Lower back pain=flare?

**MiLynn** · 06-17-2008, 01:11 PM

We were without power for almost 3 days last week so my in laws took us out to dinner one of those nights. I ordered a steak and baked potato but forgot to ask them not to put any seasonings on the steak. I didn't feel like I had much choice but to eat it since we couldn't cook at home. I did take a couple prelief. About 2 or 3 hours later I started getting this pain in the lower right (I think, I'm not 100% sure on the side now. I'm forgetful

) side of my back. It was so bad that I had to lay on that side to sleep that night to keep it from hurting and waking me up. By the next afternoon the pain was gone. Is that typical for a food type flare? I don't really have pain from my IC, so this was very new.

**leelee88** · 06-17-2008, 03:04 PM

My food flares is usuaully felt in my bladder or I have increased urgency and frequency. But I do have lower back pain if my bladder goes into spasms. So this could have been happening to you..

**stef000** · 06-17-2008, 03:06 PM

Sometimes i get some back pain due to a lot of my spine issues and such and i usually get sorta kidney pain on the mid-back sorta with flares....
i would say see how it is and if it worsens or comes back for longer then go see a doc....
not normally do people have lower back pain with this i don't think....but everyone is different....
i do hope it doesn't come back

**justice4j** · 06-17-2008, 08:38 PM

Hi,

For years I had thought that the back pain right above the buttocks and on the sides of my hips was referred pain from IC. I was an ER and OR RN for over 17 years before this stupid **** disease complex took away my career.

Sorrry for the outburst. Today has beeen bad. Anyway, after a recent PT eval for Pelvic Floor Disorder, I was diagnosed and given internal and external trigger point release therapy.

Problem? My stupid insurance Blue Cross of California @ $639.00 monthly pays $25 per PT visit to the Womanology Clinic (Robin Christensen ICN recommended). My PT is/was Holly and she is excellent; just unaffordable. I have to pay up front and they give you a "super bill" to bill your insurance.

**MiLynn** · 06-18-2008, 01:16 PM

I have more questions now. Does PFD flare up or do you have pain all the time? How is it diagnosed? If it does flare, what might cause that? I have an appt with my gyn tomorrow afternoon, should I bring this up with her?

I might have a yoga for dummies video, or I gave it to my mom. I'll have to look or ask my mom. Thanks for the suggestion!

**Briza** · 06-18-2008, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by MiLynn

We were without power for almost 3 days last week so my in laws took us out to dinner one of those nights. I ordered a steak and baked potato but forgot to ask them not to put any seasonings on the steak. I didn't feel like I had much choice but to eat it since we couldn't cook at home. I did take a couple prelief. About 2 or 3 hours later I started getting this pain in the lower right (I think, I'm not 100% sure on the side now. I'm forgetful

) side of my back. It was so bad that I had to lay on that side to sleep that night to keep it from hurting and waking me up. By the next afternoon the pain was gone. Is that typical for a food type flare? I don't really have pain from my IC, so this was very new.

Sounds very common and similar to my IC food/beverage related flares or temporary symptoms. Whatever the cause of my pain (stress, being on my feet too long, are my #1 triggers now, but I do have a few classic food triggers as well), and once my bladder pain or burning sets in then most often crampy achy lower back pain specifically around and on the pelvic girdle is soon to follow and has been one of my hardest symptoms to get under control, even with Rxd painmeds. Low dose valium or muscle relaxers help some

I didn't experience real pain during the first few months of my IC, mostly urg and freq and some slight burning during my first months w/ IC symptoms and for many months b/f I was dxd; the first few months w/ symptoms were full blown Vulvodynia and Vulvodynia flares...hard to dx and very confusing since they often mimic IC symptoms, but in the end all related and all originating in my bladder, I learned as time went by...thankfully all conditions I have respond well to all of my IC, VV, PFD meds.
I have PFD, but as J56 mentioned I have also benefitted from massage and trigger point therapy with my very good massage therapist...and really even just a good pressure massage from anyone who is available, willing, able to will do for me w/ my guidance on where to put the pressure...I can go from days of lower back IC-referred back pain to no pain in a matter of minutes...if I can find a friend or anyone, just someone to apply some hard pressure in certain points around my lower back and pelvic girdle.
Best wishes...hope you feel better soon! Bri

**formom** · 06-18-2008, 02:48 PM

Has anyone ever seen a chiropractor for their pain or would that make it worse? I have been waking up in the morning with pain in my right hip around my back. I also have 5 herniated disc in my thoracic spine which is starting to act up now also and was wondering if anyone ever seen a chiropractor for the back. Thanks in advance!

