Back Injury - Is this bad?

Question

Two years ago I damaged my lower back lifting a heavy item, I have never had a day since where I am not in pain, the pain is around the inward curve of my spine and is dull, when straightning up it gets much worse, my right leg down to the knee was also really painful at times.around once or twice a day.

About 9 months it became a lot worse and I find it difficult placing pressure on my right foot when walking, the pain is very sharp and comes from my right hip, along with sharp pains in right leg again only down to the knee.

I am in a lot of pain most of the time now, walking - standing bending you name it and most movements are very sore, dont even mention the stairs - I have an upstairs toilet

GP gave me voltarol & amytryptline - had physio (no use)
I am really at my wits end with it and getting down, even when I lie on the couch and relax at night it's sore, same with bed.

Can I force my local health authority to get me an MRI to see what is going on and get it fixed.

Answer 1

I can understand the pain, i have a similar but my cervical spine is damaged.it imobilises you very much. I had tried different treatments for past 7 years.



Unable to tollerate the pain i took MRI and consulted a neurosurgen and i was immediately advised to go for a surgery in the spine or i may right side part of body may get much worser and may end up in paralysis.



Most of my close friends and family advised to go for it.



But i took a survey before taking a decision. So i collected information of the patients who went in spinal surgery. It was so annoying that except two three person, every one were in the same old condition as they were before surgery, with more restrictions due to surgery after effects reducing their motion further. even the two three persons who said ok about surgery, have a lot of restriction.



So i looked for an alternate treatment for this problem and i came across Chiropractic doctor, he treated me for 8-9 months and gave some regular exercise, now i have stopped any sort of treatment for past six months and feel better and now iam back into my normal life.



So my advise would be try for chiropractic treatment, ( you may be asked for an MRI report and X-Rays before treatment ) and if you donot find any improvment pls go for surgery. Surgery is not the first step of recovery for this in my opinion.



have a speedy recovery.

Answer 2

yes,i can see from ur description that u need a scan but make sure u want to get it done.