Question
Okay this is long...about 4 years ago I started having muscle spasms in my back while working at a hotel (front desk job-standing all day).  I was given a muscle relaxant and it took care of the pain.  However, back problems started up again at my job after that, deep muscle tissue pain.  Again from standing at my job.  I could not take it and after a year I started going to a chiropractor.  It started out great, the manipulations seemed to help, along with special exercises to strengthen my core.  Well after a month of therapy (both manipulation and exercises) I noticed that my IBS problems weren't around because my core was so strong.  Well, about a month after stopping chiropractic care, I noticed a severe knife stabbing pain in my spine, around thoracic spine vertebrae number 8-where a woman's bra strap lies.  I went with this pain for a month.  I could hardly sit in the back of a chair or even a tap on the back was very painful.  Fortunately the stabbing pain turned into a more dull and uncomfortable pain within a month or two.  After about 3 months I decided to go back to the chiropractor and he asked if I had any history in my family of cancer because spinal pain is rare, and especialy where I was experiencing it.  I had a lot of painful pressure if you pressed on it.  I went to my family doctor and he told me that it was not an issue about my hips benig misaligned (which is what the chiropractor said), because the misalignment was so tiny he said it was not worth going.  Well, x-rays did not show anything but I knew something was not right.  So I had an MRI done and again, nothing was found.  So, I was referred to an orthopedic specialist and he said what I had was called spinous process bursitis.  He wanted to inject my spine with steroids.  I refused, so he put me on medication for a month along with outpatient therapy at a local hospital.  The therapy worked well and felt so good but after a month didn't do much overall, and as such was told that after that long things should have improved.  To my dismay my family doctor told me to get the steroid injections, but left it to me, so I refused again, it is just something I did not feel right about at all.  So long story short, I still have the pressure at this vertebrae in my back, and lately have been experiencing it more than I did for a while.  I fell about a year ago after all of this therapy, and landed partially on my leg, arm, and back.  I think fortunately my thigh took most of the tumble, but it did hurt my back.  I got an x-ray then, and it showed this vertebrae is misshapen and misaligned.  I would like to know where/what to do from here.  I don't feel like I have a solid answer.  My family doctor said if it's always been that way then there's not much anyone can do.  But how do I know if it was always this way?  What if it was because of the manipulations at the chiropractor?  Or what if it is something serious?  I'm not sure what to do, other than go see a spine specialist or neurologist and show them the x-ray of the vertebrae that's messed up, and tell them my long story.  I hope maybe someone on here has some advice that will help.  Thanks!

Answer
Hi Natalie- let me see if I can help some...

first off, the steroid injetions: these may sound pretty creepy but they are very standard these days, and are often an alternative to surgery.  they give you a shot right where the pain is (whether it's from a bulging disc or something like your bursitis)- the shot, steroid, decreases inflammation in the area and can relieve the pain you're feeling- it's not like the steroids you here about in athletes or whatever. It doesn't always work, but there are few bad side effects or potential problems associated with it.  And if it DOES work, they are usually good for 6 or so weeks.

Looking at various websites on bursitis led to this: "Noninfectious bursitis can also be treated with a cortisone injection into the swollen bursa. This ... typically rapidly reduces the inflammation of the swollen bursa."

Bursitis is the inflammation of a tiny fluid filed sac- bursae make your joints move smoothly, right? They can become problems either due to injury or other problems like arthritis- my mom had terrible bursitis in her shoulder when I was younger, for example, from having injured it. While it is possible that your chiropractor was related to some sort of injury, I think it is more likely due to basic aging processes and the like.  The back can have so many things go wrong with it!

As for the misshapen vertebra- this can be caused by the bursitis or by your reaction to the pain... your body tries to heal things it knows aren't working correctly, and sometimes it tries sending calcium to the area, could cause this shape change (I broke my hand, had a huge lump on it for a while due to calcium piling up there- it is eventually re-absorbed by your body). The misalignment can be caused by  muscular issues as well as injury, etc- if your back hurts in one position, you compensate and sit differently... this can pull you in ways you don't normally go, affecting alignment.

These are just suggestions, based on my experience. Personally I would allow the injections- there is very little risk and it could solve alot of your problems (even with alignment, etc- if there is no pain, you won't sit differently, etc). If you feel spooked by the shots, get a doctor to explain it fully, get a second opinion, etc- those are reasonable things to want.

and of course feel free to write in again if i can be of help. good luck to you-
leslie