Please help - back pain will not stop

[biggirlknickers]

I’m lying on the floor now pathetically crying because I can’t do anything.

The current problem has been going on for about 7 weeks but I should say I have had intermittent issues with back pain since my last pregnancy (9 years ago) loosened up the ligaments around my left sacro-iliac joint a bit too much. It tends to flare up before my period (not every month) but then gets better once my period starts.

When the current problem started I assumed it was the same thing but it hasn’t stopped. It sometimes seems to be improving for a couple of days but then relapses.

The pain is in my lower back - very low down - and across the whole back although the centre of the pain has shifted from one side to the other.

It is made worse when standing or sitting. Walking doesn’t help much. I get some relief when lying down on either side with legs stretched long (not curled up) as long as I change sides frequently.

Sitting is the worst. Standing is almost as bad.

The pain radiates - it often feels like it’s coming through me to the front - like period cramps. Sometimes it radiates to my buttocks. It also makes my whole back stiff, all the way up to my shoulder blades.

I’m so tired of it and it’s not getting any better. I’m cancelling plans and can’t work some days.

What could be wrong with me?

It could be a worsening of the sacroiliac joint pain, you could talk to your neurology specialist (if you had one at the time) about SI joint fusion surgery. It sounds as though things may have gotten inflamed, a condition known as coccydynia, which makes sense as this will be worst when sitting due to the pressure on your tailbone.

From your description, if it's not your sacrum, it could also be the lowest part of your lumbar spine.

The pain changing sides could be referred pain. This means your nervous system is essentially overwhelmed and displaces the accuracy of the pain itself to cope. I was misdiagnosed with sciatica until they realised this was happening, so be clear and don't worry about being too pushy with doctors.

The absolute first step, however, is getting adequate pain management in place. That will greatly depend on your previous use of painkillers and your lifestyle. I was given valium, which took the edge off but still allowed me to be very aware and focused at work. Once you have this pain management in place, you are better able to focus on finding solutions.

Bear with me here but it might not actually be your back. Those symptoms COULD be endometriosis on you sacroiliac ligament, or adenomyosis. I’ve had both herniated discs and endo/adeno pain, both daignosed and treated seperately be specialists so know the pain is very similar. It may be worth looking both options up and researching a bit as excision of endo might treat the pain where physio for the sacroiliac might not help or vice versa.

You have my sympathies pain pain like that is awful. Whatever the cause get on some good prescription anti inflammatories.

Back pain not pain pain

Get a referral from your doctor to a specialist for your back, and hopefully you will get an MRI. In the meantime, alternate hot and cold, and keep walking and moving to help reduce the spasms.

I've had lots of improvement from my physio using ultrasound.