Expert: Gerald Anzalone, D.C. - 10/4/2009

Question
I have been having lower back pain come and go daily its an every day thing for about a month now. whenever I have pain and lay down to straighten out my back I feel and hear subtle pops in my lower back right on and above my belt line. I work at 7eleven and stand on my feet for 10 to 12 hours a day usually 5 or 6 days a week. I do semi heavy lifting daily (between 20 or 30lbs) but I try to properly lift everytime and there is not one instance where I would have overworked it and caused damage to my recent knowledge. but I've been doing this for four years. if there is anything u can help me with on either diagnosis this or correcting it would be extremely helpful its starting to interfere with my daily life. thank you

Answer
Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, I can't provide you with a diagnosis or specific recommendations for treatment over the Internet. In general, however, your symptoms seem to suggest that you may have reached a point in your life where you are suffering from degenerative disc disease and/or degenerative joint disease, which most commonly cause symptoms similar to those that you described.

Your best bet would be to make an appointment with an evidence-based, musculoskeletal-based chiropractor (one need only ask if the doctor is musculoskeletal-based or subluxation-based when calling for an appointment) and have a proper evaluation and examination performed, after which a diagnosis may be rendered and a treatment plan discussed.

Alternatively, you may seek a referral to a physical therapist from your primary care physician.

I hope that this points you in the right direction.