Sudden lower back pain?

Question

In Tesco's today and my lower back "clicked". Since then I have been in a lot of pain. Can hardly walk and in extreme pain when I try to lift legs (i.e. to get into bed). Painkillers had no effect. Can anyone offer any advice? I never suffered with back problems before.

Answer 1

Ouch, poor you. After 5 lots of spinal surgery and a permanently stuffed up back, I sympathise.

It does sound like you might have strained your back and a muscle has gone into spasm as a result - horrifically painful, but it will subside over the next couple of days if so.

If it is excrutiating, you'll have little option but to find a comfortable position and stay there for a while, however, don't be tempted to 'rest' it for too long - whatever the cause of the pain, most back conditions will improve more rapidly with mobility and use.

Unfortunately, OTC painkillers won't really touch severe back pain. If it continues, go to your GP who will pescribe you something stronger. In the meantime, try a bag of frozen peas or an ice pack, alternated every 10 mins with a warm hot water bottle, it really does help.

Just one other thing, if you have any numbness or loss of sensation around your bum or thighs please, please seek medical attention as a matter of urgency.

Good luck....

Answer 2

Check here a very effective sciatica natural treatment http://cure-sciatica.info
Normally, I would not answer a question like this as my expertise is generally in medication but I had severe sciatica while I was pregnant with my 3rd child (after having had twins) and I had sciatica so bad that I was finding it difficult to walk. I tried massage therapy and physical therapy and could not take medication
I went to the chiropractor and the pain was instantly relieved. My hips and lower back were out of alignment because I had carried twins the year before. On occasion a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) can also work but they usually only work on one joint at a time - the chiropractor will do your whole back which works faster. Anyone who does not believe in chiropractors will tell you they are quacks - don't listen.
I don't necessarily believe that chiropractors can cure things like diabetes but they can definitely relieve some types of back pain especially if a pinched nerve is involved which is usually the cause of sciatica.

Answer 3

This happens to my Daughter and my Husband. I would first suggest the Chiropractor. That should correct it promptly.

The longer the nerve is pinched the longer it will take to correct it.

This is a simple home solution. Lay on the floor with your calves resting on the coffee table or a foot stool. Stay this way for at least a half an hour. It opens up the vertebrae and frees up the nerve.

Try to sleep in this position in bed tonight. Use a couple of thick sofa cushions to keep your legs up in the L position.

Sit only on Hard seated chairs. The soft cushions will let it pinch again. Put something hard (like a square board with a towel or something in the car seat to drive. The car seat can contribute to this problem.

Good Luck.

Answer 4

Was there a pain or a snap in her back? Did she turn or twist in an odd way? Or bend over? Usually for pain to come on that fast and in that way, I would expect that she pinched a nerve in her lower spine around the L4 disc. The pain down both legs would be the sciatica nerve. She should have immediately been immobilized. Have her remain on her back and elevate her legs by putting pillows under her knees. If it has been a few days at this stage putting heat under her back will help. I suggest doing this. Get a small towel, wet it and wring it out thoroughly. Heat it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Put it in a plastic bag so it won't get her back wet and have her lie on that heat. It will relax her muscles and bring relief. She must stay off it and be very careful how she moves or she will continually reinjure it. In the hospital they may put her in traction which keeps the muscles pulled and stretched so they don't contract and continue to pinch the nerve she injured. The pain is from that pinched nerve. I would still bring her to hospital and get her looked at (possibly an MRI or CT scan) to make sure nothing else is going on. It will be a while before she feels better. She may even have a herniated disc but even that will heal itself. (Been there too.) I've had back problems for a long time and one wrong move and you can throw it out very easily. Maybe she was sitting on a hard surface for too long. Carrying heavy loads on your back for years isn't good for your spine either. Stop these problems when your kids are young. They said that young people will develop back problems from carrying such heavy bags on their backs and it's true. You should sit in ergonomically appropriate chairs for your back. You need the lumbar support especially. I can't sit on hard surfaces it aggrevates my ack. It had to be soft and I have to have the back support behind the small of my back. I also suggest buying a lumbar back support belt while she is healing to keep her back immobilized (and it holds the warmth too which helps). There are exercises she can do gently like lying on her back and bringing her knees to her chest gently, but do these when she is feeling better and don't force it, slow and gentle. Anti-inflammatories will help the nerve heal so Ibuprofen if you have any around or the doc will likely prescribe something.

Answer 5

I did this a while back. I could bear weight on my legs, but couldn't lift them - I'd never known anything so painful.
You have 'slipped' a disk, and have sciatica.
It sounds also as if your muscles have gone into spasm. The only thing that helped me was a morphine injection, which relaxed the muscles.
Do NOT go to a chiropractor until you've seen your GP. They should only really be used for something that's been there a while, or certainly that's what my GP advised.

Answer 6

Sounds like a herniated disc. Rest and take ibuprofen if you can. Then see a Dr soon as you are up and about. Do you have any tingling any where? Or pins and needles sensation? If so call a Dr out soon as you can.

Answer 7

Could be spinal related. I recommend visiting your local chiropractic physician as they have the best training for spinal problems. In the mean time try icing the back 15 minutes every hour until you get some releif.

Answer 8

Strictly on bed which should not be very soft (harder the better), except to go for toilet, maybe.
Painrelievers.
Visit to hospital ASAP. If it is simply a strain, you will be alright soon. But don't take chances.
Good luck!

Answer 9

go to a chiropractor theyre so awesome. Theyll like crack your entire body and it feels so good. i think health insurance covers it- maybe even you could get massages through health insurance? i think it should be ivestigated by someone. maybe a private I ! But yea its your back not your eyes that hurt.
long story short chiropractor=solution

Answer 10

you popped your joint(that part is fairly obvious)but the pain stayed. i had a similar problem,but only for a day.rest as much as possibly,get lots of viatamin b and use a heating pad...good luck!