Help with back - JP Fitness Forums

hikerchick · 03-16-2008, 05:45 PM

1. When did the pain begin?
I've had pain off and on for several years.
2. What were you doing at the time? Or did the pain come on gradually over time?
It's chronic. I have scoliosis. Had to wear a brace when I was a teenager, well was supposed to but never did.

My hips aren't stable, my left SI joint doesn't stay in place and then affects the rest of my spine. Once the SI is out, everything above goes out as well until I get it put back in place.
3. Where, anatomically, is the pain? Depending on the day, anywhere from my hips, low back, mid back, shoulders, neck
4. What does the pain feel like? Sharp? Dull? Aching? Stabbing? Shooting? Mostly dull, achy.
5. Is the pain constant, or intermittent, or only on certain motions? It is constant but goes away with movement. I'm pretty active which helps.
6. What motions make your pain worse? Any high impact activities.
7. What, if anything, makes your pain better? Walking.
8. Does your pain radiate to any other part of your body? No
9. What things could you do before, that you cannot do now because of your injury? Snowboarding, running.
10. What is your main concern regarding the pain and its consequences? I don't want to be some hunched over, decrepit old lady with a hunchback.
11. Have you ever injured that part of your body before? If so, how? I had a snowboarding accident about 6 years ago that made the pain worse.
12. Is your pain getting worse over time? And if so, how much worse over what time period? I've had two kids, so pain is relative. Recovering from being pregnant has been hard on my body, and carrying around a baby/toddler (twice) has been even harder.

I workout fairly hard, and have for about 12 years. I am currently reading New Rules of Lifting for Women and plan on starting the workouts once I get to that point in the book.

I have tried everything I could find for helping my back: physical therapy, yoga, chiropractic care, acupuncture, different exercise modalities. I have been a personal trainer, and have a degree in kinesiology so I know a little about the human body. I feel stuck though, that there's something missing that I could be doing. That someone out there is going to know some little key of information that could help me.

I have an "S" curve, as well as some of my lumbar and thoracic vertebrae are rotated.

It's extremely frustrating, as I eat well and workout hard but my body doesn't respond as well as I'd like. I am pretty lean and currently hope to gain muscle. I'm at a point in my life (38) that I am more concerned with how I feel, how I can help my body stay strong and fit, than I am with aesthetics. So I would probably say my main goal would be to stabilize my entire spine. Any suggestions or comments are welcome.

dfpt · 03-16-2008, 08:40 PM

Hi hikerchick,
I strongly suggest checking out Postural Restoration Institute. Click the tab "About PRI" and there should be another tab for "Scoliosis". There's also a link for practitioners ("PRI National Network"); only PRI clinicians who have taken the Advanced Integration course will have an adequate knowledge base to treat your condition. The AI course is essentially a 4-day course on scoliosis.
Based on your report of (L) SI instability, I'd venture to say you have (what PRI labels) a pathological curve where your lower lumbar and SI joint are "acting" as your (L) hip.
Feel free to PM me for additional info. I can also share a very recent "success" story of one of my "pathological curve" scoliosis patients.

Sparkly*Serenity · 03-22-2008, 12:15 PM

I've got a similar situation but w/o scoliotic changes. This may not be what you want to hear but: I think you're doing one hell of a good job! Sometimes not getting worse is progress in and of itself.
You've tried nearly everything, you work out hard, you've had 2 kids...WOW. It sounds like you have structural changes in your vertebrae (vs. flexible, temporary, or otherwise easy2change) so I don't think there's any magic out there that is going to make you 100% --if you haven't found it already--if this is something genetic and/or has been going on since childhood.
I think ramping up your strength with NR or something similar will only help; especially build strength in your hips to support your spine and take some of the stress/dysfunction off.
I wish you great success! Just wanted to stop by and give you "kudos" for all the "work" it sounds like you've done thus far!

hikerchick · 03-22-2008, 09:37 PM

Thank you for the pm dfpt, I am going to give them a call and see what happens. Definitely sounds like something different. Thanks again!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfpt

Hi hikerchick,
I strongly suggest checking out Postural Restoration Institute. Click the tab "About PRI" and there should be another tab for "Scoliosis". There's also a link for practitioners ("PRI National Network"); only PRI clinicians who have taken the Advanced Integration course will have an adequate knowledge base to treat your condition. The AI course is essentially a 4-day course on scoliosis.
Based on your report of (L) SI instability, I'd venture to say you have (what PRI labels) a pathological curve where your lower lumbar and SI joint are "acting" as your (L) hip.
Feel free to PM me for additional info. I can also share a very recent "success" story of one of my "pathological curve" scoliosis patients.

hikerchick · 03-22-2008, 09:40 PM

Thank you so much, Sparkly, for taking the time to write this. It may not be what I WANT to hear, but I definitely need to hear it. I think you may be right. I have accomplished a lot, and need to look at what I CAN do and stop thinking about what I CANNOT do anymore. I just might need to stop searching for some miracle out there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparkly*Serenity

I've got a similar situation but w/o scoliotic changes. This may not be what you want to hear but: I think you're doing one hell of a good job! Sometimes not getting worse is progress in and of itself.
You've tried nearly everything, you work out hard, you've had 2 kids...WOW. It sounds like you have structural changes in your vertebrae (vs. flexible, temporary, or otherwise easy2change) so I don't think there's any magic out there that is going to make you 100% --if you haven't found it already--if this is something genetic and/or has been going on since childhood.
I think ramping up your strength with NR or something similar will only help; especially build strength in your hips to support your spine and take some of the stress/dysfunction off.
I wish you great success! Just wanted to stop by and give you "kudos" for all the "work" it sounds like you've done thus far!