See your doctor NOW! (BACK PAIN). Understand red flags for lower back pain
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- Опубліковано 28 лип 2020
- See your doctor NOW!(BACK PAIN)-
Understand Red Flags for Lower Back Pain
Many patients when struck by an episode of lower back pain are unsure of what to do? This is a quick list of frequently asked questions:
-Do I need an xray?
MRI and Xrays increase your anxiety delay your recovery when done immediately upon having a episode of back pain.
-Do I need to see a doctor?
Most cases as long as you don't have red flags meaning certain signs or symptoms you can see a physical therapist first.
-Should I wait and see if it gets better?
Delays in seeking care can prolong recovery. Simple education on and telling people what not to do is powerful and improves outcomes
Most back problems resolve in 2-3 months close to %90. The %10 that don't get better tend to have surgery, injections and significant delays in healing.
- Is it safe to see a physical therapist first?
Research shows that physical therapists do the same screening as physicians often more comprehensive simple because of time devoted to the evalauation. In most cases I will refer to physician if unsure of findings or red flags are noted.
-Is it safe to start gentle exercise immediately after an episode?
Yes. Typically in first 2-3 days. Research shows outcome are not as good if bed rest is beyond 3 days. The general recommendation is to move as tolerated with a walking program, getting up every 30 minutes and gentle stretches.
The question is do I go to the doctor first, when to start treatment or simple see if you get better over time.
We discuss the times when you should going to the doctor immediately or in for emergency visit. And when we can try conservative care with a physical therapist. This is a short list of things to consider if you are dealing with back especially if it has been longer than 2-3 months since the onset and is not improving.
-Either younger than 20 years of age or greater than 55 years of age.
-Non-mechanical back pain
- Violent trauma
-Long term steriod use
- Previous medical history of Cancer
-Bowel and Bladder Problems
-Systemic Systems
- Persistent restriction for lumbar flexion
-Saddle Anesthesia
-Progressive Weakness
-Unexplained Weight Loss
-No relief with bed rest
-Balance problems
These are a few of "red" flags that should be considered when deciding to see a physical therapist or a doctor first. Good luck! Please post a comment below if you have any questions.
Check out our web site for our Back Pain report at apexorthopedicnj.com/ OR
email us at info@apexorthopedicnj.com
23 years old worked doing hard labour work which resulted in stiff and lower back pains that's been about 2 months, did everything possible to make it better, stretches, light workouts, therapeutic massage and the doctor suggested physio I'm going to go to physiotherapy and see from there.... I have been super anxious and honestly depressed over this as I don't really know what I will do for work if this problem isn't resolved... Trying to stay positive and do everything possible for a full recovery, nothing has seem to give me any relief so far
Where are you located? Maybe you could try a McKenzie certified physical therapist.
I’ve been like that for almost 4 years. It sucks ass. I just turned 42 this month.
I'm 21 and I injured my back in May of 2021, I had lower back pain, soreness and stiffness for months. October I started to have nerological symptoms my feet started to hurt nerological pain. I had a mri in December and a x ray and they found nothing. It's February 2022 and I still have back pain and nerological pain. The doctors gave me meloxicam that's all they have done.
Have you had a physical therapy evaluation?
I’m 15 and I have pretty low back soreness it’s not debilitating. It’s just sore no pain really. No other signs plus my back flexion is fine and I don’t have saddle anesthesia. And I’ve already pulled this muscle before
I got mine while I was weight training I was doing backwards flies for core and I was jumping hurdles hunched over and then bringing my legs up wasn’t good. It’s jsut sore and not a pain
Hi im a woman in my mid 40 and ive been diagnosed with auto immune disease that caused me to have rheumatoid arthritis and i have polly myositis 19 years ago and for a while now I’ve been having Sever pain in my mid and lower back and also i have some-pain in my rib cage and also im always fatigue tiered although i sleep 9 to 10 hours and light-headiness i did blood work to check my iron and vitamins everything is ok only my vitamin d was on the low side 25 so i dont know what test to do
Hey Tom, I had an injury about 15 years ago and every other year I do something to throw out my back but this year when I thought I was done with the pain it’s came on pretty suddenly so I scheduled an appointment with a doctor but it got worse every day. The doctor had an X-ray done which I could barely stand for and it looked completely normal. Now I am having some groin pain, is this a case where I should go to the ER? The doctor just gave my muscle relaxers and an anti inflammatory drug but I don’t think it helps much
I would look at getting an evaluation by a physical therapist who specializes in spine issues. That groin pain is probably originating from the back.
