Horrid back pain!

Hey guys,

Migraine free so far! But, the last few days i've been having troubles with my lower back.
Its getting really bad and i'm unsure what it is. I'm running tight on money and don't want
to see a doctor unless it's really necessary. My copays are kind of steep for my budget.

The pain is not only in my back but also in my front too. I was thinking it may be female
problems, but I'm not thinking that anymore. It has been going on for the last few days.

I thought it was constipation, but I took a laxative and needless to say the pain continues.
It is persistant, so I don't feel like it is gas. It hurts on both sides, sometimes only one side.
Since it does hurt on both sides it also narrows out kidney problems.

I've always had discomfort in my lower back after baby, but never for this long without strain.
I have done nothing to aggrivate it, and it doesn't feel muscular related since it is actually
hurting from back to front. It hurts worse when I lay down and stretch my legs out.

I also notice it hurts more when I'm moving around, but it is persistant and hurts all the time.
I have taken pain pills for migraines in the last few days and noticed that even though I have
been taking them, it hasn't stopped this particular pain. Dulled it a bit, but certainly didn't relieve it.
I have used fioricet with codeine for migraines and Vicodin 10/325. I figured the vicodin would
knock it right out because its very strong and knocks my migraine out of the park. Nope.

It also radiates down to my legs when it gets bad. Almost like shooting pains. When I push down
(like having a BM sorry if TMI) it hurts SO much I want to cry, but like I said, no gas and
definitely no constipation.

I'm getting worried, anyone have any suggestions?

Honey, I know money is tight, but since the pain is radiating down your leg you really should have it checked out. That's the one thing my Dr's have been very specific about with my back problems.

I understand about the problem with having a BM. It's very uncomfortable pushing down, so you need to make sure you don't get constipated again.

Isn't it terrible how if it's not one thing it's another!

Charlotte

Where do I even go for this? It would help if it wasn't a specialist as their copays are higher
but if I go to a PCP or GP and they send me to a specialist then i'll be paying anyways.

Who handles back pains and internal pains like this? I've been very lucky in my life and have
had few health problems and don't know the ropes about doctors, but I have a PPO which
allows me to see anyone without referals.

If you are on topamax and you have back pain you have to think kidney stones as a possibility. My wife had a kidney stone once and the pain was in her back. You probably should get checked out by a medical professional.

I've had them already and know all about it, they suck. This is painful but I am not in agony,
thank god. I am a walking kidney stone time bomb and I know it, but I'll take kidney stones
any day over daily migraines so I just continue on the topamax. Thanks though, baad. Good
thought.

I'm positive it isn't a kidney stone. I'm positive it isn't constipation. I'm not positive it isn't gas,
so i'll try OTC meds for that and if that doesn't work I'll go to the doctor. Charlotte, you
scared me into going lol. But where do I go? Man I hope gas meds work.

If they do this would be the worlds worst case of gas pain though

I go to my GP. He's referred me to the pain specialist for the dreaded injections. But it's my GP who is handling the pain med's and made my referrals to the physical therapist, etc.

Over the years I've seen a neurosurgeon and a orthopod for my back, but there's not anything they can do surgically for it (I'm not sure I'd let them at this point), so I'm referred back to my GP.

I know, doesn't sound helpful, but the GP is the first line of attack.

Charlotte

I'm no help w back pain, sorry. Could it be female stuff? Did you check WebMd?? They can narrow it down to only about 16 possibilities (13 usually that are life threaening... Lol) ok no time for funny... Your in pain.

Hmmmm.. I don't know. I guess a GP is better than specialist right now bc you would only he guessing at which specialist to try.

Ugghhh. Just what you needed on a M free day!

Good Luck!

LOL no its okay Jessica, I still appreciate a good joke when I'm in pain. It's not too bad,
i'm not in agony. It just hurts. I don't think it's female stuff, but i'm calling the doctor tomorrow
and making an appointment anyways. Don't know what doctor i'll call but my mom is an
OB/GYN triage nurse so I'll ask her, she'll ask one of the docs she works with. Then if they don't
want me there I'll go see a GP close to my house.

The gas-x didn't do the trick. Still hurts. Startin to get a migraine, so I'm going to take some
meds for that now. Maybe the meds will help dull the other pain and I'll get some rest. I hope so!
Thanks guys

I have a hard time coming up with my co-pays too, so I understand. But sometimes it's better to put the money worries aside and go have it checked out.

Do you still have your appendix? Problems with it don't always manifest as lower right abdominal pain. Mine didn't, at least not at the onset. After being misdiagnosed by 3 different doctors, and having the appendix burst, I finally got to a guy, a surgeon, who knew what it was immediately and of course had to do emergency surgery.

After I got out of the hospital and while I was recovering, I went to the library at my university and researched in depth. I slogged through medical journals because I wanted to get the straight information. I was amazed to learn how many conditions, diseases, illnesses are accompanied by abdominal pain and by abdominal pain with pain elsewhere. That's why I say there are a number of possibilities. Jessica's right. Some of them are life threatening. Appendicitis is if it goes far enough. I had about a few more days before the infections I had from the burst appendix pushed me past the point of no return. BTW, I had no idea that I was close to death. I felt bad, but not that bad. Please go find out.

I sure do still have my appendix. That's one I had never thought of. My immediate response
to the pain was, "Oh man, I hope I'm not getting a kidney stone." I'm not really scared of them
anymore, I accept that I may get one and understand that if ones on the way I go to the hospital
they give me morphine, I pass the stone and I go home. All's over, and back to normal.

I was blissfully unaware of things bursting LOL but yes, you guys are right and I should get it
checked out. Hopefully if the OB/GYN wants to see me and do ultrasound (right in office) I don't
have to worry about copay because my mom works there. If they don't though, I'll just go
to a doctor and get it checked out. It's better than sitting here worried and in pain.

Who knew that you can get really sick from stuff and not feel terrible. I feel so much worse from
migraines and all the other things i've been through over time that this pain hurts but its like
a walk in the park. I'd figure a migraine would kill me first. Fat chance LOL