Does anyone here get intense upper back pain? The pain that actually feels like it goes right through from your back to your chest?
If so, is this common with lyme/bartonella? I keep getting this moderate to intense pain that flares.
I've been laying on a heating pad when it gets bad. It seems to feel better when I lay down compared to when I am sitting or standing.
I've seen a cardiologist, and everything checked out. However, this type of thing really scares me.
Does anyone deal with this type of symptom?
Thanks so much! All the best!
Posted by jwall (Member # 22999) on :
I just posted about my spinal MRI results. I have severe upper spinal pain. I describe it as burning or just like someone is stabbing me. It is pretty much always in severe pain. I sigh a lot because it hurts so much. I have had a few days when it subsides, but it always comes back. Very bad pain on antibiotics.
Do you have a positive bart test? I really think bart is my biggest problem right now, but my labcorp test came back negative. I get the streaks on my abdomen though and I have th pinpoint red dots all over which my LLMD says bart. I have lots of neuro. symptoms and headaches of all types, balance issues.
I'm hoping once I start treating for bart, a lot of this will be history.
Hang in there. I know how devastating it can feel. The hot tub actually is very soothing.
Posted by applewine (Member # 26220) on :
My upper back hurts and I used to have really strong ache in the chest area. It lasted 6 months in the chest, but now is less strong and the upper back hurts more. I don't know which I have, but the LLMD said I have boreliosis at the first visit with the igenx test for boreliosis and the symtoms, which there are others.
Posted by Satwhisperer (Member # 26893) on :
The symptom of shoulder pain is becoming increasingly a part of my days and nights. My chiropractor always tells me "when I put your rib back in place, it won't hurt so bad." It usually helps, but it is a bad burn.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
Before I was diagnosed I went to the doctor because of excruciating back pain in the muscle, not the joints. Then after starting treatment I continued to have muscle pain including back pain. I would also try to relieve it with a heating pad and I took some pretty heavy duty pain meds. I think it was bartonella because since starting treatment for that I don't have those muscle cramps and spasms any more. Usually it was a lingering aching but once in awhile it would just seize causing me to scream.
I have forgotten about this. I also had wierd cramps in other parts of my body.
Posted by massman (Member # 18116) on :
Get out. Ribs ?
Posted by jwick25 (Member # 15190) on :
Jwall,
I did test positive for bartonella. My jaw dropped when I read your message because I have about a dozen of those red pin prick marks on my arms.
No one knew what the heck they are.
My upper spine has been killing me. I also started with a dry cough a few days ago.
I flared in March and feel worse now than then.
This is awful... Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
YES! This was one of my first symptoms and lasted for years. Misery!
The pain went from my upper back all the way through to my heart. I know I had meningeal swelling from Lyme and Babesia. I wonder if I had pericarditis, as well.
It resolved with time, then came back when I began Lyme and Babesia treatment. I also had cardiac symtoms during this time.
Hang in there! At 26 months of treatment, all these symptoms are gone.
Wags, BoxerMom
Posted by jwick25 (Member # 15190) on :
BoxerMom,
So glad to hear all those terrible symptoms are gone!
I am practically in tears from all of this. I see another cardiologist this afternoon. I wake up anxious with my heart racing over 100/bpm.
Several times throughout the day, my heart races to around 115/bpm when I'm just sitting around.
I think, how many times will this happen before I have a heart attack or stroke?
I wonder if this infection is in my spine, heart and lungs? I'm now coughing. I cannot get comfortable at all.
I am so scared that I'm just not going to get better. I was so sick from March 2008 onwards and finally went into remission in July 2009.
It was a long road, but I made it. I never thought a flare up could be this severe. Why am I not better yet?
I should find out soon if I have babesia in addition to the lyme/bart. I wonder if the bart was not treated properly. I was only on Doryx.
Maybe the lyme was under control and the bart is resurfacing. Can bart cause the cardiac related symptoms?
I am going tomorrow for a 2nd opinion from a PA LLMD (Dr. M).
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
Good luck with your second opinion.
Bart is notorious for causing cardiac symptoms.
You should do a trial run on Babesia meds, even if your tests come back negative. Lots of people get false negatives on Babesia tests. If you herx on the meds, you can be sure you have it.
Let us know how your second opinion goes.
BoxerMom
Posted by RESOLVED. (Member # 24991) on :
Upper back pain was one of my first symptoms. I still deal with it and only a heating pad seems to help. Good to know you're never alone with ANY symptoms that you come up with!!! Posted by jwick25 (Member # 15190) on :
It is nice knowing I'm not alone. At the same time, it's so terrible that so many of us have to deal with this.
My heating pad has been my best friend lately.
BoxerMom: Thanks for the suggestion. I will definitely discuss this with my doctor. Before I ever saw an LLMD, I was tested for babesia and came back slightly abnormal. I'm not even sure if that qualified as a positive result.
Later, when my LLMD tested for it, the result was negative. I get the latest results back soon and am holding my breath.
I'll let you know how the 2nd opinion goes tomorrow!
Posted by imagine2 (Member # 3136) on :
jwick, Upper back pain is one of my worst symptoms that really gets bad during herxes. I didn't have this pain until I started treating bartonella.
Benedryl helps my herx symptoms more than anything and the back pain is somewhat relieved. It must do something for inflammation. Also, i use ice on my back. Numbs the pain for a while so that I can get to sleep.
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