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Health & Exercise
pelvic pain/lower back pain - chronic?
(sorry if this is TMI but I'm at the end of my rope)
YES I have seen my doctor, "lady" PA and now a Gyno about this. The pain in my lower back and pelvic area is AWFUL and debilatating right before my period, then I get relief.
I've been prescribed strong anti-inflammatories and stronger drugs for when it's really bad (vicotin).
Because the pain goes away with my period, my doctor doesn't think it's endometrioris. All three physicians just look stumped and don't have a clear answer. They don't think changing my birth control would alter anything, nor diet. I'm already doing yoga and avoiding a lot of alcohol and caffeine.
They recommend physical therapy but that makes me frustrated. It's obviously related to my cycle and reproductive parts.
I know these are questions for professionals, but I've seen the professionals. Want to hear if anyone has similar experiences or ANY advice.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: pelvic pain/lower back pain - chronic?
Hey there, so sorry to hear you're going through this! I've been dealing with something very similar for about 8 months now (May 2010).
I started to have pain in my lower left pelvic area that would sometimes radiate into my back and down my leg (making my left toes tingle). It ranges from an achy feeling to a sharp twinge and is typically worse when I'm sitting down and riding in the car.
I don't know that the exact details are important though. What's important is that I too went to multiple doctors and had multiple tests done....blood work, ultrasounds, etc. I even had a laparoscopy (very painful) to see if I had endometriosis (NO). To this day no one can figure it out.
After 6 months, my GYN finally suggested I get off birth control (Yaz) and see if perhaps the hormones were somehow responsible. I've been off for two months now and feel a lot better. It's not completely gone (and when it comes back I get all freaked out all over again afraid that something is really wrong with me and no one can figure it out!) but I do feel a lot better most of the time. Maybe it's worth a try for you too?
Hope that helps some!
Unfortunately this sounds like pelvic girdle pain (PGP) or symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD). Check out the Pelvic Instability Network of Scotland (PINS), Pelvic Partnership, or Pelvic Instability Association of Australia. All 3 websites have tons of great information. PINS is free to join and also has a message board with many members from the US so you can exchange information. I'd highly recommend going to see a good osteopath or chiropractor who can help determine if your pelvic is out of alignment. This should be in conjunction with seeing a knowledgeable women's health physical therapist for follow up PT that focuses on strengthening the transversus abdominus, multifidus, and pelvic floor. Those are the key muscles to help stabilize the pelvis. There will also be exercises to strengthen and correct any muscle imbalances in the other ab/hip muscles.
Sorry you are dealing with this - it's a very frustrating condition to rehab!
I had very similar symptoms as you and my pain would go away during my period but then it would come back afterward. I was diagnosed with endometriosis by laparoscopy. My doctor did the laparoscopic procedure and removed the endo and I was the symptoms went away. That was August 2008 and so far so good.
I had a generalized pain throughout my pelvic area that was temporarily relieved with heat (ie warm baths, heating pads). No amount of ibuprofen or tylenol would touch it.
I was miserable, anxious and went to 3 doctors until my current OB/GYN helped me. GL!