Internal back pain, ongoing. Possibly hormone related

[BubbaFishy]

Not sure if anyone else can provide any insight at all but always worth a try.
I've suffered from broad joint pain for a while which always got much worse in the week leading up to coming on my period. I had referrals to rheumatology who discharged me with hypermobility and secondary fibromyalgia.

The pain moved from broad joint pain to then being a constant internal back pain. Not muscular, not joint. This again was coming on strong in the week leading up to my period and was becoming quite horrendous, naproxen would just take the edge off.

This was for about 3 months and then for the following 3 months it was a constant internal pain. It got considerably worse leading up to my period and was front and back, but still internal.

I went to the GP where I became quite emotional so her answer was to put me on Sertraline (anti depressants) as she said it should level the playing field on the mind (hormones) which in turn should help body. This was a few days before my last period.

After a few nights of insomnia whilst the tablets settled, I've only had a couple of hours of pain here and there, generally after waking up, but spread over the month, until now. Yesterday and today (due on yesterday) the pain has been overwhelming, and now I can't even take naproxen so relying on codeine.

Has anyone else had any experience with similar and and any advice?

(Sorry for the long post)

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I would consider asking your GP to refer you to a gynaecologist because endometriosis can be a cause of ongoing and severe pelvic pain. I would also keep a daily pain and symptom diary as this can give clues.

[MountainDweller]

So infuriating when doctors prescribe antidepressants because you are upset because you are ill!

I agree it could be endo. Horrendous back pain at the end of my period was one of my symptoms.

I would try to get a gynae referral, or even better a referral to a specialist endo centre, though that could be a bit previous as you don’t have a diagnosis yet.

Be prepared to fight... average diagnosis takes years in the U.K.

[Whoyagonna]

Currently going through similar pain so much so that I feel faint. I have so much wrong with me though I don't know which end of me is up. I have a very small cyst on an ovary. Can't help but think this pain is more to do with my bowels.

[BubbaFishy]

Hi ladies,

Thanks so much for your replies. I never really considered Endo before as my periods are quite light and consistent.

That's definitely something for me to bring up.

I had an internal ultrasound a few years back and they said I had "slight" polycystic ovaries but nothing to be concerned about.

I'm supposed to go back to the GP in 4 weeks, but I might ask for someone else this time.

@attila - I do currently keep a record on my period app and there is a definite link

@mountain - one of the GP's in the surgery is brilliant for doing referrals but he's quite popular so really difficult to see him. Will keep trying

@whoya - so sorry to hear this. It's really shit!!