I’ve had it every day for 20 years after an accident. Had mri’s, spinal injections physio etc and an op in 2002. Nothing has helped. Tonight my back went getting cheese out of the fridge, now I can’t stand upright. Apparently the only option left open for me is fusion if the day comes that I can’t get out of bed.
Make sure you see a certified McKenzie physical therapist before you take that step.
what kind of neck surgery did you have, Tom?
Hi Tom! Very informative video, thank you for sharing your professional advice. I’m 59 yr old woman. 30 yrs ago I was in a car accident which Ed cause Sciatica pain down my left leg for about 8 months, I had a Ct and was told I had 2 slightly bulging disk. I did have at that time a little weakness in the lower back but no pain. I still get sciatica pain once a year or so ibuprofen takes it right away.
Other then that I’ve never had back issues at all. 4 weeks ago I stayed in bed for 36 hours due to a massive migraine. I notice that my lower back was achy. I didn’t think much of it due to laying in a bed that long. It continued for over two weeks getting a little worse as the weeks past, on the 3 week I could hardly get out of bed/ chair with increased pain. So it went from just achy to pain. The next day I noticed it was moved to my left side also I not that hip. Been doing some hip flexors and exercises for Facet joint syndrome lol. I do notice it’s heaps some… also walking I don’t have hardly any pain. My back hurt the most when sitting/ laying mostly sitting. Do you think it’s my bulging disk, facet joint? Or something much worse like cancer? I have not yet gone to any Drs. Thank you for reading. Any option would be greatly received. Thanks again 😢
Sounds like a disc issue. Why don’t you get a physical therapy evaluation?
So i’m 19 and I’m 99 % sure i have varicocele. But I’ve also had lower back pain and pain in The stomach for about 2 months. 2 months ago i play badminton and don’t really know If i twisted weirdly but my back suddently star to hurt a lot and could’nt really do anything for a couple of days then it Got better but didn’t go away and now after 2 months i feel pain in my testicles and my back hurt more again. Should i be concerned? And could The varcocele and back pain be connected?
I’m 17 my lower right back has been hurting for 4-5 months it started after one month of going to the gym I’m going to physical therapy but it still hurt bad what should I do? Go to a chiropractor?
You and me both h brother
Just found out a client with non-specific low back pain actually has shingles. A whole new cause I hadn't thought of before!
Hey Tom! Thank you for the informative video. I wanted to share that I’m 25 and have been dealing with lower back pain for almost a year now. My old bed messed my back up/also slept on top of a wadded up blanket and have been in pain ever since. I’ve been going to the chiropractor for the last 4 months now and have been very active, the pain has got better (I don’t feel it as much in my leg anymore) but it’s still painful after laying down for a while and especially in the morning. I’m wondering if I should see a doctor or orthopedist soon. Any feedback at all would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again
Edit: I just did the two tests you recommended for sciatica and I am confident that is my problem. I feel extreme pain during the slump test. My left leg and lower back
Sounds like you are better. Unless you have some of the red flags as I described I would continue to work with the chiropractor. If your progress has been in a plateau you may want to see a physical who specializes in spine.
@@apexmovebetter thank you so much for your reply and your awesome videos 👍
@@JD-ib9zd thanks Jordan!
Hi i am 25 i have been having a lot of pain in the lower back for the last week. The pain gets really bad at night when I'm lying down when i sit or when I'm just standing. The pain tends to get better when i move. I experience an uncomfortable tingling sensation in my fingers and legs. Though i don't seem to have issue's with my balance.
Get a good in person physical therapy evaluation.
Same here, it started happening while I was using isotretenoin and that was one of the side effects, I need to get it checked out
I think PT is a great resource. However I wonder if that study shows "no greater risk" or small enough risk. As someone who was given exercises to increase lordosis until my left toes and ankle started going numb. Prompting me to go back to the doctor, who then ordered an mri which when viewed showed that was a diagnosis mistake. The feeling in ankle returned, the toes have not in 3 years. The second PT didn't even bother to look at mri. But he didn't make things worse, so luck of the draw on value of pre PT imaging.?
What were the findings on the MRI?
