r/backpain

27F, I had a 1.1 cm herniated disc at L5-S1. It's now at 8mm and not touching the nerve root anymore. Now I have endplate inflammation that I believe is now causing majority of the pain. I dont know exactly how I herniated but as I continue reflecting I'm guessing it initially happened maybe 7 years ago, got worse, and was finally found 1-2 years ago.

I just cant sleep. Muscle relaxers put me to sleep but they wear off at around 1-3am so i eventually just start waking up in the middle of the night from tossing and turning from the pain. Sleeping on my side and back eventually hurt so I have to go back and forth between the two. Im not a stomach sleeper so thats out. Ive had a firm, medium, and soft mattress and none of them make a significant difference. I literally just don't know what to do at this point. Ive gotten used to the daily daytime pain since I can avoid doing movements that would cause me pain, but sleep??? I literally don't know what I could do to find some relief. I wake up tired every day because any slight movement I make in the middle of night I wake up. Im normally able to fall right back to sleep but I'm sure waking up multiple times in the middle of the night isn't a healthy sleep habit lol.

Can y'all drop your sleep remedies? Hoping to find something I haven't tried already 🥲🫩

TLDR; I'm 27F with severe back pain, from a large herniated disc. Looking for sleep remedies I may not have tried or heard of

Hoping if anyone is unfortunate enough to be in a similar situation as me could offer some guidance. I’ve struggled with back pain for roughly 10 years, I’m 33 now and have lived a very active lifestyle. Working in construction and training at a competitive level in mma for roughly 20 years I just assumed any back pain was ‘straining a muscle’ and just something to power through. It wasn’t until march this year that the pain became unbearable, followed by numbness from the waste down, my legs giving way, sexual dysfunction and eventually incontinence. I finally had a discectomy 2 weeks after reporting the severe symptoms followed by a nerve root injection 3 weeks later as my symptoms weren’t improving and then another injection 4 weeks after that for the same reason. I have CES-I (incomplete cauda equina) and the quality of any help from doctors is decreasing drastically. Is there anyone that’s had a similar experience to this willing to discuss or offer any advice on coping with it or level of recovery?

I was a very independent and capable man with my own business and I’ve been reduced to to relying on my partner and family to do basic tasks, drained all my savings, lost my business and I’m terrified I’ll eventually lose my home. It’s had a massive effect on my mental health and I’m desperate to find anyone that can relate that can hopefully show me there’s a light at the end of this tunnel

Hi, this is my first reddit post. making this because I’m at a complete loss in regards to my physical health and need some advice and/or words of encouragement.

Some background about me: I’m 27 years old, female, and pretty obese (300+ pounds). In January 2023 I caught covid, and my primary symptom was severe back pain that kept me from standing upright. Ever since then I have been experiencing chronic issues. They come and go, I go through flare ups for sure, but it’s always that same back pain + shooting pain down my legs. These symptoms make it difficult to stand, walk, and even lie down. When it flares it is constant with little to no relief. I have a cane that I use on super bad days or for longer events. Even on good days, just walking leisurely for less than a mile has my body hot and sore hours later, in a way that I can only describe as inflammatory pain. Alcohol also causes flares (which means I should avoid it, I know) and I dunno, all signs point to something more going on.

I’ve been seeing various doctors and specialists for over a year now trying to figure out what’s going on and how to address it. My bloodwork always has high inflammation markers, but I’ve been negative for all autoimmune disorders I’ve been tested for. Finally got an MRI last week, was in active pain on the table, and it came back totally clean.

The best explanation I’ve been given is that, for some reason, I get back spasms, which pinch my sciatic nerve. But then there’s my follow up question: why the fuck am I having chronic severe back spasms?

Unfortunately it is looking like the answer is just that I am fat. Which is very frustrating for me. Even considering my weight, I think needing a cane is a bit extreme at my age.

I’m lost. I don’t know what to even say to the doctors anymore. I feel like I’m complaining about nothing or blowing it out of proportion. Muscle relaxers don’t really work. Only thing that’s brought me major relief is a round of Prednisone, which I thought would mean this is an autoimmune things but ig not?

Any input would be appreciated. Again, I’m just feeling so…bad about everything surrounding this. Thanks for reading <3

Was in my car just now, helping my aunt move a tv. I reached over to lift the tv (it’s like 10lbs~ and I’m a guy in my early 20s) and as I reached over my body was in a semi awkward position so there was definitely some strain on my lower back but I didn’t think it would be much at all considering how light the tv is. Anyway, here I am now unable to stand up. I was supporting myself with my arms to keep up straight but gave up and now I’m just lying on the floor. My lower back has really bad pain when I try to stand or use it at all, it’s not sharp and not in one specific place, just my whole lower back. I can’t get back up at this point, I mean I probably could but I don’t wanna make it any worse and even trying to roll over on my side is hard. Not only is the lower back hurting but it’s also just very very weak. I know sometimes the moments that follow other injuries are very important in doing the right things so recovery goes its best. What should I do? I’d like to be home in time to watch the Brazil Norway game but idk if I can walk back to my car unassisted.

