Such Severe Back Pain

[glassd18]

Does anyone have severe back pain related to IC as bad as mine. Everyday it feels like a knife in my lower right side back and hip. I have been to an ortho doctor and I had an MRI and X rays and there is nothing wrong stucturely, but I'm now thinking I'm going to see a neurologist to figure out why I'm so sore there. The ortho dr thought it could be my bladder giving me trouble, and the uro thinks it could be my back pain giving me bladder trouble. Ugh!! Can anyone tell me what's wrong for heavens sake. Everyone keeps throwing pills at me, and never figuring out the real problem. Any thoughts!! My IC would be much more bearable without this back pain I think.

[Moonheart]

Yep, every day. I told my doc I thought it was related because it spike so badly right after my instillation a couple weeks ago. But he said no, and was determined to stick with that opinion.

I'm sorry you are hurting so bad. I hate the back pain. It's excruciating.

[glassd18]

Thanks. Oh man even your doctor can't tell you why!!! Grrrrrr!!! So frustrating. I'm going to a neurologist for sure. He/she can hopefully tell me the whys and hows about this, and maybe some ideas to stop the pain.

[ihurttoo]

I definately feel for you. I get back pain alot too with my IC. However, I used to have it alot worse, and they didnt know what was wrong with me either. However, when I had laproscopic surgery, they found extensive endometriosis and adhesions. They were all the way in my back too. When they cleaned them out, I felt better right away. I dont know if that is a possibility with you or not, but thought I'd mention it, just in case.

I do still get back pain when I am in a bad IC flare. However, I have daily IC pain too, so a flare for me is when I get the urgency and freq too, and usually low back pain accompanies it for me. But, before I had laproscopic surgery, the back pain was a daily thing. Muscle relaxors didnt touch it. NSAIDs didnt help either.

I dont know if most ICers get back pain or not. But I will be curious to see the responses to your post.

I hope that they can figure out the exact cause of your pain soon. Hopefully, it wont be IC, that way it can hopefully be fixed or go away on it's own.

Sending hugs your way,
Amy

[Moonheart]

I do have massive adhesions and I believe a return of my endo as well, so maybe the back pain is from those two things.

[glassd18]

Thanks for your input. I had a massage last weekend and it was heavenly, and although it didn't solve my problem it did help to relax the muscles. This would be a great therapy if they still can't find out why. I keep worrying that they have missed something on all my tests. I have right side pelvic pain too close to my hip, and some days it feels like like a knife piercing from one side right through to the other!!

[mellusk]

Perhaps you can get a referral from your doctor for some physical therapy. The back and side pain might not be directly related to your IC, but IC is irritated by stress, as are backs, and the two together can be aggravating one another. When you don't feel good, things like your posture suffer, and your body and movements will change in subtle ways to try and compensate for that. PT hasn't made my IC go away, but building strength and flexibility in my back, abdominal, and core muscles as helped with my back pains and lot, which means there's one less little irritant to make me feel bad and cause my bladder stress. Also, a physical therapist will be able to look at you and touch you and be able to find things, like muscle spasms, that a regular doctor won't find and that won't show up on x-rays. I had a little laundry list of minor back problems that worked together to really cause some pain that never would have been found had I not started pt.

[Sarojini]

I get back pain too. When my bladder is flaring, the pain radiates to my lower back and down my thighs a little bit.... *sigh*

I hate flares!

[waterflow]

Yupe, mine never stops and stays the same humungous pain all the time. Only thing that helps some is the tens unit. WIthout it I can't stand up straight and walk.

[glassd18]

You know what gets me is that you'd think my uro would know that IC can cause back pain because it seems to me this is a common denominator for some of us.

[Briza]

Me, too. Back pain always occurs with my bladder pain.

[rosesitty]

glass - you may want to check to see about PFD. It may be that instead of the IC. Since I started PT, I've had severe hip and back pain - so much I've had to take pain meds, which I never did before. PLUS a ton of muscle relaxers, which have made me a walking zombie. If it isn't one thing, it's another.
Stephanie

[glassd18]

Thanks Stephanie,

I asked my uro about PFD and she said she checks for that during her exam and said she didn't see any signs of PFD. I have a neuro appointment on April 3rd, and a new uro appointment April 4th, and hopefully between the two I can come home with some answers. I figure the neuro can at least tell me something even if he can't do much.

Di

[Billsbaby]

i have back pain daily along with my regular ic pain.it sucks!!!

[Berkshire Road]

Yes, I have back pain too, and my doctor does believe it's all connected. One thing that really helps a lot is lidoderm, which are prescription transdermal lidocaine patches. They don't help bladder pain, but on my back and hips they are heaven. Maybe you can ask your doctor.