Question
Dr. Biggs,
I am a 35 year old male. I have been active in recreational sports all of my life, but I am concerned that lately I have not been able to enjoy my sports because of some back pain. I went to a chiropractor and at first I felt better for a day or so after the treatment, but then the pain came right back. Now, I don't even think that I feel much better after the chiropractor treats me. I ask why I am not getting better, but he doesn't give me an answer. This back pain is nothing new to me. I have had back pain on and off since I was about 20 years old, but it feels like it is getting worse. Sometimes I can feel the pain spreading into the back of the leg. Should I go to a specialist or something? I am getting tired of this.

Answer
Dear Tom,
What you describe is something that I see daily in my practice. There are many people that suffer from lower back pain that just don't know what to do. Here are some thoughts:

1) Did your current chiropractor do a complete consultation and examination related to your current condition? What is the diagnosis? did he/she use any imaging techniques such as x-ray or MRI or CT?

2) If you feel that your current chiropractor is hearing your concerns and that he/she is doing all that can be done for you in that setting, perhaps it is time for a second opinion. Lower back pain can be caused by internal organ issues, such as bowel disease, kidney problems, gall bladder problems, liver problems, etc. If you have a medical doctor that you use, maybe it is time for him/her to run some additional diagnostic tests to rule out pathologies in those other organ systems.

Back pain if often the result of damaged discs in the lower back region. When they are damaged, they can bulge out and put pressure onto the spinal cord or nerve roots, and that can cause pain in one or both legs.  This very well could be what is happening to you. If it is, it is going to take some time and significant effort on your part to get better. Talk to your chiropractor and establish a game plan. Give the treatment time, and then re-evaluate for your progress. Also, go ahead and get an appointment with your MD to rule out some of the other causes of back pain.

I hope that this is helpful for you! Good luck Tom.