I have severe pain in my lower back, around my waistline and tummy....

[flossy1]

The area is very tender to touch. I also have fibromyalgia and sjrogrens. I recently saw a gastroenterologist and he prescribed Gabapentine 300mg x 3 times daily which seems to make very little difference. Has anyone else had this? Xx

[Barnclown]

Hello flossy (lovely name)

Sorry to think of you with this

I have been managing my own version of this for years, more or less successfully. It's good you & your dr are working hard at figuring your version of this out. I imagine there must be several causes of tenderness & pain in these parts of the body, but my version is called 'pelvic girdle pain' and is apparently due to a combination of factors, but mainly the following:

Spondylosis in my lower spine (facet joint pain due to misalignment caused by injury many decades ago

+ tendon tightening due to the denaturing process of untreated SLE)

+ Synovitis in my sacrum joint combined with hypermobility

+ lifelong IBS

+ DES daughter gyn birth defects, with endometriosis

I've been managing my version of this for decades. Am 60 now and finally have this more or less under control. For what it's worth, during flares prescription analgesics don't so far help me much either. Nor do prescription NSAIDs. But last January when I added mycophenolate mofetil 1000mg per day to my daily 400mg hydroxy & 20Mg amitriptyline, I felt a significant drop in level of pelvic girdle symptoms.

Otherwise, postural training via the Alexander Technique has helped a lot, as does using memory foam seat wedges & lumbar supports. During flares, I use Thermacare lumbar heat wraps (fro. Amazon, boots etc) which were developed a few years ago & seem to me literally sent from Heaven. Otherwise, lifestyle management helps: antiinflammation diet & supplements, lying flat for at least 30 min at some point each day, a gentle exercise routine of pilates & yoga etc etc

Good luck & take care

[flossy1]

Hi barnclown

Thank you for your reply. You have certainly given me a lot to think about. I am going to 're read and talk over some of your points with my doctor.

Thank you again.

Take care xx

[Barnclown in reply to flossy1]

Your welcome!

Maybe I should add:

last year before, we tried myco, rheumatology let me try 4week low dose oral prednisolone tapers (starting at a week on.10mg per day, dropping by 2.5 each week until finished) and, although this was for flares of other lupus symptoms, to our surprise these tapers really helped reduce my pelvic girdle pain too....and indeed this was the evidence that helped rheumatology to decide to try me on myco.

I've been thoroughly checked out by gynaecology. And also by gastroenterology via gastroscopy & colonoscopy because of immediate family history of GI cancer & my long standing GI symptoms. Nothing sinister has been revealed so far during this periodic gyn & gastro monitoring.

Good luck - maybe let us know how you get on

xo

[Jbug]

Hi Flossy, I too have this and no Dr seems too concerned. Have had X-rays and CTs and yes, was checked out by Gyn. I am over the fact that any doctor will have answers for me. I just deal with pain when it really gets bad, by taking Tramadol. Otherwise, I make myself move! And yes, sometimes a Prednisone taper helps.

[flossy1]

Hi thank you for your replies. Now I know it's not just me it helps. I agree with you jbug, that moving helps as I feel ok when I walk my dogs. I am really reluctant to take steroids again as my hair has only just grown. So I will now discuss with my doc.