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Suggest Treatment For Severe Lower Back Pain
Question: low back pain.. 7 months. no leg or thigh pain. pls help
Brief Answer:
Pain killers and physical therapy, some tests would be advised.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Since the pain is only in the back area and doesn't spread to the limbs I would say it is unlikely to be a case of nerve compression which might require surgery, management is conservative. That means using anti-inflammatory pain killers like Ibuprofen and muscle relaxants like Cyclobenzaprine (for not more than 2 weeks). However it is important those medications are used to alleviate the symptoms, but to help long term improvement and avoid recurrences physical therapy is necessary. It is very important as it strengthens your core muscles thus better supporting your spine.
While isolated back pain without other symptoms is not a sign of something worrying since it has been going on for 7 months I would say that some investigations would be required. Generally for pain persisting for longer than 6 weeks it is advised for an imaging exam to be scheduled. Even a simple x-ray would be useful to exclude issues like fractures, best test would be MRI though. Some routine blood and urine tests to screen for infection would be advised as well.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Pain killers and physical therapy, some tests would be advised.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Since the pain is only in the back area and doesn't spread to the limbs I would say it is unlikely to be a case of nerve compression which might require surgery, management is conservative. That means using anti-inflammatory pain killers like Ibuprofen and muscle relaxants like Cyclobenzaprine (for not more than 2 weeks). However it is important those medications are used to alleviate the symptoms, but to help long term improvement and avoid recurrences physical therapy is necessary. It is very important as it strengthens your core muscles thus better supporting your spine.
While isolated back pain without other symptoms is not a sign of something worrying since it has been going on for 7 months I would say that some investigations would be required. Generally for pain persisting for longer than 6 weeks it is advised for an imaging exam to be scheduled. Even a simple x-ray would be useful to exclude issues like fractures, best test would be MRI though. Some routine blood and urine tests to screen for infection would be advised as well.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Did not fall anywhere ... I did planks for over 2 mins and from that period is when I started getting pain... was also doing a bit of yoga from YouTube.. maybe did something wrong and hence this issue..
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information. The circumstances it has started are reassuring in the sense that it makes some rare but serious causes such as infections, tumors etc unlikely, it looks indeed to be a problem of the joints and muscles of the lumbar spine. So in terms of management it remains the same as previously suggested, pain killers, muscle relaxants and physical therapy.
I still would suggest imaging given the long persistence of the symptoms, but most probably it will come back normal.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information. The circumstances it has started are reassuring in the sense that it makes some rare but serious causes such as infections, tumors etc unlikely, it looks indeed to be a problem of the joints and muscles of the lumbar spine. So in terms of management it remains the same as previously suggested, pain killers, muscle relaxants and physical therapy.
I still would suggest imaging given the long persistence of the symptoms, but most probably it will come back normal.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
do u suggest any therapies or xcersise? my muscles are very stiff.. gets locked often
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
A set of exercises which is popular for back issues would be the XXXXXXX exercises (you can google them, will easily find some schemes). Of course exercising under a physical therapist would be even better as would guide you through more tailored exercises to your case, assessing what you can or cannot do and guiding you through the proper technique. As for the muscle stiffness, muscle spasms are common in back pain, that is why I advised a muscle relaxer like Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril).
I hope to have been of help.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
A set of exercises which is popular for back issues would be the XXXXXXX exercises (you can google them, will easily find some schemes). Of course exercising under a physical therapist would be even better as would guide you through more tailored exercises to your case, assessing what you can or cannot do and guiding you through the proper technique. As for the muscle stiffness, muscle spasms are common in back pain, that is why I advised a muscle relaxer like Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril).
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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