Hi,

Subject : Re lower back pain (Physiotherapist located the pain at L3,L4), mild at most of the time and sometime severe during day or night while standing up or down.

Impact : Uneasy while working whole day at office, Pain while standing up or down from chair, sofa or floor, Pain while coughing as well.

I have lower back pain for last 13 days i.e. from 28th Nov.
I am working in IT for last 8 years and I never never had any such problem in past. I am not sure what caused this problem suddenly which is not allowing me to work properly. I would like to let you know that pain is not severe and it is either mild all the day at work or over the night at home. Also it is appearing and disappearing after rest for a day or two. I am worried about any further consequence of it which can make my life and career difficult as I have seen with many of colleagues. I have listed down following activity which I carried out in last 45 days which could help you to analyze and understand actual cause of this back pain.

1. Change in environment - I was working in UK for last 3 years and returned to India for my wife's medication. As i said, I had never such issue in UK or before. I was doing business as usual including driving car to work and late office hours sitting at desk. Not sure sudden change in environment caused this issue..!
2. Discontinuation of Yoga classes - After returning from UK on 22nd Oct, I took Yoga classes from 22nd Oct to 22nd Nov in Aryavadsala, Kerala. I was accompanying my wife for her medication at Aryavadsala, Kerala where she was getting Ayurveda treatment. I could not continue the Yoga classes from 22nd Nov onwards. Not sure if discontinuation of Yoga Class caused this problem.
3. Lifting heavy weights - I have travelled from Kerala to Chennai on 22nd Nov and I have lifted heavy briefcases weighing 30-35 Kgs while travelling.
4. Sitting Posture at work - I have joined the office in Chennai and I realized yesterday that height of the monitor was not at line of the eye sight. I need to incline my head to work. I think that this may cause this problem however not sure. After discovering it, I have increased the height of the monitor yesterday night with the line of sight.
5. Bed Mattress - The mattress provided in our new flat at Chennai caused the back pain problem for my wife and then we stopped using the mattress provided. My wife got the relief from back pain but it is still continue for me. We are using the general mattress lying at ground.
7. Workout/Swimming caused to reappear the pain - Back pain is appearing/disappearing frequently. It was fine for 2-3 days(Sat/Sun) and so I started swimming and gym yesterday morning. The back pain started again yesterday.
6. Traveling by auto - Normally I feel pain everyday less or more while getting down from Auto. Currently I am traveling by Auto to work everyday. From yesterday, the pain has not reduced after getting down from Auto.

I am not sure who would be right specialist for such problem if required. I went to a general Physician once and he has given me the advice to take rest along with some pain killer which I did not take as pain was not severe. I went to Physiotherapist yesterday, he advised to take the Ultrasound therapy which I did not prefer.

Please suggest the way forward to get rid of this back pain. I am looking for a plan to get rid of it gradually and completely if not quickly knowing the cause of this pain.
Many Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Deepak