James F. Geiselman
Chiropractor
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
I have a question regarding lower back pain. When I go to lay down on my back, and I breathe, it makes my lower back hurt a lot. Is this normal or concerning? Should I ignore it like all my other pain? I will be lying down and cannot breathe because of the pain. I literally cannot breathe when I lay on my back. It takes a bit and eventually can breathe, but it hurts so bad. Kindly help me.
Hi,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I am sorry to hear about your pain. To answer your question quite simply, no, your back should not hurt just laying down. How long has this been going on? Any accidents or trauma? Where does your back hurt right side or left side, or in the middle? Any other symptoms? Any numbness or tingling down your legs? What other pains do you have? Please answer the above questions for better help.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you. It has been like this for a few weeks. It has gotten worse over the last few days. There are no accidents or trauma that I am aware of. It hurts all over in my lower back. This could be totally unrelated, but I also will randomly get a sharp pain in my groin area, and it does not go away for a few minutes. Kindly give your opinion.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Those could be related. Does it hurt to sit or stand? How are the movements? What makes your pain better or worse? Please answer the question for further help.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you. It sometimes hurts when I sit, especially when I get in my car that is lower to the ground. Breathing while lying down makes it worse. Sometimes it hurts to move it. Therefore, I do not move it far. It hurts to bend over. I know you are going to tell me not to do this, but I lay on my side and twist a bit, and my back will just start to crack. If I stand for a long time, my legs hurt, and then my back hurts worse. For example, me working eight hours straight a day for six days a week is killing me. We get one half an hour break, if even that, so I stand all day. Kindly help me.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I appreciate the information. Without doing a proper exam, it is really hard to pinpoint the exact cause of your pain. Based on what you have described, I would recommend making an appointment with a local chiropractor for an examination and treatment. Additionally, at your first appointment, X-rays may be taken, and depending on those results, further testing may be recommended. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you. I am going to a chiropractor on Wednesday. I just do not know what to tell him. Kindly guide me.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Just tell them exactly what you told me. They will ask the same questions I did (and more). They will then perform a physical exam, including neurological tests, muscle tests, and orthopedic tests, trying to recreate the pain. At that point, the doctor will decide whether X-rays and any advanced imaging is wanted. I hope this was helpful.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you. This has happened before now that I am thinking about it. How does back pain associate with neurological things? Kindly give your opinion.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
When did it happen before? Any trauma or injury, then? Pain is a neurological symptom. We have nerves throughout the body, and all of the signals from the body eventually make their way to the spine (spinal cord) before making their way up to the brain. We have large nerves that come out of the spine at all levels of the spine but particularly in the low back that can cause neurological symptoms in the groin and lower legs. If there is something occurring in the low back, it can cause a variety of symptoms which is why an examination is so important. I hope this was helpful.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you. I am not a hundred percent positive, but I think it happened end of winter or early spring this year. What happened was I was cleaning out the garage, and we have a big mat that catches the water and snow that falls off the car. I was home alone, and I needed to get the water out because it was full anyway. I was moving it by myself, and I must have pulled something, but for a few weeks, after that happened, I have lower back pain. The pain was so bad I could not sit or lay down. I went to the chiropractor for it, and it helped along with oral pain medicine. The last time I could not breathe lying down prior to this very moment was last summer. The pain is the worst when I get off of work and go to sit in my car. When I sit down, my legs sometimes feel numb for a minute. Please help me.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Make sure when you go to your appointment this week that you tell your doctor all of this information. Please get back if you have further queries.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you. I will inform them. I cannot lay on my back any longer than a couple of minutes. Kindly help me.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Sometimes low back pain can be relieved temporarily by laying on the floor and propping your legs up at a 90-degree angle on the couch or chair. This helps to open up the spaces in the low back vertebrae. If this does not help or makes the pain worse, discontinue. Have you tried ice or heat? If it is an acute injury, ice may help with temporary relief. If this is more long-term, heat may be able to relax the muscles enough to provide some temporary pain relief. You do not want to use heat, though, if it is an acute injury and you do not want to heat or ice for longer than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. I hope this was helpful.
Patient's Query
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Chiropractor
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