How can you tell the difference between a slipped disc or just muscle spasms in your back?
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Answers:
First of all if the problem is occuring at work, this may be a work related injury. Talk to your HR department and supervisor. You may want to open a workmen compensation case up. When people work on computers there alot of injuries that can arise for it. I would suggest a ergonomic evaluation to make sure your station is set up properly. Sometimes if the chair is too high or too low or your posture is poor resulting back problems may ensue.
In general, muscle spasm are very similiar to muscle cramps. To tell if you have muscle spasm, lay on your belly and have someone feel both sides of you lower back. Is one side tighter than the other. If so then you are having muscle spasms.
In term of slipped disk, if you did something and your disk slipped you may experience pain in your lower back near your spine. This can occur without compressing a nerve. If it is a large slipped disk and large enough to push on a nerve, then in addition to back pain you will also have radicular symptoms. In other words, you will have pains shooting down you legs or experience leg numbness and or weakness.
Keep in mind, that muscle spasms and slipped disk can occur together. From you description, I suspect that it is mainly muscle spasms. Usually people are doing something fairly exertional when you get a slipped disk.
Go see a doctor. MRI and Xray are COMPLETELY USELESS initially. Start with conservative treatment namely ice you back, NSAIDS like motrin and alleve, physical therapy and ergonomic evaluation. The reason i say mri and xrays are useless initially is because at this stage of the ballgame even if you have a slipped disk conservative management is still the treatment. If you find a slipped disk without pain going down the leg you would not do a cortisone injection and who in there right mind would want to do back surgery without first trying conservative therapy. If conservative therapy works and your back gets better, who cares what the MRI said and it would have be a waste of money to do it. Xrays do not pick up muscle spasms or slipped disk.
Other Answers:
go to the doctor
See a Doctor-have yourself checked out I can't say for sure cus I haven't had a slipped disc. I understand it's very painful. I have however had muscle spasms which feel as tho I have been kicked in the back. Spasms aren't usually sharp pain, I don't think. They are more of a dull constant ache. I would suggest a trip to a chiropractor. It could be something as simple as your hips being out and you will experience relief almost immediately. In the meantime over the counter muscle relaxants may help you a little. Hope this helps.
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