Back Pain:[

On day I handed an associate a piece of sticky note paper, and my back went out. I went to see a chiropractor and I have been fine ever since. Sometimes you need to find someone who actually specializes in certain areas.

Yes, unfortunatley, and it never feels any better. I mean, it will GET better, but you will likely re-injure the site over and over throughout your life. You can try to strengthen your back muscles but not until after this episode. It's probably a nerve that is pinched between inflamed tissue. I swear I can move furniture and be fine, but let me just turn the wrong way and I'm down for a week! Motrin will be your best bet b/c of the anti-inflammitory nature of the drug, but you may need a muscle relaxer AND a stronger pain med...especially if you have little ones and can't afford to be bedridden! You MAY get better results from ice for the first 24 hours, but do whatever feels best. Sometimes ice makes it seem more stiff.

Good luck!...sorry for your pain!

~L.

PS. You have a lot of advice on Motrin dosages, so I'd like to just clear up the *opinions* with fact. You can take 800mg of Ibuprofen every 6 hours...you may experience some increased heartburn, it's hard on your stomach. Don't do it for more than a couple days, but make sure you clear it with your doc, first. Nobody on here knows what else you may be prescribed and what interactions you may have. LN

I'm no dr. But am a massage therapist. I have also seen a chiropracter since I was 7, now 33. It sounds like to me you threw your back out or you have a severe pinched siactic nerve. I chiropracter can fix it with out meds. A dr. will give you meds to ease pain. Depending on where you live I have a good chiropracter. If your interested let me know. Good luck.

You may have a kidney infection. See a doc asap. :)

I have experienced this pain and it turned out to be that my gallbladder was bad - have not had the pain since having the gallbladder out.
I hope you are feeling better soon.
M.

I am shocked that no one has mentioned a chiropractor yet. He would be able to get to the cause to fix it or recommend a medical doctor if the issue was serious. From what it sounds like to me is that you have a pinched nerve and that may or may not be a permanent problem.

There are many people who get unnecessary back surgeries every year because their medical doctors will not recommend them to a chiropractor who could easily fix some issues. I went to the chiropractor when I was pregnant due to a sharp pain in my ribs. No xrays needed for treatment. My chiropractor has a very safe procedure called SEMG to look at your back that does not emit radiation.

Not to mention it was a chiropractor that fixed my bed-wetting when I was 12 years old because my pelvic bone was putting pressure on my bladder. I received immediate result and never wet the bed again. Talk about freedom for a 12 year old!

Anyway, I hope that you are willing consider chiropractic care. If you do look for a chiropractic doctor, be sure to ask his stance on when he would refer you to a medical doctor because every good chiropractor will admit his boundaries for the safety of the patient. Mine is great and I would recommend him, but I don't know where you live.

You may have a herniated or bulging disc. My recommendation is to ice it, or alternate with heat, because heat could inflame it. Ice is best. And lots of rest. I speak from experience. Good luck!!

Hi N.,
You don't say if it is lower back or not or if the pain is relentless. I am quite experienced with "kidney stones" which is severe, unrelenting pain in your lower back, to either side of your spine, obviously in the kidney area; NOTHING takes the pain away-not motrin, not heat, not ice; I had my first one on vacation in Florida when my girls were 3 and 1 and had no clue what it was; I tried walking, I tried laying in the tub, whatever; MORE pain than natural childbirth with no relief. If it does not subside you may want to get to your local emergency room where they can determine the cause.
Hopefully, you just pulled a muscle and time and rest and advil will help!!

I hope that you have just got a muscular pain - the alternative is something like a herniated disc which I had when my little one just turned one too (from carrying him all the time on my right hip). If it is the worst, it could take months of physical therapy to get well - but you will get better. ANyway, at this point, until you know, let's hope it's muscular and put ice on your back (not heat) to reduce the inflammation. Also, keep taking motrin regularly (you can take more than two tablets - three is fine and I actually took four at a time when it was really bad). Good luck - Alison

It could be Gallbladder, and it could be a muscle. Doc may not look at GB unless you mention it. I have had back pain for 25 years in varying severity as well as gall stones. Ice is what you use on a pulled muscle, not heat. Heat causes expansion, cold contraction so for swelling use ice and ibuprofen (Motrin) Also its okay to double dose for a few days, but be sure to take every 4 - 6 hours and don't skip. (Just don't take it for long periods of time, every day) If NO relief come from that, its probably not muscular pain. For GB, cut all meat, dairy, fat of any kind except olive oil, from your diet. Bread, too. Warm lemon water w/ a touch of honey in the morning helps break up the stones. I heard pears and radishes are particularly good. Basically a veggie diet and it should subside, unless your GB is really sick.
If you have strained your back, strengthen your stomach muscles when you're out of pain. Back muscles shouldn't bear all the effort. Hope you get some relief!

This sounds like what I get when I've stressed my back somehow then, when I do something small it spasms and causes that kind of pain and lack of mobility. Heat and rest and gentle stretching are what help me and, if necessary, taking a couple of motrin every 4-6 hours for a few days. It needs to rest and heal. I'm not a medical person but this doesn't sound serious to me if you take care of it.

Hi N.,

You should have your doctor check it out. While all the advice below sounds goods. You may need medical treatment to resolve your issue. The reason I say this is because uf it's gallstones, which I never had you will need treatment. If it's because of a herniated/bulging disc in which I have both along with fibromyalgia, which causes me to gets muscle spasms often which sounds just like you describe. You may want to verify that with a physician to get proper treatment. I know the pain, you need complete rest, heat, physical therapy depending on the extent & pain relievers.

Good luck,
D.

I have alot of back pain and have in the past used a heating pad and i just learned from the chiropractor that heat usually makes it worse, it helps enflame it and that your suppose to use a cold pack so i would try that they told me with my back to use it 25 mintues then off for at least an hour and to do it 3 times a day

I would get to a chiropractor pronto. You very likely pulled a muscle or pinched a nerve.

Chiropractor. Now.

Hi N.,

As long as it is not in the kidney area, which is in your lower back to the side area (which would warrant a tript to the doctor and can be felt suddenly)... then I would say it sounds like you've "popped a rib".

I have had this happen a few times. It is extremely painful, hurts to breath in, hurts to move, hurts to just be still! The only way to make the pain go away is to see a good chiropractor and have them pop it back in. It's quick and you instantly feel relief.

It could also be a pulled muslce ... but my guess is if it was that you would be getting some relief from the Motrin. Oh, and ice works better with pain. It reduces swelling. Swelling causes more irritation and pain.

I know that this question was so long ago, but I still wanted to respond. This exact thing happened to me only I literally couldn't walk for a couple of hours. When I finally was able to get to Urgent Care (I should have called an ambulance) they sent me to the ER and I had herniated a disk. I hope it is better for you by now, but if not and you want to contact me, go ahead and email me.

I have had that twice before and my uncle, a pain doc, prescribed bedrest. I mean complete and utter immobility. After a few days (I know, scarey with kids) it will improve. Once you are fully healed, you will need to exercise to strengthem your transverse abdominal muscles to prevent reinjury. Good luck.