Question
Dr. Durin,

I was wondering what you thought the chances would be that my lower back problems are related to a specific injury. Let me explain.

In 1984 I was seriously injured during a training accident. I was assisting another person demonstrating hand to hand combat techniques when the other person decided to use me as a "dummy" (no pun intended)to demonstrate a hip throw. The person demonstrating this lost his grip while I was in mid air/ throw and I landed in what is commonly called a "pile driver" type of position. I landed with my full body weight on the back of my head/neck and shoulders. Causing very intense pain to my neck and upper back down to about 2" under my shoulder blades. This is all reflected on the emergency room reports.

I was taken to the emergency room and then transferred to a larger better equipped hospital. Nothing showed at the time of the injury on x-rays, no MRIs were done as they did not have them at this hospital back then. I was treated and released.

Starting in 1990 or so I suffered from terrible neck and upper back pain and it was determined that my C4/C5 cervical disk was damaged. This was attributed to the injury I mentioned above. I had fusion surgery in 1993. I continue to have pain and problems, but it is bearable with treatment and medications.

About that same time I began to have lower back problems also, and in 1995 was diagnosed with sciatica. I have had problems off and on ever since until about 5 years ago when it got really bad and I was wheelchair bound. I had surgery again and they fused L5/S1 and installed rods to support it.

What is the possibility that my lower back problem is related to the injury I described? Is it possible? Is it more likely than not? I would like your professional opinion please.

As you can probably tell I have a claim in with the VA and have my neck and upper back considered as service connected do to the injury I described, but they say that my lower back is not related. I was wondering what you think.

Thank you for all your time volunteering here and for your knowledge and expertise.  

Answer
Hi Chris,

After writing out a complete treatment program, advice and 2 pages of info, the site crashed and I lost it all. It took 30 minutes to type up. So call me instead and I will tell you exactly what to do, my number is 708-466-9994

Sorry.

Dr. Timothy Durnin