<human>: Hello.my wife has had a lump in the lower left side of her back that is painful,hard and warm to the touch. She has had this since January and the dr s tell her it is a muscle spasm, it is getting bigger and more painful. the pain radiates into her butt cheek and down her left leg, we have a tens unit and it gives her relief when she wears it. Any idea what it could be.
<bot>: Hi, The symptoms that you are having are likely to be due to a nerve root compression. You need to get an MRI scan of the area done and consult a neurophysician for proper diagnosis and treatment.Meanwhile, you can follow these measures:- If the pain is severe, you need bed rest till the pain resolves. - Get some analgesics prescribed and apply analgesic spray or ointments.- While resting, keep a pillow under your knees if it doesn't bother you.- Avoid lifting heavy objects.- Back strengthening exercises and stretching exercises daily as advised by a Physiotherapist.- Avoid exercises in times of pain. - Improvise your posture while sitting.