Question
I have been having back pain for about the last six months now. To start off with I did have a fall on the ice last winter. I landed on my tailbone and my back. I was fine for the most part. The day it happened it did hurt but just for that few days after I had minimal pain. About two months later my back pain started to increase. To the point where I can't even put on a pair of jeans in the morning without pain. Soon after i wake the pain dimineshes somewaht But hen at work it comes back full force and i can't bend over or move my neck down without feeling it in my mid to lower back. I have also noticed a slight dent or curveture in the area where most of the pain is centered. My mother in law gave me one of her muscle relaxers when it got so bad i couldn't walk right. that did seem to help but there was still pain centered around that particular spot. I went to the doctor and without xrays just looking at my back she said that I have a slight case of scoliosis. My checkups in elementary school had never yeilded this diagnoisis and I'm 23 now so I was curious as to what scoliosis really was and if it could be anything else. My internet search led me here. I read some questions and answers from others with my same problem and thought that maybe you could give me an insight as to what I should do. I thought maybe the fall on the ice might be a factor. Any light you could shed on this would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Answer
Erin,

'Sorry to hear you're in such pain, especially at age 23.  Everyone can speculate about your pain, but the bottom line is that you need a good physical examination to locate what may be the cause.  Scoliosis is not going to be one of them unless you have severe scoliosis.  I would suggest you find a chiropractor that has expertise in soft tissue and rehab procedures.  I'd bet that your fall on ice set you up for this.  I, too, will not speculate about whether you have a disc problem or simply fascial adhesions along your spine (which also would be painful with bending your head down).  In the event of the latter, Graston Technique works very well for it.  You can find a provider via www.grastontechnique.com.   So long as you don't have radiating pain or numbness in your leg/calf/foot, then odds are there's something mechanical that's causing your pain.  After your fall on ice, did you get any xrays to rule out fractures?  

'Regards,

Dr. G
www.drgillman.com