I have a very sharp pain in my lower back, off to the left, for which I am visiting a chiropracter tomorrow morning. It’s been bothering me for the last 2-3 days. I am unable to bend over, sit, or walk comfortably, and standing only temporarily eases the pain. In fact, it took me around 30 minutes to get dressed this morning because I couldn’t put on my socks, and had a hard time reaching down to pull up my pants. (Yeah, it’s funny now, but not when it feels like you’re being stabbed while trying to do it…)
I’ve been taking Advil, but it doesn’t seem to work. I’ve tried stretching the muscles in my lower back, but that only sharpens the pain. I don’t recall wrenching my back in any way recently. Hot showers didn’t bring much relief either.
Is there anything I can do to minimize the pain until I see the Dr. tomorrow?
I’ve got lower back problems, but I’ve also had a kidney infection.
If it’s on one side, is that painful, and isn’t responding to pain meds, then see a doctor ASAP! Kidney infections are nothing to screw around with, because they can lead to all sorts of problems.
Would a kidney infection explain why my pee smells funny? Not that I stand there and smell it, but I thought it was just all the coffee I’ve been drinking…
Would a kidney infection explain why my pee smells funny? Not that I stand there and smell it, but I thought it was just all the coffee I’ve been drinking.
I’ve been there. I’ve hurt my back several times. The last time I was out of work for a week. Not being able to put your own socks on sucks. It’d take about 30 steps to get to walking normal after standing up. What you have sounds muscular to me.
I went to physical therapy, they got me on a strengthening and stretching program. Since doing the strength training and stretching, I haven’t had a problem…even doing heavy squats and deadlifts without a lifting belt. It’s been well over two years now. I previously had had back pain for several years until the point where I messed it up good enough to warrant PT.
Try this…When sitting in a chair raise one of your legs…how far up did you get? this test looks at how tight your hamstrings are. Tight hamstrings “pull” on the back muscle and make it more apt to getting hurt.
As explained to me, your lower back muscles are really part of muscle systems that involve the abs and legs. What you want to do is strengthen them and stretch them. It takes two full minutes to completely relax a muscle via stretching. You can’t do any of this until your current condition improves.
I’d go to the doctor. What sucks about back problems is so many people fake them to get out of work or get prescription pain killers, you’ll get lumped in with them until they realize you aren’t faking. They’ll give you a prescription for a muscle relaxer, a pain killer, an and anti-inflamatory. They gave me a shot of demeral right there. I recommend skellaxen (sp) for the pain killer because it doesn’t mess you up like flexerall and others do…you can still drive a car and that sort of thing.
If your urine is dark and smells stronger than normal, it’s not the coffee. Your kidney could be infected or you have a kidney stone that is not passing properly.
Are you running a fever? Even if it’s slight, you need to get to the doctor today, not tomorrow. This is why we have emergency rooms!
Ok scared me there - I had a honking kidney stone have to be removed last year, and I didn’t realize it was kidney pain until I called my allergist and he yelled at me to get to the emergency room. I tend to be a bit dense.
But here is a good site for information…Linkety Link (I really like the encyclopedia at this site.)
Saw my physician today, rather than the chiropractor. It’s not a kidney infection. The PA said the pain was muscle spasms. She gave me an Rx for Naproxen and Flexil.
BTW…Naproxen is Aleve over the counter. Naproxen Sodium is the actual drug name if you want a generic version. Depending on your co-pay, it may be cheaper to buy it over the counter and take the dosage on your prescription.
My prescription plan is kind shitty. It’s good for some things, sucks for others. I’ll go shopping at my in-laws tonight. I think my father in law buys alleve by the bushel. He won’t mind spotting me some.
As for the muscle relaxer, I’m not sure what that’ll run me. Jack Daniels Hard Cola is $10 a case, though. That’ll relax the ol’ muscles;) .
I know prescriptions vary, but can someone ballpark the cost for me?
My chronic back pain has been controlled by naproxen for years now. When the pain starts, I start with 500mg twice a day, taken with food. It clears up in a few days.
The muscle relaxant, more of a knock-out pill, stays in the bottle.
My understanding is that some nerve gets inflammed and hurts a lot. Naproxen helps the inflammation and the nerve begins to heal.
[sup]Welcome to the club! The older you get the more likely this is to happen.[/sup][/ul]