@@apexmovebetter Thoractic lumbar dextroscolisis w/ lower lumbar levoscoliosis. Straightening of lumbar lordosis. L1-2 The canal & neural foramina are well maintained. L2-3 Loss of disc hydration w/ shallow disc bulge & annual disruption flattening anterior thecal sac. Posterolateral disc bulge w/ facet arthropathy narrows the nueral foramina. Anterior disc herniation w/ annual tear displaces prevertable soft tissues. Schmorl's node is present in the superior L3 endplate. This only covers about a 1/3 of 1 of 2 typed pages of information. I need to find another way of providing the information than retyping it. Or Is there a more specific question ? This is what the PCP wrote in the referral to the surgeon. Recent MRI showing disc herniation at lumbar spine, mild to severe stenosis, annular disc tear at two level, please evaluate.
Hello just came across your video with trying to do some research in regards to frustration of lower back pain. I'm 42 yrs old and in my early 30s I slipped and fell on ice straight down on to concrete and also was in a domestic abuse relationship and was basically body slammed down (kinda like a wrestling move) straight onto my lower back tail bone. About 5 yrs ago I couldn't take the pain in my lower back and seen a surgeon that had me get a MRI. It showed a degeneration of L4 & L5 and also a budlging in both as well. However I did go through cancer cervical though and I do have psoriasic arthritis (I'm a mess) and He said surgery at the time would only help about 65% or be at a 65% success rate solving issue. I didn't feel that was enough of a percentage to put myself through back surgery. I had just had a baby 4 months prior also. My problem is now that I've moved quite far from the surgeon I did see and I cannot find a doctor that wants to help me at this time or that I've been comfortable with. My major problem is now is I cannot stand longer then 10 mins without severe low back pain and having to sit down or lay down immediately. I'm also experiencing bladder problems, numbness im my legs and feet, shooting pains up and down my legs and sometimes my right arm numbness and my hands going numb if raised for long periods of time. I'm at a loss and a full time stay at home mom with 3 small children I care for. I need a referral for a neurologist and cannot find a spinal surgeon around me that accepts my crappy insurance. I'm just afraid due to my symptoms what could be wrong. Do you have any sort of suggestion you could please help me with? Or possibly what might be going on with my spine now? I'm desperately looking for relief and answers. Thanks
Also wanted to add in the beginning around when I seen the surgeon I had unexplainable weight loss, now that I'm barely mobile I've have had a lot of weight gain from immobility. I cannot even grocery shop, do laundry and I have had to hire a cleaning service because I cannot clean but small areas in intervals around my home now. I can however sit in a comfortable to my back chair and lay down. Its the standing and walking I'm unable to do. Sorry for such the long comments. I do appreciate any and all advice you may have. 🙏😔
I have a lot of your pain ( too bad you didn’t get a reply )it turned out to be spinal stanosis put injections in my spine ,still working on it
Also change bad habits drinking,drugs and eat better
force yourself to move
Inversion table is amazing for me start slow with that
Hi Tom, I was in a car accident while pregnant. Had to wait to give birth to get treatment that was 2001. Over the years my back has gotten worse. 2017 my legs gave out fell to the floor couldn’t walk. Went to ER all they gave me was pain meds and a shot of vulm. I been taking pain meds ibuprofen or Tylenol since then. In 2020 I had a cyst removed from the middle of my back near the spine also a few months later a cyst removed my upper back to the left of my neck. They also said I have sciatica in my left leg the pain is in my butt and the crack of my butt crack all of this only on the left side. Since my butt cheek and butt crack been hurting the pain is in the middle of my back then sometimes I feel it going up my back to the neck. I don’t want to take pain meds anymore. So I been trying hot water in the shower. That helps a little I put foam pain reliever it helps a little. I have taken MRI , X-rays over the years they say I have two herniated desk in my lumbar, arthritis in my upper back. I scared to go to therapy what should I do? I don’t k ow if I should see a specialist or do the therapy?
I would check out a physical therapist spine specialist. Where are you located?
I trained today and on dlift before even lifting a barbell up pain shot in my loverback. I feel fine i have pain that is quite low while standing still if i stend up form isting its a bit worse. Should i go to doctor
Hope it is better. If still having trouble contact a physical therapist
I hurt my back 5 months ago still so relief
Have you had physical therapy?
