I would highly recommend finding a good chiropracter. I have just recently just started seening a chiro...and i want to sing the praises. Find a good one that does xrays etc first. You may have a sprined muscle...but sprained muscles are usually tight due to misaligned spines. Trust me...i was at work one day, bent over to pick up a pen, and couldn't get up. I hurt sooooo bad. My lower back muscle was just one big knot. Found out my pelvis has been misaligned for a long time. I've only had about 6 visits so far...but felt a difference after the first visit. You're "sprained" muscle could be a misalligned spine. Also, make sure you always stretch good and long after working out since tight quads and hams will cause pressue on the back.

It sounded like a tailbone bruise to me too -- the coccyx. If it hurts to sit and especially if it is excruciating to go from sitting to standing...

I had that happen when I fell down the stairs a number of years ago. In fact, it was one of the motivators to finally lose weight! Apparently lots of women have that happen in childbirth. If that is what it is, there's not much they can do.

However, keeping in touch with the doctor is the best thing, as diagnoses via internet tend to be unreliable!

For the time being I am very well. I think it is either the painkillers kicking in or it was just some strain. I am optimistic enough to believe it will go by Monday morning.

Ladies, you are so absolutely right about the chiropractor. My mum has started visiting one and he has done miracles on her. I will start visiting one after I go back to Cyprus. Another thing that does miracles with back aches is swimming. I used to do a lot of swimming when I was in Cyprus as the weather allows it throughout the year and my back pains were very rare (I know that for a 22 year old it is a bit weird having back pains so early but ever since that car-accident I am prone to them) .

Hope the pain will completely go away by tommorow.

I herniated a disk several years ago. It was winter and my car door had frozen shut. I was on my way to the gym before work, and I was so determined not to miss the gym, well I pulled really hard and got my door opened, but also herniated a disk in my lower back. I was fine until I had walked up the flight of stairs to the gym and suddenly POW! Never had such pain before or since.

Just as a precaution, you might want to make sure the chiropractor does xrays first, because for disc herniations, at least in some cases, chiropractic manipulations can do more damage. I doubt it's a concern because I don't think you'd be feeling better already if it was a herniated disk.

I do wholeheartedly agree about water exercise for any back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, or anyone who has difficulty exercising on land (or anyone who just loves the water). When I was able to return to work after I herniated the disk (I was a probation officer at the time), I was at the YMCA pook three times a day. Before work, on my lunch hour, and after work. At first, I could only tread water because the horizontal position was extremely painful. I joked to my boss that I if I could find away to make my files waterproof, I'd stay in the pool all day, and my clients could report poolside.
Being weightless took all the pressure off my spine.

Even now when I say I could live in the water, I very nearly mean it. Finding away to sleep without drowning might be a trick, though.