L5 disc pain related to IC?

[bladder]

Does anyone else have problems in the lower back - L5 disc area? My chiropractor is trying to ease the pain. I have been in an IC flare for a few weeks. I am always debating on what comes first - the pelvic pain or the back pain. They both seem to feed each other.:confused:

[Briza]

Bladder-referred back pain is NOT uncommon. Of course if you or your dr suspect that something else could be the cause of the pain please look into that. However, almost always...as soon as my bladder pain starts up, lower-back crampy muscular back pain soon follows....especially if I have been on my feet for a while, stressed (from work), or from physcial exhuastion...sometimes something as simple as a trip to the mall or an hour or two at Super Walmart! I have found that it is more diffficult and takes longer to get the bladder-referred back pain under control than it is the bladder pain. The back pain for me is usually very specifically right on or above the hip bone on my backside. I agree w/ you that the seem to feed off eachother, the bladder and back pain, but generally for me the bladder pain starts up first and if I don't treat that quickly enicugh and get that under control the back pain is almost always soon to folllow. For me I don't feel that chiropratic treatment would be of help to me, but masssage is VERY helpful for me...esp ,professional massage but even if I can get ANYONE amateur to apply some pressure and slow deep massage and trigger point therapy to my back that seems to be the best way for me to get the back pain under control. If I don't have that available then a pain med along with a muscle relaxer or low dose valium (I prefer low dose valium 2mg b/c it doesn't knock me out or make me loopy like MRs do) seems to be the best treatment for me along with cold packs. Most seem to prefer heating pad, but for me cold therapy works better. Sometimes alternating cold and heat therapy works for me, too. Hope any of this helps, as I know how horrid that type of pain is for me. Is your pain similar to what I have described? Another thing that works well for me are the lidocaine patches 5% applied to the area of the back that is hurting.
Bri:)

[Mothergoose]

For me it is the chicken and the egg thing, but if I had to pick one it is the bladder sets off the back. I do have 2 bulging disc and a narrowing of the spinal channel and a bit of arthrist.

Once one thing starts to hurt I think or for me at least I tolerate other pains less. It is better to deal with the first pain before it gets out of hand.

I have been to a chiro which I like very much for my kneck, but I don't let him touch my lower back, chiro treatments have made this much worse at times.

I just tried 6 weeks of massage 1x per week, but the first week she keep massaging my bladder and it made it really hurt later on, so I asked her to stay away from my bladder, she then concentrated on my back, it felt nice but I found it did not have any lasting effect, I have decided to save my money.

My Dr. says everthing is so close together in our pelvis and lower back when one hurts it can irritate other things in the area.

I haven't really answered anything for you but I do agree with you.

[Briza]

For me it is the chicken and the egg thing, but if I had to pick one it is the bladder sets off the back. I do have 2 bulging disc and a narrowing of the spinal channel and a bit of arthrist.

Once one thing starts to hurt I think or for me at least I tolerate other pains less. It is better to deal with the first pain before it gets out of hand.

I have been to a chiro which I like very much for my kneck, but I don't let him touch my lower back, chiro treatments have made this much worse at times.

I just tried 6 weeks of massage 1x per week, but the first week she keep massaging my bladder and it made it really hurt later on, so I asked her to stay away from my bladder, she then concentrated on my back, it felt nice but I found it did not have any lasting effect, I have decided to save my money.

My Dr. says everthing is so close together in our pelvis and lower back when one hurts it can irritate other things in the area.

I haven't really answered anything for you but I do agree with you.

I have a great massage therapist and see her when I can afford to. She NEVER touches my bladder/pelvic area. Actually for my own comfort, I lay on may back for the entire massage and she reaches under to massage my back, esp lower back. There are just many times I cannot tolerate laying on my stomach because it bothers my bladder, so this has worked out well. She also pulls my arms and legs and stretches them this way and that and it really helps with the lower back pain. But no...the bladder/pelvic area is completely off limits.She knows not to go near there and also avoids my left butt cheek b/c of the sciatic pain. If she touches or puts even light pressure on that side I will (and have) literallly fly of the table, that is how sensitive it is.

[sandymarie]

I have lots of lower back pain. I did however have an Mri of my low back and they found that my spine is narrowing in the lower L5 area. No clue as to why, but it sure hurts. Usually a muscle relaxer helps the low back along with the lidocaine patches , and then when I do not have the lidocaine, I use heat and cold. I just do whatever until I began to settle the pain down. I would love to get a message right now. After the holidays and the cooking, I need it. My uro did say that low back pain goes with the ic. with most people.

JJ:pray:

[ICNDonna]

If this is a new pain for you, you need to discuss it with your doctor. There are some of us who have back and/or leg pain with an IC flare, but it's also possible to have something else going on and you really need to have it checked out. It would be sad to just blame the pain on IC if it's something that can be "fixed."

Donna

[Mothergoose]

I think the narrowing is called spinal stenosis if you want to look it up, and it can disrupt bladder function.

I agree with Donna if this is new you should have it investigated, no point in putting up with extra pain if you don't need too. We deal with too much of it all the time.

[bladder]

I know, I should get it checked out. I have had two car accidents and a I shattered my tailbone in a snowboarding accident. I don't expect my back to be normal by any means. Tomorrow is my husbands company Christmas party at the bowling alley. My chiro insisted I not bowl. My kids are going to be so disappointed. I guess I will be taking photos instead.

[sandymarie]

You know they did not label it spinal stenosis, but I will be sure to look it up. I have found that the lidocaine patches help a lot, I know I had ic for a long time b4 the back pain got really bad, so that alone told me that the ic was not the only problem with the back. Bladder, if you have had all those accidents, please have it seen about. It is bad to have pain anywhere, but to double up on it when you can do something to help is a shame. I know though how it feels to just tend to blame everything on ic. HOwever I also know how it is to just get tired of going to doctors and having them find something else.
Mothergoose, I didn't know that about the spine thing causing bladder disruption, but I am glad that u mentioned, because my bladder has seemed to have gotten worse lately with the back thing. Oh well I am working on it, I guess we will see. I do hope you get to feeling better and find an answer that will lessen the pain you are in.
God Bless and Have a good day.



JJ:pray:

[BT2008]

Dear Bladder,

I was suddenly struck with severe pelvic pain on June 14, 2008.

In the process of trying to find out what was wrong (I wasn't diagnosed with IC until Sept. 11), I had a CT scan and an MRI which showed that I have Spondylolisthesis on L5 and S1. The ortho said it did not have anything to do with my pelvic pain (but that may not be the case for everyone).

I do know that when my back spasms get bad--along with the pain of IC--I am NOT a happy camper...!!

~Beth

[dverba]

some research shows that people with nerve damage are more likely to get IC. I my self had L4 and 5 removed when I was 27.I got IC last year. They also say IC is a nuro problems so that makes sence.