Low Back Pain When Sitting - for 20 years post L3-S1 fusion, progressively worse.
 

I had a fusion at L3-S1 in 1991 with interbody fusions with instrumentation. In 2005 instrumentation was removed but pain when sitting persists.

Seen numerous doctors. Fusion is complete and described as "mechanically sound", but no Dr. has an idea of what is causing my sitting pain.

I can stand and run, play sports and swim with no pain/problem, but for whatever reason sitting causes pain. Pain worsens the longer I sit. Must lay down on floor at work most of day. Over the years I have tolerated the pain, but toleration for sitting has become less and less.

I may have to just "suck it up" but always looking for ideas. Thanks

Hi TexRex ~ Gosh, I'm sorry you're having such pain. I can totally relate. :rolleyes:

When is the last time you had an MRI?? If it's been more than a year, it's time for another one, with and without contrast material. There could be some changes in your spine since your last one. Ask your doc to order one.

Something else --- "the domino effect." This happens when you have spinal surgery -- the levels above/below the surgery site will fail -- causing more pain & very often requiring more surgery. It happens because the other levels in the spine have to take on more of the load after fusion.

If you've had an MRI and it doesn't show anything, have they considered scar tissue? I have a bunch of scar tissue on the L5 nerve root -- most of my MRI''s show this -- but the last 2 MRI's that I've had made NO MENTION of scar tissue -- so either the radiologist didn't see it, or somehow it's disappeared -- which is highly unlikely. LOL

I'm sure you know that sitting & standing are the WORST things a spine patient can do. We just CANNOT sit for prolonged periods of time. Same with standing. We either have to walk or lay down -- which most offices frown upon. ;) Take alot of breaks at work, i.e. just walk around the office frequently. When at home, lay down more. Try ICE too -- use it for 20 minutes every 2 hours, according to my neurosurgeon. That helps with inflammation & swelling.

If nothing works, you may want to see a pain management doctor --- he can help you keep your pain under control. Sometimes physical therapy helps too. Best of luck & God bless. Let us know how you come out. Hugs, Lee

i had pain when sitting
 

had labral tear in both my hips. I had rt hip tear fixed and feels alot better when sitting. Used to have pain in hips while sitting, longer i sat the more the pain hurt. Still have pain in left hip while sitting, will have left hip tear repaired once the rt hip is fully healed. Just something to think about, since your active in sports.

If ice does not help, try heat. We are all different. I would be as happy as a clam if I could live my life out in a hot tub. Best wishes.

Hello, how was your labral tear diagnosed? In 2008 I had an mr arthrogram of my hip due to lots of hip joint pain, but they did not see a tear. But maybe it is due to my tarlov cysts in the sacrum....

I had my labral tears since 08 took that long for docs to listen to me that something was wrong with my hips.
Had mri arthrogram also in 2010, went to sports injury docs who said i had labral tears in both hips, 1 of docs was more sure than the other doc, mri arthro gram or rt hip showed more of tear then left hip. But the left hip hurt more.