Neurosurgeon Questions

“Back pain”

Center back (old accident 8yrs)
(5-6 pain daily)
Complete lower lumber
(8-9 pain daily)
Sitting, or standing for long periods of time and then going to go lay down to rest I'm in pain
(6-8 daily)
Pain Radiates from my lower back to my hips to my buttocks which can cause severe pain.
(8-10+ pain daily)
What is this caused from?

Female | 51 years old
Complaint duration: 4 years
Medications: Depakote
Conditions: Epilepsy and High Cholesterol

7 Answers

There can be a number of causes, muscle strain, spinal degeneration, arthritis, disc degeneration. An mri would be helpful in evaluation
Difficult to say without a clinical evaluation in the office and a radiographic evaluation with an MRI of your lower back
I think you need to discuss this with your primary doctor. They need to start with some basic xrays since your pain is generalized. If the xrays are not revealing, an MRI may be the next best study to evaluate those areas
There are various reasons for back pain and without appropriate imaging studies, it is difficult to diagnose and treat the issue. It could be as simple as arthritic pain to disc herniation, to facet inflammation, to malignancy. Symptoms appear to be chronic and therefore a degenerative problem is more likely. I would advise a consultation with a spine-focused neurosurgeon.
It could be caused from any number of things. It could be from a disc, the facet joints, any of the supporting ligaments, the muscles surrounding the spine, or the sacroiliac joints. A pain management specialist can do a number of procedures that will determine what is causing the pain, and most often can alleviate the pain without surgery. Physical therapy and core strengthening along with weight loss if necessary also alleviates most back pain. If surgery becomes your only option, and a focal pain source is identified by imaging or by the interventional pain management specialist, then you will be referred to a surgeon to discuss the pros and cons of all of your surgical options.
Hi there, Back pain can have many causes. I would recommend you go to your PCP to explain your symptoms and they can do a physical exam. Then, if warranted they will order imaging studies and can refer you to a local neurosurgeon for further evaluation. Hope this helps! Be well, Aleka Scoco MD
Not possible to make a diagnosis with that description. Symptoms are always correlated with the imaging ( MRI, xrays both standing and bending, CT scan sometimes and occasionally nuclear medicine imaging to assess inflammation ).. treatment options will vary based on the images and an examination, not just the description of the symptoms. iPhone X transmission