Lower back pain

[jimbo mack]

Since my diagnosis beginning of February this year I have recently developed lower back pain, which feels worse when I lie down, especially when I am bloated.

I queried with my general doctor whether this was related to my CC and he seemed to think it was not, but rather it was mechanical back pain, and gave me a E-leaflet on how to do some back stretches. But to me this feels related to my CC bloating.

I’m a bit at my wits end. The pain can be quite bad at times. Has anyone else had low back pain as part of their MC journey?

[tex]

Our database of past discussions indicates that your Doctor is incorrect, although he's not to blame, because the official medical description of microscopic colitis doesn't mention lower back pain. Unfortunately though, many of us experience the pain you're describing. Back when I was reacting, some mornings my lower back pain was so bad that I had trouble getting out of bed, and trying to straighten up. Fortunately, it normally resolves as we begin to respond to the diet, and our inflammation level goes down. Your gastroenterologist would very likely tell you the same thing as your GP, that lower back pain is not a symptom of MC, but most of us would disagree with that, because it was definitely associated with our MC.

Tex

[jimbo mack]

Thanks Tex, I was only diagnosed with this last month and I’m finding it very overwhelming to deal with it at times. This disease seems to present with so many other issues - fatigue, bloating etc - I get anxiety that other things are also going on or lurking in the background. It can really play with your mind.

But I am reading, and slowly learning. The information provided here by yourself and Gabes is so invaluable, as in real life I feel like I’m living with something that nobody knows anything about. In the UK I don’t think we even have any doctors or gastroenterologists who specialise in MC.

[Patricia]

I get lower back pain too when I am bloated…and whenever I experience symptoms, my anxiety gets worse.

Patricia

[Robbie]

I get the back pain from bloating. I think the cramping that comes with a bad potty day causes mine. However, I was put on omeprazole after also being diagnosed with gastritis when I was diagnosed with MC and UC. I did not want to take it so I stopped soon after. But my back was killing me so I decided, against my better judgement, to use NSAIDS for a brief period a bit later just to get a break. I wanted to take omeprazole to protect my stomach. I was out and could not find it in stores or online. By the time I found the medicine and geared up to take an NSAID I realized my back was much improved. Dr. Google told me that omeprazole is known to cause lower back pain. I told my doctor and he said it’s rare but it was not the first time he heard it. If omeprazole can do it there are probably other medications that can cause back pain.

I have had back pain since my teens and I still do. But taking omeprazole was constant, intense, severe pain. It was not my normal kind of back pain, really. I had to take it again ten years ago for a few weeks. By then I had purchased an over the counter tens unit so that helped the pain omeprazole caused. It also helps my regular back pain.

So, it’s probably what you think it is but I had to put in my two cents in case it helps someone. It’s hard to believe how much pain that medication caused me. Thank God I found this forum and learned how to treat myself by removing harmful foods and avoiding harmful medications.