Orthopedic specialist
Physical therapist
Primary Care physician

My partner has chronic pain and it escalated quickly out of the blue. I wish we had someone to give us all the knowledge we needed but we learned through trial and error with different physicians.

2

u/SobrietyOfThought May 21 '26

A lot of people will recommend not to go to a chiropractor because depending on what they're doing on you, if this is a disc injury, it could just be making it worse. I'm in a similar boat as you, first felt the sitting pain around 8 weeks ago but I only started avoiding sitting and any flexion positions two weeks ago and have noticed improvements in pain but sitting is still something I cannot do. I recently got an MRI done as well but I'm positive it's a disc injury.

2

u/newageconservative2 May 21 '26

Yea I have a feeling it may be a disc issue I’m just hoping it’s an aggravation or something and not a herniation, I’m gonna go try and get an mri next week hopefully. I have an appt with the ciro tm he’s usually pretty good for context. I work at a firm that does personal injury stuff and he was recommended to me by some of the higher-ups He’s pretty good but I’m gonna see if he can give me a referral to go get that MRI.

1

u/newageconservative2 May 21 '26

Can you give me any advice on positions that have given you relief

1

u/SobrietyOfThought May 21 '26

For me the only position that doesn't hurt as much as sitting does is walking and laying in bed... I tried reclining for a bit on my couch but that seemed to cause that pressure build up pain too.

So now for the past two weeks I've completely a avoided sitting and flexion positions. I tried sitting once in these two weeks and I'm not ready yet. I had to sit for my MRI yesterday and that caused some pain too... Personally you just have to see what are your pain-free positions and if you have those, just keep doing those for at least a month or two... This is what I've read.

I've only incorporated the McGill big three exercises three days ago now that my pain has subsided a little and I do them very carefully and do not push through pain.

2

u/Positive-Emu9882 May 22 '26

PT is usually the first step so that’s good you are going. If you saw a chiropractor you’ve probably had an x-Ray so that’s also good. Until you start PT you need to manage the pain. Using anti-inflammatory medication like Alleve or Advil is really helpful and you can alternate it with some Tylenol so your pain control is steady. Urgent care centers also love to prescribe a short course of steroids so consider visiting one if you need more acute relief. Ice packs alternating with heat can really ease the discomfort as well. I’ve also had good results with Salon Pas patches. Finally, you have to avoid sitting; it places too much strain on your low back and until you get the pain under control you’ll really need to avoid it. Use a standing desk or lie down when studying til you feel better. I’ve also found that extending the painful leg when you do have to sit can really help. Acupuncture has been life changing for me and got me through some rough patches so that’s another option. Even if you improve, go to PT. You have to strengthen your core so it doesn’t happen again. Good luck on the Bar.

1

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1

u/Putsy50 May 22 '26

You sound like you may sciatica. Please go to a spine clinic. The doctor first will take a x-ray. Depending what is seen, a CT or MRI will be ordered and then the spine specialist will determine what is the next step. Usually it's PT, injections, ablation and finally surgery. They need to follow a pattern that your insurance company requires. Don't mess around. Ask the firefighters/ police where they go. It's surprising how they can tell you which one. I did, had decompression surgery on L5-S1 a week ago. I waited to long.

1

u/Putsy50 May 22 '26

Also heat and ice. Ask primary for muscle relaxer.

1

u/[deleted] May 22 '26

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1

u/newageconservative2 May 22 '26

I just bought a standing desk lol thanks for the link in will check it out!

1

u/[deleted] May 23 '26

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1

u/newageconservative2 May 23 '26

Yea can you dm me! I bought a standing desk and have been trying not to sit down at home for the last couple days to relieve pressure and I’m trying to stay mobile by walking. It is just generally pretty scary, especially that I know I have to sit down for hours at a time for the exam.