Please...can someone help with advice concerning lower back pain?

Question

Hello.

Four days ago, my husband and I were moving some furniture (really heavy pieces) and because my husband already has a serious back problem (Cauda Equina syndrome) I took on the brunt of the grunt work. Now I am hurt really, really really bad. The pain is in my lower back just above my waist and it radiates down to my rear and just short of my thigh. The pain is constant and sharp. The portion just above the waist is incredibly painful even to the touch and if I stand or sit a certain way, it gets worse, like someone is stabbing me with an electric dagger.

I've tried: motrin, tylenol and a few of my husband's muscle relaxers (meloxicam) and no releif. Hot/cold packs help momentarily only. I can't even sleep unless I am propped up in a contorted sitting position with pillows. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and I am very afraid I have permanently messed up my back.

What can I do? What can I expect the doctor to do to help me? Can I get Xrays done about this?

Answer 1

You've got exactly what I just got over. What you have is a form of sciatica. You are going to need chiropractic treatment. When you get your x-rays done, it will most likely show either a compressed disk, or one of your bottom vertebrae not sitting right, causing foraminal narrowing of one of the lumbar vertebrae, most likely L1 or L2. What happened is one of your vertebrae shifted. The spinal cord runs through the middle of the vertebrae. Between the vertebrae, on both sides is a space called the foramen. This is where the nerve root exits your spinal column on it's way to branch out to the limbs. When the vertebrae shifted, it narrowed the foramenal space between the vertebrae, which either pinched or rubbed raw one of the nerve roots exiting the foramen. As you move, the nerve rubs against the bone, making it raw, and sending impulses to your brain that it interprets as pain. I developed this over the summer when I jumped off a trailer and didn't land right, my legs didn't bend and the shock of the landing went all the way to the top of my head. This shifted my L1 vertebrae, allowing the bone to rub my L1 nerve to my left leg. What I felt first was classic sciatic pain, pain in the lower back radiating down one leg. It went away, but a month later I began having pain attacks, it felt like someone was scraping the inside of my left shin bone with a chisel electrified with 10000 volts. Extremely debilitating pain, with no pattern. Sitting, standing, laying down, it would come suddenly without warning for anywhere up to 30 seconds (an eternity), then go away like nothing was ever wrong. I saw a chiropractor a couple of times, he adjusted me, with no immediate improvement. My job prevented me from making the rest of the recommended visits (a dozen to start). Eventually it went away on it's own, but I know if I do anything strenuous, or land funny from a jump again, it'll come back with a vengeance. See your chiropractor, he'll be able to fix you up. He'll take x-rays, discuss your options, then begin the realignment process. He'll recommend keeping a diary of the pain attacks, possibly a muscle relaxer and an anti-inflammatory drug such as Ibuprofen or aspirin to reduce nerve inflammation, and may prescribe a stronger painkiller on request (I couldn't have one, I drive for a living). It will go away eventually, but you'll pray for death to come before it does. Just stick it out.

Answer 2

I have kind of the same thing, although it hapened differently it involved heavy weight and jerking motion. I went to the dr. had x-rays which didnt show anything wrong. It was only years later that I reinjured it and ended up having to get a catscan, which showed that I had a cracked,but not broken vertabrae! The original injury was almost 15 yrs. ago. To this day I have to be careful but am still able to do pretty much what I want. When you start to feel sore in the back, stop! It's not worth it. I do not have to take any kind of pain meds or muscle relaxers, they dont help anyway. The only thing that helps me is corticosteroids. These are not the same as the baseball player steroids. Your doc will NOT give you these on a permanent basis, only about a 7 day suply at a time and then only maybe 2 or 3 times a year, as they seek out and destroy inflamation. If the xrays dont show anything maybe ask for a CT scan. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Please...can someone help with advice concerning lower back pain?
Hello.

Four days ago, my husband and I were moving some furniture (really heavy pieces) and because my husband already has a serious back problem (Cauda Equina syndrome) I took on the brunt of the grunt work. Now I am hurt really, really really bad. The pain is in my lower back just above my...

Answer 4

I am a nurse aide by profession and spend my entire day lifting people. I have hurt my back several times. It sounds like you could have a herniated disk or pulled a ligament. The doctor WILL do x-rays. Each time I hurt my back I got x-rays. He'll also probably prescribe flexoril (a muscle relaxer) and motrin 800 mg. He will also probably give you a set of exercises to do once the healing process has begun. I hate to say it, but once you hurt your back it's usually forever. It won't be constant, but pain from a prior back injury comes and goes all the time (usually). This is just from personal experience. Keep yourself comfortable until your appointment. If it gets to be unbearable I would go to urgent care (NOT the ER). Have someone drive you. Good luck and I hope you feel better!

Answer 5

back problems can be verry serious! I am 17 and i slipped and fell in the kitchen a little over a year ago. I waited 6 months till i went to the doctor. BIG mistake! Turns out i have screwed up my back 4 life and if i would of went in right away they could of fixed it with a few trips to a chiropractor. Any time i stand for long lift heavy things or am really active 4 long it hurts more than any one could imagine..... quite like what your pain sounded like. Its a good thing your going right away.

Answer 6

You need to set up an appointment to see your doctor asap so he can get the proper test and e-rays. Sounds like you did too much and may have a pulled muscle or pinched nerve. Good Luck and next time call some strong friends to help out. Take care!

Answer 7

I have had intermittent back pain for years from sleepng on a ship in the Navy and various tasks and jobs. I have been to doctors and chiropractors and the best help I ever got was going to a therapeutic massage therapist.

This is not a regular masseuse. What they do doesn NOT feel "good" while they are doing it, but when you get up from the table, you can walk upright and free from pain. A few visits and your back will be as good as new.

They will recommend specific strecthing exercises depending on the type and location of your injury.

I have one I see from time to time in Dallas and she is very knowledgable, professional and leaves me able to stand and walk straight right out of her office.

Answer 8

Medical treatment options are useful in certain persons, depending on the underlying cause of the cauda equina syndrome. Anti-inflammatory agents, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and corticosteroids, such as methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol, Depo-Medrol), can be effective in persons with inflammatory processes, including ankylosing spondylitis. In rare cases, such as metastatic disease, a focal/local radiation can be considered, especially if surgery is too risky or contraindicated.

Persons with cauda equina syndrome secondary to infectious causes should receive appropriate antibiotic therapy. Persons with spinal neoplasms should be evaluated for the suitability of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Caution should be used in any medical management of cauda equina syndrome. Any person with true cauda equina syndrome with symptoms of saddle anesthesia and/or bilateral lower extremity weakness or loss of bowel or bladder control should wait no more than 24 hours before seeking initial medical management. If no relief of symptoms is achieved during this period, immediate surgical decompression is necessary to minimize the chances of permanent neurologic injury

Answer 9

You don't need xrays because you have a muscle problem. You need to switch between hot and cold compress and continue to use motrin. If after a few days it continues then you need to see a doctor for something stronger.
Then you need to work on your abs as they are the muscles that support your back.

Answer 10

make sure that you see the dorctors and get xrays deffiantly when i got hurt i made sure because you never know you could of pulled something heres a tip for sleeping put aa pilow under your legs and have them bnt and have a good pillow under your neck and back to keep the pressure off and i hope you figures out whats wrong i hope i helped a little and remmber doctors dont always no whats wrong so they will try to say pretty much your crazy so dont except that answer