Talk

Anyone?

It sounds quite possibly discogenic because when you bend backwards you pinch your discs together, if there is a bulge it will pinch it painfully. Leaning forwards opens the space out. Are you taking painkillers and do you have leg symptoms?

I recommend seeing your GP, avoiding painful activities and please do join us on the Back Pain support thread. There is absolutely masses of information there and lots o friendly back pain sufferers.

Have you seen a physio?

Or an osteo. I've had crapback since my early 20s and its generally either disc or the muscles around the spine. It won't go away by itself, and painkillers just don't work (for me any way).

Thank you all for your replies.

Matildathecat I'm taking paracetamol and ibuprofen and I have hip pain (right side) but not going down the leg. I'll have a look at the Back Pain thread.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen I've seen a physio a few years back and they just gave me some exercises to do and tried acupuncture on me (no relief) and that was it!

I'm a bit worried about seeing a osteopath or chiropractor as I don't know what is actually wrong and I don't want them to make it worse (if thats possible)

Try and see a sports physio if you can, there are good and bad physios like any profession but good ones are amazing And ime really help. I doubt they would do anything to make it worse, ime they do nothing rather than do anything to aggravate a condition.

I now see a very very very good osteopath. Her diagnosis is spot on - more accurate than my go!

GP not go!

Where do you live, I see a fantastic chiropractor on the Surrey/Hampshire border who would be honest if she couldn't help. I hobble in barely able to stand and walk out!

Definitely get a recommendation! I am in central/ west l London

I think I will give a chiropractor or oseto a go.

I'm based in South London, so any recommendations around there would be welcome

A very personal question but do you have large breasts? I do, and they cause my posture to be less than good, which in turn causes me lower back pain.

I also have ankles which turn inwards so I wear orthotics in my shoes to correct this. If I don't wear my orthotics my back is considerably worse.

Littlefish....No I don't have large breasts at all and I always try to be aware of my posture when sitting etc.

I've had to use a walking stick if I know I will be walking a distance or standing still for a while (like lining up in shops). I always want to bend forward to relieve the pressure/pain.

The sunshine clinic (centre?) in Hillyfields in South East London is good, I've been there in the past, also a great place in Lee , can't remember the name but it's possibly Manor Avenue/rd, it's just up from Manor House gardens if that helps at all. Sorry not to be more specific it's been a while since I've been there.

And get back to your GP for further investigations, I can't believe you've had it this long!

I have the same problem. Feels like my lower back is being crunched backwards and it's worse if I walk a lot. Feels as though I want to bend forwards to relieve it. I've had to give up running as that was making it worse. I do have quite a pronounced S curve to my spine partly accounting for my big bum

I saw an osteopath but although he was good it is not getting better and I'm £500 down and I can't sustain the expense. I'm wondering if I need some core stability exercises.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen.....thanks for the recommendations, I'll look into them (and they are very local to me).

I will get back to my GP (again).

Sorry, forgot to mention I have had an MRI but they only did it of my right hip...I was very annoyed as I was assured they were scanning my lower back too but this didn't happen. SO I've only had an x-ray of my lower back which my GP seems to think because it was clear no further scans need to be done

The 'hip' pain is almost certainly sciatic pain. Very likely from nerve impingement from a bulging disc.

A lot of us have started with hip pain and had investigations before the back pain set in.

I personally would not be seeing a chiro or osteo without a diagnosis via an MRI. Your GP can at least sort out better meds and yon can press for an MRI.

If it feels me you are giving a hippo a piggy back, then it sounds like a disc bulging