Chronic back pain...SOS

[BellaTink647]

My brother (39 years) has had the same, constant mid-back pain for a year now. Not brought on through injury, the dull ache came and hasn't gone away. He can't enjoy usual day to day life because it is so uncomfortable. Sitting down is the worst, walking alleviates slightly, but standing for too long also ends in great discomfort.

He's tried every painkiller prescribed by the docs and none of these have gone anyway to reducing pain. Had MRI scans and CT scans and nothing visible other than a slight bit of inflammation. This led to a rheumatologist giving a diagnosis of spondyloarthritis, but none of the anti-inflammatory meds have helped. Rheumatologist now says he's less sure it is arthritis given the prolonged and constant pain. Blood test for arthritis is negative.

1 lot of spinal injections from the pain clinic did nothing. Trying a different type later this year but not overly hopeful given nothing else has worked.

Also tried chiropractor, physios, accupuncture, swimming. Nothing helping.

SOS.... what else can we try?! What could it be??

I can’t recommend the book “the way out” by Alan Gordon enough. I had chronic back pain with no relief. This book is about psychology of pain… this combined with mobility exercise from physio and I am no longer in pain 6 months later. And I was sceptical but I’d tried everything else

Have they looked at his hips? My back kills me ( have bulging discs and stenosis etc) but when I get a steroid injection into my hip it cures the back pain temporarily as the back is referred pain from a femur deformity that creates hip issues.

Could he be hypermobile - is he hypermobile in other joints? I have hypermobility syndrome that didn’t cause issues with my back until later on. I’d been to physio countless times but it was only when I saw a physio that specialised in hypermobility that it made a real difference. It was years of constant pain that had pretty much taken over my life before I was diagnosed, I had no idea that I had it. Clutching at straws here but maybe it’ll help.

I dont have any solutions but I'm in the same position. Also worse after sitting or standing but better when moving. MRIs all normal. I also get neurological symptoms down my right leg which is worse than the pain - pins and needles in foot, occasional numbness, feeling of warm water being poured down my leg. I've been told its nerve irriation that doesnt show up on MRI. Nothing I've tried has helped. I am seeing a new physio at the hospital next week. No idea if they will do anything different that I haven't already tried.

Another thing I'm going to try is reflexology because it totally fixed some sinus pain id had for weeks.

Thanks all for your thoughts, and sorry some of you are in similar situations. The not knowing what it is is so awful.
No hypermobolity and also no other symptoms at all. We're going to ask for another MRI in case anything has changed since when he last had one earlier this year.

This sounds really tough as there have been so many investigative tests with no conclusion.

Good to get an updated test - did osteo or physio offer any suggestions of what could be going on?
Has he tried yoga or Pilates - I know a number of people with back pain who have found a year of one of these have significantly helped?
Some people find cold water therapy /swimming helps with pain & inflammation?
Is he depressed- chronic pain can have psychological effects so maybe talking to someone combined with pain management might help?? Some speak highly of acupuncture - but these are all very personal.

Hope he finds some solutions or ways of managing the pain.

Thanks @BSky4
All the chiro and physios have said is that he has an exceptionally stiff back and slight curve to the spine. The annoying thing is that after a few sessions, they have all told him there's probably no point continuing if he isn't seeing any benefit :( which I think is odd because surely it could just take a really long time to start feeling less pain?
He has tried regular swimming and accupuncture but again, not benefit felt.

@BellaTink647did your brother find a solution? I’ve had low back pain for a while, I’m seeing a new physio next week and hope she can help. He could try and look for an ISM (think it stands for integrated systems model) physio as they look for the driver that’s causing the pain. This course I saw on Instagram looks interesting https://painfreebodymethod.com/?utm_medium=paid&utm_source=ig&utm_id=52513752854065&utm_content=52513788293065&utm_term=52513761696065&utm_campaign=52513752854065&fbclid=PAdGRleAQ8ZstleHRuA2FlbQEwAGFkaWQAAC_C0eOmOXNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp8KZKClwq_8X1EQMTAv7CK5If5NvnPxajiXe9-uGxqKUT45hj1L7Rpfriebs_aem_tOjuEIdjO2bKnmeKKj0_wQ

I agree on this. I'd also recommend going back to the origins of Alan Gordon's approach, Dr Sarno. At 25 I thought my fate was to be in chronic back my whole life, then I read 'Healing Back Pain' and The Mindbody Solution' and bit by bit my pain disappeared. This was pre -internet, but now there's a lot of stuff online. Alan Gordon is on Facebook, and there are several TMS Groups which are really helpful.

Just realised this is a zombie thread, but I hope my post helps somebody in the same way a chance recommendation helped me.

It could be worth seeking a second opinion from a pain specialist or neurologist. Conditions like fibromyalgia, nerve issues, or myofascial pain syndrome could be causing similar symptoms. A multidisciplinary approach, including stress-relief techniques, may also help. Additionally, if traditional methods haven’t worked, you might want to explore alternative therapies. Leafease( leafease.co.uk/) therapy for medical cannabis, which has shown promise in managing chronic pain.