Back Pain , Gynecological Problem .... Posted: 06-30-07 18:00pm
I just want to start off saying that I
came here because I am frustrated beyond
belief. I just wanted to post this to see
if anybody had any clue as to what is
wrong with me or if someone can refer me
to someone else who can help.
Starting in January or February, I started
having general discomfort on the lower
left side of my back. Nothing extremely
painful, but occassionally in class when I
would slouch in my chair, there would be a
big pop that I could feel and hear in my
lower spine. It hurt initially, but then
my back seemed to feel better after that.
It was still bothering me in May, so after
finals I went to a back doctor back home
and he told me he thought it was my SI
joint and recommended I get a cortisone
injection and do physical therapy. I had
an injection on May 25 and they told me
that I would feel better in 3-10 days.
The discomfort never went away, and my
back actually started hurting me more
since then. The pain has been worse ever
since that day. I often have pain across
my left buttocks and sometimes down my leg
and into my foot. Since I was advised not
to run or do any strenuous exercise, I
have tried to go on walks a few times, but
I returned with extreme pain in my back
and in both of my hips (where the hip/leg
joint seems to be).
At the same time as all of this has been
happening, I have had a gynecological
problem also. At first they thought it
was something bacterial, then a yeast
infection, then vaginitis, and now
everyone's at a stalemate as to what it
could be. I've had bloodwork done for
STDs, a urinalysis, different cultures and
swabs, and everything has come back
completely normal. My pain is mostly
external and so they are not worried about
anything such as endometriosis, and the
only things they think it could be now are
an infection or vestibulitis.
Because of all of my pain, I am now
currently taking Lodine (sp?) for my back
pain, amitriptyline for my vaginal pain
(but it seems to help my back as well),
tylenol and Loestren 24 (for period
irregularity). I have recently noticed
some bruising on my shins and thighs, but
my family seems to think it could be due
to the fact that Lodine and ibuprofen
(which I was taking before I was
prescribed Lodine) can thin the blood and
cause people to bruise more easily.
I am only 21 years old and have never had
any other serious health problems before.
I was an athlete all through high school
and don't have a family history of cancer
or any other bone disease I can think of,
although my dad's parents had arthritis
when they got to be older. I am just
extremely scared because I have no idea if
this is just a weird temporary thing or if
my problem is serious. I've had an MRI of
my hip and pelvic region and nothing
appeared to be wrong. My neurologist
wanted some sedrate, ANA, RA, and I think
CRP tests done through bloodwork, although
I won't get the results back until next
week. I know this is an extremely long
post, but if anybody could help me in any
way, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks.
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Jude-Love
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jun 2007 Posts: 727 Location: Williamstown, Kentucky USA
Posted: 06-30-07 18:04pm
What kind of gynecological problem? I ask
because I have bad back pain like that and
I have ovarian cysts. Sometimes when they
get large, it can cause pretty severe pain
in my back.
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gigemaggies08
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 9
Posted: 06-30-07 18:09pm
Just external pain...itching and burning.
The doctor noticed some redness in the
vestibular area, and it was extremely
tender to touch for a while, but the
amitriptyline I've been taking seems to
help it some. I've had several pelvic
exams in the last month and as far as I
know, I haven't had any problems with my
ovaries. Can they tell if you have cysts
just by doing a general pelvic exam?
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lonestarguy
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 592 Location: , Hoosierland, USA
Thanks: 10
Thanked:1
Posted: 06-30-07 18:29pm
gigem....sorry I can't help with the
female part but I do have the same type of
back pain going down the left side. Seven
years ago, I was diagnosed with
degenerative disc disease and nothing
seems to help.
I've had every procedure and drug you can
take and I have seen upwards of 10
different doctors. You probably need to
see a back specialist so you can get an
idea of what type pain you are having and
to make sure you don't have a slipped
disc, etc.
Don't be surprised if injections don't
work because many times doctors are not
sure what's happening in your back. The
just follow a fairly straightline process
when treating back pain.
I also was an athlete throughout my life
and was never sick until 2000, when my age
caught up with me. Someone your age
shouldn't have this severe-type pain yet
unless you have injured yourself or have
some type of instability in your spine.
Good luck and, by the way, I'm
gigemaggies69.
lsc
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gigemaggies08
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 9
Posted: 06-30-07 18:49pm
I've had x-rays of my back done by a spine
doctor, he was the one who recommended the
cortisone shot in the first place. When
he looked at the x-ray, there was no
visible problems with any of the bones or
the discs in my back. It was just weird
that the cortisone seemed to make the
problem worse. Thanks for your help, and
glad to hear from a fellow Aggie.
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gigemaggies08
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 9
Posted: 07-01-07 12:09pm
Both of my hip joints have been hurting
the last few weeks - this was not a
problem when I first started having pack
pain. What do you think that means? I've
been taking medicines but I'm just worried
that this won't ever go away.
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lonestarguy
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 592 Location: , Hoosierland, USA
Thanks: 10
Thanked:1
Posted: 07-01-07 13:35pm
You're really falling apart aren't you? It
took me a lot longer. Ha ha!
Seriously, because of my back, I am forced
to sleep on my sides which causes me
tremendous hip pain. In my case, it is
arthritis.
Sometimes with back pain, you sit or lay a
certain way to find a comfortable position
and this puts stress on other parts of
your body. That might be what is happening
to you. I hate to think you already have
arthritis.
Keep a good thought until you get your
bloodwork back. Since the cortisone
injection didn't help, there are other
injections that could help. They have
nerve blocks, injections of nerve numbing
and pain relievers, which I have had and
they are much better than cortisone.
There is also radiofrequency ablation,
which involves x-rays and injections. I
don't know what to say if you had no
abnormalities on your x-rays and mris.
Most of us veteran back painers have a
variety of bad things that show up.
Since you have more than one pain, I would
try to solve them one at a time, beginning
with the most painful. Just a warning, you
may never find out what is causing your
back pain because every person's problems
are individual and doctors can't pinpoint
it.
Let us know what's happening because there
are people out here who want you to get
well.
rick '69
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gigemaggies08
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 9
Posted: 07-03-07 12:01pm
So, I went to a physical therapist today,
and I think he's going to be able to fix
me! He did a lot of leg rotation tests
and stuff, and then he told me that my
pelvis was out of line..basically my
sacrum was tilted and sitting in a weird
position in my pelvis, and they way it was
in there was causing all of these nerves
to be pressed on and stuff. My
gynelogical problems could be being caused
by the nerves that my sacrum was
irritating, so we'll see how that works
out too. He said he's going to work on
realigning me and I have to do some
strength exercises and stuff, but I hope
this was the whole cause of the problem!
I actually feel a lot better after going
to the PT just one time, so I'm hoping
that eventually I will be 100% better.
Just wanted to update!
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gigemaggies08
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 9
Posted: 07-17-07 23:12pm
Does anyone know any good piriformis
stretches? This seems to be a major part
of the pain I am experiencing on my lower
left side.
