can anxiety cause back pain?

[Nat in the hat]

I’ll be 61 in the spring. For the last year I’ve been getting back pain that I thought for sure was internal organs. Wraps around my right ribs. Affects my stomach. Went for CT to check out my internal organs. Everything looked fine. The CT sent my anxiety to the moon!! I’m assuming it’s skeletal related. I have an appointment with a physiatrist middle of next month. Supposedly she can diagnose and tell me what type of PT I need. In the mean time my anxiety is thriving and I feel lousy. Worried I’ll never get back to normal. The more I do the worse I feel.

Hi Nano

We sound strikingly similar. 61 here with similar pains. I also have an appointment with a physiatrist next month. I didn't even know what a physiatrist was until recently. My symptoms are a lot like yours. Why did the CT scan increase your anxiety? I had one of the sternoclavicular joint and was told i have some arthritis but no signs of anything else. Hope you are feeling better.

NITH

 

[Nano22]

Hi Nano

We sound strikingly similar. 61 here with similar pains. I also have an appointment with a physiatrist next month. I didn't even know what a physiatrist was until recently. My symptoms are a lot like yours. Why did the CT scan increase your anxiety? I had one of the sternoclavicular joint and was told i have some arthritis but no signs of anything else. Hope you are feeling better.

NITH

Funny I had never heard of a physiatrist either til my psychiatrist mentioned it to me. My psychiatrist told me I have just enough info to be dangerous and I needed to see someone who could explain what was going on and get me the appropriate physical therapy. I’m terrified of CT scans or any type of diagnostic tools. I’m afraid of what they’ll find. I was shaking so badly after the CT scan my husband had to help me out to the car.
I still feel lousy. CT scan showed nothing wrong with my organs so that’s why I’m assuming skeletal. (Although I still worry it is my internal organs ) I probably need xrays. I hope you’re doing better. Getting older while having health anxiety is terrifying to me. Blessings!

 

[Nat in the hat]

Hi Nano
Just wondering how you are doing? I'm having some digestive issues atm. I used the bathroom room this morning and had light colored stool. Sorry for the tmi. It really jacked up my anxiety. I did have a big bowl of chicken soup and also some psyllium husk (natural color) last night. Hope that's it. I hope you are doing well.

 

[Nano22]

Hey Nat
I get digestive issues too. Every once in a while I get that light colored stool. Freaks me out. But it always goes back to normal. And it’s usually from something I took to help my digestion. I’m sure it’s from the psyllium you took. I wouldn’t worry about it.
Yesterday I went for a deep muscle massage. Seemed to help a little. I’m going back next week.
The work she did around my right ribs was extremely painful. But today I’m feeling a little better.
Sending peaceful thoughts Nat.

 

[Nat in the hat]

Thank you so much Nano for your supportive words. I've been getting rib pain as well. Of course I fell on ice while shoveling snow so that made my whole side hurt for a bit. But I've been having ongoing back/rib cage pain prior to that. I've got 3 Dr appointments in March. ENT/Gastro endoscopy/colonoscopy/Physiatrist.
Oh brother!
I hope you have a nice day. Thanks again.
God bless.

 

[Nano22]

The muscle therapist told me I hold a lot of tension in my lower right area. That part always bothers me too.
let me know how your dr appointments go.
God bless you too!!

 

[Nat in the hat]

Yes I will. And you do the same, Nano.