Acute Lower Back Pain

Sometimes, back pain is just a sign that you have overdone it, moved in the wrong way, or that an old injury to your back has been disturbed. Often, a trip to the chiropractor or your family doctor for some adjustment and perhaps some medications is all that you need to feel better again. However, if you are having acute lower back pain that is spreading out to other parts of your body, you could have something more serious going on and you may have to have surgical intervention to help with the pain.

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Some with acute lower back pain can not live a normal life. They are either on pain pills all the time, or they are always in agony. For most, acute pain stems down the legs and even up through the arms. When this happens, it usually means that you have a ruptured or deflated disc. This never heals. It is something that you are either going to tolerate, find help with through physical therapy, or have removed by surgical means. Pain radiating anywhere other than in the lower back means nerves are pinched and the disc is in trouble. The pain can be excruciating.

The main nerves in your body are contained in the spinal cord. If there is a disc pressing on it, pain shoots throughout the body. Most of it goes down the legs. Some just have some discomfort they can control with medication, for some have numbness and they lose some of the use of their legs. This is when surgery is probably going to be necessary. A person with those issues could fall down when walking, and should not be driving a car. If you have those sensations, call your doctor as soon as you can to get the ball rolling.

Physical therapy may be something your doctor recommends if you have acute lower back pain. This can help you feel better, but it is often temporary. Once you have a disc that is damaged, it will always be as such. It will have to come out and will continue to cause problems. If you are waiting for surgery, this can help with some of the pain. However, one wrong move and the disc will hurt again. If your insurance insists that you try that first, you have no choice, but know for many it is not the final answer.

When dealing with acute lower back pain, there is one important thing that your doctor will tell you, and you should pay close attention. If you have trouble with acute pain, and you find that you can not use the bathroom, this constitutes an emergency and you should go to your local ER and call your doctor immediately. This means a nerve has been pressed that could cause serious damage. If your bathroom habits change, don't assume it is something else. Go in right away so you can be checked. If there is a problem, you will probably be taken into surgery as soon as they can get someone in to help you. You may want to check out more of our free tips.