Lower back, flank and abdominal pain (right side only)

@ndough oh wow! That’s scary, thankfully you had that CT!
I did have a CT scan and was checked for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. They said it was clear - my dad had this and had surgery for it 2 years ago. Apparently, my chances of having this from being female and my dad having it are higher. I perhaps may mention it again to my GP.

If you can have an ultrasound instead, please do. The highest incidence of having them is through genetics. (Thanks, Mom! 😂)

You were lucky —-> Because if an undiagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptures then your chances of survival, especially depending on what access you have to get to a hospital/specialist who does such surgery, may strongly impact your survival chances.
I have taken care of emergency “Triple A” or “AAA” patients many times and they don’t all live to tell the tale.

Any updates on this? I feel like I have the exact same symptoms.

@kileyash13 Good morning, this is Saturday, June 20th, and I just saw your initial post from June last year. What got my attention is the fact my issue started in my low right back, and it has migrated to my right-side flank and oblique muscles. The muscles on that side are constantly locked/spasmed, as well as the Paraspinal muscles along the right side of my spine.

This summer will be 3 years from when my chronic pain started, which was on July 7, 2023. As I mentioned, it started as low right back pain, but my right flank and oblique muscles started locking shortly afterwards. I have been to multiple hospitals, I have seen 30+ medical professionals, and I have tried Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Physical Therapy, Trigger Point Injections, Dysport Injections (similar to Botox), Cupping, and my latest endeavor has been working with PT's that specialize in Scoliosis treatment (I had my first ever MRI in July of 2023, and saw my spinal curve for the first time).

None of these muscles have ever released over the past 3 years from any of these procedures/treatments, and after an Epidural back in February, my Oblique muscles actually got tighter than they had been. No one I have seen, from all of the top hospitals in the city, has any idea why my muscles are locked, and no one has any idea how to unlock them. I am in pain from when I get up until I go to bed, and this is sitting or standing. The only relief I get is laying on my back, which seems to let everything relax enough to get rid of most of the pain. But as soon as I'm up, it starts all over again.

I'm hoping someone here, and from several other sources, has some type of idea what this could be. All of my tests and imaging show "normal", or as the imaging people like to say, "unremarkable". Also, I do NOT have any of the other symptoms most doctors ask about; pain down my leg, or in my groin, fever, trouble with bowel movements, etc.

So the "experts" tell me that I am not textbook, or that I'm an anomaly. And the problem with that besides not finding answers, is most doctors give up after a single visit or image or test, which is why I have seen over 30 medical professionals so far. They have said to my face, "I don't know what is wrong with you", or "I don't know what to do with you", and they walk away. No further suggestions, no consultations with other medical professionals, just a "Don't let the door hit you on the way out" type of response.

Sorry for such a long message, but it has been 3 years of pain all day, every day. I don't remember what it feels like to not be in pain. So, I write to anyone I can that could have some type of answer, and I refuse to believe I'm the only person in the world with this issue. I'm really hoping you find your solution, as I know what long term pain does to you.

@kileyash13 I am 78 and was a professional tennis player and runner. Lots of chronic back pain and similar areas you describe. After calling your pcp, try ice, chair yoga, it does help to stretch and chair takes 25 minutes at home. I use salonpas patches non lidocaine, because lidocaine numbs my skin and doesn't help muscle pain.