Because of severe back pain, a woman receives physiotherapy and painkillers, she undergoes surgery and spends a long time in rehab. But the downward spiral continues – until a specialist intervenes elsewhere.
When I met the woman, she had been suffering from severe back pain for 15 years. The woman, who was in her early 40s, seemed devastated. She reported that she had been through everything a patient with back pain could go through. She told her story: several X-rays and MRI scans had shown that her lumbar spine was severely worn out, i.e. degenerative.
She received physiotherapy and painkillers, she had two operations on her intervertebral discs and was in rehab for a long time. The pain in her lower back remained. The patient sought help from a psychosomatic doctor, received psychotropic drugs and antidepressants. But the gradual downward spiral of pain, medication and therapy continued.
The back pain started after giving birth
In a magazine, the woman came across a medical history that was similar to her own. The patient described had also been through a doctor’s odyssey, only the cause of the pain was different: the trigger was the sacroiliac joint, known as the ISG for short. The woman turned to the expert quoted – that was me. Now she was sitting in front of me with a folder full of doctor’s reports and findings. I examined her. The pain did not match the previously described diagnoses such as a slipped disc, root irritation, wear and tear of the vertebral bodies, osteochondrosis. She was more likely to have “joint pain”. I pricked up my ears when she told me that the whole misery had suddenly started after the birth of her second child.
Source: Stern
I’m Caroline, a journalist and author for 24 Hours Worlds. I specialize in health-related news and stories, bringing real-world impact to readers across the globe. With my experience in journalism and writing in both print and online formats, I strive to provide reliable information that resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
