[confused4ever]

Ok, so I am losing it, I have had lower back pain and right side pain for 3 weeks now, 2 weeks ago I went to the ER they said I have a kidney infection sent me home with the meds and pain killers, well the pain is so much worse, I am not sleeping I haven't slept a full night in 3 weeks. Nothing touches it, not even the pain meds. I went back to the ER tonight they did more blood work, and a catscan, I had a ultra sound done on Thursday last week, and both tests show nothing??????????????? wtf..........I asked my T about all this, he said that alof of csa survivors go through this, it isn't anything that can be fixed medically!!!! So how do we fix it........I cannot stand it, ..........I am not functioning, haven't worked, can't sleep, can't sit, stand walk or breath without pain in my lower back........the infection is gone, but what is going on????? has anybody else ever had this????? Is this really all in my head????? I emailed my T tonight, I know he is on break........but I told him he has to call me tomorrow, he has to help me with this.........I am at the end here with the pain, and the hospital and my doctor keep sending me more meds, valium, percet, vicadin and motrin 800, it is not such a good thing for me to have those at my disposale.............help!!!!!!!!!!111

[confused4ever]

I am not a night owl, I hate this..........I am going into a panic here........and I cannot stop it

[Kiya]

ok... start breathing....
seriously, your state of panic is not helping your pain. take deep breaths - try to breathe through the pain. each breath goes to the pain, and lets more pain away from you. breathe to your toes and help yourself relax.. you can do this.
k

[confused4ever]

I have been trying to do that..........deep breaths, saying my mantra on the exhale

[Kiya]

good.... breathe in good things, let the pain out on the breath out....

[confused4ever]

ok, working on that and visualization..........it is helping some

[sunrise]

confused, on Monday, can you go see your regular doctor about this? I think sometimes in the ER, they are not invested in making a diagnosis necessarily, but just making sure you aren't going to die or suffer permanent damage. It would be good to go to a doctor who knows you and who can systematically eliminate potential causes of your pain. I would not rely on your T's comment that many survivors of CSA go through this. He is not a medical doctor and has not seen your medical records, your test results, or given you a physical exam. If your family doctor is puzzled, maybe he could refer you to an internal medicine specialist with more knowledge.

Until then, try to relax, take it easy. Maybe your current high stress is contributing to the pain. Have you tried a hot water bottle or heating pad on your lower back? It is good news at least that your kidney infection is gone. Maybe the infection left your kidneys sore and that is why you are still suffering pain?

The experience of pain is, to a very large extent, determined by attention and other higher cognitive processes. While it is good to get scans etc to check that there isn't anything that is currently endangering you, it really isn't all that uncommon for people to experience pain in response to psychological factors rather than physical ones.

They have had really very good results with teaching mindfulness meditation to people who have chronic pain conditions both in response to physical causes and in response to psychological causes. Part of it is about learning to focus your attention elsewhere.

Visualisation exercises are part of that. Hang in there.

[Perna]

Yes, I think you need to go to your regular doctor. I had pains like you describe when an infection was wandering around my insides but it usually showed up on blood work and CT/sonigrams.

Are you constipated or anything? That can cause a heck of a lot of pain for me sometimes.

[ECHOES]

confused, I'm sorry you are in so much pain. I hope today is better for you.

yes please see your regular doctor about this for a proper evaluation and work-up.

The ER's function basically is to either admit the patient or stabilize the patient until they can see their doctor. Going to the ER was exactly the right thing to do at the time. I'm sorry that wasn't more helpful.

You might try an antiinflammatory like Ibuprofen or aspirin if you can take those meds ok.

I think there is most definitely an answer for you about what's going on as well as much better relief. Pain isn't there for no reason; it's there to get a person's attention to a trouble spot. Rarely does it have to be a way of life.

You've begun the work of finding out what's causing you pain... keep going.

, relief, and best wishes to you!

[Mouse_]

{{Confused}} I too have had what you are going through at the moment. Mine too started with a Kidney infection. This then led me into a deep depression and I was convinced I was dying. I hope you feel better soon.

[confused4ever]

Thanks everyone, I have been seeing my regular doctor, I have another appt with her on Thursday. I cannot believe that this is all in my head. something is going on, the blood work and urine showed an infection in my kidneys two weeks ago, last night all was normal. the only thing the catscan showed was a small lisian on my liver, but the dotor in the ER didn't think that was what would cause the pain. Yes I have been constipated for the past 4 days but that is from all the pain meds they have me on. I have had the pain for 3 weeks and it has gotten progressivly worse..
I emailed my T, he did get back to me, and he thinks that I do have a medical condition that is being made worse by the stress I am going through.........all I know is I cannot do this anymore, it took two valium and two pain meds to let me sleep for a few hours last night..........I was at the point last night that I have cancer or something, I still believe that, there has to be a reason for all this pain, ................

[ECHOES]

Some stool softeners might help you out with the constipation. Since they soften what's there and are not laxatives, they should be okay to take.

Those pain meds certainly do cause constipation!

I'm so glad you're going to be following up on this so you can feel better!