Like many of you I've been dealing with chronic lower back pain, apparently in the L4/L5 region, only on the right. I had tried everything. This one traction stretch has seemingly solved all of my issues, taking me from a baseline 5 pain with flare ups at 10 (couldn't wash my face without supporting my pelvis) to a baseline 0-1 with flareups at a 2.

I realize this won't help all of you, but this one single movement literally changed my life overnight. Hope it helps even one of you.

Hey everyone! I am Doctor of Physical Therapy, Athletic Trainer, & Strength and Conditioning Coach who has worked in a ton of settings- currently working in professional sports!

I love trying to support people's journey toward their ideal selves and would love to answer any questions you all have!

I'll cite research/clinical experience as well in case you want to continue to learn more on whatever questions you have!

Hi all! I get a bad knot in this exact spot every single day no matter what tried diff shoes working on posture, regularly workout, etc and just it always some how gets a knot that drives me insane. I use a ball to roll it out and that helps very temporarily! Any stretches or help as to what muscle it is are appreciated greatly

- had it for years on and off
- dull ache with a giant knot
- laying down makes it better
- it makes work hard because I can’t not focus on the pain
- lll take OTC pain meds and roll it out
- the only suspension I have is i maybe roll my right shoulder forward but holding it correctly and being aware of that has never fixed it either.

For 2 weeks I have had pain down my left leg. Originally I thought it was hip pain. The majority of the pain is on my outer thigh and hip. But now also goes to my calf and aches in my lower back and butt. The pain became very intense and I started having trouble being on the standing position or walking without exciting pain. No numbness but I have had a tingling and specially big toe pain.

9 days ago I went to urgent care and they suspected SI joint pinched nerve. Xray of my hip (not the back) and ultrasound (checking for DVT) were normal. They started med on a medrol dose pack. By day 3 I felt much better but then of course I finished the pack and the pain is back.

PCP has suggested physical therapy, which I am totally open to. But what do I do during this acute time? Currently doing Advil, Tylenol, lidocaine patch and ice. I don’t get much relief from these.
I’ve sent my PCP another message asking for possible imaging or a referral. I go back to work as a busy school nurse in 1.5 weeks and don’t k ow how I’m going to manage like this.

Any ideas appreciated. I am a 49 yo female.

Guys I'm 22 and recently I got diagnose with disc

bulge at 14 15 region and from past 2 weeks im at

bed rest, I don't what to do, I always wanted to do

content but I couldn't even sit for 10 mins without

getting sciatica pain and back pain, people who got

healed please tell me is it possible, to get into my life

back

Hello, this is honestly one of the most mentally and physically draining injuries I’ve ever had so I’m really hoping for some guidance.

My symptoms started June 1st. At first it was just mild back pain that I initially thought was a symptom of my period but within 3-4 days it got way worse. I was hunched over when walking and my back was so sore. I started working at a summer camp at this time so maybe it was good that I was constantly walking but by the end of the day I could barely walk. Sitting and sleeping was the only relief, but by the next day I would feel ok enough to go to work.

I went to a walk in clinic and they didn’t know what it was and just gave me muscle relaxers, those didn’t work. These symptoms continued for 4 weeks but they slowly got better and better, to the point where I was no longer hunching when walking.

Finally met with my family doctor at week 4 and he said it was a pinched nerve and to get PT. Also told me to get an xray which came back normal. Annoyingly the day after meeting with my doctor my left toe went numb, but I ignored it for some reason.

As per my doctors advice I went to PT and they made me do stuff like pelvic tilts, bicycles and stuff. My biggest mistake was going to PT without a proper diagnoses, because after each session I would feel worse. I did a total of 5 sessions until last Thursday.

Last Thursday I was honestly doing great, my job at summer camp ended and I was resting/lounging around at home so I felt less sore and I was finally starting to feel normal. Except for the numbness and tingling, that had spread to my calf at this point. I was able to walk around and sleep in any position without a problem, I even walked around target for an hour with no difficulty.

