Does anyone else get this? - Weird back pain
#125398 - 11/25/04 02:06 PM
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Stephie
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 2696
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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Hi all,
I just wanted to throw this out there, as I have NO IDEA what it is and it causes me a lot of grief.
Every so often, I get a really bad pain in my back. It's across my upper back, between my shoulder blades.. usually around my spine is the worst. The pain sometimes travels down my right arm as well. It feels like a really, really strong aching feeling.
I've been getting it for a few years now, but not very often.. lately I have been getting it more often. When it comes, it's usually quite sudden and the pain is so bad that it brings tears to my eyes and makes me feel really panicked. It started to really bother me at work, and I'd have to go to the bathroom every few minutes just to try and get myself together. The pain can last from a minute, to a few hours - I remember it lasted the entire way through sitting in the moving theatre watching "Troy" and I was in tears.
I absolutely cannot go see my doctor about this. After seeing him about the IBS, and then the throat thing (thought to be reflux) and then the nausea, it has been made very clear to me that any symptom I get is to be ignored, and just stuck onto the "Just IBS" list.
I can live with it, but I was just wondering if anyone else gets it... And what it might be. For a while, I thought it was indigestion or something as it kinda feels like heartburn.. but in my back.. But taking antacids hasn't helped so I don't know.
Any help'd be appreciated!
Cheers, Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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it doesn't sound like an IBS symptom to me Steph, but what would I know.
I have had problems with my back in the past and they have been attributed to the following
- wearing high heels then low heels or vice versa (that's usually lower back though)
- not sitting correctly
- muscular spasms caused by one of the above.
The posture related one and lower neck pain I get a lot, and my whole back ends up hurting because I put it all out trying to save the sore bit.
I hope you won't be offended but you have mentioned your need to shop in bravissimo before...I know my friend who shopped there had serious back issues for that reason...
I was at a physio due to putting my back out in January (i have had a pretty bad year healthwise!) and she said the WORST thing you can do for your backache is rest! You should exercise, go swimming, walking or to the gym. I thought she was crazy until I went on the rower and it felt good!
I know you are paranoid about your dr but you really ought to ask about it!
Sinead
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S.
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I have had severe upper back pain for years... my doc sent me to PT who said it was weak stomach muscles and worked on my abs and my posture, it helped some but not enough... and eventually I quit going because it wasn't worth the time for the little help (3 times a week for months)... I do the exercises still, but... recently I did the first half of an eval with a chiropractor and he picked up a major heat variation in my upper spine that he said could be causing it (he did the heat thing BEFORE I told him why I was there!) I am hoping he can do something for me.. I know he has done wonders for a friend who had similar issues.. I was really beginning to think the only answer was to have breast reduction surgery since its worse in some bras then others or when I'm bouncing around more and my boobs bounce (as in no sportsbra!)
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Dietetics Student (anticipating RD exam in Aug 2010)
IBS - A
Dairy Allergic
Fructose and MSG intollerant
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You should really seek professional help on this one. A chiropractor is a great idea. It could be a number of things but he will know better then your general doctor.
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Hmm...
#125643 - 11/27/04 10:46 AM
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Stephie
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 2696
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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Hi again,
Thanks for the responses... I have a hard time with this, though, as it really doesn't _feel_ like muscle pain.. Like, I've had a sore back before from bad posture and heavy lifting and all that, and it just feels totally different. It comes on really suddenly, and just.. I can't even explain how it hurts, it just does.. and really bad. It feels like how heartburn feels in your chest, but in your back. And the pain feels deeper than muscle pain.. if that makes any sense..
I hadn't ever considered the heavy breasts thing being an issue, I wonder! I might talk to my doctor about it in Canada, once I get back.
I really just can't go back to the doctor here after she made me feel so bad. I got a survey in the post about the doctor's office, and I filled it out nicely for one doctor, but I intend to add a note detailing how she treated me and how ill I was as she refused to help me. Won't do anything most likely, but I hope she reads it and is at least a little less dismissive of people in the future.
--Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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Backpain
#125668 - 11/27/04 01:33 PM
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lithelady
Reged: 08/15/03
Posts: 339
Loc: Novato, CA
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I'd definitely find a new primary care doctor. Is that an option in the Canadian hlthcare system? ( it's becoming a difficult issue in the US!)
I'm a MD (since MDs are not always well liked on this board I often don't mention this fact. However, since your problem sounds like it could be something [ POSSIBLY!!] sigificant it should be evaluated.
The heavy breasts is a possiblity but you really need to be at least a C cup or very thin with small shoulders plus with B+ cup for that to be the cause. Also, the occasional sudden onset and brief duration does not support this idea.
IMO, you need to have your spine examined and x-rayed. There are a number of things that could be going on in one of your discs.
Don't worry about it, just be sure you get it examined. It could be something as simple as a pinched nerve that is being exaccerbated by some movement or posture position that you're doing w/o even realizing it [the radiation of pain down your arm does suggest this as a strong possiblity]. As long as the physical exam of your spine and spine films are normal, then a chiro or PT would be the next step I'd refer you to do, if I were treating you.
Hope this helps
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Many years of C-IBS and pain too for past 2 years-
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lithelady
#125680 - 11/27/04 03:47 PM
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Stephie
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 2696
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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Hi there!
Thanks so much for your reply! I have to say, I have had a lot (A LOT, A LOT) of bad doctor experiences but that doesn't mean I am against them as a whole!  So don't worry about that! I have also had some really nice doctors, so I have happy doctor thoughts too. 
The awkward thing for me with doctors in Canada is that my doctor started out as just MY doctor, but now pretty much everyone in my family has switched over and everyone LOVES her. I do like her, but I have found that she knows very little about IBS and she does NOT like to give referalls - she likes to do everything herself.
As for the breast factor, I am an F cup.  I weigh about 140 lbs, so I dunno what that might mean... I weighed one of my boobs (on a food weigher, it was ridiculous!!) and it was 1.5 kg. They are mighty heavy, even when I take my bras off, the impression of them is totally left in my skin.
I will speak to my doctor once I get back to Canada about the spine examination and see what she says.. If she won't refer me, I'll have to try and see another doctor and go from there.
I really appreciate your reply! It is sort of reassuring to have a reply from an MD - then I don't feel as crazy, like the doctor I saw here basically told me I was.  
Just to be clear.. is PT = Physical Therapist?
Thanks again!
--Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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MDs are trained to treat problems and if they can't do anything for the illness then they are typically quite uncomfortable with the patient if the patient keeps returning to them, b/c it makes them feel helpless....... something MDs are trained to NOT accept about themselves! Since IBS is essentially a disease that's not treatable AND not well understood by MOST MDs, it really would be best if she referred you to a GI specialist if she doesn't have empathy for or in depth knowledge about IBS symptoms and ongoing research.
It's very important that you tell her......really, just like you would a friend!......that she made you feel badly and that you won't accept this type of lack of understanding and caring from her. IF she still doesn't respond positively in her management of your ongoing symptoms, then it's very impo that you write an evaluation of her that honestly tells her superiors that she's not providing compassionate care.
80-85% of primary care is NOT life-threatening illness and involves chronic illnesses with lots of vague symptoms. This is nature of medical care in primary practice. So if she's not compassionate with you, most likely she's not being so with others too. Thus, your honest feedback about her lack of compassion in your evaluation will benefit others too.
However, please do first give her a chance to be more compassionate by talking with her openly about how she made you feel. MDs are people first and docs second, so they can have bad days too. Hopefully she will respond by improving her attitude. It's amazing how many MDs don't realize when they've made a patient feel badly; this is REALLY the truth, I promise you, I've watched it sooooo many times.
As far as your back pain, it DOES sound like it could be caused by your breasts' weight. Breast reduction might be the answer. However, it IS surgery, so it's not something to do w/o first trying exercises to strengthen your upper back and chest wall muscles. Yes, PT is physical therapist.
Good luck and let me know how it goes.
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Many years of C-IBS and pain too for past 2 years-
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