Back And Stomach Pain

[kvalidir]

Hi quick question for my Mum who is uncharacteristically in agony. She was walking around the supermarket on Thursday night doing nothing strenuous at all when she was beset by an extreme pain in her back, r/h side of the spine just above the centre (roughly along the Erectus Sinae muscle) but very localised (about the size of an orange diameter) and at the same time a very sharp pinching pain in her upper right hand abdomen coupled with a feeling of pressure on her rib cage that side. She has been in agony since and on some very heavy duty painkillers to no avail. It's better when she lies flat, less so when she is upright and walking and worst when sitting. No other symptoms, no sickness or nausea etc, no fever. She has a Drs appointment tomorrow afternoon but seriously thinking about shovelling her off down the hospital as she's not a baby about pain at all but in absolute agony with both. Any ideas anyone what it could be?

[douglas9401]

Gall bladder issues?

[anneasquith]

You know your mum, if she is in agony maybe A&E is the best option .I would not hazard a guess re diagnosis ,

[NoMercy]

So acute pain in the upper right quadrant, felt also in the back?

[Buenchico]

If the pain is really bad then I suggest doing something RIGHT NOW.

Whether that 'something' is
(a) a trip to A&E ;
(b) a call to the GP's emergency night service ; or
(c) a call to 111 ( http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/Emergencyandurgentcareservices/Pages/NHS-111.aspx )
is up to you and your Mum but it seems clear to me that some sort of action is needed NOW.

[DTCwordfan]

must say that it sounds like a gall bladder - however, they pass after about 20 minutes to an hour.....pain with gall bladder is also on the upper right shoulder (the autonomous nervous system).....A&E imo - at least it is Monday and not the w/end.

[jno]

agree with Chris, agony isn't good. Any walk-in centres near you?

[woofgang]

another vote for action now.

[Eve]

When I had gallbladder attacks the pain radiated through to my back. I'd get her to the hospital if she is in agony with internal pain and heavy duty painkillers aren't touching it. At least she may be able to get some more effective pain relief while they work out what is causing it.

[ummmm]

Call 111. We had to do that for me a week or so ago and they had a paramedic out in 10 mins.

[Sqad]

Sounds like a gall stone.
Monitor the situation for the next 2-3 hours as she may well pass it into her intestine.
If after a couples of hours it is no better, then take her to A&E.

[Buenchico]

Sqad:
Did you notice that the pain first came on 4 days ago?

I would have thought that a stone which hasn't moved for that long is unlikely then to do so within the next few hours.

[DTCwordfan]

I was told that 65% of gall stones are female, mainly down to over-aggressive dieting (@ more than 2 lbs a week).

The vulnerable being the 5Fs, comprising of Female, Over Forty, Fat, Freckled and Fair..... Those who have had it say a major attack is worse than child birth - it's certainly horrendously painful, and in the latter, at least women come out with something 'productive'.....

[Sqad]

Buenchico.....good point.
I was going to ask if it was a continuous pain in which case it would unlikely be a gall stone as i suggested, but if it was colicky ( came and went) then a gallstone diagnosis would still be on.
Your point is well taken.

[kvalidir]

Thank you all so much, she's not much one for Drs never mind hospitals but you've persuaded her to call 111 and get their opinion if it's not cleared up by nineish. Thanks again, I'll keep you all up to speed on what they decide it is. xxx

[anneasquith]

Chris, not only has the pain been there for 4 days , interestingly it's better / worse in different positions .?

[kvalidir]

It's all the time (to answer questions) but sometimes far worse than others, and she did say it's the worst pain she has ever had. I did google it initially and wondered about gallbladder but it said that the area would be tender whereas hers feels better if pressure is applied to her ribs at the front, anyway I'll let you know what they say xx

[Sqad]

Thanks Kvali....gall stone is still on.
Keep us informed.

[jno]

good luck to your mum, hope it gets sorted out.

[yogi-bear]

If it was my Mum, kvalidir, I would be calling right now, as it shows no signs of going away, so the quicker she's assessed, the better. Whatever you decide, I wish your mum well and to get out of pain.

[Eve]

You can get really big gallstones, could they cause lingering pain if stuck? I had lots of little ones, a lady I was in hospital with when mine got infected had one really big one. She said she would rather go through childbirth again. I haven't had that to compare it to but the pain is absolutely agonising.

I can't remember if mine was tender over to touch during attacks, sure it was when it got infected but there were a whole load of other symptoms with that, dark urine, pale other, extreme food poisoning like symptoms and I had a fever, low blood pressure and rapid heartbeat too.

I hope it can get sorted and she is feeling better soon Kvalidir.