Damn - I've been having a pain in my back for the past week.

[Bullwinkle925]

Living on extra-strength Tylenol and Vicodin. Had the same thing a few weeks ago. Right underneath a rib in the mid-left region. Makes it difficult to sit or sleep.
Crappity-crap.

[Jamastiene]

1. Hope it gets better.

I remember when my gallbladder attacked. I found myself leaning against a door frame pushing back against it as hard as I could. Somehow, the outside pressure against the pain made the pain lessen at least enough so I could uncross my eyes. It literally hurt so bad that I couldn't focus my eyes.

[Bullwinkle925]

2. I've been thinking 'gallbladder' - but it's on the left side of my back.

Just wish it would stop!!

[NC_Nurse]

3. Pancreas

or stomach. Have you been drinking a lot? That can cause pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas (which is right uynder you're stomach). Pain can radiate to the back. Fatty food also exacerbates the pain.

[Bullwinkle925]

4. No - don't think I've been drinking too much. Had 3 glasses of

champagne last Sunday eve. at a b'day dinner - nothing since.
I've been looking up things on the net - don't know if it's muscle strain, MI, pancreas, gallbladder or what. All I know is that it's difficult to lie down comfortably or find a comfortable way of sitting.

But - I do have my low-fat ice cream every evening. Also been eating out a lot this past week. Could be increase in fat uptake. Just got home from SF - had 2 mochas and am now jittery as heck.

[Breeze54]

20. er...have you thought about

heart attack?

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053

Heart Attack Warning Signs
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart attack,"
where no one doubts what's happening.

But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort.

Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help.

Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest
that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back.
It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body.
Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

[jobycom]

22. I had a gallstone attack, and that's how I described the pain, too

I thought I had pulled a muscle in my back at first, and it was just to the left of my spine at first. It was a mild pain at first, then got sharp, then one night I woke up in intense pain on my right side. Couldn't figure out what it was. Later discovered it was my gallbladder, and that I should have gone to the hospital.

On the other hand, when I did go to a doctor, they wanted to remove it. Instead, I took a ton of lecithen and cut out all greasy foods, and I haven't had a problem in over ten years with it. Can't swear that's the reason, of course, and I'd advise following a doctor's advice over mine any day. Just relating my experience. Don't mess around, they can cause great damage, if that's what it is. I got real lucky.

[thefool_wa]

5. Gall Bladder pain is the absolute worst

I know women who say childbirth was less painful!

I had mine out a few years ago, spent 3 days awake in the worst pain I have ever experienced (3 shots of morphine in 45 mins could not cut it!) - they finally hit me with demoral to stop it and I slept for 14 hours

[Bullwinkle925]

6. I had something like that a few years ago. I ate my way into a GB

attack (I think) over New Years. Was in bed for 3 days and finally went to the Dr. Had some tests done - but by that time the pain was subsiding. Right now it feels like the size of a 50-cent piece just under my left shoulder blade - hurts when I breathe in deeply or lie/relax in certain ways. Wakes me up during the night if I turn over the wrong way. Just wish it would stop so I can get a good night's rest.

[thefool_wa]

13. Go to the doctor

all acute chest and abdominal pain should be investigated. Especially if it lasts several days.

[Bullwinkle925]

15. Doesn't seem to be in my chest at all - just the back - below the

left shoulder blade. The vicodin seems to help for a while.

[thefool_wa]

18. It always does :)

Still, pain for several days should be checked out.

[Jamastiene]

19. I can't spell it but they gave me the supposedly less painful

laroscopic surgery. They cut a hole in my belly button and stuck a tube in there. They blew my belly up like a pregnant woman and then cut two more holes in my stomach to suck out my gall bladder. It was so full of small stones, that they were able to do it that way. If they had been big stones, they would have had to split my belly from tip to stern and gut me to get it out. I was lucky, but the doctor said my pain was akin to being shot with a high caliber weapon right in the belly button. I cried like a baby when I realized they knew I was really hurting.

And right after the surgery, the got me up to walk. They wouldn't leave me alone. Walk walk walk was all they kept telling me. They just sucked one of my internal organs out through my belly button. The LAST thing I wanted to do at that time was walk, but I lived. When it is getting ready to rain, the cuts and the internal parts that hurt right after the surgery get sore.

[tinfoil tiaras]

7. Oh my god same here!

Exept its been going on for like a year...owch!

Hope you get better though! :hi:

[Bullwinkle925]

8. It's driving me nuts. I wonder if it is stress that has settled there?

What are you doing for yours?

[tinfoil tiaras]

9. Like it goes away when im active and moving around

but when I'm laying down it really hurts. I just take some Tylonol or something.

It may be stress or it may be something else. If it gets too bad, go see a doctor.

Get better! :D

[jus_the_facts]

10. Could be kidney stones.....

:shrug:

Feel better soon! :hi:

[u4ic]

11. I've found chiropractors

of immense help with back/neck/shoulder pain.

Make sure to find a good one, though...many are crap...

[crim son]

12. It may sound strange, but that's one place where heartburn

pain can show up, even if you're not having any other symptoms. I'd know, I've had acid reflux disease for years.

[Bullwinkle925]

14. Well - I did have some reflux episodes a few weeks ago - could possibly

be.

[skygazer]

16. Sounds quite similar to what I recently experienced

Which was two dislocated ribs. I went through about 2 weeks having chronic pain in that spot, sometimes better, sometimes worse and it was tough to take a deep breath so I figured rib. Still, I was able to do my job and figured if I'd cracked one, they couldn't do anything anyway. Then one day, I picked up a 30 pack of beer (to stock my shelves, not to drink) and a flash of horrendous pain shot through it.

Long story short, went to the chiropractor. Had 2 ribs out, right under the shoulder blade. She popped them back in, it's still a bit sore there but nothing like it was. I'd advice a chiropractor but if you see a regular doctor, make them x-ray it. They're famous for just handing out pain pills and telling you it's a "muscle strain" when it's not.

[trof]

17. Kidney?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

21. Why not consult your brother-in-law?

Although he's a shrink, he is medically trained.

[Kajsa]

23. Aww Bullwinkle, I know how that feels!

Please read the note I wrote to Radio Lady.
She's having major back pain, too.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5495695&mesg_id=5495885

I sure you feel better, soon.
Oh - get it checked out by your doctor,
if you haven't already.

:hug:

[jobycom]

24. Reading this, it really sounds like it could be a gallstone.

At least it sounds like my experience with them, even the location. Transferance can cause the pain to move to different locations, but the way you describe it sounds like a gallstone. Also, once the stone moves out of the gall bladded into whatever ductwork leads to the pancreas, the pain moves more to the left, and the stone can become lodged in that duct and ache for a while. Mine ached for about a week after my attack, and then all at once, while I was working out on a Nordic Trak, just stopped. Like a switch going off. The stone just moved through, I guess. I didn't know what was happening at the time.

If you don't want to go to a doctor, try buying some granular lecithin, preferably by Lewis Labs, and take about three or four tablespoons a day, see if it gets better in a few days. Lecithin is just a dietary supplement, not a medicine or vitamin. It prevents cholesterol (which is what causes gallstones) from solidifying in the blood, and some legite studies have shown that it can shrink gallstones. Worth a try.

I'd still advise going to a doctor. Gallstones, if that's what it is, can be a sign of high cholesterol, too. And they can be dangerous. The can do great damage to your pancreas.

Just my eperiences.