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Suggest Treatment For Severe Sporadic Back Pain
Question: I am suffering from back ache since last 4 days. When I woke up on 26th April, I had back ache. I thought it was because of bad sleep posture and will go away. I applied Relispray and massaged. In the evening, I had to carry a suitcase to the 6th floor and as lift was not working, I had to take the stairs.
Now I have back pain in the upper part of back bone (near the neck). It feels like it is jammed. I feel a sharp pain whenever there is a motion of neck perpendicular to spinal cord. The pain is equally intense when I twist in normal ways to see towards my left or right.
Till yesterday, I had the pain only in the right part but now it has spread towards left too. I have been using hot water bags and oil massages. Please suggest what else can I do? What can be the reason for the same? Do I need to visit a doctor or will it go away with time?
Now I have back pain in the upper part of back bone (near the neck). It feels like it is jammed. I feel a sharp pain whenever there is a motion of neck perpendicular to spinal cord. The pain is equally intense when I twist in normal ways to see towards my left or right.
Till yesterday, I had the pain only in the right part but now it has spread towards left too. I have been using hot water bags and oil massages. Please suggest what else can I do? What can be the reason for the same? Do I need to visit a doctor or will it go away with time?
Brief Answer:
It is a cervical strain. No need to visit a doctor now.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Sorry about the pain that you are having.
It is most probably a cervical strain. It happens when muscles in the neck go into a spasm after having some injury like stretching excessively or bearing a lot of weight.
The back ache and the neck pain can be managed at home by taking complete rest for a period of 24 hours. Keeping activity at minimal levels will help. Also I would advise you to take Tab Aceclo-MR which comes with an analgesic and muscle relaxant twice a day. If you consume alcohol, you must absolutely abstain during this medication and until a week after. Do continue using the hot water bags, though the frequency should be increased to every 4 hours for a duration of 20 minutes. Apply the gel/ spray after the heat application, and not before applying heat bags. While sleeping, do not use a pillow if you are lying flat on bed. If you adopt a left sided sleeping posture, then a small pillow can be use to align the neck and head with the rest of the spine. Avoid carrying heavy weights and bending downwards at the back, or excessive stretching and sudden movements.
This generally resolves by itself. You need to take more precautions after the pain abates. Swimming is the best exercise you should go for as it helps in strengthening core back muscles and neck muscles. This should prevent it from worsening.
Also I just want to know if the pain goes to the shoulders and arms too. If it doesn't decrease or recurs again after 2-3 weeks, do get back for further management.
If you have any doubts or clarifications, let me know and I will be glad to help.
Regards,
Pradeep
PS: Also take an antacid like Tab Pan 40mg once a day before breakfast or lunch. These medications prescribed are all prescription-only meds and may not be available OTC. You will need to get a prescription from doctor first for them. Use them both for 3 days and then stop.
It is a cervical strain. No need to visit a doctor now.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Sorry about the pain that you are having.
It is most probably a cervical strain. It happens when muscles in the neck go into a spasm after having some injury like stretching excessively or bearing a lot of weight.
The back ache and the neck pain can be managed at home by taking complete rest for a period of 24 hours. Keeping activity at minimal levels will help. Also I would advise you to take Tab Aceclo-MR which comes with an analgesic and muscle relaxant twice a day. If you consume alcohol, you must absolutely abstain during this medication and until a week after. Do continue using the hot water bags, though the frequency should be increased to every 4 hours for a duration of 20 minutes. Apply the gel/ spray after the heat application, and not before applying heat bags. While sleeping, do not use a pillow if you are lying flat on bed. If you adopt a left sided sleeping posture, then a small pillow can be use to align the neck and head with the rest of the spine. Avoid carrying heavy weights and bending downwards at the back, or excessive stretching and sudden movements.
This generally resolves by itself. You need to take more precautions after the pain abates. Swimming is the best exercise you should go for as it helps in strengthening core back muscles and neck muscles. This should prevent it from worsening.
Also I just want to know if the pain goes to the shoulders and arms too. If it doesn't decrease or recurs again after 2-3 weeks, do get back for further management.
If you have any doubts or clarifications, let me know and I will be glad to help.
Regards,
Pradeep
PS: Also take an antacid like Tab Pan 40mg once a day before breakfast or lunch. These medications prescribed are all prescription-only meds and may not be available OTC. You will need to get a prescription from doctor first for them. Use them both for 3 days and then stop.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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