Back and abdominal pain
Hello. I am female, 33 years old, 170cm/60kg. Until the beginning of this year, I was working and doing a lot of sports. I am a non-smoker, no alcohol, and have been following a vegetarian diet for 20 years. Throughout my life, I have always been in excellent health.
In January of this year, I started experiencing upper abdominal pain. After an endoscopy, I was diagnosed with type C gastritis in the antrum, which was treated with PPI and a special diet and went away after 4 months. The gastritis was very painful (constant pain for months).
About 1 month after being diagnosed with gastritis, I suddenly developed severe back pain in the flank area on both sides, as well as a pulling/burning sensation in the area of the appendix, not only on the right side but also on both sides. The urine test at the doctor did not indicate any issues with the kidneys/bladder, so I was diagnosed with muscle tension. Since there were no problems or changes in bowel movements or urination, I accepted the diagnosis, or connected the new symptoms with the already painful gastritis.
Over the following weeks, I tried to manage the back pain with yoga, massages, heat and ice packs, and long periods of rest. The pain did decrease slightly, but to this day, 3 months later, the flanks (the two Quadratus Lumborum) are very sensitive to pressure and feel inflamed. The burning pulling sensation in the lower abdomen is still present. It is a shooting pain that is mostly independent of movement, but I feel it about 20-30 times a day. I had ultrasounds and blood tests with two internists, all normal. A gynecological examination was also normal. The back pain is not dependent on movement, but stretching and extending worsen it, so I have stopped doing that. In the meantime, more of these burning stabbing pains have appeared in the stomach area below the stomach, as well as in the groin and waist, bothering me at all times of the day and night. Since organic causes have been ruled out, I have now been referred to a neurologist. The pains in the stomach area actually feel more superficial and the abdomen is not sensitive to pressure, so a neurological cause is certainly possible. However, I still feel that the constant back pain may be playing a role here, as I have never had back problems before and the complaints in the stomach and back occurred simultaneously.
Do you think a B12 deficiency could be present? Since I am a vegetarian and ate a very restricted diet during the gastritis, this could possibly explain the various nerve pains. Other symptoms include extreme fatigue for the past 3 weeks and apparently elevated blood pressure (158/90). According to my doctor, my blood tests do not indicate a B12 deficiency. The doctors I have seen so far are unfortunately at a loss, but the constant pain is now dominating my life. I hope you have an idea of what could be going on.
Best regards
