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Very sore mid back pain following winter virus

Posted , 9 users are following.

joyce12429
joyce12429

Hi,  I am new to the forum and wondered if anyone is sharing a similar experience to me.  On Christmas Day I started feeling sooo unwell and ended up in casualty following a call to 911.  I was most concerned about a pain in my mid back on the right hand side as well as feeling terrible in myself.  The nurse asked for a urine sample and came back saying I had a water infection and gave me some anti-biotics, when I asked about the pain in my back she said that this was just a red herring. After many days feeling almost comatose my general condition improved but the back pain intensified.  Blood tests revealed that I had been quite poorly and the inflammation reading in my blood test was something like 123 when it should have been 5.  However, subsequent blood tests showed that this had just about come back down to normal but I still have this debilitating back problem.  I have had an ultra- sound to rule out kidney stones and a back and side X-ray which agai showed only mild degeneration of my spine which the doctor said is to be expected.  I am normally a fit and healthy 62 years young.  Sorry this is so long winded!!  I am now on strong pain killers and have paid privately to see an acupuncturist, an orthopaedic massage person and lastly, a physiotherapist who crunched and twisted me and diagnosed Tietze syndrome.  Since my visit to the physio I have been really sore in the back but he said it will hurt more before it gets better.  I am not convinced of this diagnosis as subsequent research on the Internet informs me that Tietze occurs mainly in the chest area and is often mistaken for a heart attack.  I am now almost continually in pain, the soreness now in both sides of my middle back extending down to and around the sides of my waist and even leaning back on a chair makes my back very sore.  I cannot take anti-inflammatory meds because of other medication I am taking so am relying on home made health drinks containing lots of fresh ginger, cyber vinegar and fresh raw fruit and vegetables. As the doctor is baffled, she has referred me to a Consultant but this is not until the 17th March when I will have had this back pain almost three months.  Has anyone else got or knows of anyone with the same symptoms or has any answers the I would be most grateful to hear from you. Thank you for reading this and I hope to hear from you soon. Xx

0 likes, 22 replies

22 Replies

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  • archemedes
    archemedes joyce12429

    Posted

    Hello Joyce, it is just possible that your pyelonephritis has not gone away.

    By far the greater number of urinary tract infections (UTI) are caused by the E Coli bacteria, but othere bacteria such as Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus that can also be the cause.

    The usual treatment is by an empiric antibiotic, but where the infection persists and appears unresponsive, and particularly where a specific bacteria has been isolated as the cause, a dedicated antibiotic may be administered.

    If I were you I would go back to your doctor and ask to be retested, just in case the infection has come back, not gone away in the first pace or spread to other area.

    Good luck

    Rod

    • joyce12429
      joyce12429 archemedes

      Posted

      Thank you so much Rod for your swift and comprehensive reply.  Should I ask for a new blood test, urine test or both?  I can't imagine living with this problem forever as it's so depressing and I'm normally so upbeat.  Hope to hear from you regarding tests.
    • archemedes
      archemedes joyce12429

      Posted

      I would suggest a blood sample should be analysed for creatinine (and estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]) and urea, and a full urine spectrum test performed.

      If there is any sign of an actual infection it is important that the type of bacteria causing the infection is identified.

      Should anything at all all show-up then I would perhaps also seek an MRI.

      This type of infection can be quite nasty if left untreated, so it is imortant to establish that you are 100% clear of it.

      Hope this helps

      Rod

    • joyce12429
      joyce12429 archemedes

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your help.  I will take this matter forward.  Thanks again.
  • dianne91970
    dianne91970 joyce12429

    Posted

    I am so sorry to hear how much you are suffering Joyce and i'm afraid I have nothing to offer. I wish you well and hope you get better soon

    D

  • joyce12429
    joyce12429

    Posted

    Thank you so much for your support, it's greatly appreciated. X
  • joyce12429
    joyce12429

    Posted

    Hi,

    Just an update.  Have just returned from the doctors and showed him the screenshot of our conversation, he looked at my records and said that the latest test results for blood and urine taken in January came back clear - he did however agree to another urine test which I have to hand in on Monday.  I said I am in so much pain that I would like to be admitted to hospital so that they can get to the bottom of this - he said that that was not going to happen and I had to wait for my specialist's appointment on the 17th March.  He was going to prescribe Tramadol? but I've heard this makes you very sleepy so asked if I could double the co-codomol to which he agreed.  I have just taken my first double dose so fingers crossed x  When I asked his opinion (different doctor to the last one) he looked at my notes and said that he thinks the urine infection has gone to my kidneys making them and the surrounding tissue inflamed.  Do you think this ties in with the very sore pain I get in my mid-back area if I rest my back against a chair?  It has become so painful in that area that I have had to buy new underwear without any fasteners as they caused dreadful pain when resting against my back.  Sorry to go on so.  I really value your input.  Thanks again! 

    • archemedes
      archemedes joyce12429

      Posted

      It is interesting to note that the second doctor took the view that the infection may have sread to your kidneys.

      If you look at my previous post Joyce you will see that is what I thought was possibly the problem.

      I appreciate what your doctor has said, but I hope he was mindful of the fact that this sort of infection (if that's what it still is), can turn into Sepsis very easily. Sepsis can be treated if caught early through  antibiotics given intravenously followed by a course of oral medication.

      The Tramadol which incidentally may make you sleepy, will undoubtely lessen your pain experience, but if you should start with a temperature/fever or delerium in before your next visit to your doctor, you should report to your A&E immediately and tell them of your history.

