Lower back pain

[elise2000]

Evening everyone

Almost every morning for the past 18 months or so, I’ve woken up with bad lower back pain. It is fine within a matter of minutes of getting out of bed though.

Occasionally it niggles in the day, and occasionally I have bad upper back in the day too.

I seem to have lost a bit of weight in the last month without trying. Don’t know how much but belt is a notch or so tighter than it was.

I tried a bit of osteo over the summer, and some at home physio stretches which haven’t helped.

I saw the gp when it first started, and they did blood tests and a FIT test, which were all fine.

I saw them again today as the weight loss is a new thing, and they don’t seem concerned. They’ve booked more bloods and another FIT test anyway.

Anyone else had anything similar? Am I overthinking this?!

Thanks in advance

[Scabutz]

Im no expert just FYI. For me lower back pain is always about tight hip flexors. I sit all day and they pull on my pelvis. Lots of mobility work and some stretching helps with that.

Im surprised the GP dismissed the weight loss, unexplained weight loss I thought was a bit of a red flag. I remember talking to a GP once about something else and said I had lost some weight recently, and the they stopped typing and looked at me seriously and said, "were you trying to lose weight", I said I was, and they said thats ok.

[elise2000]

Scabutz said:

Im no expert just FYI. For me lower back pain is always about tight hip flexors. I sit all day and they pull on my pelvis. Lots of mobility work and some stretching helps with that.

Im surprised the GP dismissed the weight loss, unexplained weight loss I thought was a bit of a red flag. I remember talking to a GP once about something else and said I had lost some weight recently, and the they stopped typing and looked at me seriously and said, "were you trying to lose weight", I said I was, and they said thats ok.

Yep- she asked how worried was I about the weight. She asked whether she should send me for bloods now or wait until the new year. So I said may as well do them now! Didn’t want to come across as a hypochondriac, but don’t want anything missed either!

[bmwmike]

Does it get worse if you poke the area under the ribs at the back? I had kidney pain recently and GP dismissed it twice saying it was muscular. Turns out dehydration gets both my kidneys aching. So i try to drink more water. Had a bit of weight loss too.

[elise2000]

bmwmike said:

Does it get worse if you poke the area under the ribs at the back? I had kidney pain recently and GP dismissed it twice. Turns out dehydration gets both my kidneys aching. So i try to drink more water. Had a bit of weight loss too.

Thanks. No, doesn’t seem to. Although I do drink more wine than water, so should really stop that!

[Badda]

Waking up with pain that resolves fairly swiftly may point to an inflammatory issue. I’m sure the GP will have thought of this though.

[elise2000]

Badda said:

Waking up with pain that resolves fairly swiftly may point to an inflammatory issue. I’m sure the GP will have thought of this though.

Thanks

[Boosted LS1]

That NZ chiropractor published a book about 'how to diagnose back pain'. Google may find it, it's really good. Treat your own back by Robin Mackenzie. There's also a lot of help on line if you look.

Edited by Boosted LS1 on Tuesday 5th December 20:09

[elise2000]

Boosted LS1 said:

That NZ chiropractor published a book about 'how to diagnose back pain'. Google may find it, it's really good.

Thanks, will take a look

[Correvor]

Similar here, I get it sporadically, if it's bad I'll wake in the night and need to sit up for 10 mins before going back off.

I sit at a desk all day and love cycling, neither are great for hips / lower back or neck!

I'd also look at at your mattress and your issue may be different to me but I find on my side with legs bent on top of each other most comfy. Sleeping with straight let's or in a running man position irritates things.

[elise2000]

Correvor said:

Similar here, I get it sporadically, if it's bad I'll wake in the night and need to sit up for 10 mins before going back off.

I sit at a desk all day and love cycling, neither are great for hips / lower back or neck!

I'd also look at at your mattress and your issue may be different to me but I find on my side with legs bent on top of each other most comfy. Sleeping with straight let's or in a running man position irritates things.

Thanks. I’m usually at a desk too, and I know my posture is bad.

Not a mattress issue, as it’s only a few years old.

[steve2]

Try and get a scan for kidney stones, I was gett8ng back pain and saw 3 specialists who thought it was my spine but turned out to be a 15mm stone,
Not enough hydration and too much red meat

[steve2]

Try and get a scan for kidney stones, I was gett8ng back pain and saw 3 specialists who thought it was my spine but turned out to be a 15mm stone,
Not enough hydration and too much red meat

[elise2000]

steve2 said:

Try and get a scan for kidney stones, I was gett8ng back pain and saw 3 specialists who thought it was my spine but turned out to be a 15mm stone,
Not enough hydration and too much red meat

Thanks for the tip. I certainly need to drink more water

[smifffymoto]

Lots of water and lots of walking. Also do some exercises to open up your pelvis and hips.

[elise2000]

smifffymoto said:

Lots of water and lots of walking. Also do some exercises to open up your pelvis and hips.

Thanks

[Bill]

Badda said:

Waking up with pain that resolves fairly swiftly may point to an inflammatory issue. I’m sure the GP will have thought of this though.

Inflammatory LBP is associated with prolonged (>30 mins) stiffness.

OP, what did the physio say when the exercises didn't make a difference?

[SturdyHSV]

I had this for a few months, mattress needed replacing, it's fine now and noticeably more comfortable...

Try sleeping on the other side of the bed or nearer the middle and see if it's any better?

[elise2000]

Bill said:

Badda said:

Waking up with pain that resolves fairly swiftly may point to an inflammatory issue. I’m sure the GP will have thought of this though.

Inflammatory LBP is associated with prolonged (>30 mins) stiffness.

OP, what did the physio say when the exercises didn't make a difference?

Nothing. I asked for an in person appointment, but gp said to try exercises for longer before doing that.

[elise2000]

SturdyHSV said:

I had this for a few months, mattress needed replacing, it's fine now and noticeably more comfortable...

Try sleeping on the other side of the bed or nearer the middle and see if it's any better?

Mattress is only a few years old, so not that sadly