sudden lower back pain

Reverse your age by 20 years

Could be sciatica. Happened to me once and I thought I got shot.

It does go away in a few days and the more you move the less atrophied it gets, so try to keep moving.

Does the pain radiate down your leg?

it is just centered in the lower (center portion) of my back.

Time for chiropractic care. It does help.

I'm taking Tramadol for it and I will take a long Epsom salt bath this morning.

Welcome to Old Age. Its the first sign. Get used to it.

But to answer your question, all you can do is rest off your feet, for a few days, then massage. Basically your back muscles are too weak to support your upper body. The long term solution after you feel better is develop your core. That means lots of sit ups, crunches and stomach exercises with weights. That will keep you from putting stress on your lower back muscles. It works, havnet had another epasode since I have been doing core work 3 to 4 times a week.

Everyone has a different theory, and a different therapy. For me, chiropractic only made things worse. Acupuncture, however, was terrific, as was therapeutic massage. And most of all, keep moving your back -- the one thing people seem to agree on is that movement is important.

Double up on your PrEP dose. That may help.

I'm 45

Yup. Welcome to middle age my friend.

Well jump on in, the water is fine.

try a heating pad

r11, i have one. I'll get it out today and lie on it.

I never understood people's "back pain" complaints until I caused a similar result to OP's. It happened while pulling too hard on a deep-rooted vine in the garden. The pain went away after a couple weeks. But excruciating is the correct word. I have gained empathy for back pain sufferers, it truly is the worst.

As R2 posted, could be the sciatic nerve/sciatica which runs across the lower back at the top of your butt. Sciatic pain is often caused by stress. As R11 recommended, heat - either heating pad or wheat-filled heat bags - on the area will reduce the pain with time. Apply heat, lie quietly, breathe deeply, listen to quiet jazz, e.g., Coltraine, or classical music.

Testicular cancer

Ice , then heat. Repeat.

I’m 46. I’ve been very healthy and exercise regularly. Never had back pain. Two months ago I was doing a squat with only a 10 pound ball and I heard a “pop” in my lower back. I threw my back out. Because I’ve been in good shape, I was puzzled why this happened. I had previously read one of Dr. John Sarno’s books on the mind body connection. If you’re open to this theory, it may help. In a nutshell, back pain is a manifestation of unconscious rage and it seeks a weak point in the body for release. The past year and a half, in my life, has been stressful due to a failing relationship with my brother and father. It’s been emotionally challenging and I did begin to feel tightness, or less flexibility in my lower back prior to injury. I remembered Dr. Sarno’s book and found his lectures and interviews online. I had to review the material, but I think it did help. I also have to consciously tell my brain to release anger and tension through my breath. I also did take it easy for two weeks. I walked instead of working out. I iced my lower back and took an anti-inflammatory and meditated on health and expelling anger from my physical body consciously.

Some people think he’s a quack. But if you’re open to the idea, his lectures could be helpful to you.

Ordinarily back pain in your 40s can be a manifestation of years of not lifting properly and overdoing it in your youth.

I’m not referring to you, r17, or generally people who have frequently gone to the gym, as they usually know how to lift using their legs; I’m referring more to manual laborers and the like. Sort of like a repetitive motion injury that, over time, takes its toll.

Stretch Stretch Stretch Yoga

R17, it sounds as if the ice and anti-inflammatory are the reasons your back is doing better, not the advice from a quack.

OP, have you looked into a televangelist? I hear they can cure everything.

Rub essential lavender oil directly on the area the smell is quite strong but it helps with any kind of pain.

Heat and stretching. When you’re better, focus on core-strengthening exercises. Welcome to aging, OP. It’s truly all downhill from here.

I am someone who hates to be bothered going to the doctor but when this happened to me I went to an orthopedic man - mostly because a friend who went through the same thing urged me to go her doctor. He knew what it was immediately - gave me some pain killers and a week long regimen of steroids and sent me to a physical therapist. He drew me a diagram of what was happening to one of my discs- something inside it was leaking - something like toothpaste being squeezed out - that's how I understood it in stupid people's terms. The PT helped enormously and gave me a few exercises that I still use 20 years later if I ever feel a pain or even a foreboding twinge in my back. I actually had a minor limp for about 6 months following this episode until one day I realized it was gone.

