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Does Lower Back Injury Cause Pain An Tenderness In Abdominal Muscles?
Question: Can a lower back injury right above the hips due to heavy lifting cause crampy achy pain on one or more sides of the lower to mid back and cause slight abdominal/flank tenderness on the right side of the belly button? Symptoms have gotten 80% better since the taking of Ibeuprofen and going to a chiropractor for a alignment was almost a instant relief but still only around 85% better.
Brief Answer:
Yes, heavy weights strain your spine/muscles
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear. Thanks for your query.
Yes, heavy weight lifting results in thoracolumbar strain and soreness of abdominal muscles. To make a provisional diagnosis I would like to know some more information.
Did you make a sudden change in your fitness plan? Do you see local rise in temperature?
Is the pain sharp or diffuse?
Is it continuous or on & off?
When does it increase/decrease?
Do you have any other symptoms?
Any other medical/surgical history?Medication apart from ibuprofen?
Await your reply soon.
Yes, heavy weights strain your spine/muscles
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear. Thanks for your query.
Yes, heavy weight lifting results in thoracolumbar strain and soreness of abdominal muscles. To make a provisional diagnosis I would like to know some more information.
Did you make a sudden change in your fitness plan? Do you see local rise in temperature?
Is the pain sharp or diffuse?
Is it continuous or on & off?
When does it increase/decrease?
Do you have any other symptoms?
Any other medical/surgical history?Medication apart from ibuprofen?
Await your reply soon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Yes, I introduced a new exercise, around three weeks ago the clean and press which I haven't done in over a year
the pain is mostly on the right side of the lower to mid back but also on the left side, it is not constant and seems to come and go throughout the day being worst later in the evening.
pain is not sharpe, mostly a ache, crampy feel but the right side of the abdomen is just slightly tender, maybe some slight discomfort everyonce in a while
no fever, no problems urinating or bowel movements
cipro is the only other medication I have taken as I though maybe I had a UTI or kidney infection but realized that my paint started around the time of my new exercise plus I bend over and lift at work all day pouring 40lbs of fuel by bending over anywhere from 10-50 times a day
No temperature rise
the pain is mostly on the right side of the lower to mid back but also on the left side, it is not constant and seems to come and go throughout the day being worst later in the evening.
pain is not sharpe, mostly a ache, crampy feel but the right side of the abdomen is just slightly tender, maybe some slight discomfort everyonce in a while
no fever, no problems urinating or bowel movements
cipro is the only other medication I have taken as I though maybe I had a UTI or kidney infection but realized that my paint started around the time of my new exercise plus I bend over and lift at work all day pouring 40lbs of fuel by bending over anywhere from 10-50 times a day
No temperature rise
Also heat from a heating pad seems to help most of the time on the lower back but not always
Brief Answer:
Switch to simpler exercise and observe the pain
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.Tahnks for sharing the information.
As per your description, your current symptoms are most likely due to a change in your exercise habit and overexercising.
I would advise-
To hold the new exercise for a while till your pain subsides.You may continue the previous one.Donot not overexercise.Consider to switch to cardio/simple workout if possible.
To apply the hot pad or hot/cold bag for one more week.Take Ibuprofen only when you feel the pain is severe and as required.Stop Cipro.
Once the pain subsides you can reintroduce the exercise scaling up slowly so that the muscles get habituated.
Observe the pain while you make these changes.In case the pain does not subside then I would evaluate and rule out other causes of abdominal/lower back pain.
Hope this answers your query.
Switch to simpler exercise and observe the pain
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.Tahnks for sharing the information.
As per your description, your current symptoms are most likely due to a change in your exercise habit and overexercising.
I would advise-
To hold the new exercise for a while till your pain subsides.You may continue the previous one.Donot not overexercise.Consider to switch to cardio/simple workout if possible.
To apply the hot pad or hot/cold bag for one more week.Take Ibuprofen only when you feel the pain is severe and as required.Stop Cipro.
Once the pain subsides you can reintroduce the exercise scaling up slowly so that the muscles get habituated.
Observe the pain while you make these changes.In case the pain does not subside then I would evaluate and rule out other causes of abdominal/lower back pain.
Hope this answers your query.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thanks for the responses doc. So having some abdominal pain/tenderness can be related to lower back injury? How long should it take to heal? I have noticed today that it is worst then driving
Also doc, my wife gave me a Lortab and the pain has subsided by at least 50%
one more thing to add, I believe I have a very small hernia on the part where I am tender on the abdominal. what can id o to speed of recovery
Also doc, my wife gave me a Lortab and the pain has subsided by at least 50%
one more thing to add, I believe I have a very small hernia on the part where I am tender on the abdominal. what can id o to speed of recovery
Brief Answer:
Pain and swelling need evalutaion
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. Thanks for sharing the information.
I would suspect the exercise as a culprit for the pain abdomen. Strain on your lower spine results in the aching of muscles surrounding the spine & flank tenderness but does not normally involve the abdominal muscles.
Having noticed a visible swelling I would prefer to examine and identify the reason(whether pain is originating from muscle or deeper structures in the abdomen) for tenderness and evaluate further. I would do ultrasound abdominal scan to identify the cause of swelling.
Suggest to visit the ER if the pain is severe if you have an insurance cover.
Lortab only gives symptomatic relief of pain. It is important to identify the cause.
Hope this answers your query.Get well soon.
Pain and swelling need evalutaion
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. Thanks for sharing the information.
I would suspect the exercise as a culprit for the pain abdomen. Strain on your lower spine results in the aching of muscles surrounding the spine & flank tenderness but does not normally involve the abdominal muscles.
Having noticed a visible swelling I would prefer to examine and identify the reason(whether pain is originating from muscle or deeper structures in the abdomen) for tenderness and evaluate further. I would do ultrasound abdominal scan to identify the cause of swelling.
Suggest to visit the ER if the pain is severe if you have an insurance cover.
Lortab only gives symptomatic relief of pain. It is important to identify the cause.
Hope this answers your query.Get well soon.
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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