Spine pains occuring

I didn't want to post but I feel so much support from you all. In the past few weeks, I've noticed a spine pain just above my waistline in my mid lower back. Tylenol is all I can take for pain while at work, and it isn't severe. For a couple days it had gone away, now it is back and not so mild. What happens is I cannot bend backwards, and I am a prime candidate for Osteoporosis, having had a hysterectomy at 31, and also cancer 3 times. I do take Calcium 600 mg two times per day, (I am lactose intolerant) and have an appointment with my PCP next Wednesday for this. Just wondered if you have any guesses what might it be? I'm thinking perhaps a fracture in my spine brought on by Osteoporosis, or perhaps maybe even a vertebrae out of line, or something wrong with one of my discs? I have never ever had back pain, now with all this excess weight hanging off in front of me, it's happening. I'm not eligible (per my surgeon) for a TT until I'm 2 years post op, however the breast reduction/lift/implant is in progress with steps 1 and 2 taken. Just thought you might have some insight. I do sleep on a heated mattress pad at night, and also have a heating pad if I need it at work, but for the most part it is about a 2-3 on a pain scale of 1-10. Thank you for your replies Stacey W 310/164/July 19, 2005

I'm sorry you're hurting Stacey. I have this pain also, and my pcp says i need to get my tt done because of all the skin weight is what's causing it. I do find that stretching exercises helps tremendously, especially my ablounge if i go all the way back. But the more i sit around the worse it is. If you pick up the skin does the pain go away? that's what mine does. mine is a lot worse than yours though, i've lost 192 . So i think you should get this looked at asap so the pain doesn't get worse. I hope you feel better soon. Hugs Linda

I have lost a total of 146 lbs since May 2003 however I have not really tried to hold up the leftover skin/fat to see if that relieves the pain. I will try that later tonight for sure. I was complaining of back pain last year before my father died, and I ended up going to Physical Therapy for the 8 fractured ribs I have that they found from a nuclear bone scan in October......the PT did a little bit of good but overall did not relieve the pain and I got tired of taking pain meds so I stopped it 100 percent and practiced on my posture. They are saying also my posture since weight loss has been effected dramatically so I have to constantly remind myself to stand up straight. It's getting old, hard and it hurts. Thanks!!! Stacey W 310/164/July 19, 2005

Stacey: I know what you mean about the posture! My husband is always after me about standing up straight and I haven't lost as much as you. I told him I thought it was because I am more cold now and always have my arms wrapped around myself! I will try to remember to work on the posture thing, too. You might want to see about getting aligned at a chiropractor and see if it might help the pain until you can get the TT and Breast work done. There is no doubt that while carrying that extra skin around you are pulling things where they aren't meant to go. I bet your spine will feel better after the plastics are done! Pam

Thanks Pam.... I sometimes wonder if what Dolly Parton in "Steel Magnolias" said is true: EVENTUALLY TIME MARCHES ON AND IT MARCHES ACROSS YOUR FACE.... However as I age, I seem to find more things wrong Stacey W 310/164/July 19, 2005

I deal with back pain all the time. I take ultracet during the day and Vicodin at night; they help some. I have been to a chiropractor and that has helped a lot. I have spinal arthritis and degenerative disc disease, so I have some spinal compression; no osteoporosis as far as I know. I have been doing stretches for a long time for my back; I also go to a pain specialist and get pain injections about four or five times a year and that helps too. You might want to try alternating ice and heat; sometimes if you have inflammation, the ice can bring the inflammation down a bit. I was telling someone today I feel I have the spirit of a 20-year-old and the body of an 80-year-old. I want to do so many things, but my body won't let me! By the way, I started out at 347 on June 29, 2004 and I'm down to 197. I'm losing more slowly than you, but I'm getting there. (and thanks for your kind words to my post.) Eileen

Hi Stacey, I think the first thing I would do is go to your pcp and have a cancer check up, JUST TO RULE IT OUT!!!!! Only because of your past history. Once you have done that I would find a Good Chiropractor. The Chiropractor that I work for just opened a new office in Midland. It is called Chiropractic Plus. Dr. Mark Bailey. He is an awesome Dr. And I am not just saying that because I work for him. I don't work in that office, I work in the Bay City office, but I figured you probably don't live to far from Midland. Whatever you decide I hope you feel better. I will keep you in prayer. God Bless---Toni

talk to your doctor. you may just have sciatica which is fairly common as we get along in life. Good luck.

Went to see a Chiropractor today. She came highly recommended. What we discovered, was I have very "PETITE" bones/frame, and that just below my neck there is a curve in the wrong direction. She did some minor adjustments and I will be returning to her 3 times a week for 6 weeks. She seemed to think I need a bone density test done for Osteoporosis, but other than that seemed to feel that there was nothing major wrong. That's the latest. Stacey W 310/164/July 19, 2005