Pinched nerve.... Diagnosis? and treatment?

[Packer]

I have the symptoms of a pinched nerve.

 

Symptoms:

Quote

 

Pain in the flank (back, below the ribs).

Pain that may radiate to the groin or inner thigh.

Numbness or tingling in the affected area.

 

 

It may also be kidney related.

 

Quote

A "pinched nerve" in the kidney area (also known as flank pain) can refer to a compressed nerve or a muscle spasm that causes pain in the back, below the ribs, and around the side of the body. It can also be caused by various other conditions, including kidney stones, UTIs, or other kidney problems. 

 

I will go for a wellness checkup package on Monday, which includes EKG, digital chest x-ray, upper and lower abdomen ultrasound, as well as the normal urine analysis etc. 

 

The pain and symptoms have been building up over a number of years, but similar checkups haven't revealed a cause. Now, however, the intensity is getting to the point where something needs to be done. The first thing is a proper diagnosis. 

 

My question is about how a pinched nerve in the flank would be diagnosed and located? 

 

 

[KhunLA]

Xray and or CT scan (MRI)

 

If not for the ...

... Numbness or tingling in the affected area.

 

I'd suggest a strict Keto diet, for a month, as you'd be amazed how much inflammation carbs & sugar cause, and eliminated when not in the diet.  That's from personal experience.  Surprised the hell out of me.

 

Think you need some snaps taken at the hospital.  Good Luck 

[Packer]

40 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Xray and or CT scan (MRI)

 

If not for the ...

... Numbness or tingling in the affected area.

 

I'd suggest a strict Keto diet, for a month, as you'd be amazed how much inflammation carbs & sugar cause, and eliminated when not in the diet.  That's from personal experience.  Surprised the hell out of me.

 

Think you need some snaps taken at the hospital.  Good Luck 

 

Thanks.

 

Yes, the checkup package includes chest xray and upper and lower abdomen ultrasound. 

 

I will have the symptoms and issues printed out in English and Thai, so they're aware of what issues to especially look for. 

 

I could do with losing 20lbs.

 

If the checkup doesn't show anything and perhaps 2 months of dieting and healthier eating doesn't help, I guess the next plan of action is a CT Scan.

 

These seem to be around 8,000-10,000 for the abdomen area.

 

An MRI appears to be different than a CT Scan.

 

Any comments about pinched nerves (diagnosis and cure), kidney issues and CT Scans welcome. 

[BritManToo]

I'd go to a government hospital,tell the doctor the symptoms, and pay the 100bht fee.

Wellness checkup for 10kbht is a pointless scam.

CT/MRI scans are a scam.

Faddy diets also a scam.

As you said in the op, similar wellness checkups in the past found nothing, that's because they're scams.

 

If you're 20lbs overweight, eat less, exercise more.

[Packer]

20 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I'd....

 

Thank you. 

[dinsdale]

Could be a lot of things but seeing as how it's gone on for a number of years kidneys would be the 1st thing to get checked IMO.

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, Packer said:

 

Thanks.

 

Yes, the checkup package includes chest xray and upper and lower abdomen ultrasound. 

 

I will have the symptoms and issues printed out in English and Thai, so they're aware of what issues to especially look for. 

 

I could do with losing 20lbs.

 

If the checkup doesn't show anything and perhaps 2 months of dieting and healthier eating doesn't help, I guess the next plan of action is a CT Scan.

 

These seem to be around 8,000-10,000 for the abdomen area.

 

An MRI appears to be different than a CT Scan.

 

Any comments about pinched nerves (diagnosis and cure), kidney issues and CT Scans welcome. 

I got a full abdominal CT Scan (no dye) last year.  Just for the hell of it (70 yrs old).  Not sure what detail if any, that included for the spine.   

 

That's been done in the past, and known issues fixed (T12-L5 (herniated discs) and behaving.  Having back issues for decades.  I behave myself now, and stop aggravating it, and it behaves now.  Just not as flexible as things use to be 🙄

 

My GP is a  nephrologist, and kidneys & liver all normal for my age.

 

Not sure what discs would cause numbness & tingling in your areas.  Mine was all sciatica nerve related.   

 

Would never hurt the get scans done, IF doc can't sort out the causes of your discomfort, since there, and cheap enough in TH.

[Packer]

42 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I got a full abdominal CT Scan (no dye) last year. 

 

Thanks.

 

I believe the dye is used to see any blockages or kinks in the ureter  and kidneys. 

 

I will probably go for that if the ultrasounds don't show anything. 

 

the intensity of the issue has perhaps tripled since I last had a checkup around 5 years ago, so hopefully it will give an answer this time. 

 

Do you remember how much you paid for the full abdominal CT Scan? 

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, Packer said:

Do you remember how much you paid for the full abdominal CT Scan? 

~฿16k, and at govt hospital.  Not sure if a good price or not, but next closes hosp is 100+ kms away.  They also gave me the scan on DVD.  Kind of strange, and glad I still have an old external drive to read it, a past few laptops don't 

[Nicco]

I'd suggest unless you are in dire pain to give it ten days and do some mobility exercises focusing exclusively on lower back and that particular area. Couple that with hot water bottle a few times a day to that area.

 

I'm now off NSAIDs (due to exercise), but if need be in order to exercise - I'd recommend for light pain Naproxen 250mg 3x a day or more serious Diclofenac 25mg 2x a day during this time. It might just be your body freaking out because of lack of exercise. Note: not good for kidneys.

 

If you drink or whatever reason expect kidney issues you might falsely equate poor kidney tests for your problem. In reality, could be alcohol, weight and lack of exercise .

