Back pain advice 21yo

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi everyone,

I feel like I’m near my wits end at the moment so any advice would really be great. I apologise for the long post!

I’m currently 21 years old. A year ago next month I started waking up with back pain in a specific spot on my back, around the T12-L1 area on my spine, it was painful to press but apart from aching/burning in the mornings It didn’t bother me too much.

This went on for about a month when I started to get a pins and needles feeling coming from that spot and radiating up towards my shoulder blade when lifting any kind of weight, whether it be filling the kettle up with water or holding something out in front of me like a football.

When this started happening I went to the Drs who told me to rest it for a few months and see how it was then, after doing this I was still experiencing bad pain in the mornings and the pins and needles sensation when lifting any weight. In addition to this if I did lift any significant weight, my back would be much worse the next morning.

So I went back to my GP, explained that things hadn’t really improved at all and was sent to a physio who after a few months said he couldn’t work out what could be causing the problems and advised I go back to the Dr’s.

After seeing the GP again about the situation they said if it was still hurting at the start of 2014 then they’d book an MRI scan of my Thoracic, Lumbar and Sacral spine.

So, skip to a few months ago and I finally get my MRI scan which shows a dehydrated disc at the T12-L1 area and also Schmorl’s nodes in that area too. However, the GP thinks that despite the pain and tingling starting in that area, that it’s not related and has recommended that if exercises like cycling, weightlifting etc make my back tingle and hurt the next day to just stop them completely.

I’m not sure what my options are now, I feel like it can’t be normal to get such severe pins and needles when lifting very light weight and to wake up in daily bad pain in the same spot. Because I’m only 21 the idea of not being able to do any of the activities I’d previously enjoyed for the rest of my life is a very hard pill to swallow.

So I guess I’m posting here just to get some potential advice on what my next move could be if the GP doesn’t want to take any further action, and to see if anyone has had similar symptoms especially regarding the pins and needles from the middle of the back up to the shoulder blade when lifting things.

Thanks everyone,

James

2

Ask to be referred to a neurosurgeon/specialist. Feeling pins and needles cannot be right and stopping exercise not very healthy -  not least from a weight point of view. If the GP won't refer you, tell him he's effectively denying you treatment.

 

3

Hi James

I assume you are in the UK.  Time to be a squeaky hinge, they get the most oil.  You have to press your case with the GP.  What he has said to you is disgraceful and just trying to save money.  For a 21 yr old to have problems like this is unacceptable.  Tell your GP you want to be referred to the Musculo Skeletal unit at your local hospital.  They will assess you and if necessary refer you for an MRI scan.  This is the best way to identify your problem.  Don't leave it.  With the NHS you have to get into the system and the GP Mis the first major hurdle.  Keep us posted.

4

Hi STD, i'll make an appointment tomorrow and try to push for a referral to a specialist. Do you know what I could do if they do flat out refuse to do it? I'm not sure if they can deny me a referral or not.

5

Hi John,

Thanks for your reply, yep I'm in the UK. I may not have been too clear in my original post but I did have an MRI on my lower and middle spine which showed some dehydration around the area where I get pain but they don't think it's linked. Which led them to the conclusion of just leaving it and not working out why I get the pain or the tingling.

I've had to press quite a lot already with the GP and get the feeling that they're just hoping i'll eventually stop pestering them, it can be hard to keep going but you're right I can't leave it. I'll keep you updated on how things go.

Thanks very much for the support, it helps to get an outside view on things sometimes smile

6

Firstly, as them why.  Pins and needles must be an important symptom.  If they are adamant, state that you feel that they are denying you treatment, and if anything more severe were to happen to you as a result of their refusal, you would have a Personal Injury claim against the Health Service (if it's the GP that's refusing).  Then tell him/her that you intend to refer them to their professional body, the GMC (General Medical Council) and their "Fitness to Practice Panel", on the grounds that they are refusing you treatment which you feel is necessary (you can complain on-line.  Just Google "General Medical Council Complain".  Suing them after an accident has happened is not actually what you want.  Proper treatment is the preferred choice.  Quite frankly, you've been in pain, from what you state, quite some time.  It isn't normal for it to last that long and asking for a referral isn't much.  Also, be careful not to be fobbed initially by the Specialist/Consultant as well!  They seem to like to put people on tablets for as long as they can bear.

 

7

Have you asked your doctor for a copy of the MRI report. They must give it to you if you request it.  Anything you don't understand you can google.

John