posted
I just wanted to know if chronic lower back pain is caused by lyme?
I have very chronic lyme (7 years misdiognoised!) and had MRI to see if I had a herniated disc, but it wasn't that. It was so bad I couldn't get out of bed for three days and wen to the ER and they gave me morphine, but didn't really touch the pain!!!
This is the third time this has happened where i have collapsed from the pain and been rushed to the ER, each time they didn't know what it was!
Thanks
Debs : )
Posts: 13 | From Stamford | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
My daughter's chronic back pain definitely seems Lyme-related. Knee pain too. Her other symptoms have been getting better, but the knee and back pain seem intractable.
Posts: 991 | From California | Registered: Feb 2006
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Beverly
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 1271
posted
Hi Debs,
I had spine pain that was terrible, don't know if it is the exact same thing as back pain.( it did effect the muscles in my back) It was so bad it would wake me right up out of sleep and it was hard to roll over and very hard to get out of bed.
I do not have it anymore, thanks to my wonderful LLMD and the abx he put me on... Zithromax, Plaquenil and Malarone.
I hope you find something that helps and the pain goes away, pain stinks!! I really feel for you. Posts: 6641 | From Michigan | Registered: Jun 2001
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My chronic back pain started after a car accident. I was 16 and unlike most people I never recovered.
Not only did I have chronic back spasms, but if I did too much (i.e. dance, wear high heels, anything)-I wouldn't be able to walk, and end up back in physical therapy.
It's been 7 years now-I was diagnoised with lyme 2 years ago and still isn't getting better. I am hoping with IV therapy it gets better. But I am not getting my hopes up.
-Lindsay 22yrs old
Posts: 484 | From Burlingame, Ca | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
My first symptom that started before I knew I had Lyme was lower back pain. I would have swore that my back was out. I could bend at the waist but trying to stand up straight wasn't easy, I had to ease my way back up to a standing position.
Prior to finding the bullseye rash, I wasn't sure what was going on with my back.
My lower back pain didn't let up and then one night when I sat down on the couch,I leaned back, pain in my kidney area all but took my breath away.
Next my shoulder blade and on to my neck. Low grade fever and fatigue set in before finding a bullseye rash.
with treatment most of my symptoms cleared up. I hope you also get relief. Good luck.
Posts: 158 | From PA. | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
I'd say probably yes, since Lyme can go into all tissues involved with back pain, and I mean all!
I've been a chiropractic patient from the get-go. And I have a very good chiropractor for lower back/SI adjustments. But still the chiropractor has to look at xrays to determine what care they think you need...
One more thing: when I discovered I had Lyme and went on clindamycin, it eased the spasms in my muscles and I felt much better. So maybe there's something to be said for finding the Lyme(co?) treatment that works for you.
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Here are all the postings from the other thread, so they are all in one place.
From clairenotes
posted January 19, 2007 11:23 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am almost certain my lower back pain is caused by LD. I think it may be in my cerebral spinal fluid. It used to be very painful, but it has improved. It was not a pleasant experience. Sorry you have to deal with it.
posted January 20, 2007 12:00 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Debs,
Like you since on treatment I've had constant lower back pain!
I do have a herniated disc.. As a matter of fact each and everytime I saw my neuro (MS diagnosis in '90) with brand new MRI's both with and without Gadolinium he made such a big ta-do over my disc and if I have pain and blah blah blah!
It used to infuriate me, since he drifted away from talking about MS etc!
I now have lower back pain and have added in side pain; well both sides...arghhhh
This pain does come and go...but it's been consistant "somewhere" for 2+ months!
Did I mention: I was able to keep my lower pain at bay over the years because I am very active!?
I do like to read about back pain; and I really like when someone responds it's likely due to Lyme; because quite frankly, I think at times it's in my head or simply lack of exercise!!
Take care, Tory --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Aniek
posted January 20, 2007 03:47 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, Lyme can cause all kinds of chronic pain. If you give a better description of the type of pain you are having, people might be able to give suggestions of what has helped them.
posted January 20, 2007 04:04 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- sorry yes.
I wake up ****ed off almost every day thinking its my 30 year old matress thats causing the problems.
I know what you might be thinking but....
6 years ago I had the same problem, waking up in severe pain. So I went to bobs to get a new mattres,
The firm one was terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I complained and got the pillow top, that one was also terrible!!!
So I resorted to keeping the box spring and sleeping on my parents old mattress from the 60s.
It isint to firm but it works.
Im looking into a sealy poster pedic, but I have this wasted brand new pillow top mattres from Bobs discount that I do nothing with.
Sorry, I do feel you pain. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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hardynaka
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8099
posted
I don't know about cronic pain, but lyme certainly caused me back pains. It could be lower , middle or upper back pain. Plus neck pain too. Sometimes very acute pain, sometimes dumb pain.
The worst was feeling something was going through my vertebral column, like there was a wire iinside and someone was pulling it up and down all through my column. The weirdest thing ever!
I'm 100% pain free there after borrelia, babesia treatment. I didn't have cronic back pain though. It was one of the first symptoms that disappeared with treatment (in my case, mostly Buhner's herbs).
Selma
Posts: 1086 | From Switzerland | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Debs, Yes, it can be caused by Chronic Lyme.
I have bad back problems and X-rays that show bad Lyme arthritis. I have had Chronic Lyme for at least 7 years. I have been in a wheelchair for the last two months. Good luck to you. Lo XX Posts: 187 | From Sacramento, California | Registered: Apr 2001
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hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
Hi Debs,
I'm sorry you're having back pain. It's no fun.
My teenage daugher has had severe back pain since October. She's tried several combinations of pain killers without success.
She was just given a Rx for Lyrica and Lamictal. I hope it works! Our LLMD says his patients have been amazed at how these work. He said the pain is caused by nerve damage.
No tests have been done to rule out other causes of her back pain.
My husband also has Lyme and has a chronic ache in his lower back. He injured his back, but it healed. Now he has this lingering dull ache.
I'll let you know how the Lyrica & Lamictal work.
Nancy
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
I have low back pain so bad I have been forced to have cortisone several times, despite knowing how bad it is for Lyme.
However, if you can't stand, sit or lie down without screaming, you have to do something. I have to use an elevated toilet seat. I also use CryoDerm spray, which I get from a Chiro.
Xrays show 3 bone spurs, but on the wrong side of the spine to be causing the pain. The Chiro says it is piriformous and soas syndrome, which are common in Lyme.
In Piriformous syndrome, the sciatic nerve goes through the muscle instead of under it. My right leg is turned outwards all the time now, and I've lost so much tissue from my outer right thigh there is a ditch there and it hurts when I stand along while.
I do my prescribed low back exercises 3 X daily, and am having acupunture to see if that will help. I also gave away my treadmill, which is what started all my low back pain and made it a lot worse.
I have much worse problems with my cervical spine, but that does not interfere with daily functioning the way low back pain does.
I empathize with all of you who have this.
Klutzo
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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Foggy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1584
posted
MRIs don't show pain, just structural abnormalities.
A few MDs have told me that MRIs are idiosyncratic. Some normal looking (for age) MRIs can still cause patients pain. They said Degenerative discs & anular tears can look normal but be painful.
Suffice to say, Lyme excaerbates everything...
Posts: 2451 | From Lyme Central | Registered: Aug 2001
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