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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Back Pain

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Posted on Mon, 21 Dec 2015
Question: Ive had chronic back pain for years but recently noticed lower right back pain around lower rib area. I blew it off for about a week but finally ended up going to ER yesterday evening after family scared me into going. Doc checked me out and said right away he thought it was muscular because i had no fever or changes in bowel and urine plus he could replicate it (not sure what he meant).
Anyway, he said due to its location he wanted a full blood panel to check my organs, urinalysis and Xrays just to be safe.
All came back totally normal.
He asked me if i had done anything to cause this? I told him that quite possibly since im in construction i could have banged into something.
But now that im thinking about it, could lots of long driving on bad roads and sleeping on couch for months, cause this as well?
I think a few years back i had similar pain.
Do back muscles often do this as you age and is your opinion the same as the ER Dr's? Thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Muhammad Hanif (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
It is a muscular spasm and needs management as discussed below!

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for consulting me at HCM . Your trust in HCM means a lot to me as a Physician.

I have completely reviewed your health query, and can well realize all those concerns. Being your physician, I will take care all of them today and will give extend my expertise to solve the problems.

Yes for sure long driving hours and sleeping not on your regular comfortable bed causes this sprain and this is muscular pain for sure.

I want to clarify your ER Dr's statement as to he couldn't replicate it, means that he was unable to find gallbladder stones, kidney stones or liver anomaly. Your organs are working fine. I also have the same opinion based on the fact that all tests came back normal and I am sure your ER doctor must have done all the baseline necessary tests done in such a case.

Yes with age the muscles can get frequent spasms if there is Dehydration, lack of nutrients, blood issues like low blood cells counts, low hemoglobin etc. Even in younger people these cause the same issue.

Sleeping uneven and taking not a proper healthy and balanced diet and lifting heavy weight causes such painful events very often and you have all the possibilities being on a workplace and travelling far off places for longer times.

Management:-
Rehydration-Take pedialyte oral rehydration solution.
Tab.IBUPROFEN 400mg Three times a day after food for 5 days -for pain and to reduce inflammation(
Lumbosacral Corset to support the aching muscles.
Apply Bengay Ultrastretch gel on it and massage it gently. Then apply heat pad.

For giving heat during the work time, apply ThermaCare HeatWraps. It will give continuous and soothing heat to be delivered even to deeper tissues for prompt relief from pain.

Keep a balanced and healthy diet and take a judicious supply of water.
Don't lift heavy weights (especially in front of you, and away from your body).

Hope I answered all of your queries. Let me know if you have further clinical concerns or doubts.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is very necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change the treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time).


Regards!
DR. HANIF
USA

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Muhammad Hanif (3 hours later)
I forget to mention that ive also had ibs type stuff for 15 years (more of gas and pressure issues when my gastritis flares up)and wondered if that could cause some back pain as ive read some articles stating that it could, but wanted a physicians advice on this perspective. I believe in being my own advocate so yes, i very much value your opinion on these matters.
I also read some of my old questions and it seems ive had pains similar to what i explained in this post(tender lower rear ribs along with muscle pain along the sides of spine and believe at that time my ibs was bothering me as well.
Thoughts appreciated
doctor
Answered by Dr. Muhammad Hanif (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No IBS not necessarily cause a pain pattern like you have!

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back and thanks for asking a follow query. I appreciate your time for uploading the missed details and gladly will assist you for the same.

IBS causes abdominal cramping and lower abdominal pressure feelings but usually don't cause this type of pain which you are experiencing that came from nowhere. It is a muscular pain and I would specifically treat it on the same lines as aforementioned.

You previously also had the same kind of muscular pains. I have read your questions in detail and now I would like to go in some more details of how your IBS can be linked to the muscular pains you have had all the time and severe enough this time. As I added in my previous answer fluid and electrolyte balance and proper hydration is very necessary for normal functioning of the muscles. Muscles are very rigorously acting machinery of the body and they consume nutrients and fluids very fast and in bulk. If you are dehydrated or have a fluid and electrolyte imbalance in body (very common in IBS patients) muscular spasm ensues.

Muscles are working on fluids, electrolytes and energy through nutrients. If there is IBS--means defective absorption and assimilation of all the needed moieties for muscle contraction, definitely patient will be more prone to easy fatigability and muscular spasms.


Hope I answered all of your queries. Let me know if you have further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you with my expert opinion. Please don't forget to give Five Star rating to help me assist patients in a better way; and, please don't forget to 'Close This Discussion'.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is very necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change the treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time).


Regards!
DR. HANIF
USA
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Muhammad Hanif

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 2369 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Back Pain

Brief Answer: It is a muscular spasm and needs management as discussed below! Detailed Answer: Thanks for consulting me at HCM . Your trust in HCM means a lot to me as a Physician. I have completely reviewed your health query, and can well realize all those concerns. Being your physician, I will take care all of them today and will give extend my expertise to solve the problems. Yes for sure long driving hours and sleeping not on your regular comfortable bed causes this sprain and this is muscular pain for sure. I want to clarify your ER Dr's statement as to he couldn't replicate it, means that he was unable to find gallbladder stones, kidney stones or liver anomaly. Your organs are working fine. I also have the same opinion based on the fact that all tests came back normal and I am sure your ER doctor must have done all the baseline necessary tests done in such a case. Yes with age the muscles can get frequent spasms if there is Dehydration, lack of nutrients, blood issues like low blood cells counts, low hemoglobin etc. Even in younger people these cause the same issue. Sleeping uneven and taking not a proper healthy and balanced diet and lifting heavy weight causes such painful events very often and you have all the possibilities being on a workplace and travelling far off places for longer times. Management:- Rehydration-Take pedialyte oral rehydration solution. Tab.IBUPROFEN 400mg Three times a day after food for 5 days -for pain and to reduce inflammation( Lumbosacral Corset to support the aching muscles. Apply Bengay Ultrastretch gel on it and massage it gently. Then apply heat pad. For giving heat during the work time, apply ThermaCare HeatWraps. It will give continuous and soothing heat to be delivered even to deeper tissues for prompt relief from pain. Keep a balanced and healthy diet and take a judicious supply of water. Don't lift heavy weights (especially in front of you, and away from your body). Hope I answered all of your queries. Let me know if you have further clinical concerns or doubts. For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is very necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change the treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time). Regards! DR. HANIF USA