Question
I am a mechanic in the Army, I am currently deployed. 3 months ago I fell off of one of the trucks I was working on landed on the left side of my back. I tried to just walk it off but the pain got more severe, so I went to talk to our Medics. Their assessment was that it is probably a muscle strain, they gave me some anti-inflammatories and some hot packs and sent me on my way. Here I am three months later, still in pain, to the point that it affects my walking. The pain starts at the base of my shoulder blade and randomly shoots down the length of my back into my left buttcheek. I can't run, I can't do a lot of the things I am required to do because it hurts my back. I will not be home for another 5 months or so. Is it indeed a muscle strain that just keeps holding on or could it be something else?
Thank you

Answer
Amber,
 I can be a muscle strain, but it could also be more serious.  Go back to the medics or see if you can be seen by a MD.  It could be that you have spondylothesis of one of the thoracic verterbrae, a rib issue that is causing one of the erector spinae muscles to consistently spasm and cause pain from your shoulder blade to your gluts.  Also it could be that your left pec has tightened up due to the fall causing an anterior tipping of the left scapula, which then causes a stretching of the rhomboids and irritates the erector spinae(muscles that line the sides of the spine).  Be persistent, make a log of when you have pain, where your pain is located, how you would describe it and what makes it feel better.  I hope this helps.