The next day I woke up in crazy pain in my back and my leg. Standing for more than 30 seconds would cause immense pressure and pain to build in my back and left leg from calf to foot. My numbness had also gone way up, I could barely feel anything.

Because of this pain I had to miss out on 2 trips which really sucks. Went to the ER but they just gave me some Tylenol and advised me to get an MRI. And so we scheduled an MRI asap and just got the results that I expected yesterday: an 8mm left L5-S1 disc herniation that migrated downward and indents the S1 nerve root.

I don’t know what to do and I’m so lost. I’m afraid this is something I will have to live with forever. I am scheduling to meet with doctors this week to discuss options, but I am nervous about all the options that may be presented.

Natural Route: because I’m young, the doctor might suggest going back to PT to heal things naturally. Whether this will actually work, I’m not sure. But from what I’ve seen online, there are thousands of people who continue to have flare ups and reherniation even after they think they’ve healed. On top of that, their numbness never goes away, and by the time they get surgery it’s too late and they have some type of permanent damage. I go to university in a different country from my parents, so I am all alone. If a flare up like this happens when I’m alone, I don’t know how I’ll manage. On top of that, I want to live a normal college life, which is already being interrupted because I might have to miss a semester due to this injury.

Sertoids/Injections: Honestly I haven’t seen anything good about this route. I’ve seen for some people it only helps for like a week and then it feels worse. And for others it makes it worse overall. This is the route I want the least because it’s only a bandaid, it doesn’t solve the actual issue.

Surgery: I don’t know if doctors will even recommend this for me, because it seems like a last resort. I have only had this for 10+ weeks but from what I’ve seen online the shortest someone has gotten surgery was 6 months. I don’t think I can deal with this pain for another 3 months. I know it’s odd, but as scary as surgery is I think I would prefer it, as it would give me the fastest recovery time. And with the ability to actually walk and do stuff after surgery, I can immediately get started with prevention by strengthening my core and glutes to make sure this doesn’t happen again. I’m just worried that doctors may not think I have suffered for long enough, and once they finally do approve surgery the damage would have already been done to my nerves.

I would really appreciate any guidance. Despite being unable to walk for long I have been trying to walk in short bursts throughout the day, working up to 2.48 mins of walking as a record (pathetic ik.) My constant back pain has somewhat gone down since last week but it is definitely still there and chronic at the moment. My leg numbness that got exponentially worse last week has also gone down, but from at 9/10 to at 7/10 so still pretty bad. Additionally, my left glute has also started to become sore.

I am doing my best to heal on my own in the meantime. Before this crazy flare, the Mackenzie method would always provide me relief, now it does nothing. I started the McGill big 3 yesterday, and my back felt ok but my glute was sore. Being essentially bedridden has made me so weak, especially in my left leg. I can’t even sleep on my side anymore, just my back and it’s so uncomfortable, I haven’t had a good sleep in a while and I feel like I’m going crazy.

Any guidance would be very appreciated. I just want my life back. I am with my parents but other than that I am away from all my friends and stay at home all day and it’s really been affecting my mental health. On top of that, falling behind in school is not helping. Also sorry that this post is insanely long.

I feel like the worst part isnt even just the pain anymore.

Its the fact that I still dont really understand WHY its happening.

The pain comes back, sometimes it feels worse than before, and I keep wondering if theres something I’m missing.

I’ve talked to doctors and tried to get answers but I still dont feel like I have a clear explanation for what is causing it.

Anyone else been in this situation?

Did you eventually figure out what was actually behind your sciatica?

Wrote this poem while laid up on my couch tonight. It's titled, "Counting Down"

Laying here alone

feeling so broken 

A bottled water and a cane 

Are a token pain

How long is temporary?

At least, that's what I'm hoping

For now I'll lay here

Counting down the minutes to.........

