Question
5 weeks ago I believe I sprained my lower back while lifting material that weighed 8 lbs.with my legs straight for a couple of hours.The next morning I tried stretching in the tub with warm water. while touching my toes,I felt something "give" in my lower back that followed with increasing pain and stiffness throughout the day.12 days later,after trying to work through it I finally went to my primary care doctor and he tested me with different maneuvers and came up with the sprain assessment.He ordered xrays and they came back normal for my age,late 40's.He prescribed Feldene,vicodin as needed and flexeril as needed.He told me these injuries take a long time to heal and to take it easy.My work is very strenuous and I need to know if overdoing it will prolong the healing time and cause irritation on the nerves that cause the sporadic tingling in my feet?

Answer
yes you have a sprain strain, but it sounds like you also have a disc herniation or bulge. Hence the tingling in your feet. pain killers and muscle relaxers will help with your back pain, but they do not correct anything. you will have reoccurring back pain ( i can guarantee that) drugs are not the answer and by medicating you risk further damage to your spine down the road. you have a pinched sensory nerve this is why you have tingling in your toes. it may go away on its own, but you MUST find out why that nerve is being pinched.
It's either a disc problem or a spinal misalignment chaffing the nerve. i would take those x rays (MD only looks for pathology of spine : ie; fractures, tumors)
a chiropractor looks at an x ray much more from a structural point of view. if after 6-8 weeks of chiropractic care you still have tingling then get an MRI.

Dr. David Kulla
Synergy Wellness
chiropractor, new york