Hello doctor, I am having back pain at rest for the past for one month. I am also having an issue with sleep since it is hurting and it keeps on tingling when at rest. Please advise.
Hi. You are very young to actually have persistent back pains. There are many causes of pain in the lower back region. It can be due to faulty posture, related to weak muscles, issues with intervertebral disc, narrowing of spinal canal, or any bony instability besides many others. So accurate diagnosis is the key to proper management of the condition. You will have to elaborate your problem as to a detailed discussion of your back pain which means the duration of pain and mode of onset. I would also like to ask you if it is associated with any leg pain or any other neurological symptoms like numbness, paraesthesias (electrical shock like abnormal sensations), or any weakness in limbs? Any associated symptoms like fever, weight loss, etc? What medications are you generally taking until now for your existing problem? If you have localized back pain with no other symptoms like radiating leg pain, neurological symptoms like numbness, weakness, paresthesia, etc, then you can start with the following recommendations for an initial period of two to three weeks. 1. Maintain proper posture of your back while working and sleeping. 2. If pain is more then you can take a short course of anti-inflammatory medication like Etoricoxib or Paracetamol or one which suits you. 3. Physical therapy initially under the supervision of a trained physiotherapist and then to continue at home. 4. Adequate calcium and Vitamin D intake, if levels are low in the body. 5. Ice packs can be applied if your pain is acute, then hot fomentation can be done at home. 6. Analgesic spray for local application can be used and is easily available. 7. Avoid lifting heavyweight, acute forward bending in the mornings, etc. We will observe you for the next two to three weeks how you respond to this conservative management protocol. If you are not feeling better, then we will have to get some investigations like, dynamic x-rays of lower back and few blood tests for evaluation.