Multiple sclerosis
April 16, 2017 | 25,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ralf Berg
Hello, I hope you can give me some advice.
My wife had pain in her legs at the beginning of the week. Then she started experiencing strong pain in her lower back. After sitting, the pain became so intense that she could hardly walk; sitting also caused her pain. We went to the emergency room where they tried to adjust her. She screamed extremely during the process and was given strong pain medication. The doctor said it was severe muscle tension. She stayed in the hospital yesterday and was supposed to leave today, but the healing process is not going as well as expected. She is still taking pain medication. Today, she is starting to walk slowly on her own again, but standing up is very difficult for her because she is afraid of making a mistake and the intense pain returning.
I am worried, could this be something like MS or something else serious like cancer in her back? Her blood work was normal. My wife is 26 years old. The doctors also said that she waited too long to see a doctor.
Thank you in advance for your response.
Good evening,
it is understandable that you are worried about your wife. It is probably the first time that such an event, commonly referred to as lumbago, has struck her. But do not worry, everything in your description speaks against MS and cancer, but rather for a lumbar spine syndrome, possibly with vertebral blockage that was attempted to be adjusted. The course of the symptoms already improving suggests a musculoskeletal cause of the complaints. In your wife's age group, almost 100% of complaints can be attributed to this cause.
Now, a piece of advice for the next steps: Do not wrap her in cotton wool. In the past, rest and relaxation were considered the ultimate solution. Unfortunately, it has been found that the opposite, mobilizing as early and as much as possible, shortens the duration of the illness and leads to healing. Such back pain can last for several days but also up to 4-6 weeks, more or less intensely. The duration is usually shortened by early movement, even if it may cause some pain.
Therefore, it is necessary to continue taking pain medication. If you have a family doctor, I would advise you to visit them after the holidays. They can then take a closer look at the whole situation clinically. Due to the large proportion of acute back pain cases in practice, there is a broad knowledge and experience on what can be done to alleviate and improve the complaints.
Patience may be necessary at times, but unlike MS and cancer, the course and prognosis are favorable and it will heal again.
Despite everything, I wish you both a happy Easter!
Best regards, Dr. R. C. Berg.
