Ow, my back.

[rpgdemon]

Alright, so, my back hurts. Moderately a lot.

It hurts to the left of the spine, on the lower part of the back, right above where a belt would sit.

Suggestions?

Edit: Sorry for lack of a tag, forgot it when I posted, and can't change it now.

[CABAL49]

Go see a doctor.

[rpgdemon]

Well, it's a muscle problem, not something with the spinal column, I think. Otherwise, definately would see a doctor. I've been trying to stretch it out, but can't figure out how.

[Flarecobra]

Massage, or going to a doctor.

[Nikose Tyris]

Describe the pain, in detail. Is it just an ache? Is it a burning pain? A stabbing pain? Does it cover a describable area, like "from my left hip down into my groin" descriptable?

[rpgdemon]

It's an ache, which hurts more when I have the muscle tightened together. It's about the size of my fist, and starts about an inch from my spine, on the left. If I feel for my last rib on my side, it's about level with that, horizontally. It's somewhere from 3-5 inches up from where my hip is.

[Azisien]

Extra strength advil/tylenol, then wait and see. Then go to a doctor if problem persists.

[Nikose Tyris]

Have you done any heavy physical labor today, or repetitive bending?

Edit: I'm going to bed, but I'm asking because the first thoughts that come to mind are Slipped disc (horrible name for it), or a minor gallstone slipping into your kidney. The pain region is correct for the gallstone.

I'm not a doctor, nor can I give out any medical advice that is not strictly homebrew here. I do not pretend to BE a doctor.

Basically your pain sounds like it could be either of those things, or neither. If it IS one of those, T3's aren't solvin' your problem. It's Doctor visit come morning.

Also, Gallstones in your kidney can kill you.

[rpgdemon]

Yeah, I was doing a bunch of physical activity earlier tonight.

[Nikose Tyris]

bunch of physical activity points to slipped disc. Most likely incredibly minor. Don't go looking up symptoms or you'll start to believe that's the problem, but maybe schedule an appointment at a walk-in clinic.

[rpgdemon]

Wasn't heavy lifting though, but I was turning quickly at the waist.

[EVILNess]

Stop fishing for free medical advice and go to the damn doctor! It's not like any of us are actual doctors.

(Except maybe SMB, but he doesn't count he is foreign. Also, he isn't a medical doctor regardless.)

[Krylo]

Slipped discs usually involve shooting pains, not a knotted up fist sized bundle of pain.

Sounds more like he pulled something.

Get a heating pad or some icy hot on it, massage the area out with your fingers, take some pain meds, and it should clear up by morning (other than some lingering stiffness). You could also try some stretches--things like sitting in your chair, grabbing the arm wrests so your arms are parallel to your torso and twisting as far to one side as possible, holding about 5-10 seconds, and then doing the other side. Laying on your back and then bringing your body into a V can also work out well for lower back tightness, but tends to be more of a 'back stiffness fixer' and less a 'pulled muscle relaxer'.

EDIT: ALSO I don't know if he's from Canadia or like Switzerland or something, but for Americans going to the doctor every time you pull a muscle isn't even close to feasible unless you are functionally rich.

[Seil]

Dude, I've been laid up because I stretched the wrong way. If you twist sharply, if you smack something in the wrong place, whatever, you can hurt yourself. The smallest things can lead to the biggest pain - look at kidney stones.

My advice? Tylenol, heated blanket, physician. (I'm not gonna recommend you see one of these fancy shmancy doctors everyone's talking about.)

[EVILNess]

All I am saying is you don't ask a Trekkie for an in depth comparison of Star Wars to Arthurian legend.

If he is concerned enough about it to want medical advice he needs to ask a doctor, not a sprite comic forum. No matter how suave and smart we may be.

[Hanuman]

Probably sitting or standing. Some things just make you hurt, they are usually as simple as using that part of your body wrong, maybe just briefly or maybe because you used it wrong over the course of a few hours. Sitting or standing wrong or for too long, at a computer, at a desk or doing daily activities for 2+ hours at a time generally injures you pretty quick, most people suck it up and get on with their lives and break themselves by age 40-60.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

(Except maybe SMB, but he doesn't count he is foreign. Also, he isn't a medical doctor regardless.)

