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Playing Doctor

Original Post
highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

I'll preface all this by saying that I have been to a doctor. I'll postface that preface by saying that I'm going to see another doctor soon. I'll postface that postface by saying I'm also going to see a dentist soon.

This might get long, so I'll occasionally say fuck and use paragraphs to keep you reading.

Lets start in 2011. In that year I climbed my absolute best. I finished my magnus opus and rated it 13c and was told it may be harder. I sent several other 13a's at all sorts of other areas. My best was even to send one in 2 tries. I averaged 7 tries. I also sent Moonlight Buttress and several other routes in Indian Creek that were previously too much for me. I had a sore toe but when it wasn't aching, I went running. I ran about 10 miles a week all barefoot. I was doing OK with my fitness.

2012. My priorities changed because that's what happens when you start to grow the fuck up. I still managed to send Sonic Youth and Ultrasaurus and a load of 12b-12d routes. Near the fall I had such intense knots in my back that I considered quitting climbing. I found myself struggling to get up routes that I'd sent 10 years ago. I couldn't keep up with anyone on hikes. By the early winter, I had low back pain and kidney pain. I found myself unable to sleep well without taking a pile of ibuprofin before bed. I lost a ton of flexibility and and stretch that affected my trunk was pretty much excruciating.

2013. Physically I was far worse off than I've ever been this year. I still managed a handful of 12b's and the year isn't over. I plan to do more. They take me about the same effort that 13a used to take. The kidney area and low back pain isn't any better. I am exhausted from workouts for days. I try to avoid ibuprofin but it's often the only thing that can get me moving or let me sleep. Backpacking is pretty awful, the hip belt hurts so bad on the sore areas. I'm sore to the touch, you could bring me to my knees with a good hug. It's an epic to roll over in bed and that sucks because I can never get comfortable. I've also lost about 8 lbs this year, dropping my BMI from a low 21.0 to an even lower 19.9.

I'm still putting a lot of effort into climbing. I've been to Cochise, The Black, IC, and the Hulk this year, in addition to loads of other less mentionable spots. I still onsight most 11's due to nearly 20 years of climbing the grade. It's not easy.

So what the fuck is going on? The doc tested my urine and she said it looked great. My HR and BP and all that stuff was in the healthy range.

I have a couple theories. Completely pulled out of my ass but theories anyhow.

-Anklyosing Spondylitus. A lot of the symptoms fit. I haven't had the gene test for it. Maybe I should. My eye has never exploded though.

-Low level bacterial infection. I had pheumonia in April. The week I was on antibiotics was the best I'd felt in a year. My lungs cleared up fine but the back pain came right back though.

-I have a crown with a root canal that is broken and hurts every day. I think it's possible that a bacterial infection from that dead tooth could cause the kidneys extra stress and generally cause fatigue due to the constant fight my immune system is in.

-Fibromyalga, the symptoms fit but I'm not sure this is even a real thing. The drugs for it tend to be anti-depression meds. Seems like a cop out to finding a real solution (Yes, living in pain is a bit depressing but in my case, I live a pretty full happy life aside from acting like an old man at 35 and talking about what I could do when I was young, 2 years ago).

I don't actually think it's something too serious. I just don't have bad enough symptoms. My plumbing works great.

Now throw me some ideas before I head to the doc. I find that if I go in and only say "I'm weak and tired" they look at me and tell me to rest. The fact is, I'll walk in skinny and with a low HR and will be completely ignored. The next guy he'll see is probably missing a leg due to diabetes and the person before me has MS. That doesn't mean everything is cool in my corner though.

Thanks guys.

Taylor-B. · · Valdez, AK · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 3,186

Do you have hip pain? Are you under a lot of stress from "growing the fuck up?" Family history? Have you had a blood test done?

I had bilateral labral tears in my hips that caused excruciating low back and flank pain (kidneys), then the injury made me super depressed and threw my whole body out of whack. You're case is interesting.

rock-fencer · · Columbia, SC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 265

Vague symptoms are the bane of medicine. Full blood work might help might not. Allergen tests maybe if you've changed your diet in some form. Any sort if trauma or surgeries? Pain characteristics. Onset activities. Have you tried taking a long resting period of say 4-6 weeks. You can do genetic testing for a few hundred from spit samples you send off. Alcohol / drug consumption can play a role. Any past history of cancer. Lots if routes a doc could go might take a while to isolate the problem

AGParker · · San Angelo, TX · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 20

I've experienced similar low-back and upper butt pain on and off for the last 8 or so years. It seems to be aggravated by inactivity but sometimes I just tweak it lifting weights. I have tried muscle relaxers, prescription and non-prescription pain meds, chiropractic, I've seen an MD and a DO. The only thing that seems to help me is regular exercise, LOTS of stretching, and using a foam roller on my upper butt area pretty much daily. I don't have the tiredness/fatigue, but maybe try some extra stretching and using a foam roller for the back pain. See if your doc will check your testosterone levels too.

