Question
My husband last year picked up a table and suddenly had severe pain to his lower back (more to one side and middle).  We went to Casualty Dept.  They checked him over (no x rays) and said he must have torn muscles in back.  Gave him pain meds.  Yesterday he just bent slightly to lock a gate and again his back went.  This time it is across in the centre lower back.  He cannot move.  A Doctor hasn't come out to see him just asked questions and gave me details over phone.  Told to give him paracetamol and eventually it would get easier to move.   Can you advise what we should do.  After 32 hours he is no better

Answer
It is difficult to give you a detailed answer without seeing your husband myself and performing my own tests, but with the information you have given me, it does partially sound like a muscle issue.  I say partially because muscle don't always "strain" on there own, sometime there is a bony attachment issue that accompanies it, in my terminology its called a subluxation.  What that means is that a bone, usually vertebrae is misaligned, and when that happens it pulls on the muscles and causes a strain.  I assume, since you didn't mention it, there is no tingling or numbness down either leg or into the buttocks, which is good because that lessens the chance that the injury is involving the discs.  I strongly suggest seeing a chiropractor, they can treat all of your symptoms and attempt to correct it.  It's not a "catch-all" but it is a better solution than sitting around in pain taking muscle relaxers that are not working.  I am unsure where you are but I am a member of a group of chiropractors located in the U.S. and Europe that are excellent doctors and can help.  Go to www.sorsi.com to locate a doctor near you.  If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to email me.

Dr. Starbuck