Side note: I can feel my legs and toes just fine, I’m not light headed and nothing is falling asleep.

Hi Everyone!

Not looking for diagnosis just some advice on how to mentally deal with this nonsense 😒

So I’ve been dealing with chronic upper back pain for about a year and a half now. Started off localised to my left shoulderblade but after a while I started getting random nerve pains all over my upper back and down my arms/ribcage (fun); anyways I had an MRI of my cervical spine that was ‘all clear’ so I was just kind of told to live with it and do PT. PT didn’t do much but I did get somewhat used to the pain and it wasn’t stopping me from living my life as such, although it did give me a fair bit on anxiety - mostly because I never got an answer to what the heck was the problem.

Now for the past month I’ve also been having pain in my lumbar spine (PT thinks facet joint issue) and this is actually preventing me from living my life. I deal with anxiety by staying active - I do CrossFit and weightlifting and I can’t do any of that and who knows when (if) I will be able to again.

I am just so incredibly frustrated with my body and the universe rn, so any advice/success stories, especially from fellow athletes, would be most welcome!

Prefacing this that I know it's dangerous for long-term use, and not great for kidney/liver/stomach, so I am not referring to every day use.

I've been to the ER for back problems twice in the last few months. I have a multi-level fusion and five surgeries, but a couple recent scares/issues. Both times I got toradol and it did wonders. No amount of naproxene, tylenol, ibuprofen, opiates, neurontin, etc. have ever done anything for me at all.

Has anyone ever taken toradol for breakthrough pain as a rare-occasion, as-needed basis? Looking into filling a script specifically for long flights, long car rides, concerts, or if I'm just in agony. Talking to my doctor next week, but curious to know if anyone has ever taken toradol "from time to time."

I see so many posts here of people dropping a ton of money on high-end ergonomic chairs hoping it clears up their lower back stiffness or sciatica, only to end up frustrated a month later.
Here is the cold truth from a biomechanics perspective: your chair isn't the primary issue, and a fancier one won't fix the root cause.
When you sit for hours, your pelvis naturally rolls backward into a posterior pelvic tilt. This completely flattens your natural lower back curve (lumbar lordosis). The exact moment that curve goes flat, your core and spinal stabilizing muscles completely turn off. The entire structural load of your upper body shifts directly onto your L4-L5 and L5-S1 discs.
An ergonomic chair only provides passive support. It makes slouching feel more comfortable, but it does absolutely nothing to reduce the actual internal pressure inside those discs. In fact, because the chair is doing the bracing for you, your deep stabilizing muscles just weaken further over time.
If you want to stop the grinding damage, you don't need a new piece of furniture—you need active decompression. You have to manually restore that space between your vertebrae to let fluid and nutrients back into the compressed discs.
Here is a simple, no-equipment breakdown you can do right now at your desk to test this:
Sit at the very front edge of your chair so your thighs are parallel to the floor.

Cross your right ankle over your left knee (forming a seated figure-four shape).

Do not round your back. Keep your spine completely straight, chest up, and just hinge forward directly from your hips.

Gently push your tailbone backward as you tilt.

You’ll feel an intense, deep stretch in your glute and deep hip rotators. Hold it for 15 seconds while breathing out fully, then switch sides.
What this actually does is force your pelvis out of that compressed posterior tilt, ungluing the piriformis muscle, and creating an immediate mechanical release around the sciatic nerve and lower lumbar discs.
Do this every 90 minutes. Biomechanics will always beat expensive furniture. Hope this saves someone some money and back ache today.

Had two microdiscectomys, the second a result of a recurrent protrusion. Following the second I was vomiting, couldn’t walk or stand, spasming. They took an mri at hospital and did a blood test to check my inflammation levels (after pumping me full of steroids). Long story short, my neurosurgeon wasn’t worried about the fluid on my spine and sent me home, 4 weeks later when I go back to hospital to do inpatient rehab they tell me I have discitis and osteomyelitis and my disc is all but done due to the infection being left to run rampant. My current situation is wait to see if the vertebrae fuse or get a spinal fusion. Anyone had a similar situation with auto disc fusion and any outcomes? Currently in rehab after a month long stay in hospital, very drugged up but noticing more severe nerve pain than pre surgery. Assuming a fusion will be needed but they can’t do anything until the infections gone. Basically interested in anyone’s stories with any of the above: auto fusion, disicitis, osteomyelitis, surgical spinal fusion etc

Hi,

I'm Male-26 Vegetarian , Indian & Gay!

Never exercised, never hit the gym & I was physically inactive throughout my childhood years.

Now, it all started 3 years back!

