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What Causes Lower Back Pain When I Sit For Long Hours?

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Posted on Mon, 19 Dec 2016
Question: I have lower back pain when sitting for about two hours and also when I lay down to go to sleep. I take ibuprofen and put Aspercreme on my lower back and that makes pain go away for hours. The pain is kind of where (for lack of better description) you would say my "love handles" would be. How can I get rid of pain for long haul?
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Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (50 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

I'm sorry you have been having low back pain. To figure out how to treat it, first we need to see what is going on that is causing the problem. It could be arthritis, but it may also be muscle pain or tightness from muscle strain, posture, how you use your back and legs.

In past years, the usual sequence for diagnosis and treatment would be to see your physician for examination, and then see a physical therapist for exercises, posture training, etc. However nowadays physical therapists are well trained in diagnosis as well, and if they feel an X-ray or MRI are needed to evaluate, they'll send you back to your doctor to order these. So you can go either way - doctor first, then PT; or PT first.

Depending on the cause of the pain, specific exercises can make a world of difference.

Some people benefit from chiropractic manipulation, and also a good acupuncturist (I'd go with someone actually trained in China) can help too.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
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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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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What Causes Lower Back Pain When I Sit For Long Hours?

Brief Answer: Information Detailed Answer: Hello, I'm sorry you have been having low back pain. To figure out how to treat it, first we need to see what is going on that is causing the problem. It could be arthritis, but it may also be muscle pain or tightness from muscle strain, posture, how you use your back and legs. In past years, the usual sequence for diagnosis and treatment would be to see your physician for examination, and then see a physical therapist for exercises, posture training, etc. However nowadays physical therapists are well trained in diagnosis as well, and if they feel an X-ray or MRI are needed to evaluate, they'll send you back to your doctor to order these. So you can go either way - doctor first, then PT; or PT first. Depending on the cause of the pain, specific exercises can make a world of difference. Some people benefit from chiropractic manipulation, and also a good acupuncturist (I'd go with someone actually trained in China) can help too. I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.