Pain/pressure on Left side but no UTI symptoms

TD · 09-26-2001, 03:17 PM

I have been experiencing a pain in my left abdomen, on and off, for about 4 months. Went to the doctors and PMR had ultrasounds done then PCP had me go through a barium scan of abdomen all of which came up normal. I keep checking for UTIs but nothing treatable shows up.

Now I have begun experiencing a pressure in the same area which has spread to my back. Anyone had this same experience? Which doctor should I take this problem to?

"And so it begins."

SCI-Nurse · 09-26-2001, 05:47 PM

Did the ultrasounds you had include your kidneys and bladder? Urinary stone formation is fairly common in people with SCI and should be ruled out as a cause of your pain. (EMK)

TD · 09-27-2001, 03:04 PM

As I said, they came back normal. No enlargements, stones, etc. I've also become distended since last post. Taking usual remedies for possible bowel blockage.

This is new so am not sure it relates to continuing problem.

BTW, I discovered that my PMR and SCI Nurse are on vacation at the same time!!

PCP always defers treatment to them so I am really stuck!

"And so it begins."

etexley · 09-30-2001, 05:04 AM

EMK,

When I was in rehab, the nursing staff had me lay on my left side when I was using sopositories. Why was this? Could it in some way be related to the pain that this gentleman is having?

Eric Texley

KDK513 · 09-30-2001, 01:17 PM

TD, if you find out anything please let us know. My husband experiences similar pain on his right side. He has run the gamet of tests several times in the past 18 months and we still don't know the cause. He does have more return on his left side and I wonder if this could have anything to do with it. His injury is T4 incomplete, 21 months post.

SCI-Nurse · 09-30-2001, 02:48 PM

Eric, the purpose of having you lay on your left side is the position of the large intestine. It is less relavant in using suppositories than in giving enemas, but the left side lying position is a better position for something to be retained in the bowel (it is "uphill to exit"), while the right side lying position helps with gravity to move stool from the descending and transverse colon into the rectum ("downhill").

TD, have you seen a specialist in bowel diseases? If not, I would suggest this. You may need a colonoscopy in addition to the other tests you have had. If a good specialist rules out any abdominal pathology, then you may want to explore the possibility that your pain is neuropathic, and treat it as with any neuropathic pain.

(KLD)

harper · 09-30-2001, 06:48 PM

i know this may not even be close but i was having the same type of pain,,,so bad i had to use a narcotic to get any relief and all the tests showed nothing at all...after nearly a year of searching we came to the conclusion, and later episodes seemed to indicate we were right, that the problem was urethral strictures and the pain was radiating to the right lower area of my back...after we figured this out i would go to uro and get urethra dilated and pain would go away...*shrug*,,,tedEbear

Clipper · 09-30-2001, 10:52 PM

I've found that I experience pain in my abdomen and side/back, usually on the right, if I have an abundance of gas built up. The pain feels a lot like a UTI, full bowel or upset stomach -- except that my side/back hurts too. A good over-the-counter gas remedy usually does the trick.

Rollin Rick · 06-19-2004, 12:03 PM

I have just started getting some tightness feelings on my left side which seems to be a pretty achy feeling. Even when I tried to move my head to the left side it feels like it's pulling and somewhat painful. When I lean back in my chair or lie down in bed the pain seems too lightened up a lot. My pain is just above my hip. I'm debating whether I should see a doctor or not because it feels like it's in the muscles. Sorry about bringing back such an old topic...

What one man can do another can do

09-26-2001, 03:17 PM	#1
TD Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA Posts: 649	Pain/pressure on Left side but no UTI symptoms I have been experiencing a pain in my left abdomen, on and off, for about 4 months. Went to the doctors and PMR had ultrasounds done then PCP had me go through a barium scan of abdomen all of which came up normal. I keep checking for UTIs but nothing treatable shows up. Now I have begun experiencing a pressure in the same area which has spread to my back. Anyone had this same experience? Which doctor should I take this problem to? "And so it begins."

09-27-2001, 03:04 PM	#3
TD Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA Posts: 649	Ultrasounds As I said, they came back normal. No enlargements, stones, etc. I've also become distended since last post. Taking usual remedies for possible bowel blockage. This is new so am not sure it relates to continuing problem. BTW, I discovered that my PMR and SCI Nurse are on vacation at the same time!! PCP always defers treatment to them so I am really stuck! "And so it begins."

09-30-2001, 05:04 AM	#4
etexley Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Boca Raton, Florida, USA Posts: 1,446	? EMK, When I was in rehab, the nursing staff had me lay on my left side when I was using sopositories. Why was this? Could it in some way be related to the pain that this gentleman is having? Eric Texley

09-30-2001, 01:17 PM	#5
KDK513 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Posts: 392	Right Side TD, if you find out anything please let us know. My husband experiences similar pain on his right side. He has run the gamet of tests several times in the past 18 months and we still don't know the cause. He does have more return on his left side and I wonder if this could have anything to do with it. His injury is T4 incomplete, 21 months post.

09-30-2001, 02:48 PM	#6
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,512	Left side Eric, the purpose of having you lay on your left side is the position of the large intestine. It is less relavant in using suppositories than in giving enemas, but the left side lying position is a better position for something to be retained in the bowel (it is "uphill to exit"), while the right side lying position helps with gravity to move stool from the descending and transverse colon into the rectum ("downhill"). TD, have you seen a specialist in bowel diseases? If not, I would suggest this. You may need a colonoscopy in addition to the other tests you have had. If a good specialist rules out any abdominal pathology, then you may want to explore the possibility that your pain is neuropathic, and treat it as with any neuropathic pain. (KLD)

09-26-2001, 05:47 PM	#2
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,512	Did the ultrasounds you had include your kidneys and bladder? Urinary stone formation is fairly common in people with SCI and should be ruled out as a cause of your pain. (EMK)

09-30-2001, 06:48 PM	#7
harper Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: 4 corners, NM, USA Posts: 64	i know this may not even be close but i was having the same type of pain,,,so bad i had to use a narcotic to get any relief and all the tests showed nothing at all...after nearly a year of searching we came to the conclusion, and later episodes seemed to indicate we were right, that the problem was urethral strictures and the pain was radiating to the right lower area of my back...after we figured this out i would go to uro and get urethra dilated and pain would go away...shrug,,,tedEbear

09-30-2001, 10:52 PM	#8
Clipper Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,516	I've found that I experience pain in my abdomen and side/back, usually on the right, if I have an abundance of gas built up. The pain feels a lot like a UTI, full bowel or upset stomach -- except that my side/back hurts too. A good over-the-counter gas remedy usually does the trick.

06-19-2004, 12:03 PM	#9
Rollin Rick Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: B ville, New York, USA Posts: 826	I have just started getting some tightness feelings on my left side which seems to be a pretty achy feeling. Even when I tried to move my head to the left side it feels like it's pulling and somewhat painful. When I lean back in my chair or lie down in bed the pain seems too lightened up a lot. My pain is just above my hip. I'm debating whether I should see a doctor or not because it feels like it's in the muscles. Sorry about bringing back such an old topic... What one man can do another can do

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