Back pain?
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Back pain?
So it seems that I have hurt my back by trying to move a heavy box on Friday...Since having kids my lower back has become weak. Over the last 4 yrs, I can remember two times I bend down the wrong way and hurt it.Normally a couple of days of rest and motrin and it went away. I never went to the dr for it,because it seemed with care it went away...
Well Friday I bent down to try and lift this box, and immediately hurt my lower back on the left side..It was a different pain. I took some Advil every 4 hrs, and while sitting down it feels ok, just sore. BUT what is diffferent is that if I walk too much, I get a shooting pain down my left leg(stops at the knee).The shooting pain down my leg doesnt happen if Im laying down or sitting. I dont think its enough of an emergency to go to the ER, so will have to wait to call the dr tomorrow.
Anybody have an idea what it could be? Will it go away on its own? We went to Sam's club this morning, and I had to sit down 3 separate times because the pain was shooting down my leg. When I would sit and rest it went away. This is so odd to me.
Any ideas?
Sounds like a nerve is involved for whatever reason. Could be a herniated disk or sciatica. There are a number of stretches you can do to help this. Strengthening your core helps loads with back issues.
THIS stretch helps a lot.
If I can find my back exercise/stretch sheets, I'll scan and email to you.
Hope you feel better. If it continues, you should see a doctor. Shooting pains usually indicate nerve involvement, and *if* it's a herniated disk, you would need to get treatment/therapy before it gets worse.
Definitely sounds like the sciatic nerve - BTDT. Eventually I did have a ruptured disk, but that is not a certain sequelae to what you are experiencing. More likely you have a pinched nerve from muscle strain. I agree totally with Karen, if it continues you must see a doctor.
In the meantime, use an anti-inflammatory pain reliever (Advil is not anti-inflammatory. Motrin, for example, is).
In the meantime, here are some good sites to look at: familydoctor
webmd
The exercises on these sites are of the type my physical therapist had me do for my back. They might not help but they won't do any harm. Start slow - doing 5 at a time or 10 at most, and if the pain gets worse STOP IMMEDIATELY.
Seriously, Jackie, if the pain does not go away within a week to ten days, and especially if it continues down your leg or even stretches further, you must see a good orthopedic doctor or neurologist. If you have a nerve pinch or even possibly a disk that is stressed and bulging, you could be risking permanent nerve damage from the pressure on the sciatic nerve.
In the meantime, anti-inflammatory over-the-counter medications (with food, please, as they can be hard on the stomach sometimes), heat, and don't, don't, don't bend (use your knees) and don't lift anything over 5 pounds. In bed, try sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees - it relieves the stress on the back muscles. When sitting, try putting one foot up on a stool and alternating every half hour or so; same when standing - again, to relieve the stress on the back muscles. Put a firm cushion behind your lower back, at and just below the waist, to give additional support when sitting, and try to stick to straight chairs, not easy chairs or recliners, and definitely not seating that has you slumping and letting your back bend outwards.
Advil is a popular brand of ibuprofen, an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Advil, Motrin, and Alleve are all anti-inflammatory drugs. 
I hope you are feeling better soon! I have had back problems now for 20 years (and 2 unsuccessful surgeries as well) and I wish you a quick recovery, or at least an accurate diagnosis and some relief! {{HUGS}}
Thank you everybody for your advice. Karen, those stretches you posted are some of the ones we do at the gym I belong too...I am going to see how I am doing tomorrow and then go from there.
I dont feel too bad when Im sitting, whether watching tv or computer, just sore. Then, I start walking around for a longer periods and it starts hurting.
I normally am at the gym 5 times a week, but not this week.
I am going to do some stretches before bedtime.
Thanks again everybody.
How's your back???
Thanks for asking. It is getting better. Im able to walk more before feeling that pinching/leg pain. I am still not comfortable with it. Tomorrow will be my day to call the dr. Though I am making progress each day. I am getting frustrated that I am not able to exercise. I was working out 5 times a week at a gyn, machiens, step aerobics, spinning. I know its not good do that now with the soreness in my back. I wouldnt be able to stand a whole class who that pinching in my leg. I just got back on the exercerise track, and hate to be off of it again LOL
Glad you are doing better. Hope the Dr. can figure out a good course of action.
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