ta0271
28-03-17, 13:09
I apologize in advance if this post is long, it helps me just to vent.
I've posted on here a few times regarding lower back pain. I've had it for 3 months now and it is getting progressively worse. I'm convinced it's due to Ankylosing Spondylosis, which is basically Rheumatoid Arthritis of your SI joints. Despite reassurance from my GP, she sent me to a rheumatologist for further reassurance, who I saw yesterday. She essentially said the same thing - that it sounds like muscular pain, because AS would cause "morning stiffness" where I wouldn't be able to move my back much for like an hour after waking up. But I do have a significant amount of pain when I move my back after waking up, and I keep worrying that it will continue to progress until I'm as bad as she described.
I've been told by my GP, and by some of you on here, that your anxiety causing muscle tension can cause your back to hurt. I know it's one of the most common symptoms of anxiety. But I just have a hard time believing my specific pain is due to anxiety for a few reasons:
1. It's constant - any time from when I wake up to when I go to sleep that I bend too far forward or backward, or sit for too long, it starts hurting. I would assume that anxiety pain would come and go as my stress got better or worse, but this has just continually gotten worse.
2. I'm having other symptoms of AS that I don't think are due to anxiety. My heels are always hurting, and it switches between heels and where on them it hurts, regardless of any recent activity or only wearing comfortable shoes.
3. I've been stretching and doing core exercises for weeks that are supposed to help with lower back pain caused by musculoskeletal problems and haven't seen any improvement. If anything, the pain has gotten worse.
Honestly, I'm just frustrated with myself at this point. I know that anxiety always makes you feel like it can;t possibly be the cause of your physical symptoms when it really is, but this time just feels different. This has been 3 months of unrelenting pain. Not a day goes by that I'm not constantly reminded of it every time I sit down for too long or bend forward. Yet I've been reassured by 2 doctors now that they're not concerned, and I feel more worried than ever.
I guess I don't really know what my question is. It helps a little to vent but I'm still so worried. Has anyone had muscular pain from anxiety that has been constant for months at a time, without coming or going? Has anyone had success with stretching and strengthening for back pain? And how long did it take for you to see results?
Thank you for anyone who takes the time to read all this.
I've posted on here a few times regarding lower back pain. I've had it for 3 months now and it is getting progressively worse. I'm convinced it's due to Ankylosing Spondylosis, which is basically Rheumatoid Arthritis of your SI joints. Despite reassurance from my GP, she sent me to a rheumatologist for further reassurance, who I saw yesterday. She essentially said the same thing - that it sounds like muscular pain, because AS would cause "morning stiffness" where I wouldn't be able to move my back much for like an hour after waking up. But I do have a significant amount of pain when I move my back after waking up, and I keep worrying that it will continue to progress until I'm as bad as she described.
I've been told by my GP, and by some of you on here, that your anxiety causing muscle tension can cause your back to hurt. I know it's one of the most common symptoms of anxiety. But I just have a hard time believing my specific pain is due to anxiety for a few reasons:
1. It's constant - any time from when I wake up to when I go to sleep that I bend too far forward or backward, or sit for too long, it starts hurting. I would assume that anxiety pain would come and go as my stress got better or worse, but this has just continually gotten worse.
2. I'm having other symptoms of AS that I don't think are due to anxiety. My heels are always hurting, and it switches between heels and where on them it hurts, regardless of any recent activity or only wearing comfortable shoes.
3. I've been stretching and doing core exercises for weeks that are supposed to help with lower back pain caused by musculoskeletal problems and haven't seen any improvement. If anything, the pain has gotten worse.
Honestly, I'm just frustrated with myself at this point. I know that anxiety always makes you feel like it can;t possibly be the cause of your physical symptoms when it really is, but this time just feels different. This has been 3 months of unrelenting pain. Not a day goes by that I'm not constantly reminded of it every time I sit down for too long or bend forward. Yet I've been reassured by 2 doctors now that they're not concerned, and I feel more worried than ever.
I guess I don't really know what my question is. It helps a little to vent but I'm still so worried. Has anyone had muscular pain from anxiety that has been constant for months at a time, without coming or going? Has anyone had success with stretching and strengthening for back pain? And how long did it take for you to see results?
Thank you for anyone who takes the time to read all this.