If you feel pain anywhere else, it may be caused by a slipped or bulging disc. You’ll typically feel more pain while you’re standing and less pain while you’re sitting or lying down.
Your back may feel extra stiff when you wake up in the morning or after resting. This could also be the sign of a bulged or slipped disc. Have your doctor perform an MRI if the stiffness is persistent.
When you try to straighten up, you’ll likely feel pain. Difficulty maintaining posture could also be caused by a slipped or bulging disc. Have your primary doctor perform an MRI to be sure if the problem persists.
Muscle spasms likely mean your pain is caused by a muscle strain.
It’s possible that a severe muscle injury, like a tear, may cause pain that lasts longer. If your pain doesn’t go away, it’s a good idea to see your doctor to get a proper diagnosis so you can get the right treatment.
If you start feeling back pain, stop whatever you’re doing. Continuing the activity that hurt you will likely make the pain worse. Muscle strains usually go away on their own after 4-6 weeks.
A slipped or bulging disc can make you feel pain anywhere on your back, though lower back pain is most common.
It’s unlikely that a muscle strain will cause pain in your limbs unless you also injured those muscles.
You won’t always experience this sensation with a slipped or bulging disc, so you can still have one even if you don’t feel numbness or tingling. Muscle injuries rarely cause numbness or tingling, especially in other areas of your body.
Your muscles may feel weak because of a slipped or bulging disc, so it’s important to recognize when the weakness is coming from your legs and arms versus your back. If your back pain is causing weakness in other areas of your body, you may have a slipped or bulging disc.
You may even notice that your pain returns suddenly for no obvious reason. This is usually a sign of a slipped or bulging disc. You usually will feel more pain while you’re sitting or bending, but feel relieved when you stand. You may feel sharp, shooting pains in your feet and legs.
Always use safe lifting practices.
Being older than age 40. Exercising too vigorously. Operating vibrating machinery. Being inactive. Carrying extra bodyweight. Having family members with slipped or bulging discs. Adults older than 50 may be developing degenerative disc disease as opposed to herniating a disc.
After doing a basic exam, your doctor will decide if you need more diagnostic tests to determine the cause of your pain.
X-rays to rule out broken bones, alignment issues, an infection, or a tumor. A CT scan to create an image of your entire spinal column. An MRI to view your spine and identify the location of a bulging or slipped disc, as well as the nerves it’s pinching. A myelogram to look for multiple slipped discs via X-ray after a dye is inserted into your spinal fluid.
If you can’t take NSAIDs, you may be able to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) instead. Although it won’t reduce your inflammation, it can help relieve your pain. It’s best to use as little pain medication as possible because it can get addictive. Always follow your doctor’s advice and read the labels on your medications. Don’t take more pain relievers than are recommended, even if your pain doesn’t go away.
