Could I ask for help with this awful back pain

[3luckystars]

I am having very bad lower back pain for the last 2 weeks. I can barely straighten up at all. Last week I was in agony and had to be lifted to stand. I have pain all day and all night.
I went to the GP (I’m in Ireland so it’s easy get an appointment here) they gave me anti inflammatories and painkillers and ordered and mri.
The anti inflammatories really worked but I have been in pain since, lower back, down my left hip and my leg feels numb.

I have similar pain for the last 3 years when I walk, often after I come back from the walk I can’t sit down but nothing like this level of pain.

The mri has come back completely clear, my bones are perfect.

On the day I went for the mri I had some red blood spotting, and had a period 2 weeks previously after not having a period for a year. I’m 44 and am on cerazette due to very heavy periods coming close together and pain.

I’m wondering now could this be gynaecology related or bowel or appendix even? The anti inflammatories have a huge impact on the pain. I have an appointment with the gp on Monday and I’m hoping she will be able to figure out what is causing it. I feel like because nothing showed on the mri that they might think it’s all in my head.

Can anyone help or advise me? I’d be so grateful for any replies.

Sounds like sciatica initially but could you see an osteopath as they understand more about back pain than a GP generally does. I’ve always been told that any change in bowel movements with back pain should be investigated urgently so I wonder if it could also be the case here.

Would a problem with the bowel have shown up in the mri? Sorry for the stupid question now.
Thank you I will ask her about that, I have constipation all the time too. No change. Thanks so much for the reply.

It's not a kidney infection is it?

If you have numbness around your vulva / anus or loss of bowel control etc then it's urgent hospital visit, something to do with nerve compression I recall.
The numbness STRONGLY suggests nerve impingement, sciatic type pain. Do you have the MRI images?
I'm wondering if a fibroid or something is pressing on you? It could be relevant I think.
Turmeric is a good anti inflammatory.
I'm in no way medically qualified. I hope you feel better soon

Awkwardly positioned fibroids? Ovarian cyst? Maybe a gynae could take a look at your mri as well?

@3luckystars

Would a problem with the bowel have shown up in the mri? Sorry for the stupid question now. Thank you I will ask her about that, I have constipation all the time too. No change. Thanks so much for the reply.

I don’t know TBH, I’ve just been told this and asked if there is any change when ever Ive been to an osteopath before.

Now you've said about constipation I'd be looking at bowel and gynecology issues.

3luckystars, if the constipation is new, I think the GP must be told and look into that. Any substantial change in bowel habits with no apparent reason is a red flag.

Are you able to pay to see an osteopath privately, asap, to rule out anything that the MRI might have missed?

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Lots of green salads and big portions of spinach/kale/cavalo nero. Or seaweed.

That should ease things after a few days.

Thank you so much. I think it’s definitely gynaecology related but the constipation definitely is not helping. That’s not new, I try to eat well and keep on top of it but I have always had it and I think the anti inflammatories are making it worse.
You have no idea how grateful I am for the replies, thank you so much. It means so much to be able to discuss it as I thought it would be clear from the mri what was causing the pain and stiffness. When she said my back and pelvis were all clear i didn’t know what to do.

Thanks so much. I will post back on Monday after visiting the gp and will let you know how I get on.

@WitchDancer they tested my urine with a stick at the clinic so I think my kidney is ok. Thank you.

Just wanted to update this, I went to see the GP today. The pain is still there but has improved a lot, so she is not worried about it. She thinks if it’s improving then that’s a good sign and it was a muscle strain? She said these don’t show on an mri. I asked her if it would be this painful and she said they can be very painful but I have my doubts as i couldn’t even stand up and it coincided with a period so I’m fairly sure it’s gynae related. I left feeling like a bit of an idiot. I have an appointment to see the gynaecologist at the end of the month so I’ll see what he says about it. Thanks again for all the advice.

She also suggested physiotherapy so I’m going later his week.

Don't rule out the possibility that you have two (or more) issues. For instance sciatica and gynaecological. They might play off each other.

I think you are right. Thank you.

So I went to a physiotherapist today after being referred there by the doctor. When I got there it was a ‘spinal clinic’ I wasn’t even going to go in as I was so embarrassed after the mri showing nothing and the pain has hugely improved. (It’s still there but nothing as bad as the previous two weeks.)

Anyway they had a spinal surgeon there and he came in to look at the mri and said there was inflammation on my sacroiliac joint, he showed it to me and it was all white on the area where I am having the bad pain.

So it wasn’t in my head!! Thanks be to God. They have organised some physiotherapy and if it gets bad again they can give me an injection for the pain.
I’m still going to the gynaecologist in a few weeks anyway as I have the appointment now.
So part of the mystery is definitely solved so I just wanted to thank you all so much for talking with me while I was in so much pain. Thanks a million.

Glad to hear that. I have sacroiliac pain and am interested in what your physio suggests. Would you mind sharing once you've seen them?

I absolutely will yes.