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Suggest Treatment For Pain In My Lower Right Back Inspite Of Sitting For Long Time And Working In Standing

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Posted on Tue, 1 Apr 2014
Question: Hello. I have been having a lot of pain in my lower right back It's towards the bottom and it sometimes radiates to the top and around the side. I don't recall injuring it. There is no visible lumps and I don't feel any when I rub my back. My job is a barista (starbucks) so it's not that labor intensive. I'm 23 and I have had this pain since I was 21. I've gone to the doctor for it. She diagnosed it as a muscle spasm. She gave me muscle relaxers and all they do is make me go to sleep. The pain feels like an intense dull pain. It's always in the lower right back and it gravitates around. Lately I have been treating it with ibuprofen and icy hot. Every morning after a hot shower, I take 800mg of ibuprofen and rub icyhot on my back. This usually helps, but I don't want to be dependent on this for the rest of my life. I have tried doing stretches daily and it doesn't seem to help. I am wondering if this is something muscular or something to do with an organ. About a month ago, when I woke up the pain was extremely intense. It hurt to take in deep breaths.I know it's not a kidney stone; I have had those and I will explain my kidney stone story in the next paragraph. When the pain was intense, I took medicines, rubbed icy hot on my back, and layed on a heating pad until I had to go to work. After work, I was able to see a chiropractor to see if it was something in my back. She thought it may have been a rib problem due to problems breathing. Exactly a year ago, I went to the ER for a kidney stone. Again on my right side, I had a sharp pain in one spot. The pain didn't radiate, it just felt like someone had stabbed me in the side. Scared, I went to the ER and they diagnosed it as a small kidney stone. I didn't need any medication, as it was so little it passed naturally. Since then I have been very cautious to keep myself hydrated. They are not sure what caused it. I don't have a history of kidney stones in my family and I watch my salt in take. I watch my alcohol intake as well. I have a drink -maybe- once every 3 weeks. A few months ago, I woke up with a headache. Since it was my day off, I tried to sleep it off. That didn't happen, and I ended up throwing up. I'm not sure what made me through up, but as soon as I did, I had an excruciating pain in my side. My boyfriend brought me icy hot and I took a Percocet. I'm not sure if this has something to do with what is going on right now. I have no major medical problems. I am not allergic to anything. My body type is average. I had my tonsils removed about a year ago and had no complications from that. I visited my doctor and told her my back has still been hurting. She suggested stretches and told me taking ibuprofen isn't that bad. Again, if there is something I can do to fix this I would rather do that than be dependent on pills. She prescribed me Tramadol, but I don't like taking it because I wake up every hour. I told her about my kidney stones and she had me do a urine sample. There was blood in my urine, but I was menstruating at the time so that may have been the cause. As of Saturday, I dropped off another urine sample and I am waiting for my results. Thank you again for taking the time to read this. I am not sure what I should do if my urine test results come back clear.
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Answered by Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (28 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Take x ray spine or if required MRI spine. Detailed Answer: Hello, I have studied your case. Most probable reason for your symptoms could be postural problem as you may be sitting for long time and working in standing. When such patient comes to my hospital we usually take x ray spine or if required MRI spine to see for any nerve compression. Medication like methylcobalamine with muscle relaxant and analgesic will reduce pain; you can take them consulting your treating doctor. You may consult physiotherapist for further guidance. He may start TENS, or ultrasound which is helpful in your case. Some life style modifications to prevent pain– Take break every 40 min from work and do some lumbar rotation, stretches, walk and get back to work. Sit with taking support to your back. I will advise to check your vit B12 and vit D3 level. Diffuse back pain can be due to kidney stone, you may need to do USG abdomen and pelvis. If pain is originating from sacrum bone [base of spine] that can be due to injury from sitting on bike or during sexual activity. Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries. Take care.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Practicing since :1998

Answered : 5164 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Pain In My Lower Right Back Inspite Of Sitting For Long Time And Working In Standing

Brief Answer: Take x ray spine or if required MRI spine. Detailed Answer: Hello, I have studied your case. Most probable reason for your symptoms could be postural problem as you may be sitting for long time and working in standing. When such patient comes to my hospital we usually take x ray spine or if required MRI spine to see for any nerve compression. Medication like methylcobalamine with muscle relaxant and analgesic will reduce pain; you can take them consulting your treating doctor. You may consult physiotherapist for further guidance. He may start TENS, or ultrasound which is helpful in your case. Some life style modifications to prevent pain– Take break every 40 min from work and do some lumbar rotation, stretches, walk and get back to work. Sit with taking support to your back. I will advise to check your vit B12 and vit D3 level. Diffuse back pain can be due to kidney stone, you may need to do USG abdomen and pelvis. If pain is originating from sacrum bone [base of spine] that can be due to injury from sitting on bike or during sexual activity. Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries. Take care.