Bad back

[Selfridge81]

Need some advice. We are frustrating. My partner has upper and low back pain since 13th of this month and also sighs, went to GP said he thinks sighs due to lungs. GP prescribed Co-Dydramol for back pain but it didnt help at all. Had x-ray for his spine, awaiting results.
He's got Acid Reflux, been since Xmas 2007 after slight electric shock on his hand. On Omeprazole 40mg daily which it does help but not 100 percent, as he had tried other medication which didnt help at all. He's only 29 and doesnt smoke. Only drinks on special occasion. Is there anyone who has been in similar situation as him?

[Sqad]

Not me.

[daffy654]

Does your partner have diagnosed asthma or other lung disease?
Sighing is common in people with these conditions,I do it a lot but I have asthma and emphysema.I also have acid reflux caused by anti inflammatory painkillers (I can't figure out how your partner got it from an electric shock) and I take omeprazole for that when I get flare-ups.
Is your partner overweight? excess weight can cause both back problems and acid reflux...it may also cause breathing problems.

[Selfridge81]

Only we know what he got is Acid Reflux thats all, nothing else. I told GP he needs MRI or CT scan but he said no. For the past 2 yrs he had lots of sighs, told doctors many times, they didnt take notice, till last week GP noticed and reffered him x-ray and thinks its due to his lungs. We are desperate to find out the problem.
He is not overweight, he's in normal weight.
Thanks for the advice :)

[Sqad]

selfridge..........what are "sighs?"

[Selfridge81]

Forgot to add, whenever he lifts anything, chest starts to pain and becomes weak. It has been like that past 2 yrs. He stopped gym cos of that. Last week GP said he can go back to gym! No one apart from me seems to understand. He feels like giving up cos the pain never stop.

[Selfridge81]

Sqad..... Sighs is like bit hard to breath, only when there is pain. When no pain, no sighs.

[daffy654]

Sqad,surely you know what sighs are?
A deep breath which when released makes a noise. Very common in breathing disorders.

I think you need to wait for the x-ray results selfridge,I would be interested to know what it shows.

[Selfridge81]

Thanks daffy for the explantion.
Will let u know what it shows when receive the results.

[Sqad]

Never heard of it.....certainly not a medical term.

[daffy654]

For Sqad:

http://chestjournal.c...tent/34/1/60.full.pdf

There are many more references on the net but this is the one that stood out as quite detailed and written by a qualified doctor.

[Sqad]

daffy...your link wouldn't open..

2types of "sighs....one of contentment and one of boredom.

It has no place in medical terminology.

[daffy654]

Do you have Adobe PDF viewer installed Sqad? if not that is why you can't open my link,the article is in PDF format.

To sigh is to take a deep audible breath.It doesn't have to be because of boredom or contentment.
My consultant happily uses the term regularly so it may not be known to you as a medical term but it is known to chest specialists.

[Sqad]

Not convinced....is your chest Physician British?

Where has ....." big breath in....hold it........big breath out?

So is selfridge is describing a medical symptom or a normal symptom i.e what is the medical significance of a "sigh?"

[daffy654]

Yes he is British Sqad. Sighing a lot can be a symptom of needing to try and fill the lungs more than anyone without lung disease does...it can also be due to anxiety though so is not always a diagnostic indicator.
sighing dypsnea and sighing respiration are a couple of terms you may like to research

[Sqad]

No need....I understand dyspnea and sighing respiration (once caled Kussmaull breathing.

[Selfridge81]

Still awaiting results. See dr again tmrw afternoon.
Now upper abdominal and under ribs pain even on 40mg omeprazole daily. Eats normally. Its not indigestion as he knows what its like. Anyone out there in same boat as him?

[Eve]

Has something like costochondritis been ruled out? I get it and it hurts like hell and I can find it hard to breathe.

[Selfridge81]

No it hasnt been ruled out. Thats what i searched the other day and yesterday told GP about it (went there again, cos pain had been unbearable so he prescribed him Tramadol) and he nodded his head. Don't know why he didnt do anything before.
Waiting for the letter for an appointment to see Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and also Pain Clinic, it could take 3-4 weeks.
Does your chest pain when you lifting, coughing, sneezing?

[Selfridge81]

Result of x-ray spine is normal. Result of x-ray ribs still not come in. Both tested same time, but wonder why it takes longer than spine?