Totally non-elastic muscular skeletal system :( - anyone else like me?

[mammabelleboo]

Just posting to see if anyone else is in the same boat as me as desparately seeking some advice on self-help

The background is - a history of intermittent lower back pain (muscular) since my teens (am now 43). Pretty manageable with massage, visits to chiropracter and would bounce back from bouts of this fairly quickly. Having said that, have always been very cautious about over exerting myself in an effort to limit bad episodes - ie not exercising, stretching and avoiding certain activities altogether eg never mow the grass, clean out the car - basically avoiding anything I think may trigger an episode.

Fast forward 20 odd years from the initial onset of this and I start to experience knee pain (over the last 4 years). For the last 2 years I noticed that something as seemingly inocuous as a slight twist of the ankle, knock to me (eg if I bump into someone), even change of heel height in my shoes (am not talking going from stilletoes to flats as I haven't worn heels for 20+ years - I mean a slight variation in flats) can cause my back/knees to flair up. I can NEVER bend, squat or stoop without being in pain.

Things took a drastic turn for the worst in May when I stumbled down a step. Never felt anything at the time but the next day my back 'pinged' (my term for a movement that causes my shooting low back pain which is typical of what I experience). It was the worse I've ever experienced and I think it was only my quick reaction with the ice-pack and getting into see my chiro straight away that stopped it being a whole lot worse.

Ever since then things just haven't been right. It's like the whole of my muscular system can't cope with anything :( . I haven't had a pain free day since - if it's not my legs, it's my back or knees or shoulders - everything is just so sore. Things I used to be able to do and not worry about too much I can't do without some muscle feeling sore or tight afterwards. I've suffered after bumping down a pothole in the car (which has now made me jittery when someown else is driving and am now terrified of going on holiday and landing in a plane), I can't sit on the floor and play with my daughter (she recently asked me if I was disabled :( ), sometimes I'll open my mouth and even my jaw hurts, What I hate is the unpredictability of it - you never know if a muscle is going to ping eg I can pick something up off the floor 20 times - on the 21st it'll ping, I even pinged the other day when sitting on the loo! Then it's a 24-48 hour waiting game to see how how serious the ping is going to get :( . I'm so fed up. My sex life is practically non-existant as I've become too scared of what's involved physically on my body to try. My hubby and I have had issues over the situation as he's fed up with it - but I had a heart to heart with him and he's reassured me I have his love and support but I feel crap as a wife and it gets me down.

I see a chiropracter once a month (that's all I can afford) and have recently started physiotherapy. I know it's all muscular - that's what my physiotherapist says (I have an extremely tight back). Also paid for a private consultation with a back specialist who said I have slight disc degeneration but nothing too serious. Have also recently seen a podiatrist who says I need to wear special insoles in my shoes to correct my feet a little as my feet need a little realigning but we are holding off on that til my back feels more stable as I don't want to upset the back any further at the moment by adjusting to them.

Phew! Thank you SO much if you have got this far. I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this. What helped you? Everyone says exercise is the key - are they right, will I ever get better. Are there some vitamins or alternative medicines I can take to help? Does cod liver oil help? I'm struggling and at a loss. Sometimes I think I should be grateful that I can still walk and move around - I know there are people far worse than me but it does get me down. Thanks for reading. x

[CMOTDibbler]

Are you quite flexible ? It might be worth looking into hypermobility

[mammabelleboo]

Thanks for that CM - but no, sadly am totally non-flexible! Can't get anywhere near to touching my toes!

[mammabelleboo]

bump - can anyone else help?

[mammabelleboo]

Thanks so much Ted :) - that's really interesting. Will see about getting that checked. Which foods are naturally rich in these vitamins and minerals - do you know?

[mammabelleboo]

Oops - not something that can be sorted from a trip to Morrisons, then - good excuse to emigrate to Australia!! Once again, thank you for taking the time to post - very useful and informative