After a severe Tonsillitis & antibiotics episode, I started feeling tingling, pins & needles sensation in my right hand & leg. Did the nerve conduction tests & all was fine. Then I went to a neurologist & he gave me a sort of an antidepressant. Which did work! In 1-2 months I was almost normal & I started my work after completion of post graduate (Mid-2024). Then in July'25 the symptoms came back. This time I was even able to experience it in my face (all prominent on right side). Sometimes I felt a weird sensation in right side of my face, sometimes even walking was difficult (though I never faltered). Even a little physical activity left me with a great deal of strain & it took 2-3 days to resolve. But when it got to the face I got scared & went to a GP. He ordered a brain MRI to rule out auto-immune diseases like MS. MRI was clear & he diagnosed me with "Psychosomatic Pain".

The pain got better, I don't know how. I didn't take up any medicine. (I went on 2-3 treks too lateron). It was just going fine I even learned to live with my weird neurological symptoms. It was just going FINE!

But SUDDENLY there is an INCREMENTAL PAIN!

For the past 3 months, I've been feeling weird BACK PAIN. Now, it is like scattered occurences. Like sometimes my lower back is painful, sometimes middle of the spine hurts, sometimes whole back feels painful. But GUESS what, I'm able to move normally & even do some Yoga forms- Ustrasana, Bhujangasana (Snake Like) & Dhanurasana. So, my back is moving just fine but there is a constant pain. And it's like nerve like pain. Additionally, when I wake up I feel fresh for 2 seconds & then again the pain starts. It keeps revolving. There is no localized region. Additionally, I bottom too (take cat cow positions during receptive anal sex) which luckily I've heen able to sustain.Sleep is fine too!! Sometimes standing for long makes the pain worse. And yes, I feel it in my right leg. THERE IS OCCASIONAL BALANCING ISSUE SENSATION TOO! Wherein I feel that I'm about to loose balance & fall on right side.

What should I do? I feel like going to GP but I don't wanna start the loop of mysterious diagnosis again!

BUT the underlying situation is that it shouldn't be happening to a 26 year old! All this is scary! I'm delaying gym owing to this as I don't know what's happening? Any clue what can it be?

TL;DR: Mild L4/L5 and L5/S1 disc bulges diagnosed four years ago with no nerve compression on MRI. After tapering lamotrigine and lowering my SSRI dose, my back has become much more sensitive, with increased myofascial pain. Exercises that used to help now often cause flare-ups, while nerve glides seem better tolerated. Looking for others with similar experiences and how they adapted their rehab.

I'm a 30 year old male looking for other people's experiences with L4/L5 and L5/S1 disc injuries.

What kind of pain?
My symptoms have changed over time. I experience lower back pain with episodes of nerve pain, and more recently a lot of myofascial (muscle) pain around the injury. During flare-ups my back becomes much more sensitive, and certain movements can significantly increase my pain. While tapering off lamotrigine and lowering my SSRI dose, I've noticed the muscle pain around the injury has become much more noticeable, and my overall pain sensitivity seems higher, at least temporarily.

How long have you had it?
Around 4 years.

Mechanism of injury?
Repeated heavy pulling/lifting in physical work (last incident was pulling 200kg where I felt it ‘give’).

What have I tried?
I've seen my GP, a spine specialist, and multiple physiotherapists. I've consistently done the exercises and stretches my physiotherapists have recommended over the past couple of years. I was also taking medication that without knowing dulled my nerve pain, which meant I often didn't realize I was overdoing things until I had a significant flare-up.

Recently I've noticed that many of the strengthening and stretching exercises that used to be part of my routine now seem to aggravate my symptoms, especially while my back is more sensitive. Gentler nerve-focused exercises, such as nerve glides, seem to irritate things much less. Because of that I've reduced my activity, but I feel like I need a new exercise program that matches where I'm currently at.

What makes it worse?
Heavy lifting, heavy pulling, overdoing physical activity, and some strengthening or stretching exercises seem to trigger flare-ups.

What makes it better?
Rest, pacing myself, and gentler nerve-focused exercises seem to be better tolerated than some of the exercises I used to do.

Imaging
My MRI (from about two years ago) showed mild L4/L5 and L5/S1 disc bulges with small annular fissures but no nerve compression. But I understand symptoms don’t always match MRI findings. My neurological examination was normal, and the spine specialist wasn't concerned or recommending surgery. They advised physiotherapy, strengthening, cardiovascular exercise, and gradually increasing activity. Since that MRI is now about two years old, I'm aware things may have changed.

How has it affected my life?
Before this I was much more confident being active. Now I spend a lot more time thinking about whether an activity will trigger a flare-up. I work in a physically demanding warehouse job, so finding the right balance between staying active and not aggravating my back has been difficult.

I'm mainly interested in hearing from people with similar injuries. Did your symptoms change over time even if your MRI/Xray initially looked relatively mild? Did anyone find that traditional strengthening exercises started aggravating things while nerve-focused exercises were easier to tolerate? If so, how did you rebuild your activity and exercise routine without constantly flaring your symptoms?