Hello. First I would like to introduce myself. My name is John, and I am 16 years old. I realize I am under the normal age of the average frequenter of this website, but as this site was one of the first hits on Google, I thought I would share my problem in hopes of finding some help.
I have no back problems, my family has no history of back problems, I experience no back pain and doctors have told me I have a healthy back. But recently I have noticed a black "strip" along my spine, on my lower back. I took the liberty of taking a picture, the flash prevents from completely seeing it in detail, but you can still tell it is there.
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/f9f5fbf60b.jpg
I honestly have no idea what this is, and have been told many things by friends and family. I have been told I have leaking spinal fluids, I have been told my veins are rubbing against my spine, and I have been told that the way I sit caused my spine to bruise. (I am very flexible and sit in extremely odd positions.)
If anyone could provide any sort of help as to what this problem, (or possible condition) is, and any forms of treatment, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you and have a good night.
i'm pete....good to meet you, first off i'm glad you have no pain. however this disoloration is obviously a concern. must say i've never seen anything like it. if i were to guess i'd say you rolled on floor and bruised vertebrae. why not be safe and check it out with pc doc. hope it's nothing
good luck....pete
Banned from Spine-Health
Welcome to the site.
I totally agee with Pete, get it checked out by your pcp, and do let us know what hey say,,, interesting, and I too haven't seen this before,
I would think if it a bruise, that long, you would have some pain, or know how you got it
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Welcome to Spine Health. I agree with the others, a trip to the doc would be a smart move. I have dealt with spinal fluid leaking and there was never any discoloration. It looks like there are darker bruises in the area where the spinous process probably is, which lends more credence to what Pete is saying that it looks like you rolled on it and bruised it somehow. We aren't doctors, only patients ourselves, so the best thing to do is have a trained professional take a good look for you.
Let us know what you find out. Glad you do not have any pain associated with it.
"C"
"Do or do not. There is not 'try'"
-Yoda
After you find out what it is, let me know because my wife and mother in law have that very same thing going on only it's up and down the the forearm from the back of the elbow to the back part of the wrist. It doesn't bother either of them and we think it's more of a skin discoloration than anything else.
Currently nursing herniated and bulging discs at the L3-L4, L4-L5, and lets not leave out that L5-S1 little devil. Last surgical procedure (discectomy) performed in 1992. Twelve epidurals in the last three years. Foraminal Stenosis at two levels that is getting worse with time. Need an MRI every 6 months. Arthritis throughout the lumbar region. This all began in 1978 and was a result of being a Placekicker for so many years.