Thoracic Back Pain. Please help me.

[laylathornton]

I'm a 18 year old physio student with thoracic back pain. (only a first year so please forgive me if alot my language is wrong )
I have had it since I was probably about 14 or 15 and has gotten worse over the years, I am a classic head in the sand sort of person and only decided to go to physio a year ago, I was given some core strength exercises to do and unfortunately didn't improve anything.
The pain is roughly from I'd say around T5 or T7 going down to in some occasions L5.
I was told at physio I have extra swing around L5, I was also told that my joints are more flexible than they should be, I don't know the exact term for this but I know I have hyperextension in all fingers and my thumb can be passively apposed to the anterior aspect of my forearm (someone else could push my thumb down to touch my arm in wrist flexion, if that makes sense?!?!)
My pain is on a bad day is usually 8 out of 10 on the VAS scale, I have in the past cried from it hurting that much, there isn't much which relives the pain except when I make my back click, I do this by pushing my shoulders back as far as they can go and hold onto my stomach - sounds wierd, looks even wierder - or whislt sitting on a chair I swing round to 1 side and hold onto the back with both hands and try and twist my back even more.
Pain usually gets worse after well anything it can hurt straight away in a morning if I've slept funny, or it could be sitting, walking or standing. It doesn't stop me from sleeping or wake me up in the night but it does take quite a long time for me to find a postition which is comfy at night.
I have no idea if this has anything to do with it but my fingers, elbow, knees, hips, ankles and toes and sometimes my neck click which helps releive pressure and pin in those areas for a small amount of time.
I was also told I have a kypohisis-lordosis posture, so upper back is slouched whilst lower back curves in way too much.
I know most people will say core strength will help me with my posture but after doing the core exercises for over 5 months now nothing has changed, if anything it has got worse as my back will no longer click.
Please help me I'm in pain all the time, its affecting my life too much! I just don't want it to affect my studies seriously.
ANY advice is welcome I will try anything!!!!
Please help!!


Thanks


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[asha]

Core stabilization would not help you maintain good posture but maintaining a good posture would keep your core muscles in better shape. What you need is to maintain the right posture. Try to sit up tall and retract your neck so that the head just behind your spine. Like wise give a over correction of your lordosis and let go about 10 % to get your spine to the right lordosis. Do this atleast three times in a day about 15 repetitions. Many a times we underestimate the role of posture.
Asha

[laylathornton]

Thank you so much and I will defintily be trying this! Just one quick question, how do I give over correction of my lordosis?
Sorry to bother you again!
And another thank you!!

[asha]

Guide yourself from a kyphotic sitting posture to an upright sitting posture by anteriorly rotating your pelvis and increasing your lordosis. Then let go 10% and maintain this for a few minutes. Initially it might give you some new pains which should subside in a week's time. if these do not help you, do let me know and I will try to locate someone close to where you are, so that you can be mechanically diagnosed and helped.
Asha

[Judith Mollet]

You don't say if you've had any consultations with rheumatologists; x-rays, any other screening just to make sure we are dealing with a postural problem with joint laxity rather than an on going "sub clinical" inflammatory condition. Not that I want to scare you but all that stuff is useful just to know it's, as far as one can tell at present, nothing serious. Do you do any serious/less serious sport? General fitness? Weight +/- height+ -?
As has been said, we have to live optimal posture in everday life and reprogramm our posture as just doing the core stability and still slouching doesn't work. Despite being a physio of many years I'm going to suggest you head in the direction of Alexander Technique to help your postural awareness and help your back problems. Most physios will suffer back pain at some stage in their working lives. It's a tough profession to follow. A friend of mine went through a really bad spell and as a physio, we tend to go to a physio, sounds OK! But when it doesn't help as much? where then? My friend discovered Alexander, and to cut a long story short ended up qualifying in Alexander Technique too. Back pain relief included. Now she has a different approach to postural pain issues which "physio only" practitioners can benefit from too. If you want more information let me know, my contact is n Derbyshire but will know other double qualified physio/Alexander-people.

[laylathornton]

hi
I've only ever seen my GP and a physio in general outpatients. I don't do any sports (except for wii fit ) I'm 5ft 7" and roughly about 9 stone 10lbs.
The Alexander Technique sounds really interesting as a student and a patient! Some more information on that would be really good if I'm not putting you out too much?
I'm currently at university in York however I live in Hull during non-term time, if that makes any difference?
Thank you so much for taking time to reply and help!

[laylathornton]

The alexander technique is unfortunately way too expensive for a student to afford, I can't afford one session never mind enough for it to treat more back with effect, so anyone with any other exercises could help? Please do!!!!

[Judith Mollet]

Then it's tough, but you have to go to someone in the NHS for treatment! And you've already had something in general outpatients which doesn't seem to have given you relief (I've no idea how qualified/experienced your physio was) you could ask around and find some specialised physio in the area you are during term time. Is there a student health center in York which could refer you somewhere? Remember also that there are physios who do alexander as well and maybe there's a loophole there for less expensive treatment, within the NHS. Answers with exercise suggestions on a web site can't replace eyes-on-hands-on-look for red and yellow flags assessment. All sorts of exercises can be appropriate for back problems. All sorts of hands on techniques can also help. Various electrotherapies could help in addition to hands on.......One size does not fit all. A physio must address the fact that you seem to have a longstanding problem, it affects your life and a physio should look at "all of you" and the chronic pain problem..not only exercises.
keep us posted, I'm sure you'll find help but you will have to ask, there must be senior physios and tutors around during a university course for physiotherapy or am I way off there??
keep us posted!

[attatec]

hi
for the fitness and good relief from thoracic back pain use the foam roller.