LoveLace Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 (edited) I've had sciatic issues in my leg in the past, but now I get burning sensations in my back...usually upper back but for awhile it was lower. It will come at random times. I'm not sure if it's brought on by certain movements..I can't tell. But for 2 years I've had a pretty physical job, between walking all day, pushing, pulling, lifting, especially people (patients). Burning pain is usually associated with nerve issues; I know i need to see my Dr...but does anyone know what I'm talking about or has had this? There's a chance it's a herniated/bulging disc, but I thought there's nothing that can really be done about that? Any ideas? Edited June 19, 2010 by LoveLace Link to post Share on other sites
Crusoe Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 It could anything, often it doesn't need much of an injury for the muscles to clench up and bite on the nerve. As for a popped disc, there is plenty that can be done about it. I've had three and all are fine now. Even a crushed disc can easily be replaced. Link to post Share on other sites
tman666 Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 This definitely needs to be presented to a doctor... How's your hamstring/glute flexibility? Link to post Share on other sites
Author LoveLace Posted June 20, 2010 Author Share Posted June 20, 2010 This definitely needs to be presented to a doctor... How's your hamstring/glute flexibility? Well, a few weeks ago I pulled a muscle in my low back just from bending down the wrong way, took several days to get better. So my flexibility is likely not great. But I know the difference between muscle pain and nerve pain, and this is certainly nerve related...I guess...but it's not necessarily everyday..in fact I'm noticing that it doesn't occur as much (or at all) on my days off, and I work a very physical job. So why do you think so urgent? Link to post Share on other sites
Author LoveLace Posted June 20, 2010 Author Share Posted June 20, 2010 Well, a few weeks ago I pulled a muscle in my low back just from bending down the wrong way, took several days to get better. So my flexibility is likely not great. But I know the difference between muscle pain and nerve pain, and this is certainly nerve related...I guess...but it's not necessarily everyday..in fact I'm noticing that it doesn't occur as much (or at all) on my days off, and I work a very physical job. So why do you think so urgent? Also in my right leg (opposite from burning back pain) there is an area by my knee where I have no feeling (If I scratch I can't feel it)...I know it's not a blood flow issue because it's only in this 1 area (not all the way down my leg). This was also the leg I once I had sciatic issues, but that has gone away a long time ago. Link to post Share on other sites
tman666 Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 Also in my right leg (opposite from burning back pain) there is an area by my knee where I have no feeling (If I scratch I can't feel it)...I know it's not a blood flow issue because it's only in this 1 area (not all the way down my leg). This was also the leg I once I had sciatic issues, but that has gone away a long time ago. I think that the urgency has to do with getting a correct diagnosis to allow mitigation of the problem before it gets worse. If you have bulging or otherwise herniated disks and you don't take measures to get them fixed, you could potentially make the problem much worse by continuing your current course. This would not only involve a lot more pain, but possibly a much higher doc bill... If I were you, I'd see a specialist right away to figure out what's going on for sure. It's hard to stop pain without knowing the cause. Once you've got doctor's approval, I'd look into your hamstring and glute flexibility. Since you do a lot of lifting with your job, it's possible that your supporting musculature is simply too tight and inflamed to function as it should. This leads to more and more wear and tear on the whole body. Link to post Share on other sites
Meaplus3 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Where is the burning pain? Is it lower back.. or upper back? I ask because I've had issues with the same pain in my upper back.. and I was told it was from poor posture.. like sitting in front of the puter to long.. over use of my rhomboids (sp). Yoga and staying active has helped me. Another source of the burning could be due to GERD. Mea:) Link to post Share on other sites
melodymatters Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 IF she has insurance, BIG IF !!! In the USA they do let people die of epilepsy, AIDS, and diabetes every day, I've seen it and lived it. I hope you have insurance LL !!!! And so sorry about your pain ! Link to post Share on other sites
Author LoveLace Posted July 9, 2010 Author Share Posted July 9, 2010 Thanks everyone...lately, I have not had the burning in my back...but I was on vacation for a week so I didn't work, it came back just very little when I returned to work, but nothing like before....THEN (funny MM mentions GERD)...I suddenly started to have the burning not in my back anymore, but in my chest area, my fellow health colleagues concluded I was having heartburn and advised me to use Maylox or Pepcid. I was in the middle of moving at the same time and VERY stressed out...it appeared if the stress was bad, the heartburn was bad. The very day I moved, it was bad for some of the day...and never have had it since (I did use Pepcid and Maylox as well). Of course my stress levels probably decreased once I was moved in. So now I'm not sure if the back thing and heartburn thing are related, or 2 different things, one being heartburn and the other being back issues...maybe after I'm back at work longer after vacation, the back burning will return and I'll then know...also I'm sure that wasn't the last of heartburn I've had...but I do know they have all been burning sensations just in different spots. And for whatever reason right now i'm not having them at all... Link to post Share on other sites
Meaplus3 Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 Thanks everyone...lately, I have not had the burning in my back...but I was on vacation for a week so I didn't work, it came back just very little when I returned to work, but nothing like before....THEN (funny MM mentions GERD)...I suddenly started to have the burning not in my back anymore, but in my chest area, my fellow health colleagues concluded I was having heartburn and advised me to use Maylox or Pepcid. I was in the middle of moving at the same time and VERY stressed out...it appeared if the stress was bad, the heartburn was bad. The very day I moved, it was bad for some of the day...and never have had it since (I did use Pepcid and Maylox as well). Of course my stress levels probably decreased once I was moved in. So now I'm not sure if the back thing and heartburn thing are related, or 2 different things, one being heartburn and the other being back issues...maybe after I'm back at work longer after vacation, the back burning will return and I'll then know...also I'm sure that wasn't the last of heartburn I've had...but I do know they have all been burning sensations just in different spots. And for whatever reason right now i'm not having them at all... Dear lord Love you sound just like me. Now.. I tend to be the queen Bee around here having gone through sooo many medical tests.. and I can tell you that I even had a heart cath.. to rule out a blockage.. since women can present with heart related issues in the back and chest wall. To make a long story short, I had an upper GI showed no gerd. Saw a rheumy and was told possible fibro/costocondritis. Then started to have throat issues and saw an ENT who found some redness and a little swelling in the back of my throat often seen in acid refulx. I take pepcid and it helps. But.. to complictate thing's even further.. I have found that my posture makes thing's worse.. since I sit forward at a computer. When you pull your shuolders forward it put's extra strain on your upperback muscles.. and your strenum.. and it can cause a burning pain. This is what I have found anyway. A few reasons to give ya here. Hope your feeling better. Oh and STRESS makes it all worse. Mea:love: Link to post Share on other sites
Hop_prophet Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 You may want to look into a condition called ankylosing spondylitis. I was just diagnosed with this and you have a lot of the same symptoms. I had chronic severe back pain for years starting in the lower back but spreading upward. I also experienced pain in my chest and sciatica like pain in my right leg. If you are really stiff in the morning and inflexible there is a good chance you have as it is a common condition. Unfortunately there is no cure so I hope you do not have it, but there are treatment options available. Eye problems also accompany the disease in many cases too. I would mention it to your doctor as there is a genetic marker for this condition. I also suggest you push for xrays at least and maybe and MRI as this would probably get at any disc problems as well. Link to post Share on other sites
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