Peter Pitocchi · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 70

Get to a dentist and treat that tooth before you go any further

Larry S · · Easton, PA · Joined May 2010 · Points: 872

While I think there's alot of quackery and pseudoscience behind it, and there are a great deal of practitioners who are just in it to milk you (or your insurance company) of money; I would suggest some Chiropractic care. Be picky about who you see and what they want to do. I'm particularly fond of those who practice "directional non-force technique" (which isn't common), and would recommend finding someone who can do that in your area. I have a chrio here who does that and I go every 3 weeks, and it keeps my problems (lower thoracic) from flaring up. I've tried going the classic medical route and avoiding the chiropractors and seeing real doctors instead, but the answer is always that there's nothing wrong with me, and they prescribe muscle relaxers and ibuprofen. Whereas a trip or to a good chiro, in my experience, sets my problems straight.

doligo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 264

I had no idea you were in so much pain! You were sending 12s at the Creek left and right.

Jon Zucco · · Denver, CO · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 245
Peter Pitocchi wrote:Get to a dentist and treat that tooth before you go any further
+100
highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

Taylor, I had never heard of a hip labral tear. I looked it up and it appears that I probably had one around June or July of 2012 that never fully healed. Funny thing, that is on the left side. I'll mention it when I go in.

Mr. Fencer, the pain is far better when I'm constantly active. The best is Indian Creek. Standing most of the day, schlepping way too much gear uphill in the heat, climbing physical routes, for a week or more. It really helps but the kidney pain stays no matter how well I feel.

Peter, is there a reason why you'd put the tooth at the top of my priority list? Don't worry, I am waiting a callback from the dentist but it's probably going to be looked at this week.

AGP, fuck me. I hope what you've got isn't as bad as what I've got. 8 years. Dude.

Larry, I have an SI joint that occasionally locks up and I can't hardly walk. Nothing a doctor can do helps except cortisone. Yet most chiropractors can get it going in one or two visits at the most. I'm definitely a believer, I recently spent a ton of money on a chiropractor and he definitely had me feeling far better. The kidney pain never went away. I would say the energy levels were better. Sadly, he recently went out of business. I was a huge fan of his decompression table. Maybe I'll buy one for the garage.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35
doligo wrote:I had no idea you were in so much pain! You were sending 12s at the Creek left and right.
And 13's a year before that!
rock-fencer · · Columbia, SC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 265

Might ask your doc if he has ultrasound in the office. You can see the kidneys very well and check for some sort of abnormality ( stone, hyper/hypotroohy, fibrosis, what not ) if you think it's the kidneys. Might try going with a harness with a very wide hip belt if your hanging alot or taking big whips to try to prevent squishing the abdomen. Does a heat pad help ease pain. Pain bilateral? Hope you figure it out

Peter Pitocchi · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 70

Your tooth probably has a deep seated infection that won't resolve unless that pus collection is drained. As you seem to understand a chronic infection makes you sick all over, not just where it hurts. You could really spend a lot of time and money searching for other problems, but you already know you have a bad tooth. That time you felt temporarily better with antibiotics was when you suppressed but did not permanently eliminate your dental infection.
Even if you have an additional medical problem, its smart to treat what you know you have (bad toof) before a big additional workup.
If you still feel sick after your tooth is addressed then that would be the time to see a GOOD doctor.
Tip:Good doctors are cheaper than bad doctors.
Edit to add: Prostate infections can act like that too.

Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145

you're gonna fuckin die

I don't think you can rule out generalized anxiety.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

Buff, I won't claim to lead a zero stress life. Generalized Anxiety Disorder seems pretty steep though.

Aerili · · Los Alamos, NM · Joined Mar 2007 · Points: 1,875

I don't think you have fibromyalgia. I have trained a few clients in the past with this disease and your symptoms are not pervasive enough throughout your body (and you are functioning physically at a way higher level than they could ever dream of).

If you saw a sports medicine orthopod with no clear results, you could always consider seeing a rheumatologist.

slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103

this thread is not quite as fun as i thought it was going to be. bummed to hear that things are going rough right now. hope they improve.

reboot · · . · Joined Jul 2006 · Points: 125

Did you happen to start frequenting supertopo? Seems like everybody there suffers from some form of what you've described. +1 on getting that tooth fixed.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

Maybe I got the consumption in California this summer.

coloradotomontana Erley · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 75

Can you describe "kidney pain" for me? and what is the back pain like/what region of your back? On the spine? flanks? How many Ibu's do you take during the average week? Kidneys dont like Ibuprofen ... come to think of it, no body systems really like ibuprofen long-term.

Anti-depressants (TCA's, some SSRI's) and anti-convulsants are commonly used to treat chronic pain by similar mechanisms (which you mentioned with the fibromyalgia), but depression and convulsions are obviously not the underlying treatment goal.

Bear in mind, I'm a PA student and know next to nothing, but we did just go through our chronic pain module, so I am interested in hearing more about what you have going on. Just please, for the love of god, don't listen to me.

DrApnea · · Wenatchee, WA · Joined May 2011 · Points: 265

It's probably kuru. Tell your doc you think you have kuru.

rock-fencer · · Columbia, SC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 265
DrApnea wrote:It's probably kuru. Tell your doc you think you have kuru.
nah its porbably kwashikor not kuru
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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