how can you get rid of left lowerback pain?

Question

it starts in my left side of my back then it goes down my left leg. i've tried tylenol,ib profin,advil,and all those other pain killers, they work for about 4 hrs then the pain comes back

Answer 1

You are suffering with sciatic pain. It is the nerve root in the lower lumber spine which is causing this pain. Have you had any trauma to your back?
See your Dr. You may get an x-ray done and take antiinflammatories. Try alternative hot/cold pak treatments. May help with the swelling and alleviate the pain.

I'm sorry BMan, I don't know where you get your information from. most people who do have protruded discs suffer with nerve pain. My husband has had 3 back surgeries from herniated discs. His third back surgery was spinal fusion, and yes he has used the heating pad, this worked better than anything for temporary pain relief since all this started 5 years ago.Til this day at the physio treatments they apply heat treatment 2x weekly.

Answer 2

I just went through that exact problem. My pain was very little in my lower back, but for about 3-4 months, I felt a very small "electric shock" feeling running from the top of my left butt cheek down to my left foot. It was very tollerable during that time so I didn't see a doctor. All the sudden, it felt like the "electric shock" was turned way up so I went to my family doctor. Since I had felt the pain for 3-4 months, he set me up to have an MRI - that evening to see if I had a back disk issue. Sure enough, I had a 5mm protruding disk and he suggested a specialist. For about the next 2 weeks, I went through the worst pain I have ever felt-Vicadin would not even stop the pain. I could not hardly move. I went to an orthopedic surgin at the Texas back and neck institute and he did a steroid injection on my spine. It started getting better the next day and each day after. That was about 2 weeks ago and it only hurts now when I walk or stand for a while and it's still getting better. I'm 38 and have never had back issues before. This really caught me off guard. Don't use heat. Use an ice pack. They told me to use one after the shot for the following 2 days for 20 minutes each 2 hours. They also prescribed an anti-inflamitory drug. Advil is also an inti-inflamitory, but lower strength. I also found out that about 80% of people have a protruding disk issue, but most of the time it does not touch the sciatic nerve root, so it never gives them any problems. Unfortunately, when it does touch the nerve, it causes ALL KINDS of problems and pain. Good luck.

Answer 3

It may be a good idea to see your family Chiropractor. He/She is trained in diagnosing and treating the CAUSE of these types of problems. Drugs do not - cannot - treat the cause of biomechanical sources of pain (as you have discovered).

Best wishes and good luck.

Answer 4

sounds like you might have a pinched nerve the way the pain travels down your leg i would see an md

Answer 5

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/pain/treatment/117.html

Answer 6

get a heating pad