Should I see the doctor?

Factual Questions
1

So here’s the thing:

I work for a catering company, not very busy in the Jan-Feb time slot. Plus I had just got my ibook so I was spending 8-10hrs a day on line. I went into work one night and my first task was to lift 6 heavy cases of liquor and carry them to where the bar was being set up. I was aware, when I was done, that I had likely pulled something and I would surely feel it the next day. Indeed, my lower back WAS sore for a day and, as is commonly the case, the muscles in my legs were announcing the workout they’d been given the night before.

I am a 100lb female, 40+ yrs, and it is not uncommon for me to feel the effects of this job on my body the next day. I am quite wiry and the physical nature of the job is part of its appeal to me, so I’m not complaining. I’ve never actually injured myself, more like a good workout. And I don’t hesitate to put things down that are too heavy. The people I work with are most understanding and we always have several strapping young men with us (perk) to do the heavy lifting but it’s a group effort and there is always some lifting.

Anyway, in the next few days, one particular muscle seemed especially sore. So sore it fact, I became distracted and thought that it was a result of sitting in a bad chair at my desk in front of my computer.I’m quite short and tended to sit on one foot. In two days I went through 3 chairs. Now I have a chair which forces me to observe proper posture.

But this injury didn’t seem to get any better. It would appear to be the muscle (excuse my ignorance) which would run from my right hip, deep inside, to my right knee. When I walk it’s okay, but at certain angles it still hurts quite badly. I sort of expected it to have improved a lot more by now. I know it sounds odd, but sometimes it seems to be warm. There is a spot, on the underside of my hip bone (where it protrudes) which is quite sore to the touch.

I’m not an athlete, now am I in particularly good shape, especially at this time of the year, but generally I am quite wiry and usally bounce back from whatever demands I make on my body, no matter how it may groan.

This injury is now about 3 wks old.

Should I go to the doctor, or will she say, “Oh well, go home, it will get better slowly.”?

Thanks for your attention, and any input you might care to share.

Wisdom is the boobie prize,they give you when you’ve been --unwise!

2

I’d go to the doctor—sounds like you might actually have torn something, and might have to be laid up for awhile to actually let it heal.

3

Spines are complicated things that need care. My WAG is that you have the classic symptoms of sciatica, compressing the big nerve bundle that goes to your leg but my diagnosis and four bucks will get you a cup of café au lait.

See your doc and see what’s really going on. Proper treatment can take many forms but oddly bed rest can be the worst thing for a back injury. I hurt my back last year lifting improperly and it really scared me because it was the first time something like that didn’t just get better on its own. X-rays were negative and after delays my doc referred me to a physical therapist that put me on the righteous path to spinal salvation.

4

First, talk to your doctor, but…

Just beware: Doctors have different philosphies with how to go about diagnosing and “treating” back problems. I’d wager you they might find you have minor abnormalities, if you really hurt anything (besides just a pulled muscle!) X-rays typically won’t show much…soft tissue, such as this is, will not appear on X-ray film. You may need to push your doctor for an MRI to find out what’s going on…

(My doctor wanted to send me to neurosuregon over nothing! And, they just like to operate! I said “No! Send me for PT!”

Push for physical therapy! You’d be amazed how well it can help the back recoop! I didn’t believe it could, at first, but wow!

“They’re coming to take me away ha-ha, ho-ho, hee-hee, to the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time… :)” - Napoleon IV

5

Go to an accupuncturist first. They have fixed every muscle/joint problem I have incurred over the last 15 years. Cheaper than a doctor also.

6

Ahem .

NYC IRL III
is on April 15th. Do you have what it takes?

7

My WAG would be that you tore a ligament or something. If you work out, then you must know the names of some good orthopedic specialists (don’t bother with a GP, he may not have the experience to know what you’ve got other than, “Yeah, you tore a ligament”, and it’s depressingly possible that he’ll tell you, “When you get older, you have to expect this sort of thing” and just send you home with a prescription for percodan.) :rolleyes:

Can you claim workmen’s comp for this? Interesting thought…

Other advice: ask questions, ask questions, ask questions. If you don’t understand the answer, ask again until you do understand. Remember, the doctor is not God–he actually works for you, and it’s a free market. Caveat emptor–go to someone else if you aren’t happy with the answer you get.

Do you need me to tell you that there is all kinds of health information on the Internet? Ask Jeeves if he knows anything about whatever the doc says you have (“interstitiary lobal extremities, or Bugs Bunny syndrome”) and see what comes up.

