I've been dealing with chronic back pain to some degree
for the past 5 years, both in the mid and low back, and
now in the neck.

I am a mechanical engineer so I spend a lot of time
seated in front of a computer. Sitting seems to be
the most uncomfortable position for me. I have tried
a thousand different chairs/balls.

I have had (2) MRI's, the most recent about 2 years
ago. They both showed a small amount of disc degeneration
in both my mid-back and my low back (L5-S1), but
no evidence of any nerve damage or impingement in the
spinal canal - only slight disc protrusion. I spoke with
2 different surgeons, who understandably would not be
willing to perform any surgery on my back given the chances for improvement would be minimal.

I consider myself fortunate, because I still have full function of everything, and I am still fairly active, despite the pain that goes along with everything I do. I absolutely cannot run, but walking is not a problem. Some days, the pain is such that my energy and ability to
cope with the pain leads me directly to the couch when I get home from work.

I am 26 years old, and am concerned that I could have
a very long and difficult road ahead of me if I don't
find a solution soon to my problem.

I have tried a number of pain medications, experimental and such. I have done several weeks of decompression, physical
therapy, chiropractic treatment, accupuncture, selective
nerve block, all with no improvements. I have been to pain management and was thoroughly disgusted with the treatment and assistance I received/didn't receive there.

I need someone to help me find the source of the pain.
I can't tell you how aggravating (yet releiving)it was to see my last MRI. I thought for sure there would be
something there to indicate the origins of my pain.

Does anyone have any suggestions for where I could turn?
I live in Rockford, IL (90 miles from Chicago, 60 miles
from Madison)

~M