Help! Excruciating back pain

[sorebacktoday]

Hi

i had a bit of a funny turn today at work and not really sure what to make of it!

I’ve had a few episodes recently where my vision goes a bit funny and I feel light headed. It started 6 months ago and has happened a few times. It’s like I see coloured splodges in my vision in both eyes. It looks like when you stare at a light for too long then look at a white wall and then you still see the splodges of colour. I also saw a patch which was like a coloured kaleidoscope patch. I’ve had this a few time recently and had my eyes scanned and it’s fine. It’s just a visual migraine. It feels quite unpleasant when it happens because the coloured splodges make it so hard to see and read properly. I also feel really faint and like I’m in a bubble

anyway, I had it happen to me today at work. I was typing at a computer as I do normally and it started and was awful for 30 minutes and then started to resolve thankfully. But 5 minutes after it resolved, I started to get an awful, and I mean awful, pain in my back. To the point I could barely stand up or even move because it made it so much worse. It’s a pain off to the left side roughly in the centre height wise of my back. I really can’t stress enough how awful it was- within 5 minutes I was in agony and it felt like someone was stabbing into me. It lasted about 1 hour and then improved. I wasn’t sitting in a funny position or holding myself differently and I wasn’t slouching or sitting badly. Out of nowhere it just started to hurt and I was wailing in agony with it! It’s been fine for the rest of the night until the last hour or so where it’s started to feel excruciating again, right in the exact same place

ive NEVER had any sort of back pain before, I’m normally in good health so I’ve no idea what’s happened or if this is even related to the migraine earlier. It just seems weird that I was totally fine before having the visual auto so I was wondering if it was possibly linked? I’m just so miserable and don’t know what to do to help it! It’s awful but not bad enough for a&e etc IYSWIM

OP sounds like you’ve had a worrying day pain wise.
Without an examination, of the top of my head I would be suspecting kidney stone(s) never underestimate the severity of the pain and the sudden onset that can literally floor you. Have you an elevated temperature?
In this instance I would suggest booking an appointment with your gp. Please do not ignore the pain.
Would I link the migraine and the back pain? To be truthful I wouldn’t rule the link out between them. You do need to have an examination, please book an appointment.

I’ve had some very uncomfortable back pain episodes, but nothing like this. They’ve been slow build up and nerve/spasm related.

With what you describe I’d be thinking take this to the GP.

I apologise I didn’t read throughly that you’ve had a flare up with the back pain in the last hour. Drink plenty of fluids, do you suffer with uti’s?
if the pain continues please ring 111.

I'd be pushing for a scan for kidney stones, I had a suspected one last year was bizarre how the pain came on from no where ! One minute I was perfectly fine, 10 mins later rolling in the floor, vomiting as so much pain.

Oh I hadn’t even realised it could be kidney stones! I don’t have a UTI at the moment although I get them quite frequently and they usually fix themselves without treatment.

I just checked in the mirror where the pain is and it’s hard to pinpoint exactly but it’s a bit lower than i initially thought- I’ll post a diagram below and mark roughly where it is

for kidney stone treatment would the GP be able to help with that? I’ll make an appointment first thing on Monday morning and try and get by in the meantime before that! It’s awful and started completely out of nowhere- I was at my desk just about tolerating the aura then all of a sudden I could barely stand up or sit down without being in agony. I’ve been taking cocodamol 30mg (I had leftover from a prev unrelated operation) but it hasn’t even helped at all. both icr and heat didn’t help either. I could burst into tears with it all! Going to be such a long weekend.

So I can’t find a diagram unfortunately but from the front, it I feel to the lowest part of my ribs and then move my finger across round my back- it feels about there, and to the left hand side of my back. The right side is fine

Don’t wait if this pain persists OP x

Sounds kidney

DO NOT WAIT

Go to A&E

And for future reference , You should never let UTI’s just ‘fix themselves’
Have u spoke to the dr about how many you get?

I agree you need to get this checked asap.

do not wait til Monday!

Gallstones can sometimes present with migraine like symptoms accompanying stabbing back pain.
If it happens again see your GP a simple ultrasound will rule them out.

OP how are you? Did you ring 111?