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Q. I have been suffering from intermittent low back pain. Is it sciatica?

Answered by
Dr. Sumit Chawla
and medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team.
This is a premium question & answer published on Sep 14, 2016 and last reviewed on: Sep 07, 2020

Hi doctor,

I am having severe pain in the lower back, more on the right side. I am not able to bend front and my right leg is aching continuously. I am suffering from back pain for last 6 to 7 years and sometimes, it is severe. I had to take bed rest for a week, but I had never taken any medicine. A few months ago, I had the same kind of pain because of lifting a bucket full of water and that time I had taken medicines. Ultracet twice in a day, Dolonex Rapid 20 mg once a day and Myoril 8 mg once a day. Now, I am facing the same problem for the last few days and since yesterday I am taking the same medicines. But, the pain has not relieved completely. Please tell me the appropriate medicine and any test if needed. One more thing I want to know is can this be a neurological case? Is it sciatica?

#

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

  • Since you have pain restricted to your lower back with no radiation to lower limb the pain is not sciatica. In sciatica, the pain radiates from lower back to legs.
  • You could have mechanical backache or disc prolapse without any impingement on the neurological structures. MRI scan will help in making a diagnosis.
  • Currently I suggest the following treatment. Tablet Myoril (combination of Acetaminophen and Tramadol) and tablet Ultracet (Thiocolchicoside). Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with him or her and take the medicine with consent. 
  • Local application of analgesic gel over the affected region. Heat therapy to the affected area.
  • If you have access to the physiotherapist, then you can also get shortwave diathermy to lower back region.
Investigations to be done:

MRI scan lumbosacral spine.

Differential diagnosis:

1. Mechanical backache.
2. Lumbar intervertebral disc herniation with paravertebral muscle spasm.

Treatment plan:

1. Tablet Myoril 4 mg twice a day.
2. Tablet Ultracet twice a day.
3. Local application of analgesic gel over the affected region and heat therapy for low back pain.

Preventive measures:

1. Avoid bending forward, lifting weights and any exercise at present.
2. Avoid sexual activity till resolution of pain.

Regarding follow up:

For further information consult an orthopaedician and traumatologist online.---> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/orthopaedician-and-traumatologist

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