    • archemedes
      archemedes

      Posted

      Please keep me posted on your progress Joyce.
    • joyce12429
      joyce12429 archemedes

      Posted

      Hi and thank you once again for your continued support.  I'm comforted to know that your initial thoughts have been confirmed.  Will the urine test that I return on Monday show up this, if this is the case?
    • archemedes
      archemedes joyce12429

      Posted

      Yes, there is a very good chance that it will, but that assumes the problem is related to a urine infection.

      There is a whole host of other things that it could be, but most of them seem to have been ruled out, so at the moment, despite having no involvement in your case, I would say that it still sounds like Pyelonephritis.

      Your doctors appear to be somewhat nonchalant about the whole thing, so maybe you need to be a bit firmer with them and insist on a specific diagnosis and then insist that they treat it.

      Please keep me updated on how this progresses.

      Regards

      Rod

  • dianne91970
    dianne91970 joyce12429

    Posted

    Did he look at your back Joyce? When my shoulder was that sensitive it was shingles. I have had tramadol in the past and found it brilliant but causing constipation. My eldest daughter had a bad reaction to it. I hope you get to the bottom of the problem very soon. Keep us informed. Dianne
  • joyce12429
    joyce12429

    Posted

    Thanks Dianne  will keep you informed.x
  • joyce12429
    joyce12429

    Posted

    Hi,  Just to keep you updated.  Went for my long awaited appointment with the Consultant yesterday only to be told that I was in the wrong clinic.  You may recall, that my original choose and book appointment for the 18th February was cancelled by the hospital was not a suitable clinic for me (kidney specialist) and they gave me the new appointment for yesterday.  When I questioned this with my doctor she said that consultants have other areas of expertise and not just their own.  I don't know how I got through the days until yesteday's appointment as there have been a couple of occasions when I have had so much pain I have thought about calling an ambulance.  Yesterday, not knowing I was going to see the wrong person, I had my suitcase packed and was going to beg (if necessary) to be admitted to the hospital so they could investigate my problem.  However, the consultant said that that would not be possible as he had no jurisdiction over bed allocation and indeed, he knew absolutely nothing about me other than my name and appointment time and a note, presumably originating from my own doctor saying they wanted to know if they had overlooked anything.  This aside, he was a very kind and understanding physician and asked about my medical history and were the pain was etc., he then examined my back and tummy and said that he couldn't see anything that caused him undue concern but went on to say that it could be Neuropathic pain and recommended AMITRIPTYLINE which, although is is classed as an anti-dpressant is also used for the purpose of pain relief (10mg dose).  My doctors appointment to discuss this (first one available is next Monday morning) and I am desperately hoping that this drug might just put me right.  What I would really like is an MRI or CT scan to see exactly were the pain originates but I am unsure as to whether the doctor will authorise this.  What I most certainly do not want is to have a sticking plaster solution to my problem as I want to be totally well again and back to my old energetic self.  Any comments would be appreciarted. Sorry this is such a long story again!!
    • athomas
      athomas joyce12429

      Posted

      Hi Joyce

      How are you doing? My daughter is going through the same thing and the doctors are baffled..

      Can you give me some help?

      A thomas

    • joyce12429
      joyce12429 athomas

      Posted

      Hi athomas,  So sorry to hear that your daughter is suffering.  Since my last post I have insisted on a thoracic MRI scan which they said showed nothing.  I have since seen a rheumatologist who also suggested neuropathic pain.  Sorry to inform you that I am no further forward, despite extensive research and visiting just about every alternative practitioner in existence I am still in very bad pain.  Knowing what I know now I would have insisted on an appointment with a neurologist as my first port of call instead of going around the houses with absolutely no firm diagnosis.  I went back to the doctors a couple of weeks ago and said I would like an appointment with a neurologist as I couldn't go on the way I am.  He was sympathetic and sent a referral letter to my nearest hospital and I eventually got an appointment for 20th December.  At last, I had hope!!  I put a countdown application on my iPad and was watching the days go by, putting up with the pain because I thought there was an end in sight.  However, 2 days ago I received a letter from the hospital saying that my appointment had been cancelled.  When I rang my GP the reason the Consultant gave was that I had undergone extensive tests and they thought it was inappropriate.  Well, to say I was deflated was an under-statement, I was totally devastated!  I have now requested a private appointment with a neurologist (I've worked 47 years and never claimed any kind of benefit) so h aging to pay for an appointment is so frustrating as I really can't afford it but will have to manage somehow.  I don't know if your daughter has hyper sensitivity in the area of her mid-back but I can't wear a proper bra or lean back against a chair without being in a lot of pain.  I take an Amtryptiline before bed and have tried Gabapentin (moving up to a high dose) which left me utterly devastated as I was like a zombie with Alzheimer's.  I am now on a morphine patch and take co-codomol every four hours but to be honest it doesn't do anything for the pain.  In summary, I have explained to the doctor (yet again) that it is my belief that pain is the body's way of telling you that there is something wrong and I will not rest until I know what that 'something' is.  I do hope you have more luck than me and if I could offer any advice at all it would be to insist on seeing a neurologist.  I do hope this helps.

    • athomas
      athomas joyce12429

      Posted

      Hi Joyce

      My daughter is going for a brain scan and I hope to get some results.

      I am in anyway going to get her tested in Singapore and I will keep u posted.

      Thank you for helping me.God bless

      Athomad

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