Back pain!

[Alan Meek]

So I don't have any back pain but I went to get a diagnosis on my left knee yesterday (in certain positions I get a sharp pain in the shape of a smile under the knee cap). They took xrays and the doc manipulated my left knee versus my right to feel the differences and declared nothing was wrong anatomically. He's a sports medicine doc with a specialty in knees. He then suggested the knee pain was possibly related to something else. He had me do a few more things and then told me I have SI disfunction. Okay, that I kinda knew that already (fractured my tail bone taking a fall in aikido - strained a hip flexor last fall). But how the heck does that impact only my left knee??!! He wants me to go get phys therapy for the SI disfunction. Been there, did that and I found the exercises didn't do much. Bikram yoga made more of a difference.

Okay, he's the specialist with the degree but has anyone heard of SI disfunction causing knee pain?

Carina,

While not exactly related to the SI dysfunction. Years ago my Granddad went to the Orthopedic complaining of pain in his right knee. The pain was so bad he was walking with a cane. The OD had him walk across the room and after observing him told him there was nothing wrong with his knee. But the problem was in his hip. The femur had locked up in the hip socket and when my Granddad walked he was slinging his leg to compensate for lack of mobility in his hip. So hip replacement surgery and no more knee pain.

It is becoming more clear to me that issue in one area has an effect on another and while on the surface it does not seem that apparent.

Alan

[Nik Habicht]

After spending a little time studying anatomy, and muscles in particular, I'm amazed at how easily we move most of the time considering just how layered and interwoven our muscles are. It's also gotten me to understand something massage therapists have been trying to pound into my head for years --- yes, I get migraines from various muscles in my back or shoulder locking up, but the cause of most of those lock-ups comes from a contraction or spasm in a pectoral muscle, which in turn starts tugging on the far end of one of the muscles that cause the migraine.

One of the things that pain anywhere indicates is an imbalance --- the imbalance could be an injury, or an infection, or a strain, cramp, or sprain, or one of a 100 things, and it doesn't necessarily need to be where we hurt....

[border]

Seems to be a lot of that going around...Years of abuse, aging, arthritis, now inactivity? From what I've been told there is no one cause. I recently experienced some sacroiliac discomfort. Woke up one day and there it was...That was Oct. '07. My Osteopath manipulated the joint a coupe times and it started to settle down. Not the end of the problem though...seems I also lost some muscle function in the quad and my knee would collapse...Not good. Xrays/MRI/EMG (3 hrs...5 drs!) Seems I have a herniated disc at L3/4...My Ortho-surgeon hesitates to cut me. Good for him. EMG Dr. told me those nerves coming off the lumbar region may regenerate...takes awhile though...So I started stretching/exercising everyday, working the core muscles (like I did 25 yrs ago when I herniated a disc [L5] the first time), and, lo and behold, the SOG seems to be coming around. Crunches, floor-stretches, reverse sit-ups...pushing a little more each day. Lots of stiffness of course. But in all that time I've no pain to speak of in the leg...(sacroiliac was a different story). Regained about a third so far but I think I'm not gonna be where I was until summer comes and goes (along w/IPSC season)...This takes awhile. But I'm feeling much better and my attitude is pretty accepting of the fact that I ain't a kid no more... Going to meet w/my doctors next week and advise of progress...thankfully neither of them were in a hurry. They be smart. To this day, and after going thru this more than once, I'm fully convinced that one cannot sit on one's butt on the couch for very long w/o paying a price. Muscles contract, weight-gain is hard to overcome...When you've been active all your life and suddenly stop things happen you are not ready for...No meds at all except for a couple tylenol the first week waiting for the sacroiliac to settle down...Don't know about anyone else but I've gotta stay active...stretching daily and working the core have to be good things...Don't get old. Don't stop moving.Be well.

(BTW, I had a copy of the book put out by the Texas Back Institue...most excellent. Was a great help the first time I did this. Loaned it to a "friend" about two years ago, guess he's still using it... I'm going to have to get another copy).

Edited January 24, 2008 by border

[bierman]

Well, the steroids are giving some relief, I suppose by reducing inflammation. I was actually able to move around considerably yesterday with very little pain. I am hoping that once I start PT next month things will continue to improve. If things do not improve, I will be pushing the doctors to go for an MRI so we can get a better look at things.

[Vagus]

Chiropractor here.

I've seen a lot of people with SI problems get a lot of relief with chiropractic care, myself included.