What could these symptoms mean?

[Oceanblueeyes]

Since I am here asking for advice, it is obvious that I do not go to the doctor often. I really dont know what category to list my complaint in ..so I will just state what is happening.

Around 8-2003 I began to feel a pain in my back on the left side, right above my bra strap seeming to be in the muscle area.  It started when I had a massage or maybe "awoke the pain" is a better word. That particular site doesn't hurt any longer but it shortly radiated to the middle of my back and I continues to hurt (spine area about a 3"-4" circle) where the bra strap goes across.  It usually hurts most of the day.  I have learned to tolerate the pain as it seems to be chronic.

In the last 2-3 months I have noticed that I seem to feel a tremendous pressure in my rib area on both the left and right side and I feel bloated at times. The pressure is more often on left side than the right but then at times it is both.  I do not experience any difficulties with digesting foods, spicy or not and my appetite is normal. The pressure on each side of rib cage however will come at least once a day but will go away after awhile. I take fiber supplements so I have bowel movements each day.  I have noticed that there seems to be no correlation to the pressure and the relief by having bowel movement...it just seems to wax and wane on its own with no specified reason or time for doing so..

I am listing all of these symptoms as I wanted you to know the full picture and I do not know if they are connected somehow or not.

Thank you for your time.

Oceanblueeyes

[gassygramps]

A related discussion, distended stomach was started.

[b;uemtgirl]

For what its work, I will add that this pain you are having sounds exactly like what I suffer from Fibromyalgia. What makes me think so is the relationship with the pain and your massage you had--especially the part about the "knotted" muscle. There are trigger points in fms that defer pain to different areas. These trigger points can feel like little knots in your muscles. I have this same back pain and also other spasms. I manage my pain with lidocaine injections in the trigger points that refer pain to my mid back. It feels like someone is standing on my back right where the bra goes across. I would rule out other more serious causes but also consider a rheumatologist who is serious about fms--my dr told me even some of the fms specialists laugh at their patients behind their backs :( Good luck

[charchar]

Sorry to hear that you have pancreatitis it is a horrible disease you should go to the pancassociation.org  That website is wonderful for people with pancreatitis it helps dealing with it. And you also can learn about it. My daughter had pancreatitis for 10 months and she had a pancreatectomy  and is doing great. Has no pain.

[cody95709]

Hi novatera;

Gee, I am not sure what to say.  I've only been dealing with this pancreatitis thing since last November.  As such, I received a lot of education from my 4 doctors and a lot of reading and research on pancreatitis and gall bladder and liver stuff.  Other than that, my medical knowledge ends there.

If I were you I would go to the doctor, or submit a question to Kevin M.D. for a response that will help you the best.

TC,
Cody  :)

[Oceanblueeyes]

I do not drink alcohol expect maybe one or two times a year on special occasions...no more than two mixed drinks each time.

I do drink Coke Cola everyday though and I am not on any medication.

Would this pain go on for almost two years now?  The pain level is about a 7 and has remained consistent from day one.

I know I do need to go to the doctor, you are correct but I must admit that I have a major phobia of doctors.  I do go occasionally and have had numerous tests done on various things in the past.  I usually get disheartened when they run thousands of dollars worth of tests to only tell me they aren't sure what is causing my ailment.

It just seems odd that this came on when I had a massage on my back and it was a very gentle massage.  The massage therapist told me that there seemed to be a muscle extremely knotted in my back.  I was told by one of the doctors that I may have an impacted nerve root in my spinal area.  Do you know if that would cause the constant pain?  It doesn't burn like a pinched nerve..it is definitely a pain.

Again, as always...thank you.

Ocean

[novatera]

I was reading some of your comments and in one you were asking if they were out of breath will I have been having swelling around my middle section and its not pregancy!I have gained 20 pounda in 4 months my liver enzymes were up but ultrasound was normal what Iam getting at is I have been out of breath with just walking or sometimes even breathing wears me out                                                                                              novatera

[cody95709]

Ok, your alcohol consumption seems to be at a level where you could probabally rule out pancreatitis or liver problems.

Do you exercise?  Doing the streatching if you are.  Sometimes muscles will wind up like a bungie cord that you keep twisting, so streatching is a good thing to do.

Dont' be afraid of the doctors, talk to your friends and see if any of them rave about their doctor.  If you value that friends opinion that is the doctor I would see.

TC,
Cody

[Dogfood]

I to am searching for answers tonight and reading some of your comments have enlightened me quite a bit. I have had a off and on again pain on the right side of my back at the same aprox. area (3/4 wya up) and it seems to not go away at all anymore. I have been drinking alcohol (beer) pretty excessively for about 3 years and am not naive enough to think it's not caused from that. Needless to say, I was concerned enough to try to find some answers. After reading these comments I believe my next step is to schedule a visit to the doc. Thanks, and please excuse the nick!