I have since become very careful with my back and movements. I get up slowly, I get in and out of cars carefully to avoid twisting knees, I won't lift heavy items. The minute I feel a twinge I get down on the floor and do one or two of my exercises. I just refuse to risk my back or limbs if at all possible.

[quote]He drew me a diagram of what was happening to one of my discs- something inside it was leaking - something like toothpaste being squeezed out - that's how I understood it in stupid people's terms.

Not stupid at all. The condition you described is very aptly described in that manner.

Thanks, R25. I now officially feel less stupid. Do you know what it's called - I can't remember now. It was excruciating when it happened - all I did was bend over my bed to make it and POW. The pain lasted quite a while which wasn't helped by the fact I hated the pain killers and stopped using them after about 2 weeks. Combined with the steroids all I felt was anxious and loopy. The pain was more bearable.

It’s usually called an annular tear, R26.

OP, have you tried throwing your legs to Jesus?

Thanks, R25/R27. I googled that and that sounds about right.

Sciatica is at the top of the glutt. You need to stretch those lower back muscles, OP. I want you to go to your kitchen counter, stand on your tip toes while grabbing the edge of the counter with both hands, resting your palms on the counter but with the insides of your wrists facing the back splash or wall. Got it? Now, I want you to make both arms completely straight, locking both elbows. Now, you need to just hang there in that position GENTLY allowing your lower back muscles to stretch. You'll really feel it at the point the lowest part of your spine connects with your pelvic region. Stay there stretching for a minute and then GENTLY come back out of it. Do this several times a day.

R30, what if OP is a pocket gay?

Oxycontin

Fuck it! I’m on my heating pad!

I have found the best relief for lower back pain is a piriformis stretch. You can put this word into youtube and find hundreds of videos demonstrating it. I will link one, but there are several different ways to do this stretch so you can find the one that works best for you. Usually it takes about 3-4 days to come back to full mobility, but that's better than 3 or 4 weeks, which can be the case when you don't attend to your back after injury. Walking is also an important part of improving. Ultimately core strength is also important to maintain once you have had the warning of a back injury. Lifting anything heavy with bent knees is also crucial. Never lift with straight legs - that's a recipe for disaster.

Is it a pre-existing condition?

When your pussy starts to smell like shit you best investigate.

Kidney stone? See a doctor.

Hot shower pounding on your lower back. You'll recover.

Epsom salts

Stage 4 Kidney cancer.

Sorry OP.

R40 what the fuck is the matter with you?! Coming in here spouting that bullshit and scaring the OP!!

At worst, it’s stage 3.

Could be prostatitis. It's very painful, can last for months. You would need antibiotics. You need to ejaculate daily and drink a lot of water.

I concur R17. I haven't had such severe lower bank pain in years until recently and tremendous stress surges from new, asshole neighbors. The thesis of that book is correct. I remember thinking that when I first heard it years ago. He's the doc who also says, "Get back on your feet as soon as you can" - don't baby the back?

Mattress/Bed? What position do you sleep in? Try a firmer mattress or not the floor with one of those nice Japanese sleeping mats. Did wonders when I was crashing at different peoples places

Yoga and or stretch. And strengthen your core.

What if you’re really fat? How do you strengthen your core then R45?

R46 Really fat? Um, do you mean obese? Well then if it's the latter then it's pretty obvious what you should try doing first.

I'm gonna throw my legs up over my head today and see if that helps my pain.

I pulled my back the first time in my 40's. Then it happened 3 time the same year. Really the only thing that helped was preventative care. I started doing some simple stretch exercise you can find on the internet as well as stomach crunches. Been good mostly since then. The only times it ever happened again was when I got lazy and stopped doing the stomach work for several of weeks.

Acupuncture, message, heating pad, pills are all temp fixes. Acupuncture is vodo science and how no scientific proof so ignore the Frau Science remedies.

It can also in fact be a kidney stone if its on one side higher up on the back. Kind of just below your rib cage if you imagine the same location on your back. Usually its one side but can be both. The way you can tell is it gets worse and worse over the course of a few days until you break out is a sweat of pain. Then once it moves on its way to your bladder, start screaming like child birth. Result not as rewarding.

