Lower to upper back side pain??

[S2017]

Hi everyone,

I need some advice/thoughts. I’m getting very sensitive to many foods of late and am also strangely having pain on my side, back right side. I have had this on my left as well but this time it is on the right and I need to take painkillers to make the pain stop. The pain radiates from the lower back to mid/upper back?

I am seeing the GP today/tomorrow and wanted to know if anyone has similar symptoms? Could this be due to IBS? I did a urine test and it does not indicate any UTI.

Thoughts anyone?

Thank you.

[Hidden]

Kidney stones? Any blood in your pee?

[S2017 in reply to Hidden]

Hi,

I did an ultrasound and they didnt find any kidney stones. No blood in the pee either. Not really sure at this stage ..

[Hidden in reply to S2017]

Maybe your going to need a CTSometimes stones are to small to be actually identified on a ultrasound but can still be painful

[S2017 in reply to Hidden]

I didn't know this, thanks for letting me know.

[Meleber]

When my colon is not emptying properly I get this pain too. In the past I thought it were my adrenals because of the location. Now I now better, it is my colon causing the pain. I even felt the pain in my right knee. In my case it's IBS. Taking enough laxatives during the day keeps the pain away but sometimes, like yesterday/today, it returns because I didn't take enough laxatives or just ate the wrong or too much food.

[S2017 in reply to Meleber]

Hi,

It's so frustrating isn't it? I think you may be right as IBS could be causing other types of symptoms as well. My Dr's appointment is currently moving a bit slowly due to the backlog with Covid so I am trying to find out as much as I can. So far, no diagnosis has been given. Hopefully I will know soon and this will settle.

All the best to you and thank you for your reply.

[xjrs]

I have had IBS in various guises over the years, but the most recent symptoms was mid to lower back pain that would come on overnight and more so in the early hours of the morning. I found that it could be more related to specific foods. My GPs kept saying reflux and to take PPIs.

Fast forward to a colonoscopy and I was diagnosed with visceral hypersensitivity (functional abdominal pain) - this meant the pain was more related to my intestines - there is info about it here:

iffgd.org/lower-gi-disorder...

It is where the brain interprets the normal activity of the bowel as pain - this is due to a wearing down of neurons in pain control centres of the brain which can be caused by PTSD, neglect or abuse in childhood, extreme stressful events etc. The first line treatment is nerve pain agents such as low dose amitriptyline. There is a theory that being on something like amitriptyline for 6-12 months can help the pain control centre neurons to regenerate. Note that amitriptyline can cause constipation, but this can be helpful in people who are diarrhea dominant. Unfortunately I couldn't tolerate these. Linaclotide (for IBS-C only) & Alflorex probiotic have helped me with this intestinal pain.

A gut bacterial imbalance can also lead to pain. I have come across a recent study which suggests that even after a gut infection is brought under control, the gut can still 'remember' and give a histamine response to specific foods and can cause pain.

This is why it is worth trying something like Alforex probiotic which has been scientifically studied for IBS. It has made me more tolerant to a wider range of foods. Although there are still some I really struggle with.

[S2017 in reply to xjrs]

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. Honestly, these symptoms are horrible. Wish it would just get better. I am learning a lot from this chat and group. Had never heard of visceral hypersensitivity before.

I am taking Alfofrex based on your recommendation and have just ordered entered coated peppermint capsules (Colpermin). I really hope these work well too.

I am trying to 'correct' my gut bacteria by nourishing it with Alfofrex and Yakult but I am very frustrated with this disease and I can't help it. Everytime I feel like I get an attack, it last for 2-3 weeks, then I get better, then soon again another attack.

At present, I am awaiting my Calprotectin test results and see if that would indicate anything.

As always, thank you for your reply and I hope things get better for you too.

[xjrs in reply to S2017]

I know. It's a pain (literally). You might want to discuss with Precision Biotics (email: [e-mail]) whether they recommend you having Yakult alongside the Alflorex. I recently asked them whether I could combine Alforex with Lactobacillus and there reply was:

We do not recommend you take any other probiotics whilst on Alflorex® as we know that different probiotics can have competing effects, therefore we cannot guarantee the effectiveness of the products. If you must take other probiotics, we would recommend that you take one probiotic in the morning and the other before bed. To give the probiotics a chance to work in the system.

I remember them mentioning before that other bacteria can compete with the bacteria in Alflorex potentially making it less effective. I am assuming in addition when they conducted their clinical studies forIBS, it would have been with Alflorex alone without anything else.

[Hidden]

I tried those actimal drinks errrrk never again. So bad for your guts.I had gurgling guts and gripping guts. Thought this would help. Turned out to be h pylori

[S2017]

I tried Actimal too, didn't work for me, way too sweet. Yakult though seems okay.. Got tested for h pylori too which was negative. Anyway I am planning to do another test.

[bp3f]

I've been having the same pain, lower back left side. All my tests have been normal, and doctor is pretty sure it is IBS. Getting to grips with it now and started a diet with the help of a nutritionist to find trigger foods.

[S2017 in reply to bp3f]

Hi,

Thank you for coming back to me. Literally felt like I was the only one with side pain. I'm still waiting for my test results, should know soon. Good luck, hope the nutritionist will be able to make a difference!

[bp3f in reply to S2017]

me too! I actually find that constipation is the main problem with this side pain. So I am going to try the laxative that everyone seems to be taking. Good luck

[S2017]

Good luck to you too. I am continuing to monitor my symptoms. I find that once getting my period, the 'IBS' like symptons all have calm down so there may be hormonal link and at other times its a complete mystery.