Does the pain go down your leg as well? If so, could be sciatica. Very painful.
Good luck, it sounds like a visit to your m.d. is in order.

Oh yeah, I would get to the doctor immediately with that kind of pain. You absolutely need a x-ray or better yet, an mri to see what's going on. If the doc balks at that, insist! You need to know exactly what's wrong, and that's the best way. I have chronic back pain and have found that pilates class, just once a week helps keep me mostly pain-free. However, at times when I have injured it, the only thing that helps is rest and being very careful. I did go to physical therapy for awhile and was shown many exercises for my particular condition that help, but I forget to do them; I guess I feel like the pilates is similar enough. I know it's not popular, but I'm not a believer in chiropractic practices so I won't go to one. Good luck, firemanswife, you've had a lot on your plate lately. Will you let us know when you can get into see the doctor?

Been there, done all that.

I am thinking of calling my regular doctor this morning but I am not quite sure what they can do and I don�t just want to be given pain pills. I want it fixed.
Chances are he will order an x-ray, and/or possibly an MRI.

Taken from the link below:
Muscle relaxants can be helpful when severe muscle spasms follow the start of low back pain.

Pills are not for long term use anyway, but instead for help in dealing with the pain, and in the case of muscle relaxers, to aid in the healing.

He will then likely prescribe Physical Therapy.

I suffered off and on for 6 years with severe lower back pain, in and out of emergency rooms, doctor's offices, and physical therapy. Finally the disc bursted, sending the gel like substance into my spinal canal, making surgery necessary. I had a wonder surgeon, and she fixed me. I was almost pain free about an hour after coming out of recovery, and have been fairly pain free since. The previous 2 weeks I had spent on the floor, with no quality of life, after the disc bursted and I could get into surgery. I now protect my back, and slow down and take it easy if there is a hint of any lower back pain.

Healing Back Pain Naturally: The Mind-Body Program Proven to Work is a great book of self help and exercises for the total back. When the muscles in the back are strengthened, they do their part in holding the spine in proper alignment.

I bought a TENS Unit to assist in my pain management. When I was at my worst, I'd turn it up on high, and would eventually be numb in the pain area.

The use of ice is beneficial either alone, or alternating it with heat. I suggest buying a couple of the flexible gel packs so one will always be good and cold and ready for use. Again, I would numb the area, without frostbiting it, and that would temporarily ease the pain totally.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions. My email link is on my member Page.

I wish you well, in getting pain free. Hopefully a good physical therapist can get you all fixed up.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Web MD-Muscle relaxants

My doctor prescripbed physical therapy!
Been to 4 sessions!
Fantastic!
After doing their various exercises, they gave a lower back massage, and ended up with 15 minutes of electrods while sitting on heat.

Sure worked for me. I'm pain free, right now, have been for a week, while away on a cruise.

Good luck to you.

Please go see a regular doctor. I know many people believe in chiropractors and I don't want this to turn into a debate about them, but I've dealt with workers compensation injuries for several years and have never, ever seen a chiropractor provide real help for a back injury. It might be worth a try for a simple back strain, where manipulating the muscles can provide some relief but for a real injury or medical condition you need a real doctor.

Some chiroprators are great and others??? We had a really good one in CA, that did soft manipulation. No twisting, no pulling, etc. Cannot find one here, and one in CA retired. I agree, get your dr to check it out and ask about physical therpy.

I know you recently had some pretty serious surgery, FMW. I don't want to scare you, but your back pain could be more serious than just a pinched nerve, it could be sign of things related to your earlier surgery. I would recommend that you call your surgeon and see if there could be a correlation between the two.

I also don't want to put undue fear in your mind, but my husband started having severe back pain and went to a Chiro. for a year before he finally could no longer take the pain and went to his primary care physician. He was sent to a specialist for a pet scan, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died three months and two weeks later - please don't wait another day - go see a doctor!

Please see your reg MD.I ended up needing back surgery after the chiropractor adj my back.Ive had three doctors tell I probably would never have had needed back surgery if the chiro had not done what he did to my back.My back will never be the same.My orthpedic surgeon said he sees a number of back injuries due to chiropractors.

Shelley

I have an apt. with my doctor on Wednesday. I have been really concerned with this pain. I did recently have major surgery and since then my tummy is still really sore to the touch and now this awful back pain.
I haven't felt good in months and boy it's old.

I was just about to post about my back pain when I saw this one. I had decompression surgery on my SI back in July. I had damaged my nerve horribly and still do not have full function of my left leg. It's very numb from my buttocks fold down to my toes (except I can feel my big toe). The horrible initial pain even kept me from walking, standing, sitting and going to the bathroom. It got really bad while on a trip to Vegas (where I ended up hospitalized for 5 days over the 4th of July before I was able to get a nerve block so I could fly home). My pain started about a month before the trip out to Vegas. Against my better judgement, I saw a Chiro. (I'm a Physical Therapist Assist., though I don't work in the field anymore, I keep my license active.. anyway, we have our reservations on Chiros). He did manipulate me brutally and felt some intial relief... but then the sh-t really hit the fan. He actually created greater damage by manipulating an area that was already in trouble with a herniated disc and thus he push that disc further out. A good MRI might have told him manipulation was not indicated! Stupid me, knowing better but desperate for pain relieve, let him manipulate my SI joint. Long story but anyway, I had surgery, my leg is still numb though the incapacitating pain is gone. Neurosurgeon says it could take up to a year before the leg returns. I limp and at times, my leg fails me a bit. I am now having discomfort again and also on the right side. I don't have back pain just bad buttock and leg pain (sciatic nerve). I will not submit myself to surgery again but will try the newer advances (which are really old ones improved). I think I'm going to see a PT. for decompression therapy- basically, the new traction machines that are working wonders for people. I suggest you try the same. It does the same thing surgery does (decompress a nerve) but slowly with traction. Surgery isn't always an answer and you have to remember you are creating scar tissue... which could be painful, too. Good luck and keep me posted. I'm worried about your outcome and hope you or noone else have to endure what I did. It's no fun when your nerve is damaged so bad you actually lose bladder control. Thank God that part is over with but I still deal with my numb leg... Pls. be careful who you see and don't allow manipulation of any kind until an MRI reveals exactly what the problem is- not an x-ray.... MRI!!