Question
I'm 17 and three and a half  months ago I somehow managed to get a stress fracture in my lower back. My doctor told me six weeks later that it had "stabilized". It still hurts really bad, though not as often. Will the pain ever go away? Is there anything I can do to releive it?

Answer
Hi KT,

I'm sorry to hear about your injury.  Pain from a fractured/broken bone is expected to go away once the body is completely done healing it and any muscles or other "soft" tissues around it that may have been injured heal as well.  So, you may experience symptoms even after the bone is stabilized.  

Sharp, shooting, stabbing and traveling pain should immediately be reported to your doctor. As far as relieving the pain you have, I'd suggest really looking at any stressors that may be being placed on your back:  how is your posture?  Are your hamstrings flexible?  Are your abdominal muscles (they help support the back) strong?  Correcting your posture and making sure that your back isn't experiencing strains through the day can help decrease your symptoms.  You may want to phone your doctor and ask what they recommend for your specific case, as they know your anatomy and can help identify more specific things that are safe for you to do.  

I hope that you feel better soon!  

You may want to google "McKenzie"--that is the name of a physical therapist who knows a lot about backs, and has a lot of information online about how to sit properly, stand properly, and do things with correct "body mechanics" so that you don't accidentally cause a strain.

Take care!

Jenny