Spine feels like it shifts when I bend down/over

Posted by fightingfibro0505 @fightingfibro0505, Jun 28 1:03am

2 years ago I experienced whiplash, about 5 months after, my low to mid spine started to feel like it shifts forward when I touch my toes. It’s not super painful, but it does feel very unstable as if my mid-lower back is weak and can’t support itself. MRI came back normal aside from T6-T7 minimal disc disease, I was told this shouldn’t cause a spine shifting feeling.

Has anyone experienced their spine feeling like it shifts forward and have you found any answers why?

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Have you had a MRI also of your lumbar spine? I have cervical and lumbar stenosis, degenerative dis disease, etc. and have felt my vertebrae move/shift which is a weird and unstable feeling. You may want to work with a physical therapist to strengthen your core muscles to better support your spine and feel more stable.

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Mine sounds like a xylophone when I arch my back and then extend it backwards. I have severe lumbar spinal stenosis and foraminal narrowing. I have a pending neurosurgeon appointment on 7/23.

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Before i had my first back surgery after standing in line or in one spot for a long time ,I would go to sit down and my back would pop ,sometimes loud enuf a person sitting next to me could hear it go pop ,pop , pop ! I could actually feel my spine going right back in place !

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You might try getting an x-ray while in the bent forward position. Because you are supine for the MRI changes in vertebral positioning wouldn't be evident. An MRI would evidence swelling , but could miss a hairline fracture of the pars. Sometimes vertebral bodies slip forward in relation to each other. Often it is a weakness in ligament, tendon or muscle. It can also be caused by a fracture in the bone at the back of the vertebral body.
It sound as though the vertebra slips back in when you are upright. Sometime as we age it doesn't slip back and the space of movement becomes greater and can cause central canal stenosis. This would be called spondylolysitheses-- short for spondylo (spine) and lythesis (slippage).
Repeated bending can worsen spondylolythesis.

You may just be feeling a tendon moving over a bone.

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I have the same feeling when bending over. Not painful but uncomfortable. Had x rays done. Spine in tail bone area has shifted and now curved. Did have two falls on pavement over the last 5 years. Also sit at a desk 7 hrs day all my life. Dr says combination of age, poor posture & possibly falls.

Better for you to get an x ray to see what's really going on in your case. Car accident in your case may be a contributing factor or degenerative. Get a medical opinion.

In my case, exercises, spinal compression and adjustments are the plan of action.
Keep us posted on any findings!!

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Yes I've had that problem as well I was told that it's from degenerative disc they say that stretches help this so I did PT for a year and a half now I do it at home it seems to help. There are some things that make it worse which is sitting for too long periods of time and not having the right shoe Comfort makes it worse when I walk. If you don't feel like you're getting the right answers from your doctor I would suggest get a second opinion

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