Could it be and is it progressive?

I am 34 years old, and have no prior history of back or stomach problems.  A year and a half ago, during the birth of my son, I had an epidural.  Ever since he was born, I've had almost constant (mild) low back pain, burning at the epidural site (my husband identified the area as such) and stiffness in that area.  I attributed it to the epidural site needing time to heal, and being out of shape, until I started going back to the gym about a year ago.  I work out areobically, as well as alternating days of lifting weights, slowly building up my tolerance.  I warm up with stretches for all major muscle groups, as well as cool down the same way.  The problem I'm having is that if I increase the number of sit-ups, crunches, or back exercises I do by a tiny bit more than "normal", I'm not just a little sore the next day.  Several hours after the workout, I am in excruciating pain.  The pain begins as sorness/burning in my lower back and then extends around my waist to the area around and below my belly button.  It turns into major spasmodic cramps, and I feel bloated and gassy.  When I am able to finally have a bowel movement, usually several hours later, it helps a little.  Sometimes eating makes it much worse; sometimes not.  Additionally, sometimes I feel very nauseous, and/or like I have eaten a large rock and it's sitting heavily at the bottom of my stomach. These occurances have no pattern in relation to my menstrual cycle.  If I have snug (not tight) pants on, I absoutely cannot stand the pressure around my stomach. It makes me hurt worse.  Putting sweatpants on does help relieve the pain, probably the most.  Pain relievers seem to help a little, but the biggest relief is when I put sweatpants on, stretch my lower back often, have a bowel movement and just lay down.   Additonally, if I don't work out for 5-6 days in a row, it seems that anything tight around my waist can send me into a mild episode of this.  After finding your website, I've worried.  Does this sound like arachnoiditis to you, and if so, would it be the progressive type?   Thanks!

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Oliver:

I am sorry that you have found the website and now you are worried.  I hope that you didn't read something that is worrisome to you.  It is difficult to tell you what is the etiology of your problem.  It sounds like you have a neuropathy in the general area of T10-T12 (I am just guessing as I would need to examine you).  Whether this is from the epidural, I cannot tell.  I think that you should see a neurologist and get a good neurological exam.  After this, maybe a MRI of the Thoracic and Lumbar spine (depending on what your exam shows and what the neurologist has to say).  Could this be a result of archnoiditis, I imagine this is a possibility.  This might be a root problem or disc problem but difficult to tell over the internet.  The bowel and stomach are mostly controlled by the vagus nerve (located much higher in the brain stem)and located much higher than where the epidural was given. Unless there is pressure by the stomach or bowel (?) then I am not sure if this is the cause or result of the back problem (?).  The localized back pain and radiation suggests a localized problem in the back.  This may be or may not be the result of the epidural.  Usually archnoiditis is the result of multiple physician treatments in an area (i.e. epidurals, spinal taps, etc) or a congenital problem.  The back is not a common area of congenital archnoiditis.  

Sorry, I am so limited over the internet.  I would see neurologist and begin the process of figuring out what is causing your symptoms.  I wish I could be of more help.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD