Aa
Back Pain/Sciatica related to Menstruation?
Any ideas, insight, or advice will be greatly appreciated. I feel like I'm alone in my problem and my doctors are not interested in diagnosing or helping me.
I have been dealing with very low back pain on the right side for a year now. I have a history of severe back cramps since I started my period but this is different. I have never been able to handle hormone birth control because it makes me a different person. Very irritable, unable to deal with slight amounts of stress. I feel on edge all of the time and crying is uncontrollable whenever it wants to happen.
I got a Mirena IUD and thought it was the answer to my prayers. For a year and a half, I had no period and no pain, no hormone trouble either. In April 2009, I started having sharp pains in the right side of my sacrum. It was on and off at first, and then became chronic. I haven't been completely without pain (except for when on heavy pain meds) for a year now. I had an x-ray in May 2009 and realized that my uterus was severely tilted to my right side because I could see the IUD was tilted. My uterus is also slightly retroverted, so naturally I thought that might have something to do with the pain in the low right side of my back.
I had an MRI, which showed my L4 vertebrae is very minimally slipped to the left. No one thinks that can be the cause of the amount of pain I'm in. My doctor told me that they would not do any more diagnostics because "the treatment for low back pain is the same no matter what the cause". For months, they refused to listen to my concerns that my back pain might have something to do with my IUD and/or uterus.
I have tried accupuncture and a number of other treatments, including 3 different physical therapists. I had my IUD removed with no complications and it did not change the pain. The most recent physical therapist I worked with was a pelvic pain specialist. She would adjust my sacrum and work out the knots in my muscles around that area, but most everything she did was only a temporary fix. She corrected the tilt in my uterus. I have been discharged because I was not showing any permanent improvement. Every physical therapist I've worked with has improved my condition through exercises and/or soft tissue work, and when I have a period (or anything close to a period, even light spotting) all of the pain comes back ten fold with severe nerve pain and sciatica down the back of my right leg. Always only on the right side. I have been through this cycle for the last 4 months in a row.
I have done everything that all of my doctors have told me to do to fix low back pain. I have lost over 20 pounds and am continuing with that, I bought a new couch, I wear good shoes every day (never heels) and I even bought a tempurpedic bed. Nothing has changed the pain. I always end up with sharp pains in the right side because my sacrum is tilted, and all of the muscles in the area cramp and seize up so bad it feels like I'm sitting on rocks. I also have severe cramps only on the right side when I have a period, and severe pain in my hip. Muscle relaxers are no help. I have also tried various anti-inflammatories to no avail. A doctor even gave me lidocaine patches at one point, and of course that didn't help either.
I have a referral to pain management, which is my last resort. I don't want to go to a doctor who is going to dope me up and not try to fix the problem. I'm 26 years old and I'm not ready to resign to the fact that I'll be in pain the rest of my life. I want to fix the problem.
Should I have an ultrasound? What could be causing this from inside me? My first thought was endometriosis, but two main treatments for that are the Mirena IUD and birth control pills. My pain started while I had a Mirena IUD and has not been helped by hormone birth control pills. Something inside of me is pulling my sacrum on the right side. Any thoughts or advice anyone can give me will be greatly appreciated. I wonder if I'm all alone in this or if someone else shares my pain.
Oh, and to make this all a bit more fun... I don't have health insurance.
I have been dealing with very low back pain on the right side for a year now. I have a history of severe back cramps since I started my period but this is different. I have never been able to handle hormone birth control because it makes me a different person. Very irritable, unable to deal with slight amounts of stress. I feel on edge all of the time and crying is uncontrollable whenever it wants to happen.
I got a Mirena IUD and thought it was the answer to my prayers. For a year and a half, I had no period and no pain, no hormone trouble either. In April 2009, I started having sharp pains in the right side of my sacrum. It was on and off at first, and then became chronic. I haven't been completely without pain (except for when on heavy pain meds) for a year now. I had an x-ray in May 2009 and realized that my uterus was severely tilted to my right side because I could see the IUD was tilted. My uterus is also slightly retroverted, so naturally I thought that might have something to do with the pain in the low right side of my back.
