Back pain with 09 pitcher--suggestions appreciated

We have had a wonderful experience working with a reputable chiropractor. Many M.D.'s will pooh-pooh that idea, but if you find the right guy it is definitely the way to go.

Especially when you get that "we can't find anything wrong" line from the M.D.'s. If they aren't going to help your boy, but he's in pain, you need someone else. M.D.'s tend to think that if they cannot find anything, there isn't anything, which comes across as if they don't believe you -- very irritating.

Make sure the abs are much stronger than the back muscles. I had surgery way back in 93 and that is what the physical terrorists told me.I'm no doctor but I can say that has certainly helped, 14 yrs. later and I'm still pitching.

Physical terrorists????

bballlove,

My son had this same problem when he was a freshman(he is also a 09 pitcher). A MRI showed nothing but a ct-scan showed he had a lower stress fracture on the left pedicle of his L-5 disk. We found out that this is very common for pitchers. Before we found the problem he was given these stretching exercises that only made him worse. Once he got the proper diagnosis he was told to rest with no throwing and sent to a therapist for rehab. IT took about three months before he could start to throw again. The doctor said the major cause is a weak lower core. There are many postings on this subject, just type in back pain in the key word search and you should get alot of info. My son was told he had no problems for months even though his back pain got worse. I posted his problem on this site and found out that many ball players here have had the same problem.

Good luck to your son. If this is the problem he should have plenty of time to recover.


Bandisbb

bballove,

One piece of information you neglected to provide is: Which side is the pain on? Throwing arm side? Glove arm side? Both?

I'm starting to think that a lot of asymmetric pain that arises from pitching might ultimately be traced to asymmetric conditioning--more or less the opposite of what 2Diamonds 'physical terrorist' advised him.

Pitchers almost always overemphasize the anterior muscle groups involved accelerating the ball while neglecting the posterior muscle groups that help decelerate the arm/shoulder after ball release. This type of asymmetric training, if extreme enough, might possibly lead to problems.

Best of luck to your boy.

has he had a growth spurt?

make sure ya have a good sports ortho guy

quote:

by Bee: NOT a dianosis -

we had an injury during hs diagnosed as "repetitive motion spondylolysis", which was essentially a lower spine stress fracure caused imbalanced muscle development from alot of hitting workouts, during a high growth period. it required rest, phys thereapy & a hard back brace for about 6-8 weeks.

quote:

by Birdman14: Went to orthopedic doctor today and X-ray was negative. He had us a schedule a MRI to rule out "repetitive motion spondylolysis." Doc said he had 2 other baseball pitchers that he saw this summer with spondylolysis, and wanted definatively rule it out. Hopefully that is the case.

The stress fractures as described by bandits can cause such symptoms. And they can be difficult to detect.

Have known of a couple of players who came down with lower back stress fractures.

Another thing to consider. It was discovered that a friend of ours who is a collegiate pitcher had one leg slightly shorter than the other. It was causing his spine to become misaligned. He had orthotics made for his shoes, and this was a miracle (for him)
Just throwing it out there...

He has grown about 4 inches in two years and the pain is on his glove side (left)...The pain was there this summer and then went away for a period of time...now it is back...He has pitched this fall --about 3 innings per week end. The MRI and XRay showed no stress fractures...

When does he feel the pain? I have a son who was experiencing back pain when he woke up in the morning. He picked out a new mattress with memory foam in the top of it (old mattress was extra firm and old) and his pain went away. (He is also a pitcher and was about the same size as your son when he experienced pain.)

If I recall properly, on one of the players to whom I referred the initial examinations missed the stress fracture.

Just a thought. It may well not be your son's problem. A visit with a good sports ortho is in order, though.

bballlove,

My son also had x-rays and a mri that showed nothing. He was able to play fall baseball and High School S****r with the pain. We were constantly being told it was just growing pains. IT hurt mostly when he would swing a bat or throw a baseball. We finally went to a ortho who dealt with sports injuries. IT took a ct-scan to show the problem. This injury is caused by repetitive stress. My sons pain was also on his glove side. We did some research and found that this injury was common among baseball pitchers and cricket players age 12 thru 18yrs old. Unfortunately by the time we got the proper diagnosis my son missed his freshman year. I would tell your doctor that you want to have your son checked for a stress fracture in his lower back. IT's better to be safe than sorry. IF he fights you on this I would find another doctor. When it comes to your son's health you want to make sure that your doctor specializes in sports injuries. Hope that you find a answer and tell your son good luck.

