SCARED!!! PLEASE HELP!!!

[cnote]

I suffer from Anxiety... so I'm usually in this anxiety forum. But a bout 12 days ago I started suffering low low back pain,. It would burn... pull... ache etc. The only thing that I can explain it would be that 3 or 4 days before that, I mowed 3 lawns in 2 days, with a push mower. After 3 or 4 days I started feeling it at work over Memorial day weekend... I was on my feet all day long... It was very uncomfortable to stand up... sit down for too long hurt too... I went to a chiropracter one day... then went to the Dr.'s office that same day, they said it was not my kidneys (b/c sometimes kidneys can cause lower back pain)... and she said I probably just did too much on my back... and the muslces were probably stressed. She gave me 800mg Motrin and 5mg muscle relaxers. Yesterday was the 1st day (day 11) that my back pain seemed to ease up alot. I was able to be on my feet all day without much pain. I find that stretching the muscles helps ease the pain.

Here's my question.

Q: Is it possible for your muscles to start hurting like that after 3 or 4 days after doing that mowing? Because those 3 or 4 days in after mowing, I felt fine.

I got scared b/c I read an article about tick bites... and it said there is an illness called Ehrlichiosis... and some of the symptoms matched mine... it said muscle ache... and I did find a tick on me about 3 weeks ago or so in the shower..

I havnt had a fever I dont think... I got chills one night, but I think it was b/c I was having an anxiety attack.

Q: Do you think I have nothing to worry about? My legs feel kinda shaky and weak... but it could be my anxiety doing that too.

Thanks guys!

[Pointman]

Hi, one thing that might help is drink lots of weater , one of teh best thing for sore muscles, and i  understand your fear, sure  been there  doen that. never wory about asking a question hey yuo know how yuo feel and its yor body.
take care

Pointman

[lonewolf07]

I agree with Mr. Green.  I enjoy cutting the grass and when I cut it for the first time in the year I think I'm not going to have a sore back or anything.  A few days later it hits.  Now when I cut the grass, I take a shower as soon as I'm done and then put some linament on the areas that end up aching and try to keep the area warm.

Unless you have back pain all the time I don't think there is anything unusual in what you are experiencing.

[nursegirl6572]

I keep forgetting to mention....honestly...EVERY time I see your posts...your avatar looks like a NUN!  :0)  Until I look a little closer of course, and see that it's really a pic pf a handsome, young, hoooded man.  :0)

I just giggle....cuz every time I catch a glance...I think "Nun".  

LOL

[nursegirl6572]

PUSH mower?  Back pain????  

Noooooo,  I don't see ANY correlation whatsoever!  ;0)

*****KIDDING!*****

While of course you can understand that what you did could cause various types of muscle strains...etc...I can also understand your worry as to the delayed reaction of sorts.  But, yes...absolutely positively possible.  Actually, with back strains?  Common.  A lot of people have to really "think back" if you will to try to identify the culprit of the injury.

As far as how long it may last?  Well......the answer may not please you.  Back muscle injuries can take some time....so while you'll notice IMPROVEMENT (which it seems you have)....full "recovery" and no pain may take a while....even a month or so.  It will not still hurt actively...but it still may nag you a bit.

Take the Motrin and muscle relaxers (Flexeril?  Soma?....watch for drowsiness, btw!!) as prescribed, do some stretching exercises a few times a day...and try not to lift anything heavy (like over 5-10 #) for a while if you can.  MrGreen also nailed it when he said about all the different muscles involved....that pretty much explains a lot of strange sensations one can get with this sort of injury...and how the pain can be in one place one minute...and another place a minute later.  Back pain also causes a lot of "referred" pain...meaning pain in a different site away from the injured area.....example with back pain would be pain into the back of your thigh, groin, even abdomen.  Sucks huh?  Well, at least you don't have some sort of strange, tick-bourne illness (which reminds me...I've NEVER heard of that...I'll have to google it........)

ON SECOND THOUGHT.....maybe I won't.....or I just may have a new thread of my own of me beig suspicious that perhaps I have it as well...(you live in PA?  Maybe it's all YOUR fault!!)  :0)

Okay...just trying to get a laugh or two out of you (watch the back!)...but really....give it some time...you can also alternate cold and heat...apply 20 min on and 20 off during the day....and with the meds, the stretching...and some rest to the injured area...you'll be as good as new in no time!  Ok, well, not "good as new"...but at least back to your "pre-mowing" self.  ;0)  If it isn't getting better as time goes by...definitely head back to the doc too.

Lastly....how about one of those riding mowers?  The only injury my hubby seems to get is "beer elbow"....it's all good for him.  ;0)

Take care...hope you're feeling better soon...back injuries really aren't any fun!

[MrGreen]

Mowing a lawn, for example, uses various muscles. Muscles that standing on your feet all day qouldn't use. So imagine only using those muscles once a month. It is gonna hurt a bit. It will last a few days too. Be like me going out and running a mile tomorrow. I would be aching for a week or two. Simply just a case of using muscles we don't use that often. And been lazy soda too. LOL.

[cnote]

Thank you so much for writing!!! You made me feel lots better.

You are right... Whatever I "THINK" it could possibly be... and if I keep "THINKING" that then I may trick my body into being that.

I can tell you the pain is way gone... but kinds comes and goes as the day goes by... I need to remind myself that the pain was much much much much worse a few days ago... and compared to now, I feel like a million bucks.... except for my anxiety.

That's all it is.. my head thinking too much... thriving too much, researching **** too much... lol.

You are awesome. Thank you so much for easing my mind... My main concern was just about the mowing the lawns and 3 or 4 days later it coming on.. and you said you've had it happen to you. So that makes me feel better.

Is it typically common/normal for these cramps/stiffness/burning muscles to last 12 days?

I also must add, I'm not very athletic... I'm 25 years old.. male.. and tend to be on my feet all day... but I don't call that excersise.. and when i do quote "excersie" it's stuff like mowing the lawn or going on a walk. lol.

Maybe I should start muscle training. lol.

Talk to you later.

-Chris-

[MrGreen]

I do a lot of gardening. The pain only kicks in when we fully relax. With me that can be a few days later. Lower back pain is not uncommon with myself. even when I am not doing the garden. At times it can be to do with how I sleep. In a draft and the likes. But you did the right thing by having it checked out. Now it all depends on what your mind feels it might be. If your mind is telling you it is something serious, then you make it even worse on yourself. Anxiety can kick in and take over. Make you believe what your mind believes it is. Once that happens it can spread. Might begin with the back. Then the legs next. If you let it. I always say that I have to wait at least a week or more to see if I am ever really sick. Because I am all to aware of the actions of my mind. At best try not to worry it too much. Not to focus on it. And it will disappear as quickly as it came. Not sure if they sell products like deep heat where you live. They are for muscle pains and the likes. It's a cream. You rub it on the area. Mainly used in sports. Smells bad, but can do the trick with muscle pains and aches.