**Doll** · 06-28-2008, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by MiLynn

We were without power for almost 3 days last week so my in laws took us out to dinner one of those nights. I ordered a steak and baked potato but forgot to ask them not to put any seasonings on the steak. I didn't feel like I had much choice but to eat it since we couldn't cook at home. I did take a couple prelief. About 2 or 3 hours later I started getting this pain in the lower right (I think, I'm not 100% sure on the side now. I'm forgetful

) side of my back. It was so bad that I had to lay on that side to sleep that night to keep it from hurting and waking me up. By the next afternoon the pain was gone. Is that typical for a food type flare? I don't really have pain from my IC, so this was very new.

I'm not really sure if I even get flares from food, honestly I pretty much eat what I want even though I know there are definitely foods to avoid when you have IC.
I can't bring myself to quit cranberry juice because I feel like it helps to protect me against UTIs so I drink it in pure form each day.

But anyway, I get left side lower back pain all the time. It also radiates up throughout my back which always caused me to freak out and think it was my kidney (I was born with only one kidney, on the left side.) And every time I would get urine and blood tests done, it showed my kidney was just fine.
So I do think that lower back pain can definitely be attributed to IC because I experience back pain very regularly.
Hope that helps some.

***SharonA*** · 06-28-2008, 11:06 AM

Hi Doll and

to the ICN...

I about screamed out loud when I read that you drink cranberry juice every day. Could that be one of the reasons for your IC back pain? Maybe that is how you experience IC flares? Hmmmm

**Doll** · 06-28-2008, 01:52 PM

Hi Sharon,
Thanks for the welcome!

LOL it could be contributing to my symptoms I'm sure. But I drink it every day and I don't have flares every day so I don't know. Either way I like the protection against UTIs it may offer so that's why I continue to drink it. Oh well.

**prestwood16** · 06-28-2008, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by MiLynn

We were without power for almost 3 days last week so my in laws took us out to dinner one of those nights. I ordered a steak and baked potato but forgot to ask them not to put any seasonings on the steak. I didn't feel like I had much choice but to eat it since we couldn't cook at home. I did take a couple prelief. About 2 or 3 hours later I started getting this pain in the lower right (I think, I'm not 100% sure on the side now. I'm forgetful

) side of my back. It was so bad that I had to lay on that side to sleep that night to keep it from hurting and waking me up. By the next afternoon the pain was gone. Is that typical for a food type flare? I don't really have pain from my IC, so this was very new.

When I had my first appt with my IC Uro/Gyno Specialist when he was going over everthing one of his questions was,"Do you have lower back pain?" And, I said yes, but I have endometreiosis and I always assumed that is where the pain orignated from and he said NO that is your BLADDER SPASMING!! And, since he has brought that to my attention when I eat certain foods, drink certain drinks have flare ups my back hurts right along with my bladder or it may only hurt. Of course, when it is that time of the month I'm bent double and it is the endo. but yes IC does cause lower back pain!!!
Julie:

**c2miracle** · 06-28-2008, 02:52 PM

Yes! I experience back pain also.

I have had it for years, when I had my periods it would get so bad that it was hard for me to function during the day. After my hysterectomy I thought it was gone. NOT!

Just sitting here on the boards and i have it right now. I like to stretch, bending over and touch my toes, and sit with legs crossed and reach out in front of me as far as I can go. It really seems to relieve some pain. Take Care and Think Positive!!!

**Mothergoose** · 06-28-2008, 03:14 PM

I have low back pain too, sometimes it can be a few days before a food will bother the bladder. Why don't you try quitting the C juice for a least a few weeks and see how it goes. I felt a lot better not drinking it. Also drinking lots of water so your is the color of straw will help keep UTI's away. I would think the bennifit is not worth the pain. you can just do an elimination thing with cranberry juice. I really don't know how long you should not drink it for maybe some else will jump in here with that.
Mothergoose

**MiLynn** · 06-29-2008, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by prestwood16

When I had my first appt with my IC Uro/Gyno Specialist when he was going over everthing one of his questions was,"Do you have lower back pain?" And, I said yes, but I have endometreiosis and I always assumed that is where the pain orignated from and he said NO that is your BLADDER SPASMING!! And, since he has brought that to my attention when I eat certain foods, drink certain drinks have flare ups my back hurts right along with my bladder or it may only hurt. Of course, when it is that time of the month I'm bent double and it is the endo. but yes IC does cause lower back pain!!!
Julie:

Interesting! Thank you for responding. I didn't have any other pain except in my back and I haven't had it since, so I'm pretty sure it was a reaction to the steak I had that night.

**Doll** · 07-06-2008, 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by Mothergoose

I have low back pain too, sometimes it can be a few days before a food will bother the bladder. Why don't you try quitting the C juice for a least a few weeks and see how it goes. I felt a lot better not drinking it.

Thanks for the advice, and I have decided to stop the cranberry juice for now. It is really hard for me not to drink it, lol, but like everyone says its very irritable for an IC bladder, and my symptoms have been a lot worse lately so I decided I should lay off the juice and see if my bladder feels better.
Do cranberry pill supplements irritate the bladder as well or are those okay to take?