Could I have a Herniated disk or a sprain?

Was at the gym yesterday finishing my last set of dead lifts. As I was lowering the weight back down I felt a sudden tweak in my lower back (not really a sharp pain, more of just a pinch) immediately my lower back tightened up and I got a bit weak in the knees. I was however able to straiten up and walk away without much issue.

After being home for about an hour the pain became much worse and my back is EXTREAMLY stiff. The most severe pain comes with going from laying/sitting to standing and vise verse. I have a bit of pain running into my legs when sitting for longer periods of time, but its not to bad.

I am trying to get in to see my doc, but it being a holiday week its not likely that I will.

I鈥檓 just wondering how one would know if they have a disk problem as apposed to just a muscle sprain...

Any thoughts?

I just got back from the hospital. The doctor took some X-rays and did a physical exam. He concluded that my symptoms and the results of the xray were on target with a muscle strain and that he thought disk damage would be unlikely. He shot me full of some good pain killers and prescribed me a couple of things. He did say however if i wasn't on my feet in a week or so that disk damage might be possible.

Glad you got to the ER. A Herniated Disk will not show up without an MRI.
When I was 18 I lifted a box that was over 150lbs. The pain was horrific and for about 2 weeks I could barely walk. It took a long time to heal. I was living on muscle relaxants and pain killers.

The morale of my story---10 years later to current--I have a bulging disk in the very spot that I hurt years ago. The pain comes and goes. I've had nerve blocks, PT, Chiropractor.

BE careful with your back and neck. They get injured fairly easily. You're strong and healthy now, but these may come to haunt you years later with arthritis.

For now, you got your meds. Stay in bed--the couch will put your back in an awkward position. Keep a heating pad which you can alternate with ice--ice will bring down the initial inflammation--heat will help the muscles in your back relax.
If you can get up, take a warm bath with epson salts.

If you don't feel better by next week, make an appointment with your doc. He may need to refer you to an Orthopedist.

Be Careful, you only have one body!!

Go see a good massage therapist.. sounds like a soft tissue issue and there is no one better for those than a massage therapist.

Keep moving, it is when you quit a back injury will get worse. Stretch and stretch and stretch some more.

Hi, if the pain runs down your leg on the inside it is a sine that you have possibly popped a disc that has put pressure on the nerve, in you spine, when this happens it damages the nerve slightly and takes time to heal, YOU MUST go and see your doctor or go to the hospital this site is not the proper place to take advice for this kind of problem

It is possible that you have injured the disk, especially given the pain running into the legs it could indicate there is some pressure on the sciatic nerve within the spinal column thus causing pain sensations in the legs (which is the area the sciatic nerve serves), along with the weakness in the legs.

You should see your doctor as soon as possible an MRI should confirm if you do have a Herniated disk, until you can get to see your doctor anti-inflammatory drugs may help to reduce the inflammation and thus the pain, Ibpurofen, Tylenol/Paracetamol or Asperin. If they are over the counter in your country something like neurofen plus could help more (A combination of Ibuprofen with Codeine, or a similar combination such as co-codamol or co-codaprin (codeine/Paracetamol and Codeine/Asprin).

I know these products are not available as over the counter options in some states of the US but in most other countries they should be available.avoid using such products for a prolonged period without medical advice though, codeine can be addictive if used long term although the effects of its withdrawal are fairly mild it is still something to avoid.

In all honesty though I would suggest if your doctors is closed for a holiday you go to your local hospital, the pressure on the nerve could cause further damage if you leave it untreated.