Acute Low Back Pain Quiz
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Low back pain
Pain in the lower back worsens when standing up
Pain in the lower back with slouching
Pain in the spine
I have back pain
Low back pain when standing straight
Pain on one side started first
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Acute Low Back Pain?
Sudden pain in the lower back can be caused by muscle strain, such as after lifting heavy objects or coughing vigorously. In some cases, the pain is apparent upon waking up and no preceding cause is found.
Typical Symptoms of Acute Low Back Pain
- Symptoms started with lower back pain on one side only
- Back pain worse with exercise
- Lower back pain triggered by lifting objects or bending forward
- Lower back pain when standing up straight
- Difficulty walking normally
- Lower back pain
- Difficulty standing up from sitting position
- Lower back pain worse when getting up from sitting
Diagnostic Questions for Acute Low Back Pain
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Did you have lower back pain on one side only when your symptoms started?
- Does your back pain worsen after exercising?
- Do you have lower back pain when lifting objects or bending forward?
- Do you have lower back pain when you stand up straight?
- Do you have difficulty walking normally?
Treatment of Acute Low Back Pain
This condition usually improves without treatment. Reducing strenuous activities, taking a short period of bed rest, and using warm compresses can help. In severe cases, seeing a physiotherapist and taking medications to reduce pain and muscle spasms can be helpful.
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Feb 19, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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See full list
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FAQs
Q.
Shooting Leg Pain? Why Your Sciatica Is Misfiring & Your Next Steps to Relief
A.
Shooting leg pain that travels from your lower back down one leg is often sciatica, a misfiring nerve signal from irritation or compression due to things like a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, piriformis irritation, or spondylolisthesis, and most cases improve with time, smart movement, and targeted care. Know the red flags and next steps: seek urgent care for new bladder or bowel loss, groin numbness, or rapidly worsening leg weakness, and otherwise use gentle activity, heat or ice, NSAIDs if safe, posture changes, and physical therapy, with imaging or injections considered if symptoms last beyond 6 to 8 weeks; there are several factors to consider, and important details that could change your plan are outlined below.
References:
* Konstantinou, T. M., Gkouvas, V. A., Gkotsis, G. K., Kouridakis, P. G., & Nikolaou, G. K. (2020). Sciatica: Diagnosis and Management for the General Practitioner. *American Family Physician*, *101*(9), 566–574. PMID: 32379374.
* Oh, J., & Kim, E. (2019). Diagnosis and Treatment of Lumbar Radiculopathy. *PM & R : the Journal of Injury, Function, and Rehabilitation*, *11*(7), 785–794. PMID: 31238478.
* Luijsterburg, P. A. J., Verhagen, A. P., & Ostelo, R. W. G. (2018). Conservative management of sciatica. *Journal of Pain Research*, *11*, 893–909. PMID: 29713217.
* Dydyk, A. M., & Massa, R. N. (2023). Sciatica. In *StatPearls*. StatPearls Publishing. PMID: 30009653.
* D'Andrea, G., Cattani, L., & Meagher, S. (2018). Sciatica: diagnosis, treatment and future directions. *The Spine Journal*, *18*(12), 2320–2332. PMID: 30206143.
Q.
Tingling in Back: Why Women 30-45 Can’t Ignore It + Next Steps
A.
Tingling in the back for women 30 to 45 is commonly due to posture or muscle strain, but can also point to disc issues with sciatica, stress, hormonal shifts, or vitamin B12 or D deficiency. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more and to learn which red flags like new leg weakness, bladder or bowel changes, groin numbness, fever, recent trauma, or unexplained weight loss mean you should seek urgent care. Immediate steps include posture fixes, moving every 30 to 60 minutes, heat or ice, stress reduction, and asking your clinician about labs and targeted therapy, but persistent or worsening tingling should be evaluated since early care helps prevent long term problems. Full guidance on next steps and when to see a doctor is outlined below.
References:
* Kluger CS, Kluger RJ, Kluger CA. Evaluation of Numbness and Tingling. StatPearls [Internet]. 2023 Jan; PMID: 32644469.
* Dydyk AM, Massa NM, Mesfin FB. Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Review. StatPearls [Internet]. 2023 Jan; PMID: 32491630.
* Oh J, Calabresi PA, Darwish M, et al. Multiple sclerosis. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2023 Jul 13;9(1):37. PMID: 37443152.
* Ankar A, Kumar A. Vitamin B12 Deficiency. StatPearls [Internet]. 2023 Jan; PMID: 32310534.
* Henschke N, Ostelo RW, van Tulder MW, et al. Red flags for back pain: a systematic review in an international primary care setting. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013 Nov 1;38(23):2091-9. PMID: 24096054.
Q.
Cyclobenzaprine: What Women 30-45 Must Know & Vital Next Steps
A.
Cyclobenzaprine can provide short-term relief of muscle spasms and back strain for women 30 to 45, but it often causes drowsiness and should be used briefly while you focus on active recovery like stretching and physical therapy; avoid alcohol and other sedatives, and speak with your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. There are several safety factors and next steps to consider, including interactions with antidepressants that can raise serotonin syndrome risk, heart rhythm concerns, when to reassess after 1 to 2 weeks, and red flags that need urgent care; see the complete guidance below to choose the best next step for your health.
