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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Severe Back Ache?

For the past 5 days I have been incapacited by muscle aches in my back.( till i now i ve had terrific health) Last Thursday - Started with a sudden severe neck ache on the right side of my cervical vert. spread down to my scapula area and i literally couldn t move the right side of my upper body or neck without severe pain. I took ibuprofen - & Aleve pm to try to sleep - not successful. Fri - next day in a matter of 1 hr the exact same symptoms arrived on the left side - the right side now became moveable ( but just a little sore) - called my doc told her I found a tick bite 3 weeks earlier - could this be Lyme? She didn t think so but I asked her to put me on an antibiotic just in case ( she was very hesitant but did) I started it on Fri - doxicycline). Cont d w/ 600mg ibuprofen. Left a theatre on fri night in tears from the pain - took Aleve before bed woke up sat feeling better, walked around my yard for 30 minutes and the neck/scapula pain moved back to right side and I started to have severe charley horse type contractions in my whole upper rt body - brought me to my knees type pain. Took more ibuprofen & kept up with antibiotic 2x/day - went to bed - got up at 7pm had another severe muscle spasm & told my husband I needed to go to the ER - I couldn t take it. ( I ve never been to an ER in my life) we called afriend who s an Er doc at 9pm that night- he suggested if I can handle it to wait till the morning because I couldn t sit up in an ER for hrs - more Aleve went to bed. Now it s Sun- woke up feeling 50% better, could move my neck a little could move my arms and much less pain in my back. I couldn t beleieve the difference, I laid low for the day - took 400mg ibuprofen at noon & 6pm but I could walk and do dishes. Went to bed last night w/ 2 Aleve pm & woke up in the middle of the night with a new back pain in my lower right back! What the ???? I was at my doc s office at 7:30am - she still doesn t think it s Lyme but said to cont with 800mg ibupro 3x/day, sent me for spinal x-rays and a prescription for PT - which I start on Fri. At the moment my upper back is 85% better but the lower pain is still there. Any ideas what s going on? I m 66 but have enjoyed perfect health - take no meds only vitamins & am very active - walk, bike, kayak, ski.
Thu, 20 Dec 2018
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General Surgeon 's  Response
Hi,

As a first line management you can take analgesics like Paracetamol or Aceclofenac for pain relief. If symptoms persists better to consult an orthopaedician and plan for an MRI scan.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Shinas Hussain,
General & Family Physician
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What Causes Severe Back Ache?

Hi, As a first line management you can take analgesics like Paracetamol or Aceclofenac for pain relief. If symptoms persists better to consult an orthopaedician and plan for an MRI scan. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Shinas Hussain, General & Family Physician