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Treat thrown out back: Thrown Out Back: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

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Thrown Out Back: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

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You can typically recover from throwing out your back with rest and home care practices. In some cases, you may need imaging and additional treatment.

When you throw out your back, you’ll feel a quick onset of lower back pain. The pain may be different or worse if you have chronic lower back pain.

A lot of times, this pain occurs after hard work, such as shoveling or lifting heavy objects, or an injury.

Throwing out your back can keep you from your regular activities for several days. You may wonder if you need to seek emergency attention.

Keep reading for more information about what you can do to help your back at home and when it’s time to see a doctor.

Throwing out your back can cause the following symptoms:

  • back stiffness that keeps you from moving well
  • intense low back pain
  • muscle spasms, or intense bouts of muscle tightening and relaxing
  • problems maintaining good posture

Once the pain starts, it doesn’t usually last beyond 10 to 14 days if it’s an acute injury. Otherwise, the symptoms could be those of a chronic back concern.

Throwing out your back usually means you’ve strained the muscles in your back. Lifting heavy objects or bending forward in an awkward position are common muscle strain causes. The pain that muscle strain produces is usually right around your lower back and no further.

Some of the most common activities that cause throwing out your back include:

  • twisting the back, like when hitting a golf ball
  • lifting something too heavy
  • stretching the back too far
  • practicing poor posture and body mechanics when lifting

Doing one or more of these activities can cause injuries to a number of the structures supporting your back, like your:

  • ligaments
  • muscles
  • blood vessels
  • connective tissues

Even minor damage, such as small tears in the protective vertebral discs, can stimulate the back’s nerves and lead to inflammation and pain.

Most people can identify the activity or injury when they threw out their back.

Your doctor will start by asking you about your symptoms, what you were doing when you noticed them, and what makes them worse or better. They’ll consider your symptoms when making a diagnosis and recommending treatments.

For example, if your pain is severe or causing severe symptoms, such as numbness down your legs or loss of bladder control, your doctor will usually recommend further tests. However, if your doctor suspects back strain, they may not recommend imaging.

Imaging studies can sometimes reveal underlying injuries or other causes of back pain, such as a tumor. Examples of imaging studies a doctor may recommend include:

  • X-ray
  • CT scan
  • MRI

If your back pain doesn’t get better after two weeks or gets worse, you may need to call your doctor back to make an appointment for further testing.

The first thing to do after you throw out your back is rest. Resting allows your body to heal and reduce inflammation. Plus, the pain will likely limit your daily activities right after you throw out your back.

Listen to your body when recovering from a back injury. Try not to overdo your activities. In addition to rest, you may wish to try the following tips:

  • Applying cloth-covered ice packs to your lower back for 10- to 15-minute increments. Don’t apply ice directly to the skin, as it can be damaging.
  • Take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen sodium (Aleve). Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can relieve pain, but it’s not an anti-inflammatory medicine.
  • Use special pillows or lower back supports to take pressure off your back. One example includes rolling up a towel and placing it behind the curve of your lower back. Doctors call this a lumbar roll.
  • Sleep with a lumbar roll behind your back or with a pillow between your legs if you sleep on your side. These sleep positions can reduce stress on your back. Avoid sleeping on your stomach, as this can worsen back pain.
  • Talk with your doctor about whether seeing a chiropractor for treatment could be helpful for your injury.

When to start moving again

After about one to three days of rest, start to move again to prevent stiffness and improve blood flow to injured muscles.

Engaging in slow, easy stretching and walking for 10-minute increments can help. Examples include pulling the knees in toward the chest or pulling straight legs toward the chest.

While some activities can be beneficial, others have the potential to worsen back pain. Avoid activities that involve:

  • heavy lifting
  • bending at the waist
  • twisting the spine, such as hitting a golf or tennis ball

In addition to at-home treatments, your doctor may recommend and prescribe additional treatments. Examples include:

  • physical therapy
  • stronger anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, or pain medications
  • steroid injections

In rare instances, your doctor may recommend surgery to correct injuries. If you have chronic back pain that was worsened by an injury, this may be the case.

Having strong back and core muscles can help reduce the likelihood you’ll throw out your back. Activities that can help you maintain a strong back while also promoting flexibility include Pilates, yoga, and tai chi.

In addition to physical activity, you can also wear protective equipment whenever possible to reduce the likelihood of back injury. Examples include a weightlifting belt or back brace that provide extra support. Many sizes and options are available.

For extra help, consult a certified personal trainer or physical therapist for the best posture and safest exercises.

Also be sure to practice good posture when lifting heavy objects to prevent back injuries. Remember to:

  • Keep your elbows and arms as close to your body as possible.
  • Bend at your knees and lift with your legs, not with your back and back muscles.
  • Avoid twisting your back when you’re lifting.
  • Refrain from jerking when lifting.
  • Rest when the object gets too heavy to continue lifting.

Always use good judgement when lifting heavy items. If you think the load may be too heavy, it probably is. Recruit another person to help you, or try to use mechanical means of help, such as carts or special carriers.

Seek emergency medical attention for the following symptoms related to throwing out your back:

  • bladder or bowel dysfunction
  • numbness down one or both legs
  • weakness in your legs that makes it hard to stand
  • fever greater than 101.5°F (38.6°C)

Symptoms that aren’t an emergency but still need prompt medical attention include:

  • injury that hasn’t reduced in pain with at-home treatments
  • pain or discomfort that continues to interfere with your daily life and activities

If you feel like something’s not right with your back, it’s best to see your doctor sooner than later. Again, talk with your doctor about whether chiropractic treatments could be helpful for you. If you don’t already have a primary care provider, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 90 percent of people with lower back strain or sprain recover from the injury within a month.

