Terrible left lumbar pain that wraps around to my iliac crest

I get relief with this formula when this happens to me.

I've had sacral issues for a few years, but nothing ever serious, until about 2 yrs ago. Excruciating lumbar pan, including right hip flank, pain levels ranging from lowest of 7 to a high of 10 out of 10. Yeah, crippling, wanting-to-die-to-end-the-pain type of pain. Had injections but evidently were not done to the sciatic JOINT which is what my neurologist wanted done to relieve me of my torturous pain. Injections did help the lumbar area to a degree but not the pain on crest of right hip, that extended over the ENITRE hip, into joint and into pelvic floor. The pain made my buttocks intensely painful balls of nerves within the areas, down my thighs to legs to feet, and even UP the spine to shoulders, down arms to fingers. Yeah, I was miserable.
I had a followup with my neurologist yesterday on another medical matter, he asked questions about the CRPS and the sacral issues. He became perturbed that the pain MD that I had gone to had not followed what his referral note had indicated needed to be done. So when I got home, called a former PM doctor down the street from where we live, his office person gave me an appointment within the hour, for which I so grateful. I went and Dr. P gave me a thorough run down on what my back issues are (he had ordered MRI about 2 yrs ago, thus had my info in his files; at that time, he had wanted to inject my spine for a different issue). He clarified for me just WHY my pain was so intense, and told me that indeed he would inject into the two sites that my neurologist indicated. And I learned something I had not absorbed two years ago : I have spinal stenosis, which aggravates my neuro issues related to thee CND problems that I unfortunately deal with. His staff had to get clearance from my insurance before he could do the procedure, so while I wait, I have a large heating pad that I place between my back and the pillow behind me, and I sit with legs resting on a sofa-height ottoman. Head and arms are supported by comfy pillows, forming what I call "my cocoon." I can't take pain meds, only Aleve. By bedtime, I had achieved a bit of relief but it was oh so painful trying to get to second floor of our home (bedrooms/bathrooms area). Still a bit stiff but less pain today.

My suggestions to you:
•Have a neurologist or as in my case a pain management doctor order an MRI of your entire spine.
• Become invested in learning all that you can about the findings, and follow his/her professional, sound advice.
•Interview/seek a highly trained/qualified physical therapist who can give you myofascial release massages, and use heated ultrasound. Feels soooooo good, and very effective.
•Elevate you legs to same level as your seating area, so that your legs are well supported.
•Invest in a large, quality heating pad. I bought a Sharper Image one on sale back at Christmas time. It was my gift to MYSELF.💖
•Make sure your sleeping position does not "pull" on your back muscles nor place undue stress on your hips/lumbar spine. Use a small pillow between your knees if need be. I used to do that but I've learned to sleep mostly on my back (used to be a side sleeper).
•Get pain relieving patches if you can stand their scent. I can't, so I don't use them, same goes with ointments.
•PAMPER yourself and listen to your body! Stop and rest. I've pared down what I can and can't or WON'T DO around the house. Learn to not bend over to pick up items. When I drop something in the kitchen, I use my foot to push it out of the way until my husband comes into the room 😊. And I have a great fiber padded "broom" that I can painlessly go over the large tiled kitchen floor. NO sweeping needed. My husband gladly uses dustpan and brunch to collect the "stuff" and voila! kitchen looks neater! He does the floors also, especially when he's had chips with his lunch since tiny pieces tend to gather under his seating area😁. Bottom line: just gotta let go of not-so-important things in order to not cause myself chance of pain.
ALSO: I have what I've dubbed my floor-towel. It's a nice size dish towel that is very absorbent, and I use it to wipe up any water that may fall from moving dishes from sink to DW, etc. I do not bend over: I use my foot to move it around on the floor to absorb the water, than push it under the toe-kick of my lower cabinets. When done in the kitchen, I'll move it out with my foot and slowly bend my knees so that I can reach the towel. I have a place to hang to dry if really wet, and then it goes back on the hook that I have on a door under the sink. I have a couple of them, and my son--in-law loved the idea. He does that now since they have two young kids.

I would not wish the agony that I've had on ANYONE. Yes, I had an outstanding physical therapist for abut 14 weeks last fall, urged by my neurosurgeon who due to my age and serious medical issues was trying to circumvent surgery. I don't want surgery either, so I'll follow the injections route. And will return to my amazing physical therapist at the appropriate time. I will NOT allow a chiropractor near my back: I had a horribly painful experience with one that was trying to "treat" my lumbar pain, about 25 years ago. She was too aggressive and inflicted pain. Since then, I have sworn off chiropractors.

Best of luck and wishing you a LOT less pain.🌺

It sounds to me from your description like you pulled a muscle (a muscle is in spasm) . It happens when a muscle needs to be massaged out and it gets attention but then you move incorrectly, lift too much weight, or put stress on it and it’s just not ready to stay relaxed and it cramps up. I suggest you go back to your massage therapist have her work it out again and then be aware that it needs to not be stressed for a period of time you can discuss with your therapist. If it is what I’ve described, then painkillers and muscle relaxers with absolutely no stretch, stretching it out for a couple days, then trying to get back into your regular schedule with only the lightest of pressure on the area and then waiting a couple weeks before you get back to regular activity. This has happened to me over the years. when I was younger the tendency was to work it out immediately and that just made the muscle hold in the spasm condition. You gotta give it time to relax out again before you start trying to work it.

@mdt70
You may benefit from seeing an orthopedic hip specialist to review symptoms and determine if X-ray, MRI or other imaging is needed to look at joints and soft tissues for injury/inflammation. Steroid injections may be an option.

You may want to try Salonpas lidocaine pain patches or Voltaren pain gel over the area of pain. Icing may also help.

1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319695

2. https://www.healthline.com/health/iliac-crest-pain

It sounds to me from your description like you pulled a muscle (a muscle is in spasm) . It happens when a muscle needs to be massaged out and it gets attention but then you move incorrectly, lift too much weight, or put stress on it and it’s just not ready to stay relaxed and it cramps up. I suggest you go back to your massage therapist have her work it out again and then be aware that it needs to not be stressed for a period of time you can discuss with your therapist. If it is what I’ve described, then painkillers and muscle relaxers with absolutely no stretch, stretching it out for a couple days, then trying to get back into your regular schedule with only the lightest of pressure on the area and then waiting a couple weeks before you get back to regular activity. This has happened to me over the years. when I was younger the tendency was to work it out immediately and that just made the muscle hold in the spasm condition. You gotta give it time to relax out again before you start trying to work it.

Thank you for sharing. I hope you find relief as well.