Banditsbb

If the MRI shows nothing wrong, I would consider to see a MD about his Kidney . Sometimes kidney stone will cause that kind of pain. And watch his diet, see if he drink a lot high Vitamin and high protein drinks. These kind of drink will put a lot of burden
on his kidney, but once you stop it, and rest for a couple of weeks, the pain will be gone. Some kid just can't absorb the high Molecular stuff, but others no matter how much they drink, they are perfectly fine with it. I think with 6'3''hight and only 160 lb, your son is a little bit slim. He need to gain some weight. But becareful with the high molecur stuff.

Beginning at age 15, I had pain in my lower back, behind my left hip (I threw right handed). It would come and go over the years.

Beginning at age 31, I began seeing a chiropractor. Problem solved.

Wish someone had given me a referral 16 years earlier!

When my own son got stiff between his shoulder blades, I didn't hesitate. He got the relief he needed and the training in the exercises he needed to do to stave off difficulties as he grew. Another problem solved.

Has anyone ever heard/used Crossover Symmetry products/training (www.gocrossover.com)? Curious about the feedback.

Thank you for all of your comments. I have provided them to the Dr. who is working with him . He did some very deep tissue massage today and it helped a tremendous amount...I will get the MRI and xrays and take them to another sports othropedic back specialist...if anyone is in Houston, please let me know if you rec. anyone. He is currently working with a chiropractor who specializes in muscles/athletes....seems to be helping but we want to make sure we cover all bases. Thank you again for your comments...very much appreciated.

MRI's are good, but the definitive test is a bone scan. Many doctors prefer the MRI because it will also show other damage in the area but it doesn't necessarily pick up the stress fracture. X-rays very often don't pick it up. If there's a stress fracture or stress reaction the bone scan will find it. However, bone scans do involve a small amount of radiation. My son's stress fracture was picked up on an MRI.

Thank you for all the information. Here is our update: No stress fracture...bones are in good shape. The therapist believes that he needs to strengthen his back with specific back excercises. He told him to discontinue sit ups and running stairs...at least until he strengthens his back...Happy Thanksgiving.

Been thru this 3 times now...at 12 yr old experienced side pain...MRI and X ray revealed nothing...bone scan saw stress fracture at L5...2 months in a Boston brace and we thought problem was solved...15 yr old same pain though not as severe once again bone scan reveals a "pars" in L5..different ortho this time suggests rest and can resume activity as pain allows as long as contact isn't involved...18 yr old...warming up before game feels shooting pain into side again...as he has to report to school in 4 weeks shut him down and seek out an ortho who specializes in spine injuries...says it's a common problem in baseball players do to all the torqueing involved in both swinging and pitching...though the pain isn't directly on the injured spot it radiates to the side of the injury thru nerves...prescribed a core regimen for strengthening muscle groups around the affected area....reported to school on August 16th and has experienced no problems...

You want to be careful with this. I am going through the same thing with my RHP 2010 6'3" 165. We went to a sports ortho guy, starting in early October after he started feeling "stiffness" in his lower left side of his back while pitching in the late summer. The sports otho doctor did X-rays -- negative and an MRI. The MRI was inconclusive, but showed adema (swelling) in the area of the L-5 pedicle. He is sending us to a spine doctor for further evaluation -- appointment on 11/20. The sports ortho doc thinks he has a stress fracture, but says more than likely the spine doctor will order a bone scan and/or a CAT scan and then appropiate treatment. Funny thing is he feels better now with the rest.

Be safe is exactly right...if indeed there is a "pars" in L4 or 5. Treatment seems to vary from Dr to Dr but one common thread is NO contact. Upon reading up on spondyliosis I discovered that the stress fractures will heal if no visible seperation occurs however it appears that once there is seperation...surgery seems to be the most often taken route. While sports orthos may be very good it is like anything else...find one who specializes in back/spine injuries so you can rest assured that your son is receiving the latest remedies.