Tightness in Mid-Back Area

[mommyLDN]

Does anyone else have this?? I have the worst and most odd sensation of tightness in my mid back. It feels like the muscles that run down my spine on each side of my spine get very tight and are actually squeazing my spine. And I also have a simular tightness on my side just under my rib cage that feels like its conected to the tightness I feel near my spine. Heat helps but as soon as I remove the heat, it comes back fairly quickly, its been here for months. Is this just anxiety or should I be more concerned about it being so chronic? I just dont feel like its anxiety, I have so many muscles in my head and neck and it goes straight to this site in my back. Its kind of a scary sensation, like I cant get away from it. Any clues or suggestions?? Thanks everybody

 

[TatsuDragon15]

Hi mommyLDNMay I ask your age and if you have small children? I get back tightness and shoulder, arm wrist tightness... I lift my children alot everyday (one from the crib). I also have to carry them sometimes. They are heavy. I also have to cook breakfast lunch and dinner (meaning constant use of the muscles without rest)- so that may cause the tightness. Maybe you can try massaging. I always have to take a warm shower in the evening and massage daily to relieve the pain and muscle tightness.

 

[mommyLDN]

Hi tatsu, thanks for responding. I do have 2 small children, a 2 yr old and a 4 yr old. But I have not been able to lift them much since this stuff started 6 months ago. I dont do much housework or really much of anything strenuous these days. I cant stand for long periods and everything feels to heavy if you know what I'm saying. Like I said I do get some relief with a therma care patch, but so far, warm showers dont do much for the tightness at all. I'm not sure why. At first I thought it was because I was standing when taking a shower, so then I tried taking a warm bath, but still didnt seem to affect it, not in a good way that is, sometimes it actually feels like it agravates it. But thanks for the suggestion anyway. Take care

 

[MeaganGranger]

Back problems (tightness, pain, stiffness, lack of motion) are literally one of the most common complaints among all Americans (in addition to stomach pain). I am only 24 and I have had exactly what you are describing for several years now. I personally do not feel it is related to BFS. If your doctor told you that you have a pinched nerve in your back (did he tell you that?) then it is totally possible that it could also be causing localized back pain and tightness. Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I find that yoga and streatching, both in the morning and before bed, help with this a lot. When it gets bad I also use heat, and that helps. I recently started swimming laps, and that has made my morning back stiffness WAY WAY better, so if you get the chance you might try that too.Your back pain may have nothing to do with anxiety (backs just deteriorate, its just life) but I also want to emphasize that there is often a stronger connection between our minds and bodies, that people do not realize. Anxiety can do some crazy things to you (see my most recent post under hypochondria). That said, anxiety isn't "just" anxiety, and to diminish someone's situation by saying "It's just anxiety" is quite frustrating, believe me I am not trying to do that here! ... So believe me when I say anxiety can be like a disease itself, with REAL, physical symptoms. It never hurts to look at aches and pains from this angle, especially after you have been cleared by a medical doctor.

 

[mommyLDN]

Thanks Megan, and no the doctor said the area he gave me the emg, rulled out a pinched nerve in my back so I dont think thats it. I dont know what it is, but it scares me. I dont get much pain, it just feels like the conective tissues is tighning up. I dont know what it is, but I wish it would go away. Thank you for responding Megan.

 

[SecretAgent007]

Discomfort in your mid lower back could be stressed kidneys. It is interesting you mentioned discomfort on your side below your rib cage. Is it your right side by any chance? The liver is located in this area. The liver and kidneys are your body's two major organs that detox your body. If they are stressed it means they are overloaded. You could have what I have, which is known as 'Leaky Gut Syndrome'. This is a condition where your intestine walls are weakened by excessive Candida build up and excessive toxins make it into your blood stream. Normally your intestines only absorb nutrients from food into the blood stream. The presence of undigested food protiens and Candida itself overload the body's detox organs (liver and kidneys). In my case, this condition caused me to develop food sensitivities, which in turn caused my twitching. My kidneys never really hurt the way you describe, but the area on my right side just under my rib cage where my liver is got incredibly tender. Just going about my usual routine never really upset it, but if I were to touch or apply pressure in that area, it felt like I had a bad bruise.

 

[mommyLDN]

Thanks for responding Bond007, But no its not my right side and I've had my kidneys and liver testes and they are all great. And just to make it a little more clear, there is no pain with this tightning, just incredible tightness and it actually throws off my balace. I'm at a loss, I dont know what it is anymore. Doc said I dont have a pinched nerve in my back so.......