Back pain and UC?

I've been meaning to ask this for a little while. Is back pain a symptom of UC during a flare? The reason I ask is because, since my symptoms have worsened over the past 3-4 months, my thoracic spine causes me a considerable amount of pain after a reasonable period of lying down. This isn't the first time I've had back pain when lying down, and I had mid back pain during sleep for a few months in 2015 after my marriage ended. I put it down to the stresses of the life change, because no matter what sleep position/mattress changes I tried, it seemed to persist. I saw a PT, who gave me some exercises that seemed to help, then work because stressful and the pain came back, despite the exercises.

In the end, the magical secret was to sleep with a towel wrapped around my waist, to exercise more, and (most importantly) to reduce stress in my life. After enough of that, I reached the stage where I could sleep normally on a normal bed with no special equipment necessary.

This time around, the pain has moved further up and is in the thoracic spine. No matter what position I sleep in, on my back, on my side (I'm not even considering sleeping on my front) I would always wake after a few hours in agony, almost unable to move without excruciating pain. Within an hour of getting up, the pain is all but gone. I'm also getting referred pain in my ribs, and it actually hurts in my ribs when I swallow food in large enough amounts.

My doctor referred me to hospital for an x-ray, which showed no abnormalities. The magic trick I've discovered this time around is to sleep on my sofa. I just WISH I could figure out why that works. I've tried so much with my bed - an expensive cervical pillow, lying on a large line of pillows on top of my bed (to try and soften the surface) sleeping on other beds, sleeping on my side, using ibuprofen-based heat cream on my spine, stretches. The only thing that works is sleeping on my sofa. I can do that and I'm almost perfect the next morning.

I'm curious to know if this is a common complaint when flaring? And, if anyone has had upper back pain like I'm having, what if anything they have been able to do about it.

Post Edited (Gitch) : 2/5/2016 12:28:28 AM (GMT-7)

Yes. I get lower back pain.

If you have no skeletal issues, that's awesome. I'd suggest you see a chiropractor amd massage therapist.

I've had back/ neck issues since i was a kid, diagnosed with degerative disc and other spine stuff, myofascial and costochondritis issues...but when I'm flaring, the lower back/groin pain and throbbing aching going down the front of my legs can be horrible.

Back relief meds such as robaxacet help.

When you sleep, hug a pillow (that takes pressure off the thoracic and shoulders), as well as a pillow between your knees.

Its good you have exercises and stretches to do.

q

Ankylosing spondylitis is associated with UC. I have had very bad lower back pain for years. Went to a rheumatologist and was diagnosed with it and osteoarthritis in both hips. I was put on low dose medrol (10 mgs a day) for about 3 weeks then weaned down to 2 mg a day. Also taking tramadol 50mg 2x a day. It helped a lot.

I was diagnosed with UC in Sep. 2014, I have struggled with it since 2008, just went untreated or misdiagnosed until 2014.

I have had thoracic and lower back pain fairly consistently over the last 4 months or so. My doctor did and x-ray as well as an ultrasound of my gallbladder as gallbladder disease/gallstone can cause pain under the right side ribs and differed pain in the right side thoracic back.

The x-ray came back normal and the ultrasound revealed polyps in my gallbladder which aren't always a cause for concern unless they grow to a certain size. I decided to have my gallbladder removed anyways instead of waiting and worrying about it getting worse.

Starting 4 days after my surgery, while on pain medication mind you, I started waking up with severe back pain in my thoracic spine. Enough to make me consider the ER as well as cry from the pain, I tried stretches and things like that and eventually after being up it went away. This has happened about 2-5 times a week for the past 4 weeks and always when I am laying down, after I get up and move around for an hour or two it goes away. From what I have heard most back pain happens the other way around, it hurts while sitting or standing and eases when laying down.

UC has so many other complications along with it, such as joint pain and arthritis, I think seeing a rheumatologist might be a good idea. Wish I could be more help, but it seems I am in a similar boat as you. Hope you feel better soon and get some answers.