Hi all,

I’m new here!
I hurt my back on Nov 28 and had to go to the ER. Originally I hurt it about a month prior with a violent sneeze but it went away after two or three days, so I didn’t see a doctor. I also have disc bulges in L4-L5-S1 from a long and arduous injury 4 years ago. I recovered completely from that and became a distance runner, never any pain except when I didn’t move or run for more than a week I felt a bit tight. I’m a desk worker and used to have pretty bad posture.

My question is related to the QL – it seems the main pain comes from the middle trigger points in the left QL, it refers to the L4-L5-S1 area and maybe a bit into the hip, occasionally maybe the leg but it doesn’t seem to be sciatica. I don’t seem to have much inflammation in the discs, the MRI says there’s likely no new disc injury, it could have gotten a little inflamed. My main complaint is really the trigger point. I have tried several things, the tennis ball always brings immediate relief, and my PT massages it. But it never goes away. I treat both sides also. Electro acupuncture was able to get rid of the knot almost entirely but it came back after sleeping with a vengeance and I’m out of ideas.

We’ve done pelvic alignments (my right side was up and forward I think) and I do them regularly on my own, with a broom, haha. I’m doing core strength work, hamstring stretches, foam rolling everywhere, especially the glutes, it’s practically a full time job. I tried the McKenzie exercises but I’m not such a fan. My spine likes to be straight, not too extended and not too flexed.

I don’t know what else I could try, maybe myofascial release? Or is there maybe another issue that keeps pulling at the QL, like tight psoas?

I cannot sit for long yet, but I walk really a lot and it always always helps. Same for running, which I can already do and it also feels so good. But I need to get back to work sooner or later. 🙂

Thanks so much!
Simone