Ideally, you can treat your back injury at home. However, if your pain gets worse or makes it difficult to complete daily activities, see your doctor.

What to Do When You Throw Your Back Out





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As a major support structure for your body, your back needs to be in good condition for you to complete most everyday tasks. When you throw your back out, you can suddenly and unexpectedly experience acute pain and find your mobility severely limited.

As we age, the cumulative wear and tear on our backs can leave us more susceptible to injury. Preventing and quickly treating back injuries is critical to keep your body healthy and moving well into your advanced years. It is important to discuss any serious back pain or unexpected symptoms with an orthopaedic spine specialist to avoid exacerbating an injury or causing permanent damage.

How do you throw your back out?

Throwing out your back generally means you have temporarily pulled or sprained a muscle in your back, often in the lumbar region. There are numerous ways in which you can throw your back out, including:

  • Twisting your back
  • Lifting heavy objects
  • Over-extension while stretching
  • Poor posture
  • Lack of proper back support for long periods of time
  • Bodily stress or impact from sports

Muscle sprains are the primary cause of the pain of a thrown-out back. Discomfort can also occur when other structural parts of the back are damaged, such as blood vessels, ligaments and tendons.

What does it feel like when you throw your back out?

When the strained muscle in your back causes a spasm, you will often feel acute pain immediately following the injury. Pain intensity can range from minor to severe and is usually localized around the lumbar area. Many who suffer a thrown-out back lose range of motion and develop a hunched posture. Consistent pain, stiffness and muscle spasms are common symptoms.

With swift treatment at home, thrown-out backs may heal on their own within several days or up to two weeks. However, if you develop certain symptoms, immediate medical attention is often necessary to properly treat the injury.

How do you treat a back sprain at home?

The most important thing to do immediately following a back injury is rest. Resting will allow your body to heal, reduce inflammation and enhance the effectiveness of other remedies. Depending on the severity of the sprain, you may need to rest several days before integrating certain everyday activities back into your routine. 

Lie down flat on your stomach on a hard surface with your hands to your side. Relax your body to allow your tight back muscles to soften and release pressure around the nerves. Apply covered ice packs to the affected area in 10- to 15-minute intervals to reduce swelling and radiating pain.

Additional treatment options to consider:

  • Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as Aleve and ibuprofen reduce swelling and provide pain relief.
  • Sleeping on your back provides support and reduces the risk of agitating the sprain.
  • Spine-specific physical therapy can help reduce pain and strengthen muscles that support the spine
  • Massage may help ease acute low back pain, reduce stiffness and stimulate blood flow.

Although initial rest is critical to the healing process when you throw your back out, staying active when the pain subsides and gradually resuming movement is equally important. Light, continuous movement and slow stretching enhance blood flow, restore motion and prevent stiffness. Avoid movements that could normally result in a back injury, like twisting or lifting heavy objects.

When should I see a doctor about my back pain?

A thrown-out back is most often due to a temporary muscle sprain, but more serious conditions can result in similar pain. Serious injuries can include herniated disks or muscular tears that may require medical intervention for a full recovery. A thrown-out back can also indicate other concerning medical issues, such as arthritis, kidney stones, osteoporosis and even certain forms of cancer.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical care:

  • Pain or numbness in the legs
  • Bowel or bladder control problems
  • Fever, chills or other signs of illness
  • Intense, enduring pain that limits your ability to perform simple tasks
  • Persistent pain that lasts for longer than a week 

Your orthopaedic spine specialist will ask you about symptoms and possibly take X-rays, a CT scan or MRI to assess the extent of the injury and recommend treatment options for back pain.  

How can you prevent back sprains?

Staying active is essential to avoiding back injuries. Engage in regular aerobic activities and stretching exercises to build strength, endurance and flexibility. Staying active also helps you decrease excess weight, which is a major risk factor for back injuries. Pay attention to proper posture both standing and sitting. Move safety by employing proper mechanics when lifting objects and performing sudden movements.

Seeking treatment when you throw your back out

Back injuries can be seriously crippling in the moment, but they do not have to be worrisome if you take the right steps to resolve them. If you throw out your back, be patient the recovery process and don’t hesitate to reach out for medical attention. Contact the orthopaedic spine specialists at Cary Orthopaedics for a appointment in Cary, Holly Springs or Morrisville. 

 

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Was he green?

Worldwide environmental obsession peaked in 2006 with the release of Davis Guggenheim’s documentary film An Inconvenient Truth, which tells the story of Al Gore’s (former US Vice President and 2007 Nobel Peace Prize winner) crusade against the global warming and the horrific facts of irreversible climate change on our planet. The American film community, always ready to pick up some high-profile initiative, immediately became infected with green ideas and began to swear allegiance to the green cause and get rid of the air-damaging SUVs. The fight for the environment has become a fashionable trend in Hollywood: one or another celebrity declared himself green in turn. However, journalists soon began to notice that in fact, not all of them care so much about the health of our planet – even a special subspecies of paparazzi appeared – ecorazzi, hunting down star hypocrites, exposing them and counting the personal “contribution” to global warming of each of them. Green Diary, TreeHugger, Global Green USA, Grist, The Daily Green, Culture of Green – blogs that oversee celebrities through whistleblowers in Los Angeles and New York – stigmatize anyone who makes cheap PR on the environment.
Considered already almost a saint, Bono wants to save the world?

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Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin tirelessly plant trees and eat only organic products?

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