Is it all in my head?

[itsallfunand]

I'll start it by saying that I do suffer from health anxiety. Had a major episode a few years ago.

Couple of years ago I had chronic lower back pain. It lasted around 6 months. Nothing helped. No pain relief or physio. It just went in its own. at the time it sent me into a downward spiral regarding my health anxiety which led me to believe I had every illness.

Last week the pain started again. Nothing is helping. Called doctor who ignored the pain and just talked about starting sertraline.

I'm crying in pain. Could it be my health anxiety. I can't see it's because the pain is so bad but it's being dismissed by everyone.

If you tackled the anxiety you might get further with your complaints.

Hi :) I just came across your post and thought id reply as i had something similar happen to me a few year back. I was convinced I had the C word from the pain i was in with my back as i had crippling health anxiety and just found out a young girl my age found out she had the C word from back pain so it sent me on a downward spiral!!

Luckily, my doctor was amazing sent me for a full blood tests & an xray, all which came back clear and instantly put my worries at ease and the back pain went!!

I'm currently doing the same thing now but with stomach issues.. I have had bloods done, which again are all clear but nurse putting it down to hormones which i'm not convinced by, have to go back in a few week for physical review if it doesnt settle down (i've had these stomach issues for a year so i know it wont!) but i am hoping its my anxiety getting the better of me again, although i wont settle until i have a scan i know i wont.

If you're like me and suffer that bad with health anxiety, ask to be referred for an xray and go and have your bloods took, just for peace of mind! Sometimes you just have to push for them unfortunately!

But hopefully if they refer you and you get normal results (which i'm sure you will!) you will start to feel better :)

Good Luck xx

Have you lifted some heavy things? It's sciatica. Get fitter. Exercise. It may well go. X

I do think it's real. But doctor can't do anything. Last time it went away as you stretched and got fitter. And it just healed. Same this time. It's lifting heavy things probably.

Might I suggest you find an osteopath, and pay for a short private appointment, so they can check you over. Should cost around £50 or so, and they are much better at diagnosing joint & muscle issues than GPs are.

It’s unlikely to be anxiety causing the pain. But you’re getting overly anxious about something which isn’t a big deal. People get a bad back sometimes for lots of reasons, they have pains which come and go, maybe they pull a muscle, or have some inflammation, or a virus or kidney infection. You’re undoubtedly making it worse by being anxious. You’re making yourself suffer twice - once from the bad back and a second time from the anxiety.

I have a bad back every few years for no apparent reason. It lasts a few weeks then goes away. At the moment I have some muscle pains which are probably viral and they’ve lasted for seven weeks so far. Speak to the GP and get them to rule out major problems, then relax for a few weeks and take painkillers. It will go away.

I wouldn’t take sertraline though. It can take a month to work, then it can have side effects including muscle pains which will make you feel even worse. Plus you can’t just decide to stop taking it, you have to be weaned off slowly otherwise you have terrible withdrawal. It’s not a mess I’d want to get myself involved in.