Re: I strained my back - OUCH

"MiamiCuse" wrote

My lower back hurts like hell.

We arent MD's as you know but I've seen 2 good posts with advice, both
valid. I will add a bit here.

I don't know if it's a strain, or I pulled something. The pain is in the
lower back. It's real painful when I try to get up, or sit down, or lay
down, or lean over to reach something low. Once I am in a fixed position
there is no pain, it's when I try to change position.

So moving hurts, but not staying still? That to me means you have a
muscular strain, possibly fairly bad, but no real 'damage'. Worse ones hurt
and the muscles go into spasms when sitting quietly.

I got some BENGAY and applied that to my back last night, no improvements.

It takes longer, also normally you want something a bit cold (I use a
treatment called 'icy-hot' which stimulates blood flow a bit to the area but
feels cool and wierdly a little warming at the same time. Similar to
bengay, but not the same.

Those products do not truely 'heal' but make it more comfortable for a bit.

So I went to bed early last night and this morning when I woke up the pain
is still there when I tried to get up, although not as intense. I remember
having muscle ache before when I did hard physical work, but usually the
next day when I woke up I am ok. Not this time. I still have trouble
getting up and sitting down, or bend over my upper body to wash my face or
brush my teeth.

Smile, the smart answer is don't do things that hurt for a bit. Ease
yourself up and dont lean over too far when brushing teeth or washing face
(Not required, brace with other arm when needed to with toothbrushing etc
for that littler lean).

This doesnt take several weeks to get over if it's just strained muscles.
However, you can easily *re-strain* them again is you push it too early and
a re-strained muscle not fully healed and in the back, can cause fairly
unpleasant things later.

If strained muscles, you will feel almost picture perfect in 4-5 days,
possibly 7 if worse strained than you think. If at 7 days you feel the same
pretty much, you need to see a Doctor. In the interum, do not lift over 25
lbs or so (and not even that if you have a choice) and dont do anything that
requires you 'twist and lift' at all no matter how light the object. Its
just a week, you can work with that.

I am wondering if it's possible to tell whether I over strained my muscles
or pulled something. If I need to go see a doctor what kind should I go
see?

You didnt list pains down the leg or any tingling/numbness in the foot, nor
do you appear to have spasms in the back (or it would hurt even resting).
If you do however have any of that, see a Doc now please. Also, *not* a
Chiropracter before a Doc if tingling and numbness of foot or leg.

Also will any medication help with this? I already tried BENGAY and that
gave me some mild cooling sensation and did not really do anything
constructive.

Smile time.

Should I lay down and let it heal or is there something I can do to help
it along? Should I stretch a little?

Time and relax as much as possible but best to move about as well. Say, sit
50 watching TV then putter about 10 mins, then rest again. That would be
best. I wouldnt try to stretch at all.

I know this is not a medical group but I thought this may be a common
occurrence with DIYers I might ask here for practical information.

No problem. A few OT posts to help our fellows out isnt a bad thing.

My own experience in this is *not* the same as yours. I have fairly severe
back problems with 3 herniated discs and 2 more now 'nominal'. You seem to
have muscle strain but here's one warning too: If you have numbness in the
groin developing then start to have trouble urinating, go the the emergency
room NOW. There is a particular type of disc damage in lower back that
requires immediate surgery or it can be very dangerous with a life
expectancy measured in hours if not treated. I mention that just as a
precaution as I'd hazard a chance of that and what you have relayed to be
about zero ;-) But if you've been guy-shy on listing a symptom or 2....
Dont wait til morning. Go NOW.


.

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