Back Pain??

[SammyJ92]

So for the last 2/3 weeks i've had some really bad pain in my back. Its not muscular, more of a shooting uncomfortable pain in my spine between my shoulder blades if i move or lay a certain way. I read somewhere online about HIV being in spinal fluid and didn't know if this was true or something to be concerned about???

[dvvb]

that sounds scary sammyj92.. did you go and speak to your specialist about this?

[pauldecle Partner ForumLink]

Hi Sammy,

Sorry to hear about your back pain, it is not very lightly to be HIV related, it sounds more like a trapped nerve or some other cause, I would go and see your GP about it.

The point you raised about the virus in the spinal fluid is true the virus is present throughout the body. However, the issue used to be that some of the older medications did not cross the 'blood brain barrier' so the active drug did not get right into the brain cells and so could not kill the virus in the brain. This could then lead to HIV related dementia. This is almost unheard of nowadays as most of the modern medications do crossover the blood brain barrier and works affectively throughout the body including the spinal fluid.

I hope this helps and please make an appointment for see your GP they should at the very least give you something for the pain. If you are still concerned call your clinic and speak to one of the nurses or your Doctor.

Or you cold ring the i-Base treatment phone line, it is open Mon, Tues, Wed 12-4 pm 0808 800 6013 Calls are free in the UK from land lines and most mobile networks including the main six: 3, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Virgin and Vodafone. Calls will not be itemised on your bill. All of the phone line staff are living with HIV.

All the best,

Paul.

[Positive52 in reply to pauldecle]

I'm curious about what you said about the spinal fluid. I had a major fall last year and I use to be 6' and now I'm 5'10" they took X-rays of my back, and didn't find anything. Finally I got a doctor to take a x-Ray of my neck and it shows that barely any spinal fluid is passing down my spine. I'm a little concern now about what you said about the drugs being able to pass into the "blood brain barrier" and fighting the virus in the brain. Does having very little spinal fluid flowing between my brain into my back, cause a issue with the drugs getting into the blood brain barrier?

[pauldecle Partner ForumLink]

Hi 52,

This is reaching the limits of my knowledge, but my gut reaction is that it would not affect you. I would feel more comfortable you seeking more specialised advice.

Either contact your HIV team or try somewhere like i-Base. i-Base have an online question and answer service for people outside the UK. The address for this service is i-base.info/qa/ask-a-questi...

They will research the issue for you and get back to you.

hope the helps,

P

[247sweet]

Hiya Sam it sounds like a trapped nerve to me. I'd say go and see an osteopath asap. If you go to your dr he/she might refer you to one if your really lucky I have to pay for mine...... But it's well worth it.

You might be able to stretch the area yourself, but the shoulders are a complicated group of joints

Good luck!!