Quick answer: Many people with a sudden low back strain start to feel better within about a week. MedlinePlus says to call your health care provider if your back pain “is severe or doesn’t improve after three days,” and to get care right away for warning signs like back pain after a severe blow or fall, loss of bladder or bowel control, or weakness or numbness in the legs. Bed rest is not recommended.
What counts as acute and chronic low back pain?
MedlinePlus, the health site of the National Library of Medicine, says back pain “can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain.” It separates back pain into two broad groups:
- Acute: “Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks.”
- Chronic: “Back pain is called chronic if it lasts for more than three months.”
The label matters because the questions change over time. A sore back two days after moving furniture is a different situation from pain that has lingered for months.
What usually causes sudden low back pain?
The MedlinePlus article on acute low back pain says it is most often caused by a sudden injury to the muscles and ligaments that support the back, such as a strain, a tear or a muscle spasm. It often starts after lifting something heavy, moving suddenly, sitting in one position for a long time, or an injury.
Less common causes listed on that page include compression fractures, herniated disks, sciatica, spinal stenosis, kidney stones and infections. Some of those need a medical workup, which is one reason an exam is useful when pain does not follow the usual pattern.
If your pain runs down the back of a leg, our post on sciatica and pinched nerves explains what MedlinePlus says about that kind of pain.
What can you do at home in the first few days?
MedlinePlus offers simple self-care steps for acute low back pain:
- Reduce your normal activity for the first few days, then slowly return to your usual activities.
- Use ice for the first 48 to 72 hours, then switch to heat.
- Use over-the-counter pain relievers as directed on the package.
- Skip bed rest. Start light activity, like walking.
- Avoid heavy lifting or twisting for about 6 weeks.
- Try sleeping curled up with a pillow between your legs, or with a pillow under your knees if you sleep on your back.
MedlinePlus says many people feel better within about a week, and the pain should be gone after another 4 to 6 weeks. That is a general pattern, not a promise, and everyone’s back is different.
It can also help to jot down a few notes while you recover: what you were doing when the pain started, which movements make it better or worse, and whether the pain stays in your back or travels. Those details make any later visit more useful, whether you see your primary care provider or a chiropractor.
When should you get low back pain checked?
Here is a simple way to sort the signs MedlinePlus describes.
| What you notice | What MedlinePlus suggests |
|---|---|
| Back pain after a severe blow or fall | Contact a provider right away |
| Loss of bladder or bowel control | Contact a provider right away |
| Leg pain that goes below the knee | Contact a provider right away |
| Weakness or numbness in the legs or pelvis | Contact a provider right away |
| Unexplained fever with back pain | Contact a provider right away |
| Pain that wakes you at night or is worse lying down | Contact a provider |
| History of cancer, or unintentional weight loss | Contact a provider |
| Pain that is severe or does not improve after three days | Call your health care provider |
| Pain lasting longer than 4 weeks | Contact a provider |
When is it an emergency? If back pain comes with sudden loss of bladder or bowel control, new weakness in the legs, or follows a serious fall or crash, do not wait for a routine visit. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. A chiropractic office is not the place for emergency care.
If your back started hurting after a collision, read what to do after a car accident in California as well.
How is low back pain treated?
MedlinePlus says “Treatment for back pain depends on what kind of pain you have, and what is causing it.” It names options such as hot or cold packs, exercise, medicines, injections, complementary treatments and sometimes surgery.
Spinal manipulation is one of those complementary options. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, part of NIH, says spinal manipulation is done with the hands or a device that applies “a controlled thrust to a joint of your spine,” and that “Most spinal manipulations are done by chiropractors.” For low back pain, NCCIH says it “may lead to small improvements in both pain and function.” NCCIH also notes that mild, short-lived side effects like increased pain, stiffness or headache are common and usually fade within a day, and that serious effects are rare.
How does Aguilera Health & Wellness Center look at low back pain?
At Aguilera Health & Wellness Center in Bakersfield, Dr. Frank J. Aguilera starts with a history and exam, and the office offers X-rays when they are appropriate. Depending on what the exam shows, care may include chiropractic adjustments using Diversified and manual techniques, spinal decompression, massage therapy or infrared light treatment. No plan comes with a guaranteed result.
You can read more about the practice’s back, neck and sciatica care or browse all services. Spanish is spoken at the office.
Back still bothering you?
If your low back pain is not settling down, or you are not sure whether it needs a look, call Aguilera Health & Wellness Center at (661) 833-1111 or use the contact page. For any emergency sign above, call 911 first.