You know more than you think you do. Trust your instincts. Good luck!

8

Amen to that. I’ve gone to an osteopathic physician when I could all my life and was even born in an osteopathic hospital. A D.O. is just as qualified and trained as any M.D. but uses a more holistic approach with somewhat less dependence on medication. It is absolutely not new age medicine or snake oil. Think of it as the best elements of an M.D. and a chiropractor in one professional. Who better to look at your back than a bone doctor?

I dated a woman once who said she had no medical training but was a qualified bone specialist. I wonder what she… uh, never mind.

9

I just read Cecil’s opinion on acupuncture, and although I usually agree with him, my (almost) personal experiences differ with him on this topic. A couple years ago, my SO started to have back problems. BAD back problems. They showed up one day, and by the end of the day he could neither sit nor stand, and was only comfortable when he was hunched over a chair in a sort of a hunchback position. We took him to the ER twice that day - the first time they gave him a shot of Demoral and it did nothing. The second time they gave him an IV that put him out, and that did the trick. They also set up an appointment with a back specialist.

The next day, he got a call from another doctor. It seems that this doctor looked at his chart, and thought he could help him. The back specialist that the ER made an appointment with was a surgeon, and it was likely that this doctor would reccomend surgury. This other guy, Dr. G., was fairly certain he could fix it without surgery.

SO went to see Dr. G, who was a full fledged doctor who happened to be interested in oriental style medicine, including accupuncture. Dr. G. prescribed a mixture of rest, stretching, and accupuncture. Every time SO went in for the accupuncture, he raved about how much it helped. SO had been a BIG skeptic, so I tend to believe him that it helped.

10

I wonder how much of accupuncture is suggestion or placebo effect? There may be no way to test it as with Western medicine as I cannot think of a way to do a double blind accupuncture test.

11

I would have to agree with Jinx. I have a back problems. I would not let them put a needle in your back or do surgery. Your back is sensitive and you need to be careful with what you do to it or what you let others do to it.

12

How many people putting down accupuncture have tried it? I have had a bad rotator cuff (sp?), a hyperextended elbow, a bent-back thumb and a bad knee FIXED by accupuncturists (actually the knee still goes out whenever I move furniture after about 50 trips up and down stairs). Similar to quantum physics, I cannot explain it but I know it works. I cannot see how just wishing or being susceptible or being placeboed could have stopped the pain in my knee or shoulder.

13

I have gotten relief several times by going to a chiropractor.You can usually get an appointment the same day,at least around here. I usually give him two tries and if he hasn’t fixed the problem I go to a MD.
It sounds to me ,untrained as I am, that you have a pulled muscle.
Three weeks is a long time to put up with it.
Are you taking an anti inflamitory,Tylenol Ibuprophin or aspirin?
It’s Funny I just got a postcard from my chiro today. It says “Where have you been?” I just had a hip replaced. Hows that for Irony.

14

Even with my personal experience, I’d like to see some well-documented studies on acupuncture.

I was having migrainish headaches about once a week, no OTC drugs worked, had acupuncture for a couple of moths and the frequency dropped to about once a month. However, I’m not willing to rule out other changes - cutting back on alcohol, conscious stress reduction, etc. And there was one point that hurt so badly with the needle in that I haven’t been back. Now I just grit my teeth, take Imitrex and lie down. (if I’m being good - which I’m not right now. owie)

It seems like some of these techniques have been around long enough that there would be more and better studies available.

As for back injuries, eep, it’s not worth messing with, especially in your line of work. See someone.

Cogita tute

15

a couple of MONTHS, not moths.

Acupuncture for a couple of moths could be a delicate endeavor.

16
  1. Report the injury NOW to your supervisor.
    Do NOT delay. NOW!!!
  2. go to whatever medical professional they send you to, ASAP!
  3. If not happy w/ results of 2, read the above posts ( re alternative medicine) & consider consulting an attorney.
17

At 40+ things are a bit slower to change.

Never take medical advice from the net.

But my guess if you went to the doc he would wrap it up in one of those big ugly light brown strech fabric things you can get at a drug store & tell you to take Advil three times a day for the inflammation.

18

Thank you all for your advice.
I think I will go to my doctor, what the heck, it’s Canada, it’s not going to cost me out of pocket, and better safe than sorry.

And if she says, “You’re a big baby, go home and take some Advil.” I guess I’ll be the one saying, “Oh well”.

I’ll get back to you with the verdict, either way. Thanks again.

Wisdom is the boobie prize,they give you when you’ve been --unwise!