Pain in bottom or right side of back?

Question

My mom has had a constant pain in the bottom right side of her back ever since she had a field service job (where she drove a lot) about 20 years ago. Driving and sitting for long periods of time make it worse. Has anyone had this or know what it could be?

The pain runs down her thigh and leg

Answer 1

could be a pinched nerve or could be kidney dammage.

Answer 2

Sounds like Sciatic Nerve pain. It is common in people who sit alot, drive, do heavy lifting and during pregnancy. The best things to do is take muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatory medication. (such as motrin, advil, ibuprofen) Maybe even see a Chiropractor and or have a massage done to relieve some of the stress to the area.

If she is still driving, she could get a tennis ball, while she is sitting and driving, place it on the side that hurts (while she drives around) this will continually apply pressure to the area. It's like having accupressure for free. Of course taking medication and applying cool and hot compresses helps. She can alternate, cold and hot every 15-20 minutes.

I just had the same thing. It's awful, getting up, walking, sitting down. The pain does radiate down the leg. The longer it goes unattended the more painful it will get.

If this doesn't help, make sure she see's a doctor as this could be a sign of other things. Such as Osteoporosis, which can cause fractures of the spine and compress nerves.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

See a chiropractor to make sure things are where they belong, as well as a massage therapist to loosen the muscles.
Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.

Answer 4

Sounds like her back is out of alignment, which often results in pinched nerves and a lot of pain. Staying in any one position for a long period tends to agrivate a back problem. I have had several back injuries from nursing and have found chiropracters to be very helpful when it gets bad. There are times when I can not stand up straight and I have even been to where I was unable to get myself up off of the toilet due to the severe pain. Often one or two visits will get me back to standing up staight and not hurting so much. A regular doctor can give you pain medications that may help lessen the pain, but that does not improve the condition. A couple of adjustments by the chiropracter can help for several months.

Answer 5

Pain Killers can just give temporary relief and not cure.

I Know people taking medication for years without any relief.

Similar pain that I had in my back running down to my left hand (with numbness) was cured by a simple stretching exercise.

The same could not be cured by a neuro specialist who advised me to learn to live with it.

Find a good physiotherapist who can suggest you a good stretching exercise.

I dont know how far you can understand if I suggest a few.

1. Keep your leg on a table and try to touch the knee with your fore head. Bend slowly and try to hold in position for 30 seconds. Try to repeat at least 10 times for each leg. (Dont bend your knee which is on table. Dont apply jerking force). You should feel the stretch at the back of your leg on the table if you are doing it correctly.

2. Sit on the floor. Bend one leg such that the bent knee is just before you(Knee pointing the direction you are facing. Stretch the other leg straight behind you. You must be applying more weight on your bent leg. Stay in this position for atleast 45 seconds. Repeat with the other leg. Do atleast 5 repetitions for each leg. If you are doing this exercise correctly you should experience stretch in the buttocks of the bent leg.

Please forgive me if I am suggesting exercises that are too complicated for your age and ability.

Answer 6

It could be periformis syndrome. It gets irritated by a lot of sitting. One very helpful thing for me was learning how to do some stretches from a physical therapist who taught exercies with one of those big balls.

Answer 7

Sciatic nerve pain. Does it ever run down her leg?

Answer 8

it sounds to me like it is deteriating of the spine my grandma has it and she has pain in her lower back and takes pains down her leg.