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Crohn's + random back pain?

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Posted 9/13/2021 7:24 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone ever experienced severe, out-of-the-blue back pain?

Last year, I had a bout of severe lower back pain for days (so bad it was excruciating to walk, lay, sit, anything). I was prescribed cyclobenzaprine for the pain, and after several days of bed rest, the pain subsided. Blood tests revealed my vitamin D levels were non-existent, so I always assumed it was this deficiency that triggered it. (My doctors didn't offer any other suggestions.) In any event, I was never bothered with back pain again...until now.

This time, the pain is concentrated behind my left shoulder blade & mid-back - so different location, but it's the same "catching" sharp pain when I move/dull throbbing when I'm still.

What makes things even more peculiar is it's been almost a year *to the day* since I was last bothered by it! So it appears it might be seasonal?? Could this be Crohn's related? I'm wondering if it might even be TMS (tension myositis syndrome)?
Posted 9/13/2021 8:47 AM (GMT 0)
Really doubt that this is Crohn's related. I've had lower/upper back issues for many years. Sometimes it can be easy to diagnose, as with sciatic nerve issues, but often other times, particularly with mid/upper back pain and spasming, it can be downright mysterious.

Quite often, upper back muscle pain, can come on without any exertion, twisting etc. The good news is, most back pain unless there's a severe herniation, will resolve with conservative at home treatment.

Start with just giving it a few days rest, then some passive stretching. You can also use an ice pack for a few days, followed by a heat pack. A wet towel heated in the microwave can be quite soothing.

As for your mention of TMS, I'm no authority there, so can't comment on that at all.
Posted 9/13/2021 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, monte. I've been resting for 2-3 days now with a heating pad, alternating between tylenol and the cyclo, and the pain is slowly lifting. Glad to hear you say that back pain can be mysterious - makes me feel less crazy lol.
Posted 9/16/2021 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
I have a female co-worker who also suffered from severe back pain. She does not have any form of IBD. Everybody was saying that when you work from home, you do not move around as often as needed. That would trigger back pain. I find that if I exercise, it will help prevent back pain from combing back again.
Posted 9/16/2021 6:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks EP -
I, too, work from home and don't exercise regularly, so I'm sure this doesn't help. But seems like if this was the main cause I'd be bothered with back pain more than once or twice a year... Idk. I can't help but feel like it's connected to my IBD since fall & spring are the worst times of year for me flare-wise, and that's usually when the back pain also flares.
Posted 9/20/2021 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
Keep in mind that back pain is probably the most common health problem worldwide. It hits nearly everybody at some point, to some degree.

There are specific types of inflammatory arthritis that can affect the back & spine in people with IBD, but your description doesn't seem to match that.

Yours is probably the same back problems that so many people deal with - degenerating discs and pulled muscles. Exercises and maybe physical therapy often help. PTs can show you specific exercises to help strengthen the core. But if there was a foolproof way to prevent back problems, somebody would be a bazillionaire.
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