Braxton Hicks?

I'm currently 36 weeks and 2 days pregnant, and so far through out my whole pregnancy I havent had any problems. At times I forget that I'm pregnant! But lately I've had this weird pain like feeling in my lower back but only on my side as if my back is sore, and then today I got up to do laundry and felt a sharp pain like period cramps,but it was only one my left side and higher up on my stomach and it went away right after that. 
so I'm wondering what it could be, I don't know what Braxton hicks are exactly and or how they feel and I called my doctor but she hasn't gotten back to me yet.