Bad low back pain

Ok here's my ordeal. Maybe someone can help me.


My lower back pain started 2 weeks ago, a couple days after that it felt like I had to go to the bathroom ALL THE TIME. It doesn't hurt when I go, just have the need to go all the time.

After a week, I went to the doctor. Without even checking to see if I had a UTI, he prescribed an antibiotic and also a muscle relaxer and ibuprofen.

That was last Friday, by wednesday I was still in major back pain. The medicine not working at all and still have the urge to go to the bathroom. I got back in to see the doc where they finally did a urine test, guess what? No infection. And he prescribed Tramadol for the back pain which is maybe only helping like 10% if that. I don't think the other medication is doing a darn thing. Then why do I still have this back pain? Are they related? Doc doesn't seem to think so, I think otherwise. He sent the urine for a culture test, and to have xray of my back done. Both came back fine. I'm still in sooooo much back pain. Overnight is most difficult, between the last two nights I have only gotten a good 3 hours of sleep. Now the doctor wants me to see a urologist since I still have the urgency to go all the time. I had to find out my culture test results from my chart on line. They couldn't call to tell me and now I have to wait all the way til monday to contact the doctor back regarding my back.. I seriously think and so do family and friends that I need an MRI on my back done. I'm tempted to go the the ER, but that would just be a waiting game and probably would not get anywhere.

So being the worry wart that I am I have been looking on line regarding my symptoms to see what this could possibly be. It seems that there is a connection between having a herniated disc along with bladder problems. I'm kind of thinking this is the issue, but am just so unsure. Im tired of taking all this useless medication. I've already been off of work for 6 days, am supposed to go back to work Monday. There is just no way I would be able to go back to work with all this pain.

Any help, suggestions, advice or concerns from anyone would be very much greatly appreciated.

No Relief, I'm sorry you're having such pain.

You mention urge to go to the bathroom - other than the urge, are you able to 'go' normally, or having trouble passing urine? Urinary tract infections don't always cause pain - I have them frequently and I'll often have the urge - just passing small amounts very frequently - with no urination pain. Where is your back pain? Over your spine, or flank? Flank pain is very common with UTI. One culture doesn't always show up an infection either - I've sometimes needed two or three samples for them to pick up the infection.

Has your doctor run any bloods? If you've got an active UTI, there should be some evidence of it in a blood test.

If you're either incontinent, or not passing any urine (the second is a medical emergency), I think this is far more suggestive of a spinal issue. If you are convinced that your back is the problem, then by all means discuss with your doctor - maybe a CT instead of MRI? These are cheaper and though not as detailed will still give an indication of whether you've damaged a disc or not. You certainly need someone to do further investigation.

All the best.

Laura

No Relief,

I have a disc problem that I'm having surgery for soon. I'll spare you the long story, but just want to say that a couple of weeks ago, when the pain started getting bad, I had a couple of incidents of incontinence which really scared me - because I'd looked online and learned that there's something called Cuada Equina Syndrome which is a medical emergency. It has to do with where the spine is being impacted.

I turned out not to have it, but it still feels strange when I go - or strain for a bowel movement - and that still creeps me out.

I think you should definitely get it looked it into further because you can end up paralyzed if that's what it is - don't want to scare you, but then again, better safe than sorry.

Most ERs are a waste of time, though. Of course this had to happen on a Friday night, right??

Debbie

Hi No relief
Sorry your having such a rough time. I think the others are right, you definitely need more testing. I know myself that kidney issues and back pain seem to go together. You didn't mention your age and I don't want to scare you but every time I hear about sudden back pain related to other things I think of testicular cancer..Has happened to 2 of my friends who both complained about back pain first. It's so hard for any of us to say and I really debated whether to mention that too you. Like I said , I think it's really important that you follow up on this with your doctor and get to the bottom of the problem. Looking things up on the Internet has only made me worry more, rather than help. Good luck and hope everything works out just fine. Hang in there. All my best.
Stingray

Hi everyone!

Thank you all so much for your responses. I really appreciate all of you. Let me give you a bit more information and an update!

I am a 34 yr old female, no children.

So last night I was in so much pain I went to the emergency room. They took a urine specimen to send it for a urine culture test. Then they gave me two vicodin, that didn't relieve the pain just made me a little sleepy. Shortly after they took me for a ct scan to check for kidney stones. The results showed nothing. Which was a good thing I guess. I was still in pain so they gave me a shot in the butt of Toradol. That seemed to help but just a bit. The doctor thinks it could be a back problem, or a disc problem. I asked about the urgency to go the bathroom all the time and he said the two can be related. When I do go the bathroom, its just a little bit and feels like I need to go more. I'm not in any pain on that front.
So the doctor told me I need to follow up with my MD to hopefully get an MRI done because they don't do that at night in the ER (which i think is crap)....So they put me on new meds, valium, oxycodone, and macrobid. I arrived at the er at 1030pm didn't leave until 4am, didn't finally get to sleep until 6am. Boy that valium worked wonders.
So since I've been home, the oxycodone has helped with the pain but the pain is not totally gone.
Like one of you said, I am a bit concern if it's nerve or spinal related and I am definitely going to stress that concern when I go back to the dr. I pray to God he can see me first thing Monday morning.

A good chiropractor will xray your entire body which is almost as good as an MRI