Hi, my name is Josh and I have had chronic back pain for over four years.

wardzig93

Hello everyone, 

I am new here and have been dealing with chronic back pain for over four years now. I am a 27 year old male from Canada, around 6 feet tall and 240 lbs, and I have experienced tightness in my mid and upper back between the shoulder blades and I always have the urge to pop it.

 Once I pop my back it becomes inflamed and it feels like it has to be consistently popped to get relief. The more I pop it and twist around the mid back area I start to get sharp pain. I am an avid weight lifter and have been lifting since I was around 21 and truthfully I don’t remember how the pain started. 

I have been to my chiropractor a ton since I’ve had pain and he says it has to do with loose facet joints. Going to the chiropractor helps and he told me to just stop cracking it and it will get better, but the constant urge to crack it just overwhelms me and I can’t break the habit. My doctor just says it’s nothing too serious and recommended physio but I would like to get an MRI done or some sort of injection.

the pain isn’t severe necessarily it’s just extremely annoying and I’m so aware of the cracking and cannot seem to break the habit. Sorry for the long read I’m just so sick of dealing with this. Any ideas of how I can overcome this and slowly start to get better? I’ve considered trying yoga, and I stretch a lot which seems to help, inactivity and sitting makes it worse.

Thank you.

steve51

@wardzig93

Good Afternoon & Welcome it’s great to meet you today.

I’m one off a team of Community Champion’s here at Scope.

Yes I have also had Chronic Pain since 2005.

We have got some info on Chronic Pain.

https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/72324/experiences-of-people-living-with-chronic-pain

https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/69412/chronic-pain-advice-and-useful-tools-to-help-me-manage

https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/69412/chronic-pain-advice-and-useful-tools-to-help-me-manage

@steve51

chiarieds

Hi @wardzig93 - & welcome to the community. Unfortunately we're not medically qualified, so unable to answer your query. As a physio (altho I haven't practiced as such for a long time), I feel your Dr., who knows you, has offered sound advice in recommending physio. Perhaps give it a try; this may help.

Inactivity doesn't help any one, & yes, gentle stretches can help. Be aware of your posture too in both sitting & standing. Hopefully a physio may advise better about this.

wardzig93

hello thank you for the reply.

Yeah, I mainly was just looking to get some insight in hopes that someone else may have experienced the same. I may try out physio but chiropractic work as well as postural improvements seem to work 

chiarieds

Hi @wardzig93 - Sorry, I haven't experienced the same. May I ask if you consider yourself 'hypermobile?' Just something I was wondering about from what you've said.

wardzig93

Hello, yeah that is what I’m thinking, I constantly arch inwards to crack my back and I feel like I can bend my joints further than normal.

chiarieds

Hi & wardzig93 - It might be worth having a look at the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Support's website. See: https://www.ehlers-danlos.org/     & see their page about hypermobility (I have the hypermobile type of EDS) : https://www.ehlers-danlos.org/what-is-eds/information-on-eds/hypermobile-eds-and-hypermobility-spectrum-disorders/

This is also a helpful page; the GP's toolkit: https://www.rcgp.org.uk/eds

This 'might' explain your problems, & get your GP to take onboard your issues, rather than being somewhat dismissive.

wardzig93

Thank you very much! ?

chiarieds

Your very welcome @wardzig93 - I hope the links may help. Thought I'd send them, 'just in case.'

Chloe_Alumni

Welcome to the community @wardzig93! Hope to see you around and please give us a shout if we can do anything to help.