If you got some run of the mill, poor dudes disease you go to an MD. But if you got some super, never before discovered, ultradisease you go to a real doctor.

Like I'm pretty sure House had like a history degree and just rocked up one day bullshitting it with random diseases from the past and nobody every called him on it.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Yeah probably not a slipped disk. If it was, you'd fucking know about it! Trust me I've had a slipped disk before and it felt like being electructed right up my back with enough force to snap my spine in 2.

Still, go see a doctor. That is clearly the best option.

[Hanuman]

Yeah probably not a slipped disk. If it was, you'd fucking know about it! Trust me I've had a slipped disk before and it felt like being electructed right up my back with enough force to snap my spine in 2.

Still, go see a doctor. That is clearly the best option.
Hawk is correct, most likely lower lumbar muscle or main erector muscle of the backline.

[Azisien]

To reiterate, going to see doctors is boring and time-consuming (and money-consuming depending on the country). You should just wait a few days and see if you die or not. If you're still alive, you win!

[Flarecobra]

Or waiting could result in you getting messed up even worse. I can speak from personal experance.

Broken ankle, after thinking that I just sprained it... and I didn't bother getting it looked at, and now it's turned arthretic, snaps and pops when I walk, and needs surgery to fix.

So yeah, getting it looked at could be worth it in the long run.

[Azisien]

Really it depends how much it hurts and for how long.

Going to the doctor or clinic or hospital for every little thing just wastes everyone's time. If over-the-counter drugs in normal amounts do nothing to dull the pain and it persists then go see someone. If simplistic remedies work and it starts getting better, you're probably fine.

On the other hand, I understand the paranoia behind something like your back hurting. Even so, it is probably unwarranted fear, especially if its just a muscle.

[rpgdemon]

Well, I can tell with almost certainty that it's the muscle, not my back, so I'm not too worried about a spinal column problem. I've had my back hurt simmilarly before, and it went away after I quit being a jerk to it, so I'm just gonna take things easy and see how it goes.

I was more hoping for something like, "Oh! There's this crazy back stretch that will take care of all of your problems, and give you twenty bucks!", than ACTUAL things to do. :P

[Sky Warrior Bob]

Well, it's a muscle problem, not something with the spinal column, I think. Otherwise, definately would see a doctor. I've been trying to stretch it out, but can't figure out how.

Well depending on how your back is, you could try walking with your knees bent. Of course, hobbling around looking like you're sitting on an invisible chair might not be the best thing right now. I just know its an exercise they had me do in physical therapy to help correct my own back issues.

Stretching your calves is also something good to do. Stand with the front portion of your feet on the stairs, and then for 30 seconds, hold them up from the stair. Then for 30 seconds hold them below the stair. (You'll likely want to hold onto the handrail for this.)

Another stretch, cross your arms & press them into a wall. Keep one leg straight & bend the opposite.

A chiropractic visit and/or a full body massage couldn't hurt.

In my case, I used to get frequent back pain because I wasn't using the correct muscles when standing/sitting/walking. You might be getting the same kind of thing.

Kevin

[rpgdemon]

Some stuff

Kevin

...Your name ISN'T Bob?

[Sky Warrior Bob]

...Your name ISN'T Bob?

No, but I like using the name Bob as my internet handle & occasionally I have been known to use my *gasp* real name.

[Hanuman]

Well, I can tell with almost certainty that it's the muscle, not my back, so I'm not too worried about a spinal column problem. I've had my back hurt simmilarly before, and it went away after I quit being a jerk to it, so I'm just gonna take things easy and see how it goes.

I was more hoping for something like, "Oh! There's this crazy back stretch that will take care of all of your problems, and give you twenty bucks!", than ACTUAL things to do. :P
Back stretches rarely actually relieve the pressure on that part of your back safely, chiropractors work on non-intelligent release of muscle tension, but you don't necessarily want to cause a release in the lower back musculoskeletal system. Instead, try standing up and letting your head hang down and stretch gently (don't rotate in circles, its very very bad for you), and sure enough your back will release-- (a metal rigidity line in chinese medicine).

[rpgdemon]

Status report: After one day, I've healed moderately well, with some motrin and Tev's stretches. Should be gone in another 2-3 days or so, at this rate.