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Suggest Remedy For Sharp Radiating Back Pain
Question: I have acute lower back pain that started Wednesday evening. It seems to start in the left lower lumbar area and seems isolated to the area just cranial to my left buttock. So far the pain doesn't radiate down my leg and I have no numbness or tingling. I do not recall doing anything prior to it that may have caused it. On Tuesday evening however, I injured my right toe after a metal x-ray view box sitting on the floor of a closet tipped over on the floor and hit it. I was favoring that foot because it hurt. (ice and a bandage helped that and now it is fine other than a bruise). I do exercise a couple times a week but did none this week.
I feel a sharp pain only when I move certain ways (step, try to stoop to pick something up, begin to sit, etc. I am afraid to move because I never know exactly what will set it off. I have never had anything like this before. For being 59 years old I have no medical problems and am never sick. Is this sciatica? XXXXXXX Ballard, DVM
I feel a sharp pain only when I move certain ways (step, try to stoop to pick something up, begin to sit, etc. I am afraid to move because I never know exactly what will set it off. I have never had anything like this before. For being 59 years old I have no medical problems and am never sick. Is this sciatica? XXXXXXX Ballard, DVM
Brief Answer:
No worries for now. Very unlikely to be sciatica
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for the query
Sciatica is generally moderate to severe in pain, radiates down the buttock, causes tingling and some electric feeling.From your description, I am of the opinion that this is not sciatica .
With an unremarkable medical history and considering the acute onset of this pain, I do not think it should be so serious to cause you to panic. I think this is a mechanic pain, caused mainly by some misplaced movement, the either displaced the disc separating some vertebrae in the lumbar region while stretching some ligaments . Movements in the direction to further displace the disc while exerting the pressure on the ligaments causes pain.
I think Muscle relaxant, oral anti-inflammatory drugs and a local anti inflammatory drug for local massage should be sufficient. To me managed as such, the pain should be over within a week.
persistence however might require x rays and a CT scan or MIR.
Thanks and kind regards as I wish you the best of health.
Dr Bain
No worries for now. Very unlikely to be sciatica
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for the query
Sciatica is generally moderate to severe in pain, radiates down the buttock, causes tingling and some electric feeling.From your description, I am of the opinion that this is not sciatica .
With an unremarkable medical history and considering the acute onset of this pain, I do not think it should be so serious to cause you to panic. I think this is a mechanic pain, caused mainly by some misplaced movement, the either displaced the disc separating some vertebrae in the lumbar region while stretching some ligaments . Movements in the direction to further displace the disc while exerting the pressure on the ligaments causes pain.
I think Muscle relaxant, oral anti-inflammatory drugs and a local anti inflammatory drug for local massage should be sufficient. To me managed as such, the pain should be over within a week.
persistence however might require x rays and a CT scan or MIR.
Thanks and kind regards as I wish you the best of health.
Dr Bain
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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