| Thoracic back/abdominal pain...can anyone help please?
I hope I can explain my pain well enough for someone either to identify or give some advice
I've had herniated discs in past years at the base of my spine which caused no back pain but rather frontal thigh to toe pain and hip. Each time I was placed on medical disability for 5 weeks, flat on my back and therapy so I am aware that spinal pain is often felt NOT in the affected area, but rather radiating along the nerve paths to other areas.
Two years ago, during tests for other more minor problems and general check up, it was discovered on x-ray (then c-scan, MRI and even pet-scan) that I have a vertebrae (I believe either t-5 or t-7) where a ballooning has occurred. At the time my general doctor asked if I had any pain there and I advised I did not. She sent me to a spinal neurologist who looked at the x-ray and preferred to refer me to yet another specialist. I did not pursue further testing at that time because there was no pain and seeing the x-ray myself ascertained this was yet another rupture and none of the doctors seemed duly alarmed since I was experiencing no discomfort.
A month ago I began having rather unique pain that began while twist at my waist. Upon that twist I had a sudden and violent cramp-spasm in my stomach area that caused an immediate feeling of extreme nausea and I nearly vomited. The spasm eased fairly quickly but since that time seemingly unusual pain and aching began to occur regularly across my upper abdominal area, above my waist and mostly to the left side radiating around to my back. My stomach at that time feels as if it's burning as well and then the pain seems to pinpoint as if a rod is entering the front, just under my breast to the back in an almost horizontal line.
When I lay down the pain is worse or quickly worsens so I have been sleeping sitting up in my rocking chair against a heat pad after taking at least one motrin (over the counter). (I did get a wedge but the only way to endure the pain is top be 'bent'. Sometimes it takes two motrin, but always the heat pad. I at first thought this to be acid reflux, however, there is never any accompanying acidic problems moving up into my esophagus, no gas etc, or other symptoms identifying this. Taking tums or like kind medications makes no difference in the pain either. The ONLY thing that helps is motrin (I also tried tylenol extra strength but it was ineffective), and heat.
Over time I was also aware that the area of my back affected in the x-ray also feels odd, and achy. Sometimes the pain begins there now and travels quickly to the abdominal area. It does not feel as though my stomach itself is affected, but rather muscles spasming over it, as if someone either punched me hard in that area, or the feeling you would finally get if someone had been pressing or hitting, against that area over and over again, letting go and pressing again.
Note: I have no gallbladder, appendix and have had a hysterectomy. I show nor feel any indications of bowel or urinary problems - these are operating normally.
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