Connect
← Return to Chronic Back Pain for Years
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
I have been suffering from chronic pain in my lower back (Sacrum area) and pelvic (entire pelvic from left side to right) for about 2 years. I have had several doctors check with zero source results. Since I have normal lab results little has been done.
One doctor seemed to question me as if I was an addict seeking prescription drugs. He did nothing more other than provide hormones pills which did not help.
Another doctor did exploratory surgery and found that my uterus was abnormal thus performed a hysterectomy (removed uterus, cervix and left both ovaries). It was a overnight change because the pain has decreased. Before the surgery I would have to lay my head on the desk, stretch, add pressure to my pelvic area, change my breath, etc to refocus and get back to work. Now, the pain still exists. It is at a lower pain level. It has been 5 months since this surgery.
I went into my primary care doctor who has been wonderful over the years for my family. However, he seems to have stopped trying to help figure things out with a comment of "we can do so much then have to leave it up to to the Lord". I agree with the statement but feel that chronic pain isn't normal and I should not have to live with each and every day.
My symptoms are below.
1. continuous Sacrum pain that ranges from a pain level of 3-6 on a 10 scale. There are intermittent peaks that leads me to take tylenol & ibuprofen combination. It only tappers it.
2. continuous pelvic pains. These are difficult to describe. It ranges from feeling like a pains of an extremely full bladder without a need to urinate to heavy menstrual type cramps .
3. After going to the bathroom (either BM or urinate), the pain level increases about 2 minutes later
4. When getting up in the middle of the night to check on kids, by the type I get back to my room, it hurts to move. I sleep with a heating pad (automatic shut off). The heat helps me to relax enough to go back to sleep.
Symptoms I DO NOT have are below.
1. Do not have leakage when sneezing, laughing, etc
2. Out of commission because I remain active (mother of 3 is busy, work full time, and active home remodel projects)
I am uncertain of what to do next to try to figure out this pain. It never stops completely.
Has anyone experienced similar issues? Any ideas?
Replies to "I have been suffering from chronic pain in my lower back (Sacrum area) and pelvic (entire..."
@living_strong
Good Morning,
I know how exhausting and frustrating it can be when you know something is wrong and no one either believes you or can't find out what is wrong.
I've been going through something similar.
I have been suffering with back issues for years.
After seeing pain specialists for more than10 years, I realized that that route was now useless.
Those doctors did all they could.
2 of the 5 pain doctors I've see over the years told me that if the shots stopped working, then seeing a neurologist was next
I did that. My most recent pain specialist could not help me after 5]4 years, I decided I was done and needed to go further.
I did some research and found a neurosurgeon.
He did the standards, PT, shots, x-rays and MRIs, it kept showing the same thing, L4/5 was a problem and C5/6.
I had surgery, in February on the cervical spine.
However, the doctor was not sure why I had the symptoms I had in my lower back.
x-rays and MRIs, again, did not show anything new that would account for the issues.
Next, I took a MYLOGRAM CAT Scan.
Again, nothing. However, my doctor was not convinced and he did another search of the films and actually found something missed by the technician.
To confirm his findings, he sent me for a CONTRAST MRI.
Sure enough, it showed a cyst in the spinal canal.
If the doctor didn't go any further than the MRI (to save money), he never would have found the cyst.
Guess I am just saying, don't let a doctor write off
Good luck!
Hoping for a pain free day!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
Connect
Hello @living_strong, welcome to Connect. You may notice I moved your discussion and combined it with one titled, "Chronic Back Pain for Years." I did this so your post would go to all of the Connect members already discussing chronic back pain and so you could read through some of their previous posts. You may also find the Women's Health group of interest, you can find that here, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/womens-health/. While we wait for other members to jump in, have you considered seeking a second opinion. That is not to say that your primary physician is not a good one, but many professionals think that second opinions are valuable as they can offer different insight and sometimes a more definitive diagnosis.