Aa
mid back /abdominal pain
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.
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.
To: All
So glad to know i am not alone, I have been dealing with this type of back and abdominal pain for so long I too have forgotten what it is like to have a good night sleep.
I have tried all the tests plus seen a chiropractor for 4 years with little improvement.I have gone so far as to spending money on a kinesiologist (work on emotional pain that throws the body out) even though he has helped with a lot I still have pain. I think he was surprised and is unsure what to do with me now lol, Hence the no returned calls. He has 99% success rate for clearing any body pain, unfortunately I am part of the 1% he could not help.
It is funny to hear how most are diagnosed with IBS, Personally I have not but do have all the pain symptoms. I wake up at 4:00 am and the pain will go away after hot shower and I am up and going.I sit in front of the computer all day as well and I have had no pain at work either, actually I did prior to putting a cushion behind me which now allows me to sit straight and since then i have had no issues at work. In the last 6yrs I have worked out at the gym for 4hrs a day and found a little increase with my sleeping hours but the pain was never really gone yes 50% less but not gone.I have put on around 20kg in the last 18 month's. Between my body issues and lack of sleep my body has now started to gain weight that can't be shifted. Due to this I am now seeing a Naturopath. I actually started to gain massive amount of weight whilst going to the gym. 18 months ago I was unable to continue doing 4hrs per day but only 15hrs per week. When i started doing the 15hrs per week I gained 12kg in two weeks after that i gave up it really did not matter what I ate or how much I worked out, Since then I have only gained 8 kg in the last 15 months. Which is obviously weird as when i was doing all the right things I gained more and now I was eating whatever I liked and doing no exercise but walking. So yes my pain is much worse but really wasn't gone when i was very very strict on my diet and exercise.
My point is I have lived both a good healthy life and a regular one and neither have completely eliminated the pain and now that my body has been living of 4-6hrs sleep per night. I now have other health issues and they are coming to light, Just so tired.
For me another issue which I have not heard many touch on, is my partner as much as they love me are sick of seeing me in pain and hearing about the pain. We sleep in different beds as my partner can sleep from 10:00pm to 12:00pm the next day given the opportunity.I toss and turn so much that it is impossible for us to share the same bed. But regardless of that i can tell they are sick of the long term issue with no solution in sight.
I will test the pregnancy pills and go for the saliva test, really at this stage what the hell have i got to loose.
Just knowing you all get what its like is a small comfort.
Chronic pain in the paraspinal muscles can be caused by kyphosis or lordosis, curvature of the spine. In severe cases, you can see a bulging where the muscles are tight.
To stretch the superficial layer of the thoracolumbar muscles sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor and your legs spread. Bend forward between your knees keeping your head, arms and back limp. To augment this stretch take a deep breath, exhale and hump your back while you are bent forward. Note that this movement is the opposite of arching your back which is what you do when you stretch your abdominals.
To stretch the deeper layer sit in a chair and rotate (twist) your back toward the painful side keeping your pelvis firmly planted. Look in the direction you are facing.
Another effective stretch is to sit on the floor or in a warm bath tub with your legs straight and reach for your toes keeping your head relaxed. This also stretches the glutes and hamstring muscles.
When in a supine position (on your back) hug your bent knees holding on to the thighs (not the knees) to avoid stressing the knee joint. Place something firm under your pelvis for extra leverage. Press downward and release.
All these stretches should be incorporated into your daily routine until you no longer feel pain.
You can massage these muscles yourself if the trigger point is in your lower thoracic region or lower back. Lie in a semi prone position with your upper knee bent and as high as you can comfortably rest. Reach back and with the pad of your thumb gently apply pressure to the sore spot. Note that when you are in the prone position (face down) the paraspinal muscles are in a too relaxed position to be effectively palpated.
If the trigger point is in the deeper rotators the sore spot will be closer to the spine and the direction you press will be forward (towards your front).
If the trigger point is in the more superficial muscle layer (the erector spinae) pain will be felt lateral (further outside) from the spine and the pressure is applied downward, towards your side.
You'll know when you hit the right spot because not only will it be painful but you will reproduce the referred pain.
To stretch the deeper layer sit in a chair and rotate (twist) your back toward the painful side keeping your pelvis firmly planted. Look in the direction you are facing.
Another effective stretch is to sit on the floor or in a warm bath tub with your legs straight and reach for your toes keeping your head relaxed. This also stretches the glutes and hamstring muscles.
When in a supine position (on your back) hug your bent knees holding on to the thighs (not the knees) to avoid stressing the knee joint. Place something firm under your pelvis for extra leverage. Press downward and release.
All these stretches should be incorporated into your daily routine until you no longer feel pain.
You can massage these muscles yourself if the trigger point is in your lower thoracic region or lower back. Lie in a semi prone position with your upper knee bent and as high as you can comfortably rest. Reach back and with the pad of your thumb gently apply pressure to the sore spot. Note that when you are in the prone position (face down) the paraspinal muscles are in a too relaxed position to be effectively palpated.
If the trigger point is in the deeper rotators the sore spot will be closer to the spine and the direction you press will be forward (towards your front).
If the trigger point is in the more superficial muscle layer (the erector spinae) pain will be felt lateral (further outside) from the spine and the pressure is applied downward, towards your side.
You'll know when you hit the right spot because not only will it be painful but you will reproduce the referred pain.
The muscles that span the length of your back are called the thoracolumbar paraspinals.
There is a superficial layer, whose muscles are long and act as back extensors, and a deep layer, the rotators, whose muscles are shorter and diagonal.
A sure way to injure these deep rotator muscles is to twist while you're bending over to reach for something. A stooped posture and lordosis, in which case the muscles are always in a shorted position, aggravate this condition.
There is a superficial layer, whose muscles are long and act as back extensors, and a deep layer, the rotators, whose muscles are shorter and diagonal.
A sure way to injure these deep rotator muscles is to twist while you're bending over to reach for something. A stooped posture and lordosis, in which case the muscles are always in a shorted position, aggravate this condition.
Correction: When you are in the fetal position you're stretching the tight erector spinae muscles.
What you are experiencing is called lumbago and the superficial paraspinal muscles (erector spinae) are in question.
These muscles contract when you strain to move your bowels and are completely relaxed when you're standing erect and when you're bending forward as in the fetal position. The referred pain from trigger points in the iliocostalis thoracic muscle refers pain around to the abdomen.
These muscles contract when you strain to move your bowels and are completely relaxed when you're standing erect and when you're bending forward as in the fetal position. The referred pain from trigger points in the iliocostalis thoracic muscle refers pain around to the abdomen.
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
