Brief Answer:
Neurogenic claudication

Detailed Answer:
So sorry that you're having such troubles. Your symptoms are a classic description of a condition we refer to as NEUROGENIC CLAUDICATION. In other words, your symptoms of back pain which may also be tied to the symptoms of muscle cramps in the feet and legs are being brought on by a condition of SPINAL CANAL STENOSIS (narrowing of the spinal canal through which the spinal cord and nerves travel) in the lumbar portion of the spine. This results of cutting off of blood supply to the nerves that feed the muscles of the back and legs. You perceive this problems as pain, cramping, and possibly other things such as numbness and tingling. When you get to a point where it becomes intolerable you stop the activity (usually walking), take a break and then, resume activities. This is the cycle.

As the other doctor who answered this question a few days ago correctly pointed out the cause of NEUROGENIC CLAUDICATION can be multiple but in a word, ARTHRITIS or ARTHRITIC DEGENERATIVE CHANGES which come on due to exertion and repetitive use of the back muscles such as a person who bends at the hips all day long on the job or who simply says a strong predilection to developing calcifications of the bones and skeleton. Perhaps, there is a family history of similar problems. Unfortunately, none of these causes are easily curable since arthritis on the whole is not a curable disease.

However, the approach to making things more manageable/tolerable (again as my colleague pointed out) does involve things such as weight loss (if overweight), exercise in order to strengthen and stabilize muscles in the lower back. Pain medication is NOT likely to solve any problems since the PAIN and other symptoms are the CONSEQUENCE of musculoskeletal problems for which the true therapy is REST....and/or being able to replace the degenerated elements of bone, tendon, and ligaments in one's lower spine......(we're still a few years away from that type of definitivek solution).

My experience with my patients using steroids as a way of reducing inflammation in the lower back and the nerves in that area is usually poor. Effects are temporary and with each successive set of shots the effectiveness seems to be less and less. Not only that, but the chemicals themselves have a level of toxicity against the tissues into which they are injected so that over time, there is even the risk of further damaging tissue needed for support against holding the body in the erect position. Make sense?

Now, there is the surgical approach to this problem but please let me make sure you understand that surgery should always be a LAST RESORT in such cases. You should do all the conservative things possible to overcome the arthritic changes and to make sure you are following the best lifestyle possible such as STOPPING SMOKING, performing routine and rather robust exercises for the lower back along with stretching routines....it's hard to begin with but if you start slowly (e.g. Yoga, crossfit, meditation) and do the exercises at least 3-4x per week then, you will notice over time your improved stamina to walk, sit, and stand with less of the symptoms you describe over a period of several weeks to several months.

If you'll check out the ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION's website you will find a wealth of information on how to deal with OSTEOARTHRITIS (likely the type of arthritis you have by description) using exercises, hot water therapy, stretches, devices such as a TENS unit or even one of my favorites, THE THERMAZONE device. There is even such a thing as an ARTHRITIS DIET.....which recommends certain foods and vitamin supplements in order to strengthen and stabilize muscles and joints for the purpose of reducing pain, improving mobility, and flexibility.

Remember, you also have other comorbidities that can affect how well muscles and joints work with the hemochromatosis and fibromyalgia so those are going to impact your back pain to some degree.

Following is the link to the Arthritis Foundation's website and I sincerely wish you would peruse the website for some very specific recommendations that are based mainly in an understanding of what is at the bottom of your pain (NEUROGENIC CLAUDICATION) and how best to cope with it and cause it to interfere LESS (hopefully, not at all) with your normal daily activities and work. Here is the link to the page on the ARTHRITIS DIET....see what you think.

https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/arthritis-diet/

The above website is full of very specific and practical suggestions which if applied in your case can make a big difference in how you will feel and perform. Unfortunately, as I mentioned previously, a true blue fix to this problem would involve literally transplanting the entire lower portion of your spine for something that is not affected by the progressive changes that come with age and overuse that so many are prone to getting....and right now that type of technology simply doesn't exist. In general, I try to dissuade people from "quick fix" surgeries with lasers, electricity, and other rather odd and unproven procedures which are very expensive and in the end never prove to be of any long term use.

If you truly wish to pursue treatment of a surgical nature because you feel nothing else you've tried or I've suggested has worked then, you should first get a good solid neurological examination in order to identify just which nerves or nerve roots are involved in the claudication process and exactly at what level all that may be occurring. Then, you should consult either an orthopedist or neurosurgeon to go over risks to the procedure and how much time to rehab (usually there is a minimum 2-4 week period of convalescence spinal canal surgery is performed.

If I've adequately answered your questions then, I'd greatly appreciate your CLOSING the query and assigning a 5 STAR rating to our encounter. Cheers!

47 minutes of professional time were spent in reading, researching, and formulating an analysis on behalf of this patient.
Thanks.

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