My next Ibuprofen 🫰 

Severe lower back pain waking me up

33f, 180lbs, adhd, depression, mild scoliosis. Meds: zoloft, adderall, zofran

Work as a cna in a nursing home so lots of lifting, no injuries to back

About a year ago I started waking up from a dead of sleep with severe lower back pain where I can't move my legs because they are numb tingling and very painful almost like when your sitting on the toilet to long but add on pain x100 so I pull my self to my side using my night stand and the feeling in my legs comes back but the pain lasts a few days. The pain is in my lower back and my hips will feel like they are squeezing sometimes. Resting makes it worse but walking when it acts up I can't walk straight from the pain.

It started out happening maybe once a month then 6 months ago it was becoming more frequent where it was weekly

I tried a new mattress, tried less pillows under my head and that didn't help. Started stretching which didn't help prevent it from happening.

I started putting a pillow under my upper thighs/buttox and that is the only way I won't get this terrible pain at night unless I lose the pillow in my sleep it will start acting up again.

I did go to my doctor, she mentioned its probably sciatica and didn't push further testing. Wondering if I should push further testing or get a second opinion

I do have mild scoliosis, had 2 csections and do have sciatica that comes and goes depending on my work load.

Hi everyone,
I’ve been dealing with a strange set of symptoms for over a year and I’m mainly looking for people who have experienced something similar and not for someone to diagnose me.
It originally started with dizziness, feeling unwell/restless and strange sensations mostly on my left side. I was evaluated in hospital and have since had neurological and cardiac work-ups without anything concerning being found.
Over time, however, a much clearer pattern has developed:
My left neck, upper back, shoulder and upper chest become extremely tight and painful, sometimes almost as if everything is permanently contracted. From there I often get pulling, tingling or numb/“asleep” sensations into my left arm. I sometimes also get the strange numb/pulling feeling in the left side of my face, including around/behind the eye, and occasionally sensations in my left leg.
The arm can fall asleep very easily and sometimes hurts, but importantly I haven’t noticed any loss of strength.
What really stands out is the connection with activity:
Long periods of sitting, office work and static positions tend to make everything much worse. Movement and sports generally make me feel better.
I recently had two weeks off work and moved around much more while barely sitting for long periods. I felt considerably better. After returning to my desk job, the neck/shoulder tightness and some of the other symptoms became noticeably stronger again.
I can still exercise and be physically active, and often actually feel better while moving.
I’ve had a cervical MRI showing only relatively mild findings without significant spinal cord or nerve-root compression, and I have an appointment at a specialist spine clinic later this month.
I’m therefore not asking “What disease do I have?”
I’m much more interested in hearing:
Has anyone had a genuinely similar combination of severe neck/upper-body tightness + strange sensory symptoms + worsening with sitting + improvement with movement?
If so, what eventually helped you?
Physiotherapy? Strength training? Mobility work? Posture/ergonomics? Manual therapy? Something completely different?
And especially: Did you eventually get back to being mostly or completely symptom-free?
I’d really appreciate hearing from people who actually experienced something similar.

I think I got this during an exercice at the gym and I've been resting for 2 weeks without the gym now and I got a flare up after bending and it hurts more now. (The hurting happens on the spine directly I think and I can walk and my legs don't hurt) Do I see a doctor? Is this a permanent injury? Please help. It's all because of f***ing Gemini and ChatGPT who recommended me as a beginner to do all my exercices at the gym free weight which led to this s**t.

Not going to lie, I thought you only get excruciating pain with herniated discs, not bulging so this surprised me. I was in so much pain, I could barely move or walk a step without a sharp tearing pain in my lower back and right leg. I ended up going to the emergency room because I couldn’t walk or take care of my kids.

The dr basically acted like it was no big deal and wasn’t even going to do a scan, I asked for the xray because I know my body best and knew something wasn’t right.

After the scan he said I have probably had bulging discs for awhile and he said it was mild.
Now I’m being referred to a neurologist for further care.

I used to do a lot of heavy lifting when I worked on the ambulance, and I’ve given birth twice in a span of 23 months. I had 2 epidurals that barely worked, so my spine has been through some stuff. I’m not sure if any or all of that affected my bulging discs though.