Episodic pulsating lower back pain attacks that occur at random and last 10-15 mins

[Painstake]

Hello there. I'm female, 25, but what I'm about to describe has been happening to me since I was 15 and I still haven't figured out the cause.



Every once in a while, when I don't expect it I suddenly enter a state of extreme pain in my lower back (lumbar area) that lasts for 10-15 minutes and then passes (let's call this an "episode"). The longest one has lasted for about 30 minutes.

Each episode starts out with mild pulsating/rhythmic sort of pain. In 2 minutes it quickly builds up to extreme levels of pain. I feel like someone is stabbing me in the back to the beat of a pulse, with about 1 second between each "beat". While I do feel constant pain between beats, it's the beat that hurts the most.

While all of this is happening, I lie down or sit down to ease the pain and literally can't do anything for the next 10-15 minutes. I can't move and I can barely talk. I can't even breathe because breathing makes the pain much much worse, which is why I try to hold my breath as long as I can.

I also arch my back as much as I can because it sort of makes the stabbing feel less severe, but not by much. Sometimes the pain is so extreme I start crying, but all I can do is wait for it to pass.



When this happens to me in public, people who don't know me freak the hell out because it looks like I'm having a seizure or something.

The frequency of episodes is inconsistent. Sometimes they can occur 3 times in a single day, sometimes only once in a week. The longest time I've gone without one is a few weeks. This last week I had them 3 days in a row. It can happen in any situation, whether I'm doing an intense physical activity or I'm just lying down and relaxing.



I've done spinal xrays which don't show anything out of the ordinary. I've also done ultrasound to my kidneys and have discovered some kidney damage but I'm not sure it's related (I do have problems with my kidneys, but I've experienced kidney pains and it's a different pain).



Does this sound like any known condition out there?

[madmelon]

Hi! I was shocked when reading your description of this pain because you so eloquently described something I've experienced since I was a young boy. I've tried to describe the symptoms to doctors and never seemed to get a clear answer at what might be the cause.
They've never been debilitating, but have been quite annoying. The pulsating cramp like pains would come on gradually in the lumbar region in the areas (muscles) on each side of my spine, intensify to a point where I'd have to sit down somewhere and not move, then gradually fade away with a wave of sweet relief. It would all last about 10 minutes. I've had less frequent episodes as I've gotten older (40 now). Still have never found an explanation but happy to find I'm not alone!

[allenBarry360]

Hey My name is Barry and I really need your help .I have been having these pulsating lower back pain episodes.I am 24 now.When I was 19 ,I used to suddenly get pain in my lower back and I just stay still for 30 sec or something and it used to go away.Back then I used to get this pain like once a month or something (I didn't care about it).I remember getting this pain last year too but never frequently (it was like once a month or two months ).4 months back I stopped exercising and also started eating random junk foods.In last 4 months I have observed these episodes to be frequent . sometimes 2/3 times a week (never more than once a day.) .Recent episodes are lasting 2 - 3 min . I freak out when that happens .Could you please let me know if i have to do something about it .Also let me know if you got any diagnosis of your pains.Your reply will be invaluable.Thanks