mid back /abdominal pain

[wombmate]

I have been having back/stomach pain that starts very early morning, I have read others on this website who have had the same thing, it only comes after laying down for a few hours, it wakes me every morning before I've had a full nights sleep. I have had an endoscopy,MRI, several blood tests, had my liver, spleen and kidneys checked, been on GI meds, and have been told I have IBS, I understand that I do have IBS but I do not feel this back pain that radiates to the front has anything to do with IBS. It hurts when I take a deep breath and it hurts more when I lay on my right side. I have been to 4 different drs, mostly gastroenterologist but none of them seem to hear me say that I feel it is in my back, so I've not seen a dr specifically for back or arthritis type pain. I do also have fibromyalgia so when this pain began, I was afraid I was having a flare up. I have bought a new mattress because I thought maybe that was the problem but it did not help. Years ago I had x-rays on my back and was told I had arthritis. Could it be some form of rthritis? I am also wondering if anyone else has found the answer to their very similar pain.
I am 47 years old but most mornings I feel like I am 95, the pain does go away once I am up. Can anyone Please help.

[Jess2454]

I have been following this post for over a year now and it has brought me great comfort to know I am not alone in this.
I have suffered the exact same symptoms for a few years now and have had a few wrong diagnosis and tests along the way, I'm now seeing a physio who says I've got various back issues to deal with (but who doesn't!).

Over time I've established a link between these symptoms and my eating habits, I wanted to ignore this at first as I felt I ate fairly healthily and I love my food so I didn't want to change my diet, however, I have to admit to myself now that if I eat a large meal in the evening or snack late at night (especially heavy, carby foods) I WILL be showing these symptoms the following morning, every single time! And if, for some reason, I barely eat at all in the evening I will get a much better nights sleep and hardly any pain in the morning (maybe a little stiffness, but who doesn't!). I might feel hungry though!

What helped was keeping a food diary (an honest one!) to find the link, these days I try really hard to a have a very light, early evening meal. It's not easy, I'm only 26 and it seems so unfair my friends can sit down to a three course meal at 8pm and not suffer, but the other side is that I might lose a little weight a long the way which is always welcome! Meanwhile I'm sure the physio will be helpful too.

I hope this helps others, I guess I wanted a proper 'name' for it and a quick solution, but I've accepted that isn't going to happen. I learnt to be honest with myself about my eating habits and realised I just had to change them.

[pete420]

Chiropractor sounds like a winner.  After reading through all the posts, it seems everyone has the same symptoms, and seeing as some of us have already exhausted every medical test in the book, the only logical answer is some sort of nerve being pinched.  Im going to visit my chiro and report back.

[pete420]

Mike,  I too am having the same symptoms, and I work out 5-7 days a week.  It has nothing to do with my core, I exercise my lower back and stomach regularly!  I agree with previous posters, it has to do with the bowels.  As soon as I figure out what the problem is, ill post here.  Good luck all.

[eggroll89]

I had my gallbladder removed but the pain still presists

[PPNH]

Because your bladder is in your pelvis and your lungs are in your chest it is unlikely that they could be pushing against each other, but you may be right about the pain being muscular.

There is a good chance that you had an active trigger point in one or more of your erector spinae muscles, the muscles that run the length of your spine.

If a trigger point is activated in the iliocostalis thoracis you will feel pain in the middle of your back (mid-thoracic) that may reach to your shoulder blade and around to your chest.

If the trigger point is in the iliocostalis lumborum the pain will be felt in the lumbar region, glutes, hip and maybe the stomach.

The erector spinae muscles are used to hold you up if you are stooped forwards and they bend you sideways. You also use these muscles when you inhale, cough and if you're straining to have a bowel movement.

If you are standing straight (erect) these muscles are in a neutral position.

If these muscles spasm it will make it extremely difficult for you to move.

[Aesb]

I had pains like this for years. It took me a long time to realize that the pain was only relieved in the mornings by urinating. Seems like a slightly full bladder was pushing against my lungs and rib cage and creating soreness. The rib cage hurt and radiated to the back. It seems like particular beds would contribute to the pain, leading me to think it's muscular. But the pain lessens considerably after I go to the bathroom. Maybe particular beds are bad matches for my bladder and kidneys?!