[Oceanblueeyes]

Thank you so much for your help.  I really feel more intense pressure on the outer area of my rib cage both on left and right...as if the "little man" is pushing a fist outward into my ribs there.  Sometimes it is so intense I look at my rib cage to see if I can see if the rib cage has expanded and I cant really tell any particular change in the appearance. Just like today I did not feel this discomfort as badly the only thing is..I know it will be back.

Really the back pain is the worst...it is a day to day occurrence. The pain is constant and remains right across the bra strap area of my back..it is sore to the touch.  When I lay down at night it is like a big rock is right in the middle of my back.  Doesn't radiate too far from the spine area on each side maybe two inches on either side and goes about two-three inches above the strap area.  Standing upright seems to aggravate it highly...but at night I am able to sleep through the night without it waking me up.

Again, thank you so much for your kindness and your help.

I am a very active woman and these two things have really changed my life.

Oceanblueeyes

[cody95709]

Ocean....

Do you consume alcoholic beverages (excessively so), a fatty diet, or a medication called Zyprexia (if so check the web for a class action lawsuit about Zyprexia causing pancreatitis and get to a doctor)?

The pancreas is a tadpole shaped organ that is right next to your stomach and descends in a circular motion to your left to just above your lower back.

Pain from pancreatitis can be present in your mid-to-lower back where the "tail" of the pancreas is located, in your chest just below the sternum (breastbone), and in your back across from your sternum.

If you feel that little man trying to poke his finger out between your ribs near your sternum it could be a couple of things.  One: you could have a billary duct blockage from just gallstones (HOPE it is that one) or billary sludge and therefore your billiary duct is blocked and bile (the stuff produced by your liver and transported and stored in your gall bladder for use in your stomach) is building up in your gall bladder.  TWO: Something is blocking the pancreatic enzymes from getting to your stomach via the billary duct.  YES, the pancreas and the gall bladder share a common duct to the stomach.

Personally, if you are experiencing the problems you describe GO TO THE HOSPITAL or please see a doctor.  It is serious.

Say you do nothing, and the blockage, assuming that this is the problem, continues... The pancreatic enzymes that your pancreas produces to digest proteins and so on in your stomach will start to digest your pancreas (since they can't get to the stomach when called for)!

So, please don't do nothing.  Get to a doctor and tell him/her what has been going on.  Be honest, never lie to your doctor.

Let me know how you are doing and what the diagnosis turns out to be.

Cody  :)

[cody95709]

dogfood;

Great moniker!  At least you didnt choose "Pushing Up Dasies"!

OK, yea, I would schedule an appointment with the doc, explain your symptoms, and pursue treatment.

Pain on the right side?  Hmmm, not what I experienced with pancreatitis.

Given your annual beer consumption I guess that your doc would request an amylase, lipase, lipid panel, liver function, and a chem 14 blood draw.

Are you having any trouble with being out of breath after doing simple activities?  Any other pain or discomfort when lyng down or early in the morning?

In any case, please see a doctor and get whatever is going on under control before you need to be hospitilazed.  My first hospitilazation was $45,000 and the second was $93,000.

TC,
Cody

[cody95709]

Oceanblueeyes

Does it feel like there is a little man in your chest (at your sternum) trying to poke his finger out between your ribs?

Cody

[cody95709]

I have a copy of Sleisenger & Fordtran's "Gastrointestinal & Liver Disease" 7th Edition; if you want answers to any specific answers or clarification to what I previously posted.

Cody

[cody95709]

These are the type of symptoms I endured for a while before my first bout with pancreatitis.

I would take the chance and get a blood test to see what your pancreatic enzyme levels are.  Especially when there are periods of pain.

Your pancreaes is a long shaped organ that is next to your stomach and descending down to an area above your lower back.

Have you had any vomiting?  Any vomiting of billiaris material (yellow or green bitter stuff)?

Cody

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Tough to say without evaluation.  Possible GI causes of pain in that area would be the various causes of dyspepsia (i.e. GERD, an ulcer, or inflammation of the upper GI tract), pancreatic disease or (atypically) gallbladder disease.  With the latter disease, it typically presents with right upper quadrant pain.

I would consider an upper GI series looking for GERD or an an ulcer.  You can consider blood tests looking at the pancreatic enzymes.  

If these tests are non-revealing, I would next consider blood tests looking at the liver function as well as an abdominal ultrasound which can visualize the liver and the gallbladder.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b