i asked this question a few months ago but didn’t put it in the general health forum, so asking again 9 months into this ordeal. I had a mirena coil previously for the progesterone part of HRT. After a bit of a settling in period it was great as it allowed me to avoid systemic progesterone which made me feel bananas and caused migraines. I had a terrible time with menopause before HRT. I had it replaced 9 months ago and a week after insertion the lower back pain kicked off.
I have suffered from intermittent back pain and severe spasm that preceded the first mirena, but usually this would hit hard with initial immobilising spasm, but then eventually subside over a number of weeks with stretching and keeping moving. It’s been nine months now. The first 4 I was almost bed bound, my back was so tight and prone to crazy spasm with movement. At 4 months in I started seeing a physio on zoom and have been doing daily exercises. I can move around more now with daily painkillers, small doses of Valium and a tens machine, but I’m still pretty much housebound as walking for more than ten minutes will then send my back crazy. The gynae, my GP and the pain clinic all seem very sceptical that the mirena could be contributing to this. Yes, I had back pain before but since the second mirena it’s at a whole new level. I had the placement checked with a scan, it’s fine. I pretty sure I’m hypermobile and wonder if that contributes. Fortunately I’m freelance and wfh part time, but it’s been really hard keeping that going.
I finally got into the pain clinic a month ago. I had an mri of my lower back 2 years ago and as I don’t have leg pain, numbness, weakness etc, they think another one isn’t warranted. The consultant feels it’s muscular and my facet joints. Prior investigations over the years have pointed to the same thing. They have offered me facet joint nerve denervation (there’s a wait list so probably in two months) but I keep wondering if I should get this mirena out. There’ll be a high price to pay as I need hrt so will have to trial newer progesterones the gynae said she can give me, but if they don’t work, without hrt I was a mess, off work etc.
Keen to hear of anyone else’s experiences with a mirena causing back pain. If taking it out resolved it, or alternatively, if you took it out thinking it might and it made no difference. I eat a healthy diet, not carrying any extra weight, so other than what I’m doing I don’t know what else I can do.