I had an MRI, which showed my L4 vertebrae is very minimally slipped to the left. No one thinks that can be the cause of the amount of pain I'm in. My doctor told me that they would not do any more diagnostics because "the treatment for low back pain is the same no matter what the cause". For months, they refused to listen to my concerns that my back pain might have something to do with my IUD and/or uterus.
I have tried accupuncture and a number of other treatments, including 3 different physical therapists. I had my IUD removed with no complications and it did not change the pain. The most recent physical therapist I worked with was a pelvic pain specialist. She would adjust my sacrum and work out the knots in my muscles around that area, but most everything she did was only a temporary fix. She corrected the tilt in my uterus. I have been discharged because I was not showing any permanent improvement. Every physical therapist I've worked with has improved my condition through exercises and/or soft tissue work, and when I have a period (or anything close to a period, even light spotting) all of the pain comes back ten fold with severe nerve pain and sciatica down the back of my right leg. Always only on the right side. I have been through this cycle for the last 4 months in a row.
I have done everything that all of my doctors have told me to do to fix low back pain. I have lost over 20 pounds and am continuing with that, I bought a new couch, I wear good shoes every day (never heels) and I even bought a tempurpedic bed. Nothing has changed the pain. I always end up with sharp pains in the right side because my sacrum is tilted, and all of the muscles in the area cramp and seize up so bad it feels like I'm sitting on rocks. I also have severe cramps only on the right side when I have a period, and severe pain in my hip. Muscle relaxers are no help. I have also tried various anti-inflammatories to no avail. A doctor even gave me lidocaine patches at one point, and of course that didn't help either.
I have a referral to pain management, which is my last resort. I don't want to go to a doctor who is going to dope me up and not try to fix the problem. I'm 26 years old and I'm not ready to resign to the fact that I'll be in pain the rest of my life. I want to fix the problem.
Should I have an ultrasound? What could be causing this from inside me? My first thought was endometriosis, but two main treatments for that are the Mirena IUD and birth control pills. My pain started while I had a Mirena IUD and has not been helped by hormone birth control pills. Something inside of me is pulling my sacrum on the right side. Any thoughts or advice anyone can give me will be greatly appreciated. I wonder if I'm all alone in this or if someone else shares my pain.
Oh, and to make this all a bit more fun... I don't have health insurance.
I make just enough money not to qualify for any state or government assistance. I recently started a new job where I'm making a little more and can afford health insurance, but now this is a pre-existing condition and wouldn't be covered for 12 months. I need help before then. I'm in pain every day. :(
The challenge is finding a doctor who will listen. They seem to want to group anyone who has back pain together. I actually had an MD tell me that they would not do any more diagnostics, because the treatment for low back pain is the same no matter what the cause. She refused to listen to my concerns that my problem might be gynecological. I mentioned that to her several times and she shrugged it off.
The challenge is finding a doctor who will listen. They seem to want to group anyone who has back pain together. I actually had an MD tell me that they would not do any more diagnostics, because the treatment for low back pain is the same no matter what the cause. She refused to listen to my concerns that my problem might be gynecological. I mentioned that to her several times and she shrugged it off.
Your NOT crazy, nor is this in ur head!!!! What ur feeling isn't normal, listen to ur body, get different opinions by different drs. U don't need to live a life of constant pain...u need a dr to find the root reason for ur pain and treat it!!! *hugs* keep me posted, take care
My OBGYN thought I may have some endometriosis due to the amt of pain I get during my period throughout my entire lower stomach. Since I injured my back anytime my cramps flare up my entire lower back hurts worse as well.
Have you looked into Medicaid?
Have you looked into Medicaid?
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Back & Neck Community
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
Could it be something you ate? Lack of sleep? Here are 11 migraine triggers to look out for.
Find out if PRP therapy right for you.
Tips for preventing one of the most common types of knee injury.
Here are 10 ways to stop headaches before they start.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