Hi Tom, I'm in my early 50's. I've had lower back pain for 12 years. The last 2 years it seems to have gotten worse. Last Oct, Dec and Feb, I fell to the floor with acute pain (what I think are spasms?) and couldn't get to a standing position for 1-2 days because every little move I made, hurt so bad. I had to lay and sleep pretty much in the position I fell (living room floor). I also have sciatica with nerve pain going from my left buttock, hip and down my thigh, and left side of the calf/shin. I get nerve pain and numbness in my last 2 toes too. Haven't found out its cause...slipped disc, piriformis or what. It hurts to walk. What do you think could be the problem with my back? I have not had physical therapy but plan to soon. I've not done it because I'm scared It'll cause the acute back pain I had before. My doctor has me on muscle relaxers for now. I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia by my rheumatologist 2 years ago and have joint pain. I'm trying to stretch my back out as you showed in your other videos and trying to walk every day...it hurts
I would look for a certified mckenzie physical therapist. Do you want me to send you a link to find a provider?
Probably more of a disc issue from the l5-s1 region. That is a guess but based on your symptoms. Doesn’t meant it can’t be improved with the proper exercise. If you’re in North Jersey I love to help you out or I can send you a link for a Mackenzie physical therapy provider.
@@apexmovebetter yes, please send me the link. thx
@@J-ZIM here is a find a provider link. www.mckenzieinstituteusa.org/disclaimerTherapist.cfm
In the beginning I lost 30lbs and my doctor did not show any concern at all. Same when I told the doctor I was having issues with bowel movements. When I was having occasional saddle numbness doctor also have no concern as I was told my herniation was up too high to be causing any of the numbness.
I also have had for 7 months now constant numbness in my left foot and it is progressively going up past my ankle and into the back of my calf now.
What would you suggest I should do.
Cathy Get another opinion.
@@apexmovebetter I will be seeing an orthopedic surgeon on the 6th of August
Good luck. Please share what they say about your condition.
Hello sir, I wanted to ask you a question, I'm currently 17 years old, I went to the gym about a month ago I lifted 100 kg without a warm up, which is a really bad idea I know, I couldnt lift it, but i tried my best to, then i went home, the day after i had a really bad lower back pain, I thought It would get better by time, so I skipped a gym day,the day after I went to the gym trained my chest, but my lower back still hurt! I was super scared that I injured myself super badly. I rested for 5 days then went to the gym, it still hurted, I was convinced I will never go to gym in my life. Then even in Normal sitting, it started hurting. Like if I sit for 10 min in the same position,it will hurt. Can you please tell me what I have done,what should I do? Is it serious or not? Will I be able to go to gym again? Please answer I'm so scared and desperate. I appreciate any information from you.
Just because the gym is bothering it and sitting is tough doesn't mean it can't improve. Check out my video on red flags and see a physical therapist by you. Severe doesn't mean you can't improve or that it is serious.
Tell us how you do!
How u doin now?
Sir i have back for three months I went to doctor he said to take x ray and said there's not any problem in the X ray he gave some tablets but it was of no use my back is aching what should I do please reply me sir
I would look at my recent video I posted on Sunday that has McKenzie exercises for lower back pain and sciatica
u need an mri
Hello sir! I am 21 and i am having pain in kidney area , pelvic area, groin area my ultrasound report is normal and i having gas problem, hard stool from 2 month now, and i having back pain after bowel movement sir what it could be I am scared
You really have to continue to follow up with your doctor
@@apexmovebetter My vitamin d 25 OH report is 6.24 and i have severe back pain, pins and needles what it could be? Should i see a orthopedic or neurologist ?
@@ShivaniKumari-ww3fo I would start with a neurologist. Good luck!
Hello sir, very helpful video.. Sir i am in problem please help me. Sir i Quickly get injured from proximal hamstring tendinopathy.. From last 50 days i 3 time face this injury, sir i do strength then it fine but after some days it back again.. So sir why it is happening? And how can i cure. please help me..
Madan Pal Singh you may have a lower back injury that is actually coming from your lower back. The strength doesn’t typically vary that much
@@apexmovebetter sir what i do know how can I cure. Should i do Back strength. Sir you are a doctor Please help.
@@apexmovebetter sir i am requesting you please reply...
Madan Pal Singh I did
sir you are saying i have problem in my lower back so sir what i do now, how can i cure.. should i do back strength.. sir you are a doctor please help me...
Sir please reply..
I’m 13 and my back and neck kill me all the time
I would get a evaluation by a doctor or physical therapist. Sorry to hear.
What about fibromyalgia?
Yeeehaww.. pain incoming