References:
* Patel RM, Jha R, Tampi RR, Jaiswal V. Cyclobenzaprine revisited: A review of its role in musculoskeletal conditions. Asian J Psychiatr. 2021 May;60:102652. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102652. Epub 2021 Mar 22. PMID: 33799298.
* Toh S, Chia S, Lin HM, Chen C, Grosse SD, O'Malley L, Renda V, Chen J, Lu C, Hu C, Walker AM. Cyclobenzaprine for fibromyalgia: a meta-analysis. Clin Ther. 2012 Mar;34(3):570-80. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2012.02.007. Epub 2012 Feb 28. PMID: 22387199.
* Bérard A, Zhao JP, Sheehy O, Forget A, Blais L. Cyclobenzaprine safety in pregnancy: a prospective cohort study. Reprod Toxicol. 2011 Oct;32(2):168-74. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2011.06.002. Epub 2011 Jun 10. PMID: 21683103.
* Anderson PO, Sauberan JB, Lane JR, Monroy F, O'Connell C. The transfer of cyclobenzaprine into human milk. J Hum Lact. 2010 Nov;26(4):394-6. doi: 10.1177/0890334410373703. Epub 2010 Jun 25. PMID: 20581335.
* Tatro DS, Pham DQ, Olin BR. Drug interactions with skeletal muscle relaxants: A review. J Pharm Pract. 2012 Dec;25(6):619-24. doi: 10.1177/0897190012461962. Epub 2012 Sep 27. PMID: 23023028.
Q.
Diclofenac for Women 30-45: Safety, Relief & Your Next Steps
A.
For women 30 to 45, diclofenac can provide effective short-term relief for inflammatory pain like menstrual cramps, acute low back pain, and joint or muscle strains; consider topical gel for localized pain to reduce stomach side effects and always use the lowest effective dose for the shortest time. There are several safety factors to consider, including risks to the stomach, heart, and kidneys, important pregnancy and fertility cautions, and drug interactions, plus red-flag symptoms that require urgent care; see the complete guidance below for who should avoid it, safer dosing, and the right next steps.
References:
* Wong AYP, Zhang Z, Leung JCS, Wong WT, Chung CK, Chan YH, Yan VWK, Mok BPL, Wu KKW, Chow CCY, Lam W, Leung K-S, Cheung BMY. Cardiovascular and gastrointestinal safety of diclofenac: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2020 Jul;86(7):1260-1270. doi: 10.1111/bcp.14251. Epub 2020 Apr 23. PMID: 32239611; PMCID: PMC7302450.
* Schmidt M, Lunde A, Schirmer H, Landmark K, Dalhoff KP, Sogaard P, Toft Sorensen HT, Rix M, Pedersen L, Christiansen CF. Diclofenac use and cardiovascular risks: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Eur Heart J. 2018 Jan 14;39(3):189-199. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehx545. PMID: 29069352.
* Marjoribanks J, Ayeleke RO, Farquhar C, Proctor M. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Jul 22;(7):CD001751. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001751.pub3. PMID: 26202517.
* Andersen LL, Kristensen DM, Kjær L, Dalsgaard L, Christensen M, Nielsen JE, Støttrup L, Knudsen UB, Jensen TK, Jørgensen N, Kjaer SK. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and female reproduction: implications for fertility, pregnancy, and contraception. Drug Saf. 2014 Jun;37(6):421-34. doi: 10.1007/s40264-014-0164-3. PMID: 24740751.
* Patel MV, Jick H. Diclofenac and the risk of acute liver injury: A review of the literature. Drug Saf. 2017 Mar;40(3):189-200. doi: 10.1007/s40264-016-0487-y. PMID: 27909749.
Q.
Sciatica Relief for Women 30-45: Symptoms & Your Action Plan
A.
For women ages 30 to 45, sciatica often shows up as sharp or burning pain shooting from the lower back down one leg with tingling, numbness, or weakness, commonly linked to disc issues, pregnancy and postpartum changes, prolonged sitting, or lifting and intense workouts. There are several factors to consider when choosing next steps, from immediate relief like smart movement, ice then heat, NSAIDs, core and posture work, and physical therapy, to red flag symptoms that need urgent care and when to see a doctor if pain persists; see below for the complete action plan, timelines, and prevention tips.
References:
* Patel, A., & O'Reilly, D. (2020). Sciatica. *BMJ clinical evidence*, *2020*, 1116.
* O'Connell, N. E., Marinho, F., Bostock, J., & Ribeiro-Filho, P. (2021). Therapies for radicular pain and sciatica: an overview of systematic reviews. *Cochrane database of systematic reviews*, *2021*(9), CD013581.
* Mahtani, K. R., Heneghan, C., Evans, D., & Pluddemann, A. (2019). Clinical management of sciatica: an evidence-based approach. *BMJ Open Quality*, *8*(3), e000579.
* Enthoven, W., Arts, M. P., & Peul, W. C. (2018). Sciatica: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Clinical Course. *The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society*, *18*(4), 717–724.
* Van Der Velde, G., & Peeters, A. (2019). Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review. *Journal of Clinical Neuroscience : Official Journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia*, *61*, 101–110.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Casazza BA (2012). Diagnosis and treatment of acute low back pain. American family physician.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22335313/Atlas SJ, Deyo RA (2001). Evaluating and managing acute low back pain in the primary care setting. Journal of general internal medicine.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11251764/Patel AT, Ogle AA (2000). Diagnosis and management of acute low back pain. American family physician.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10750882/