i'm having some lower back pain with pain in the left and right butt muscle, and in the hips and pelvic area

Question

I lifted a heavy box and i've had a pain in the sides of my lower back, both sides of the butt area specifically for about 8 weeks, i'm seeing a chiropractor and he recommended stretches, but the pain always comes back even though i do the stretches, it seems as though i pulled a muscle on both sides, and its very stiff and sensitive sometimes in the butt area and in the hips/pelvic area, and they say its a muscle strain, any idea on how long this condition can last or what is the best treatment?some people say use ice instead of heat, is it good to use ice? should i continue with the stretches, or is there any alternative treatment?i'm only 27 and never have been hurt like this ever, please help, i'm in a lot of pain especially if i sit or stand for too long, thanks so much for your help

Answer 1

I will share with you my story, and hope that you can gain insight on it.
I have sciatic pain, it comes and goes. The sciatic nerve is a nerve that may sometimes get pinched by inflammed muscles or stretched muscles. When this gets pinched, you can have pain in your butt, on both sides, and it seems to sometimes wrap around your pelvic and hip area. Mine goes down my left leg and left foot, and my right leg.
I would keep doing the exercises, but if they bring you too much pain as you are doing them, this is a sign that you are not helping the affected painful area.
It could be that you may have had a flare up of sciatic before you lifted the heavy object, and it only helped to make it worse.
The doctor gives me Vicodin for pain. I have been on Prednisone now for a little more than a week. Prednisone really does help you with the pain. It calms down the inflammed tissue and muscles and ligaments, which takes pressure of the pinched sciatic nerve, which initially causes the pain.
I am not saying you have this condition, but I just wanted to share my experience to see if you can relate.
Hope you heal fast...take care of yourself....

Answer 2

This actually sounds very similar to what I have ; Ciatic Nerve Damage. Request an MRI and/or X-Ray from your doctor. The ciatic nerves are the tiny bundles of nerves in your lower back; they can be "jumbled" or "twisted", causing severe pain through your legs, hips, and basically any where else. Physical therapy is usually the best way to go; but because it cannot always be fixed by just that, surgery is another option. I'll be going for surgery as soon as my insurance goes through, seeing how it now effects every limb of my body, and physical therapy only "calmed" it. If ciatic nerve damage is the case, you will be perscribed 2 or 3 different types of medications; mainly for the pain, and muscle relaxers. (Both do wonders!) So yeah, request an MRI or something from your doctor, and see how it goes from there. Goo luck & Get well soon. :]

Answer 3

I certainly sympathize with you! I have degenerative disc disease so know back injury is very painful. First if you haven't had any relief in 8 weeks you really need to seek additional help, and an x-ray at the very least. Hot baths with 1/2 cup of Epsom salt in the water could relax you and help with pain. It would probably help to alternate hot and cold packs for an hour or so. (10-15 minutes each) This will help increase circulation and carry some inflammation away. Hope this helps with your pain, but you really need to see a really good Orthopedist.

Answer 4

I had back trouble for years and found that the results of heavy lifting are often cumulative. You probably lifted a lot of heavy stuff before you did a number on yourself. Get a back x-ray if you can -- maybe things are bad enough that you need an operation. Usually when this type of thing happens you have compressed those pads between the bones of your spine and it takes time for them to expand back to their former shapes. An x-ray would show what is truly wrong.

Answer 5

it sounds as if you may have a pinched nerve. i think that you need a second opinion. hope you get to feeling better, have you tried in type of muscle rub? i suffer with chronic back pain i use muscle rubs ,hot baths,medication prescribed by my doctor. try using heat instead of ice. good luck

Answer 6

I had a similar problem. I went to physical therapy, and it really did wonders for me. Maybe you need alittle more than you can get from a chiropractor.

Answer 7

i think hot baths would be more helpful than ice. you may have a pinched nerve, i would see an actual doctor.

Answer 8

http://www.spine-health.com/topics/cd/sciatica.html