Sudden stiffness and pain in lumbar area after a few steps.

@prayersforall
I am a 55 year old female with congenital cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and arthritis. I had surgery on my neck and back (lumbar spine L3-L5 just done on 8/2/2024).

Did you have an MRI of your lumbar spine? What did it show? Do you have any disc issues or stenosis/spinal cord/nerve root compression?

Have you had EMGs/nerve conduction studies of your lower limbs? You can get spinal injections (lidocaine/steroid to reduce inflammation/pain) as long as they know what levels you have compression. Otherwise, the injections won’t help. You can also use Salonpas brand lidocaine pain patches (I use the extra large size and they have no fragrance). They help with nerve pain.

Thank you dear reader for your kind hug. Your warmth 'radiates' across my lumbar area ...
as well as my entire well being. Bless you and all those in pain.

I cannot take NSAIDS either so I started taking Turmeric 500mg 3x day and it has helped decrease my leg and foot numbness and pain. If the pain is localized and not shooting down your leg your ice and heat are a good start. Try laying on the floor against a love seat or couch with your lower legs resting on a seat cushion so your buttock is up against the couch bottom front and your back is flat on floor. This position will relieve your low back pain almost immediately.

Thank you for your kind reply. I hope you are doing well. I'll try to
improvise because "laying on the floor ..." would present other problems.
I do take Turmeric but will look into taking more than 1x a day. Good Luck
and be well. The hug is from me.

one of the other posters asked about an MRI. Should give it a couple days and then go to urgent care to be sure you haven't a silent fracture or herniation. Then you can proceed with our opinions. "sudden" events definitely need medical advice. We don't know anything about you or your age or condition or medical history. Please see a doctor. You could have simply pulled a muscle and rest and ice/heat are sufficient. But maybe not. How would "we" know?

I also can not take NSAIDs anymore. I'm mentioning this in case you can use topical NSAID gel. It's my go to for my cervical spine pains, and sometimes I also use it for lumbar, though like others have mentioned, I got lidocaine and steroid injections into my lumbar instead now. The gel, does not go through your stomach and so some of us can use that. It's called Voltaren (brand name) and (generic) it's diclofenac gel 1%. I buy mine at the grocery or drug store. It runs $10 to $16 depending on size of the tube.

Thank you for your kind reply. I will look into your suggestions. I hope
the go to 'helpers' continue to help you if and when needed which
prayerfully will lessen as time goes by. Good Luck and a hug from me.

I cannot use NSAIDS. I have had 8 lumbar surgeries 2 were fusions. I experience the I need to sit right now pain. I started using a rollater for that purpose I would be walking and especially if I had to stand in place suddenly I need to sit and I have a seat with me. I use ice packs, heating pads, Voltaren, and Biofreeze. For me personally Biofreeze takes away the pain.

Good wishes to you dear reader. It's not easy living with pain or for that matter, it's
not easy being green either. (Did you smile? Hope so). Thank you for your suggestions.
Bless you. The hug is from me.