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

Posted by kileyash13 @kileyash13, Jun 22 4:03pm

38, female, no pre-existing conditions. 16 months post-partum.
Experiencing almost constant dull, achey pain mostly in the lower back, flank and abdominal. Sometimes the pain radiates into the glute and thigh and as high as the bottom of the rib cage. Right side only.
Have had blood work completed (3), urinalysis, ultrasound, transvaginal ultrasound, CT without contrast, CT with contrast (both unremarkable).
Pain started in January and fluctuates daily in varying degrees but is almost constantly there.
No other symptoms.
Currently on wait for an MRI (year waiting list) and referral to see a GI specialist (also a long wait).
Have kept track and there appears to be no correlation between foods, activities etc. and the pain.
Has anyone experienced this before? Ideas?
Thank you.

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Profile picture for jenatsky @jenatsky

When I was a young man I started having pains similar to your but no positive blood work or urinalysis. This was in the 1970’s before complex scanning was available and it lasted for almost a year. Finally it became more acute and my test were abnormal then and I had surgery. With you being post-partum it adds another complications to consider. I hope you’ll eventually get an answer.

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Oh! If you don’t mind me asking, what was the cause of your pain and what kind of surgery did you have?

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It was my appendix after all.

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Has some resemblance to what I've had for decades and no one can successfully treat. My pain is on the left side. Starts just below the waist and goes down the buttock and into the outside of the thigh. pressure on the area makes it feel like it's bruised. After 8 doctors I am getting progressively worse. I just got my letter from Mayo rejecting my application for an appointment. I guess I will just buy a wheelchair and live with the pain.

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I am so sorry for your pain. I have a chronic pain issue similar to what you described on my right side. After 3 years and six surgeries due to quad tendon and patellar tendon ruptures, my core strength is shot. For two years I have had lower back pain on and off that is leaving me bent over when I stand up straight, or have to bend over. The pain is only relieved by sitting down. I have had to extend the time of using my walker post op 1/14/2025, and wear a straight leg brace in full extension when weight bearing. I have physical therapy after each surgery and have just had the PT lower back pain evaluation. Waiting on insurance approval. A few weeks ago the chronic pain spread down my outside right leg and pain shoots over my ankle and top of my foot. I am on Gabapentin now and that is helping. I have an MRI next week, thank goodness, but I am worried about being able to lay flat on my back for very long. I'm going to listen to music or a meditation throughout. I've also had two lumbar spine sets of x-rays, because the pain was so bad one day I was in the ER for 10 hours. I always am prescribed a Doppler for ruling out blood clots. Anyway, that's why I had a 2nd set of X-rays.

I wish you rapid relief for your chronic pain. It sounds like both of us have very complex and mitigating factors that may or may not be a part of our diagnosis.

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