I have some terrible pain in my back, it may be a pinched nerve, what do I do?

Question

I've had some terrible pain in my back for 3 weeks. I went to see my doctor twice and she insisted that it was only some muscle pain which could be relieved by doing some sports, swimming for example. I tried sports but it didn't help. I had my chest X-rayed and it said there was nothing wrong. Then I tried an analgesic rub used by athletes for muscle and joint pain and it worked very well but didn't give me a permanent relief. I suspect that it might be a pinched nerve and I don't know what to do with it.

It usually starts in the afternoon, getting worse and worse before I go to bed.

I am 23 and otherwise I'm functioning very well.

Answer 1

Go to a chiropractor...and soon! If it does have to do with the nerves, then it would be best for you to make an appointment soon, and use liquid ice packs to cool your back...but don't do it for too long. Do twenty minutes on, and then about an hour and a half off....and keep going like that. DO NOT use a heating pad....heating pads are good for muscles, but...with nerves it could increase the pain...wait for a diagnosis from a chiropractor before heating...muscles are good with heating..but not all nerves are. Also, don't overwork your back by trying to lift heavy things...have friends help you. Try to get a lot of bed rest!
Best wishes, and hope your back feels better :)

Answer 2

Hmmmm, it's in your upper back then? What is it about the pain that makes you feel it is a pinched nerve. Is the pain sometimes tingly or burny. The thing is when you pinch a nerve, it makes your muscles tighten up and do all sorts of painful things too -which could be why you keep getting that diagnosis. I have a slightly pinched sciatic nerve (goes from my back to my toes) and that causes muscle spasms and all sorts of pain. They found the bulging discs that are pinching the nerve through a CT scan (not the x-rays), so you may want to consider requesting one. Oh, but your doctor was right about exercising and stretching - it's the exact right thing to do for pinched nerves too. good luck

Answer 3

You don't state your age, or condition. Hard to tell, but if the rub worked to relieve symptoms, it's most likely muscle pain. Keep using the blue stuff.
A pinched nerve will probably show up with tingling, and neural pain in the extremities.
See an orthopedist, or a neurologist if the pain persists another week.

Answer 4

its sounds like a pinched nerve to me ...

my advice to you is: get a heating pad, put it on that spot and let it relax the muscle with heat .. then stretch, and work the muscle out a little bit, but dont over do yourself because you need to relax the muscle. That always worked for me then i got pinched nerves in the martial arts ... although sometimes i had to do it more than once to make it go away for good. Try it, you got nothing to loss.

OH! and get icyhot if that doesnt work! that helps out with pulled muscles! that also works .. it may sting at first but its awesome! and it smells pretty good so you dont have to worry very much about smelling like yicky medicine. Just put it on every night without the heating pad ... ^_^

Hope my advice helped ya out some

Alline.

Answer 5

You're doctor's right - exercise is the key. It'll take about a week for it to work.

I guarantee you a chiropractor with diagnose you with some degree of subluxation, and chiropractic treatment can help, but without exercise, the pain will always come back.

Answer 6

I wonder why the professional sports teams have a doctor of chiropractic on the staff? Can keep the players playing much sooner than other methods of treatment.

Answer 7

Make an appointment with a good chiropractor.

Answer 8

I suffered similarly. A choiropractor cured me. Some doctors dont recommend them. I dont know their reasoning.

Answer 9

See a chiropractor.

Answer 10

Ask your doctor to be referred for physio (physical) therapy....;