Expert: Gerald Anzalone, D.C. - 11/7/2007

Question
hello I'm a 24 year old man and play a good standard of soccer i also do groundworks for a living. but for the past 4-5 years i have had a lower back problem It hasn't stop me keeping fit before but over the past 2 years it been worse then ever.Im 5'6 and used to weigh 10st 9. then had and eye operation and went up to 12st 6 because i wasn't allowed to work out for 9 months.  i went in to the gym lost the weight and my back was fine. i stop going for  5 months then went back into the gym then thats when it got really bad,could it be that i tried to hard/over trained. If i wear anything tide around my lower back i.e. cycling shorts my lower back kind of cramps/aches and i have to stop running, if i sit down for to long my back aches and when in the gym on the treadmill if i run over level 10 for 10mins or high impact running  my back cramps /aches and its to painful to carry on its the same with road running. no other gym machine hurt when i use it . iv been seeing a Chiropractor for the past 3 months but there is still no change for the better. he say its muscle damage i had an x-ray its give me all clear . but why isn't it getting better so i can start playing soccer again can U please help. is there any other method

Answer
Scott,

I can't provide you with a diagnosis over the Internet, so I can only give you some general impressions about the problem you've described.

First, if you've seen a chiropractor for three months with no improvement, something has to change.

Your symptoms, based on the information you gave me, raise the question of a possible degenerative, bulging, or herniated lumbar disc. In many cases, disc syndromes respond favorably to manipulation.

Your work as a grounds keeper (which usually involves repetitive bending, lifting, and twisting) and the onset or aggravation of symptoms your when sitting or performing impact exercises lead me to suspect disc-related problems. Muscles may tighten or spasm in response to disc displacement.  

Since you didn't respond to manipulation, I think you need to consider seeing a physiotherapist for supervised rehabilitative exercise. You can also consider purchasing an inexpensive book called "Treat Your Own Back" by Robin McKenzie, an Australian physiotherapist who developed a technique of spinal rehabilitative exercise.

You may also consider seeing a chiropractor who is better versed in rehabilitative exercises as well.

If your back symptoms radiate into your buttocks or legs, if you experience weakness in the legs, or if you don't respond to further conservative care, you may need to have an MRI scan of the lumbar spine for further evaluation. X-rays can't evaluate disc or muscle-related structures.

I hope that this helps to answer your question.