 

Drink 3L water a day and eat whole foods

 

** I'm no health nut, but I've nearly cured all my back pain in one month from exercise. 45 minutes mobility, back exercises, 45-60 mins walking

[Nicco]

1 hour ago, Packer said:

Do you remember how much you paid for the full abdominal CT Scan? 

Praram9 and St Louis have best packages. I scoped them all in February.

 

I paid 17k did much of what you are looking for including upper lower abdomen and stress test/s

 

Doctor reading your results to you will tell you all is well even if there is underlying pattern of ill heath unfortunately. Gotta be able to understand, read and put the picture together yourself

[Sheryl]

First of all, forget "Dr. Google" and whst yoh have read online. Neither Google nor AI at at all suitable for medical diagnosis. 

 

Secondly, do not rush into expensive tests like MRI or CT.  Such testing should be based on a differential diagnosis. 

 

Please describe exactly where  the pain is, in your own words, and what it is like (e.g. sharp, cramping, burning, achy or what)  and what if anything seems to make it better or worse.

 

Also clarify if the pain seems to radiate to leg or thigh,  and whether there is any numbness, weakness or tingling in the legs.

 

And give your age and location in Thailand. 

 

Then I will suggest a doctor. 

[Packer]

12 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Please describe exactly where  the pain is, in your own words, and what it is like

 

Generally, like I’ve just been punched hard in one kidney (the other kidney or flank area has no issues at all) and that pain stays for 2-4 hours. Coming and going every day and night. Sometimes like there is little stick sitting inside the kidney. Sometimes like someone is poking me in the side with a stick. Sometimes a sharp pain on that side down under my tummy, sometimes up above my nipple. Rarely have clear urine, sometimes do. Recently a feeling of weakness or slight numbness in that side’s leg or arm. For perhaps 16 out of every 24 hours, perhaps 8 of which will be the feeling that I’ve been punched in the kidney, the other 8 could be a mixture of the others. Ongoing for around 10 years, but recently it’s become more intense and uncomfortable, and staying for longer periods. 2 previous checkups including abdomen ultrasounds and and chest xray and urine analysis didn’t show anything, perhaps 10 and 5 years ago, age is under 60.

[thesetat]

I would suggest seeing an internal specialist rather than a neuro or ortho doctor for this first. I had pinch nerves as well as ruptured discs. 

For one. a pinched nerve would most likely feel like a knife stabbing into your butt as well as pain radiating down the leg and possible to some of your toes. Yuur numbness would be felt in the leg and/or on your feet. The pain in your lower body would most likely not be there if you have a pinched nerve. Simply because that is the starting point that sends signals down the nerve to your feet. An example would be touching the nerve on your spine or sending a small electric charge there. You will feel it all down your leg and toes but not on your back. 

I had on 3 occasions pinched nerves on my lower spine so I can tell you these things for sure. 

One thing for sure. If it is a pinched nerve on the spine. DO NOT give authorization for any surgeries no matter how much they try to convince you that all will be ok later. Any surgeries on the spine will eventually make problems more in the future. 

A pinched nerve can be healed with steroid injection directly into the spine without any surgical procedures. It will surely help if that is the problem. But I suspect you have a different problem. 

Have you considered entering your symptoms into google and see what pops up as a possible problem? 

 

One other note... if it is a pinched nerve causing the feelings you have(which I doubt) You can test it by laying in a fetal position on your side to see if that alleviates any symptoms. Legs up to the chin and laying on your side. 

Many nights I had to sleep this way otherwise i could not sleep. 

[Packer]

1 hour ago, thesetat said:

 

Have you considered entering your symptoms into google and see what pops up as a possible problem? 

 

 

1 hour ago, Packer said:

 

like I’ve just been punched hard in one kidney (the other kidney or flank area has no issues at all) and that pain stays for 2-4 hours. Coming and going every day and night. Sometimes like there is little stick sitting inside the kidney. Sometimes like someone is poking me in the side with a stick. Sometimes a sharp pain on that side down under my tummy, sometimes up above my nipple. Rarely have clear urine, sometimes do. Recently a feeling of weakness or slight numbness in that side’s leg or arm. For perhaps 16 out of every 24 hours, perhaps 8 of which will be the feeling that I’ve been punched in the kidney, the other 8 could be a mixture of the others. 

 

"The symptoms described – flank pain, intermittent pain, occasional sharp pains, unusual urine color, and recently, a feeling of weakness or numbness in the affected side – strongly suggest potential kidney issues, possibly a kidney stone or kidney infection, or something else that needs to be evaluated by a doctor. It's crucial to seek medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment, as these symptoms can be caused by a variety of conditions. "

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, Packer said:

 

Generally, like I’ve just been punched hard in one kidney (the other kidney or flank area has no issues at all) and that pain stays for 2-4 hours. Coming and going every day and night. Sometimes like there is little stick sitting inside the kidney. Sometimes like someone is poking me in the side with a stick. Sometimes a sharp pain on that side down under my tummy, sometimes up above my nipple. Rarely have clear urine, sometimes do. Recently a feeling of weakness or slight numbness in that side’s leg or arm. For perhaps 16 out of every 24 hours, perhaps 8 of which will be the feeling that I’ve been punched in the kidney, the other 8 could be a mixture of the others. Ongoing for around 10 years, but recently it’s become more intense and uncomfortable, and staying for longer periods. 2 previous checkups including abdomen ultrasounds and and chest xray and urine analysis didn’t show anything, perhaps 10 and 5 years ago, age is under 60.

Where in Thailand are you located? 

[Packer]

29 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Where in Thailand are you located? 

 

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