Oh isn't it fun getting older. In my case a congenital issue raised its head. Dear old dad the asshole had major back problems starting in his 30's on. Mine at least delayed 20 years. This is why I say I know for a fact we weren't designed or created - we're the product of hundreds of thousands of years of beneficial mutations the diverged us from the Chimpanzees and Bonobos a very long time ago.

OP has probably slipped a disc. The disc may be bulging or even herniated if the OP is unlucky. Nothing but keeping as mobile as possible and letting the disc heal is going to help matters. Painkillers or neuropathic drugs may ease any referred pain like sciatica. Sports physiotherapists tend to supply the best help with managing pain and recovery. Better than doctors in my experience. Forget osteopaths and chiropractors. They usually make things worse.

Can take six months to over a year to get back to normal. That is if you don't aggravate the injury in the meantime. Say hi to old age, as others have said.

When I worked for an orthopedic surgeon he would just prescribe a course of ibuprofen. I end up with back pain occaisionally, usually when I have a heavy travel schedule. I just take a couple with meals, two or three times a day. After a couple of days I usually start feeling better. After a week or so, it clears up.

I once hurt my back when I was bending over to make the bed. The pain was excruciating -- for the next few days I would feel like a jolt of electricity in my lower back if I moved the wrong way, and trying to roll over in bed to change positions left me soak in sweat from the pain. My partner found it amusing the way I would grimace and shriek as I walked around, and started to imitate me. This would make me laugh which would set off the pain and make me scream some more.

[quote]My partner found it amusing the way I would grimace and shriek as I walked around, and started to imitate me. This would make me laugh which would set off the pain and make me scream some more.

You sound like a fun couple. If I’m in pain and someone is making fun of me, I like to think I’d laugh, but I don’t think I would. I’m glad you were able to.

hah! I'm down for the count today due to pulling my back getting up off the toilet! heating pad and Back Quell tablets

That’s a bit embarrassing R55. I hope you feel better.

Just wait till your partner is in pain sometime and just laugh. See how he likes it!

Should we send one of these kitties over R55?

I threw my back like that a while back, and have had sciatica; it's not the latter.

I found the roll-on lidocaine over the counter stuff worked miracles in deadening pain! A couple of minutes later it was as though the original throw-out had never happened.

I did a lot of yard work recently and my lower back was on fire afterwards. Going to the Chinese Foot Reflexology place really helped. The guy really worked me over. Not in a nasty way!

my back suddenly improved overnight. Thank God. One week of pure misery is gone.

Pancreatic cancer.

This happened to me today. Excruciating pain. Couldn't even put on my shoes. Embarrassing.

Let us know how it works out, r62.

Improve your posture and core strength.

Hope it isn't kidney stones. Because if the pain is indeed excruciating it could mean that it's a BIG one.

I got lower back pain after bending over to clean the oven. Couldn't move for 2 days and it took a couple of weeks to get completely over it. I took ibuprofen and did exercises called the "cat cow stretch". Tons of them on youtube.

I make sure not to carry anything heavy - I take a cart with me when I go shopping. The pain isn't worth trying to carry grocery bags home.

I also sleep with pillows under my legs to relieve the pressure.

OP - Your toothpaste analogy is a good one! I had a 13mm extrusion of my L4/L5 disc that burst. The gel in the disc is very caustic and the pain for me was was direct contact with my nerve endings. After three days in bed, the pain had not subsided and my hands looked primordial as I clawed during the spasms of pain. Finally called 911 and went to ER. Nothing lessened the pain unfortunately but rest and time.

A fall while rollerblading at 35 and two slip/falls in one year at 50 helped set the stage. I experienced a bit of sciatica over the years. Heat, ICY Hot patches, pain reliever and sleep took care the pain until, it didn't. One Tuesday night before going to bed, I took a step and felt the stab of pain. Took the same measures as always, went to bed and woke up feeling fine. The next night, again, just as I was getting ready for bed, the sciatic pain hit. Applied the treatment and went to bed confident I'd be fine in the morning. I got up early the next morning, went to the bathroom, stood up and WHAM, was brought to my knees and elbows. I crawled in to the bedroom but don't recall to this day how I got up to actually fall in to bed.

Took 2+ years for the pain to totally go away, my leg to get strong and for me not panic with any little twinge around my lower back. Ten years later, EVERY time I go up/down on steps, I say a prayer of thanks. The damage to my leg was that severe.

Save a horse, ride a cowboy.

How is OP's dog doing?