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Adrenal pain in lower back with fatigue and depression

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Hello there.

I've noticed semi-recently that when I get surges of adrenaline, that I feel sharp, throbbing pain in my lower back, about where my kidneys should be. I know that the adrenals sit atop the kidneys.

My fiance suggests that this may be tense muscles, but I don't think so. It doesn't feel muscular.

Since mid-January of last year, I've had a mysterious group of symptoms. Panic attacks in the morning, intermittant anxiety, especially at night. Weight loss seems difficult. Exercising an hour a day and keeping caloric consumption down doesn't seem to be yeilding any significant results. Before all this started, I was losing weight with reasonable ease. Since then, I've gained 20 pounds back. It takes until the day is half over for me to have the will to get off my butt and do something productive, and sometimes I just feel so tired and lethargic that I can't do anything at all. I also have very dark circles under my eyes that refuse to go away. Sometimes I get sleepy in the middle of the day for no reason, and sometimes I feel depressed.

Initially, I suspected these symptoms of being Premature Ovarian Failure, but after further research, I'm thinking something having to do with my adrenals. When I suspected POF, I went on birth control as hormone replacement. They help, but do not eliminate symptoms. I still suffer with intermittant fatigue and depression, and bouts of anxiety, usually at night.

I think the fact that B/C pills help is because of the progesterone. I don't think I'm producing enough.

I am poor and on SSI (in a state where I can't get medicaid), and don't have one red cent to spare for a battery of tests and doctor visits. Since I don't wish to be on birth control the rest of my life and practically invite all sorts of health disasters, I'm going to taking pregnenolone, which is a precursor to adrenal hormones.

Can anyone give me any clues as to whether or not I may have adrenal fatigue, or the beginnings of it? Sad
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First Helper fatnutritionist
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Users who thank Tokaia for this post: czasemtak 

replied September 9th, 2008
I have adrenal fatigue and all of the symptoms you describe. The pain in your back is indeed caused by burnt out adrenals and until you remedy it, losing wieght will be close to impossible. I have posted a 2 part thing about adrenal fatigue in my blog but the most important things to do are:
Stop drinking coffee (sucks I know) or sugary drinks/food
Sleep in as late as possible in the morning and try to be in bed by 10 pm at the latest.
Remove stress from your life as much as possible.
Take lots of B vitamins (I make other supplement suggestions in my blog but I know you mentioned money is an issue).
Feel free to message me for more info.
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replied April 2nd, 2010
Alternative Therapy/ Adrenal Treatment
Have you thought about seeing an Acupuncturist/herbalist in your area? It''s possible for them to treat the pain as well as the depression. Balancing your system and returning a natural rhythm to your body. They will also refer you to an MD if it''s serious and may have other suggestions for you.
It''s also possible that they will give you a rate on a sliding scale (income based). If you can get a referral for an LAc. that''s best. However, whom ever you decide to go with make sure that you feel comfortable talking to them, and feel you can trust them. Like with anybody.
Hope you find what you need.
Aum
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replied April 2nd, 2010
P.S.

Also, if there is an Acupuncture program/school in your area, they may have a clinic where you can be treated at a very reasonable rate.
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replied October 12th, 2010
Re: Adrenal pain in lower back with fatigue and depression
Hi, I’m 33 yrs old and I’m not chinese and I just want to share my experience. I had a very painful middle back last Saturday that I thought theres a serious problem in my body, I can’t even move my body or sit because it really hurts. I was thinking to go in a regular hospital but I change my mind after reading some experiences here. So I decided to go in a chinese hospital that use accupunctures that use needles, glass bowl that suck and stick in my back and chinese massage, they also gave me a herbal to take. To make it short, after 2 days, the pain is completely gone. Now maybe you can google some hospital that offers this kind of treatment that is near to you. Good luck and hope everybody get well…
Tokaia wrote:
Hello there.

I've noticed semi-recently that when I get surges of adrenaline, that I feel sharp, throbbing pain in my lower back, about where my kidneys should be. I know that the adrenals sit atop the kidneys.

My fiance suggests that this may be tense muscles, but I don't think so. It doesn't feel muscular.

Since mid-January of last year, I've had a mysterious group of symptoms. Panic attacks in the morning, intermittant anxiety, especially at night. Weight loss seems difficult. Exercising an hour a day and keeping caloric consumption down doesn't seem to be yeilding any significant results. Before all this started, I was losing weight with reasonable ease. Since then, I've gained 20 pounds back. It takes until the day is half over for me to have the will to get off my butt and do something productive, and sometimes I just feel so tired and lethargic that I can't do anything at all. I also have very dark circles under my eyes that refuse to go away. Sometimes I get sleepy in the middle of the day for no reason, and sometimes I feel depressed.

Initially, I suspected these symptoms of being Premature Ovarian Failure, but after further research, I'm thinking something having to do with my adrenals. When I suspected POF, I went on birth control as hormone replacement. They help, but do not eliminate symptoms. I still suffer with intermittant fatigue and depression, and bouts of anxiety, usually at night.

I think the fact that B/C pills help is because of the progesterone. I don't think I'm producing enough.

I am poor and on SSI (in a state where I can't get medicaid), and don't have one red cent to spare for a battery of tests and doctor visits. Since I don't wish to be on birth control the rest of my life and practically invite all sorts of health disasters, I'm going to taking pregnenolone, which is a precursor to adrenal hormones.

Can anyone give me any clues as to whether or not I may have adrenal fatigue, or the beginnings of it? Sad
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replied August 9th, 2012
Paleo diet helped me with some of those symptoms
Hi Tokaia,

how are you doing? I know it has been 4 years, but it would be good to hear again from you.

I think I had what you had. My problems were:
- Sharp/focused pain in back (left and right) where the adrenals are
- Panic attacks (after lunch, or if I get up, without any causes)
- Intermittent anxiety (without any causes)
- Intermittent daytime sleepiness
- Need half a day to get going
- Weight gain

As I am male (mid thirties), I don't think it is Ovarian failure. I was on SSRI (Prozac). (Furthermore I had problems with too much sex drive.)

After I changed my diet (2 years ago), the first three problems went away for good - but the other three went away only temporarily and came back. I got rid of cereal-grains, got rid of dairy (except ghee/clarified butter) and got rid of vegetable oil - it is basically a Paleo diet that helped me.

I have flattened Cortisol, but my adrenals work fine - most likely I had low ACTH. I suspect I had panhypopituitarism (low TSH, low ACTH, low PRL, low GH), and that I have still low GH and I know I have still low Cortisol (as above, probably due to low ACTH).
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