Ask Your Health Question. Health Experts Answer You ASAP.

(Not a Health Question?)

i HAVE AN ACHE IN THE LUMBAR REGION OF THE BACK AND ...
Sent to Health Experts April 17 09:43 AM

i HAVE AN ACHE IN THE LUMBAR REGION OF THE BACK AND WHEN I WALK AFTER A FEW FEET I HAVE TO SIT DOWN OR STANDING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. BACK DOESN'T ACHE UNLESS I WALK

 

Optional Information:
Male, Age: 60, New Jersey

Already Tried:
CHIROPRACTIC

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $15
Info Request
April 17 9:46 AM (2 minutes and 51 seconds later)
         

Hello, Customer (name blocked for privacy).

Can you tell me if you have taken any medications for your back pain? Have you had any xrays done? Is this a result of injury or overuse? How strong would you say your abdominal muscles are? What did the chiropracter say was wrong with your back?

FamMedDoc

A. Pappa -- Doctor (MD) -- 100% Positive Feedback on 30 Health Accepts
Family Medicine physician with 12 years of experience in clinical medicine and medical education
Reply
April 17 9:48 AM (2 minutes and 49 seconds later)
         
I HAVEN'T TAKEN ANY MEDICATION FOR THIS, HAVEN'T HAD X RAYS. THERE IS NO REAL BACK PAIN UNLESS I WALK OR STAND. IT REALLY ISN'T PAIN, I JUST FEEL LIKE THE LUMBAR AREA WANTS TO COLLAPSE AFTER I WALK ABOUT 50 FEET OR SO. NO INJURY.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Reply
April 17 9:51 AM (2 minutes and 57 seconds later)
         
DON'T KNOW THE STENGHT OF ABDOMINAL MUSCLES, BUT HAVE GAINED A LOT OF WAIT OVER LAST 5 YEARS. I AM 5'7 AND WIEGH 250LBS. CHIROPRACTOR SAID IT WAS IN THE LOWER LUMBAR AREA BUT TREATMENTS HAVE NOT PRODUCED ANY HEALING.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
April 17 10:11 AM (19 minutes and 7 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

Hello,

It sounds as if you have some straining of the muscles in the lumbar area. If the symptoms are mainly when you stand or walk, it could be due to the weight and weakness of the abdominal musculature. Most people don't realize how important the abdominal muscles are in supporting the back. If these muscles are weak and there is excess weight that pulls on the back, you can get chronic back discomfort.

For your height and weight, your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 39.2. Anything over 30 is considered obese, between 25-29 is considered overweight.

You can calculate your BMI at http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

I would recommend some short and longterm treatment:

Short-term: try tylenol or ibuprofen (if you have no problems with either medication) to help relieve the discomfort if you stand or walk for extended periods of time.

Long-term: it is difficult, especially if you already have back pain with standing/walking, but begin a diet and exercise plan to get your BMI down below 30 (ideally 25 -- but that may be too hard of a goal for now). It is also important that along with weight loss, you work on strengthening your abdominal musculature to better support your back.

Take a look at the following websites to get more information on what you can do to help your back discomfort:

http://familydoctor.org/117.xml

http://www.spine-health.com/topics/conserv/easyexercise/easyexercise02.html

I would also recommend seeing your primary care physician for a thorough evaluation and consideration of xrays. Degenerative disk disease affects a significant number of people afte 40 years of age. Imaging of your back will help determine if this is truly muscular or there is some vertebral component to it. There are also many other things that can cause and contribute to back pain.

Your doctor may also determine if you need muscle relaxant medications to help with your discomfort.

Irregardless of what your physician determines, it is still important to keep in mind that losing weight with a good exercise and diet plan will go a long way to keeping your back and the rest of you healthy. You should also discuss this with your doctor.

I hope you find this information helpful to you. Please indicate so by clicking "Accept" and providing feedback. A bonus is always appreciated.

FamMedDoc

A. Pappa -- Doctor (MD) -- 100% Positive Feedback on 30 Health Accepts
Family Medicine physician with 12 years of experience in clinical medicine and medical education
Think you can answer this question?
Login or Become an Expert

Related Answers

 

DISCLAIMER: You acknowledge that any information you may obtain from individuals you contact through use of the Just Answer service comes from those individuals, not from Just Answer!, and that Just Answer is not in any way responsible for any of the information these third parties may supply. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty and no representations are made regarding the qualification of an Expert. Responses and comments on Just Answer! are for general information and are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (such as medical, legal, investment or accounting) and do not establish a professional-client relationship. Just Answer! is not intended or designed to address EMERGENCY QUESTIONS which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service.

Just Answer! > Online Health Advice