Suffering From Low Back Pain. MRI Normal. Suggested Exercises. What To Do?

Posted on Mon, 26 Aug 2013

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 Answered on

Tue, 17 Sep 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : My wife has been suffering from lower back pain for the past few months. We have visited Dr. Jairamchander Pingle in Apollo Hyderabad and Dr. K XXXXXXX XXXXXXX in XXXXXXX XXXXXXX Holistic Hospital, Hyderabad. Dr. Pingle first asked to do a Xray, we did that, the report was normal. He asked to do a MRI of the Lumbar Spine, we did that, it was okay as well. He said there is nothing to worry. Dr. XXXXXXX said that she needs to do some exercises for it. We went to a physiotherapist and was told to do some exercises, only after the pain subsides, however, the paid never subsided fully. It becomes severe sometimes, sometimes it is less, but its always ther.

My wife is a teacher and we though due to the nature of her work it was happening, however, she has not been able to go to school for the last 20 days due to some problem with her stomach and vertigo issues, still she has severe instances of pain.

What should we do? Could it be because we sleep on a very hard surface? Could a change in that be the solution to her pain?

Answered by Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
L S Belt, Calcium supplemnts

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for your query.

I am medical doctor, an associate in Department of Orthopedics, working with an experienced spine surgeon. I answer on his behalf.

Based on the symptom your wife has, I suspect she to be in the initial stages of spondylosis which usually is not seen in an MRI. Also this could have been made painful with deficient calcium levels in the bones.

I Suggest her to wear a Lumbosacral Belt and take calcium supplements like Shelcal 500 once in a day after breakfast for a minimum of two months. Both the measure followed for 2 months would almost cure the pain and prevent progression of the spondylosis.

Meanwhile for pain she can apply diclofenac gel over the affected area with no massage.

Hope, I answered your query.

regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T (4 hours later)

Before I start the above, I would like to inform you about a few other things. The pain is kind of causing a biting symptom from within, its not like a normal muscle pain. Also, the pain is extending to the buttocks and legs when it is severe, which is the case now. She also has problems of constipation, could the pain be caused from that? The pain actually starts from the stomach, kind of gas pains, and then goes to the lower back and then to the legs. How do we make sure what is the reason of pain? You mentioned above that the MRI would not reveal the spondylosis, what test would reveal that? We had also done the Xray before the MRI, which also didn't show anything.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T (39 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I stick the possibility of Spondylosis

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for writing back.

As I mentioned in my previous post spondylosis in initial stages cannot be picked up by MRI, there is no test which can identify spondylosis in initial stage. It may have to be suspected based on the clinical feature alone.

The stomach pain, gas pain and constipation can be an unrelated pain she has. She has to be examined for the same.

Regards,

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar