Question
Hi Dr. Arnone,

I have had terrible lower back pain for about 1 week. This back pain is so intense that I sometimes can't move and am on the floor or couch for 10-15 minutes. It hurts in my lower back and upper buttocks. When I put weight on my legs (i.e I stand up or hold my 2 year old son), it hurts a lot. The pain is most intense the first day and slowly gets less and less. I've tried lying on my back and putting my feet up on the couch and the pain gets a little better but still comes back. I can't sit up straigth on the floor nor can I sit on the floor without having to lean my back against something. I can't walk too fast either. I've also noticed that because most of the pain is in my right upper buttocks, I've been walking a differently. When I look at myself in front of the mirror, its looks like my right hip is wider than my left. It doesn't look even.

This has happened to me before - once a year for the past three years. I've dealt with it since it was only once a year but this pain has lasted longer than any other episodes and is affecting me my work because I can't sit up straight on an office chair for too long or drive long distances. What is wrong with me?

Any comments or advise to greatly appreciated.

- Patty

Answer
Patty,
Most likely, You have an unstable spine due to an Upper Cervical Subluxation.  This is when the top two bones-Atlas and Axis (C1,C2) get locked into the wrong position and interfere with the mental impulse between the brain and body and literally any abnormal health condition can result.  What also happens is that the rest of the spine follows the top and also becomes unstable and misaligned over time.
The only way to have this resolved properly is to have the Upper Cervical Subluxation corrected by an Upper Cervical Specialist and then allow the rest of the spine to fall in line so that a condition of stability can once again return and you can get well.
This is why your hip is higher than the other and simply realigning the hips may temporarily help relive you pain, it will not last and not correct the cause of the problem.
Does that make sense?

Yours in Best Health,
Dr Robert Arnone, DC
Upper Cervical Specific Doctor of Chiropractic
"Brainstem Specialist"
Arnone Specific Chiropractic
St Louis, Missouri