Back Problems --

[Tiger Fan]

This may be a question for the CB, but I thought some of you might have advice - so here goes. I've been nearly three weeks with terrible lower right back pain. I have had ultrasounds for kidney or gall stones, x-rays, etc. and have an MRI set for Monday. All I keep getting is what it's not - it is not kidney stones, gall stones, kidney infection, shingles, pulled muscles (I can bend over and touch my toes with no added pain, movement doesn't hurt either, the pain is just constant - nothing hurts or helps it), no tumors in the spinal area. I have seen 4 different docs including now a chiropractor, who does not even think it's muscle-skeletel related. I am in very bad pain at least 50% of the time. My family physician implied yesterday that I may have a bulging disk, but she really feels my emotional state (very stressed with the pain and the lack of info) is making me worse - I almost felt like she thought it was more stress. I definately have severe pain in lower back - never, ever had any back pain before. The pain is lower right back and radiates around my side. Any ideas? Thanks for listening.

Lisa

 

[teri]

Have you had a recent GYN exam? The reason I ask, it sounds like you have done the other usual things by now. I get ovarian cysts, and sometimes the referred pain does go to my back.

A bulging disk is a possibility, although that usually changes with movement. My husband has a slipped disk in his neck, adn it was dreadful for a few months there, very stressful for him... but with time, rest and medication he was able to pull though it without surgery. Another possibility is local nerve root irritation - that would not be different with movement, and would explain why it radiates aroudn your side rather than down your leg. That would require rest, relaxation, time and possibly steroids if non-steroidal antiinflammatories are not helping.

When my arthritis is flaring, I sometimes get it in the joints in my spine and the pain seems to radiate, but again that hurts more with movement.

{{{{hugs}}}}} You need a break, rest, and for someone to take good care of you!

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't have much to add, but it sounds like they have ruled out a lot of the more common things. It's very frustrating to have a long list of what you DON'T have when they can't tell you what you DO have. It does help the doctors to narrow things down when they do tests that tell what it's not. Unfortunately, pain is sometimes the hardest thing to find a solution to. You can't really measure or see pain, so that makes it harder to get to the bottom of.
I am a nurse and I like to remind people that medicine is like a jigsaw puzzle where you have no idea what the picture is. The symptoms that you report are some of the pieces. The doctor discovers more pieces with an exam. Sometimes the puzzle is one the doctor has seen before or it's an easy one to solve. Sometimes they need a lot more puzzle pieces (extra tests). Yours apparently is one of those 2,000 piece puzzles that may take a little more to solve.

 

[Tiger Fan]

Thanks for your replies (and to others for the PMs of well wishes). Teri, I had a hysterectomy in July, so rule out the ovarian cyst. The hysterectomy was to stop estrogen production because my form of cancer is estrogen receptor positive - estrogen is like fuel on the fire so to speak. I had a bladder infection right after, hence the reason the kidney trouble popped up as an idea. I have to say that I'm feeling some better, which indicates something muscle related possibly. I've been resting extensively for over a week so hopefully I'm looking to brighter days. Thanks again to all.

Lisa

 

[teri]

Lisa,
Do rest... I am glad you are feeling better, and also know that you have to keep taking care of yourself so it has a chance to heal -- whatever it is!

Doctors have their differential diagnoses, thy are looking for serious, life-threatening or surgical problems... and sometimes when a person comes in with a problem that they cannot trace, they will tend to move to the assumption that a problem is psychosomatic. But I don't really think that is it.

Imagine how you feel when you have a splinter... it is tiny, it is not life threatening, you may not even be able to see it, but it drives you to distraction and takes your attention away from what you really want to be doing. And if that 'splinter' happens to be some minor irritation somewhere near a pain receptor nerve, the effect is going to be even more intense -- but still not life threatening. If you have recently gone through a major illness and you are concerned about a recurrence, the worry is very real, and so is the pain... but rest and relaxation will probably be enough this time. That is good news! Sounds like your doctor is looking out for you.

{{{{hugs}}}}