Similar to the kind of agony you'd expect if you'd just tried to clean-and-jerk an armoire. The usual remedies—heat, rest, OTC painkillers—offer no relief.
The condition: "If it's not related to exercise, sudden severe back pain can be the sign of an aneurysm," says Sigfried Kra, M.D., an associate professor at the Yale school of medicine.
Particularly troubling is the abdominal aneurysm, a dangerous weakening of the aorta just above the kidneys. But don't worry; eventually, the pain subsides—right after your body's main artery bursts.
A less threatening possibility: You have a kidney stone. More pain, but you'll only wish you were dead.
The diagnostics: A CT scan using intravenous radiopaque dye does the best job of revealing the size and shape of an aneurysm. Once its dimensions are determined, it'll be treated with blood-pressure medication or surgery to implant a synthetic graft.
