What Is A Quadratus Lumborum Anyway?

It is something everyone has and is used many times throughout the day. We use it to get in and out of bed. We use it when walking, especially going up steps. It's used when getting in and out of the car. It is also used with forward bending. I found out Tuesday morning while getting out of bed just what it is! It is a deep, back muscle that connects our iliac crest (hip bone) to our spine. It is irregular and quadrilateral shaped and broader at the base. It was all I could do to walk, shower, get dressed (just try putting on underwear, pants, socks and shoes without lifting your foot off the floor!), get into the car, drive to work, get out of the car, and function at work. My left leg was not functioning! Oh, how I was grateful to work at a Dr's. office! Thanks to Melanie, my supervisor, who brought patients back to rooms for me so I wouldn't have to walk the long hallways, an injection of 60mg of Toradol (and I haven't had a shot in the hip since Jenny was born 30 years ago!) and an Amrix pill was the only way I survived until getting into Physical Therapy at 12:30 p.m. This muscle would spasm when lifting my left leg and when attempting to bend over. How many movements do you make in a day that require you to pick up your leg and/or bend over? I guarantee you will know when that muscle acts up and spasms with every attempted move. While in physical therapy I performed many movements to identify the source of the pain. It was determined that I had referred pain to the left sacroiliac joint. Following an ultrasound of the area, I had interferential stimulation combined with a cold pack (which felt GREAT!) with manual massage to the area. I was fortunate to have a co-worker, scheduled for the morning only, stay for my afternoon shift. Thanks Lindsey! I managed to get myself home and slept in the afternoon. On Wednesday, I was able to bend over without pain. Still having pain with lifting my left leg, therefore, I encountered difficulty getting dressed, getting in and out of the car, and climbing steps. Ibuprofen and the heating pad were my friends throughout the next two days and nights. I visited my Physical Therapist friend on Thursday for ultrasound and massage. He placed a battery-operated medication patch to my lower left back which time-released a steroid into the skin. Today, Sunday, is the first day I have not had pain when lifting my left leg! Yippee!! I'm not marching anywhere yet but I hope that I will be able to do that soon!