Chronic back pain as a symptom of BPD??

Does anyone else experience chronic back pain?

I've had chronic upper back pain for the past 5 years. I am otherwise healthy and in good shape physically. I'm not overweight and I try to exercise every day. But I can't shake this back pain. I try to stretch my neck, I massage my shoulders, but nothing helps.

It gets worse when I'm stressed out or when I even think of doing something I don't want to do. Its like all the muscles in my upper back and shoulders just tighten up.

I read somewhere that this is common with Borderline PD.

Does anyone else experience this? Have you found anything that helps?

Its really interfering with my life.

No, I don't think it's anything to do with BPD.
I do have a bad back but I've had an MRI to diagnose what I have. Maybe see your Doctor?

HuiYaMing wrote:No, I don't think it's anything to do with BPD.
I do have a bad back but I've had an MRI to diagnose what I have. Maybe see your Doctor?

Thanks for the response! I did go to a doctor once, back when I had insurance. All she did was prescribe me muscle relaxants but I don't believe in taking medication unless its unavoidable.

I was researching that Fibromyalgia and chronic pain disorders are often comorbid with BPD. I have a feeling its something like that. Then again maybe I just need to go to a chiropractor!

Thank you again!

bpd causes depression so you eat less, stay at home, lie on the couch, no exercise, no food, so back aches.

eat more, force yourself to eat healthy food. i had three and a half ice creams last month and did push ups.

let the nurturing parent take over. look after yourself. eat more, fruits, juices, do exercise, walks, yoga, whatever, just work out and eat more. it helps.

take care..

I HAVE CHRONIC NECK & SHOULDER PAIN!

you're in your twenties too, right? Yeah, I'm only 25! I don't know if it has anything to do with BPD or not though. I've had it now for 2 years. I think its because of the repetition of my job. I feel very stiff. It has made my depression MUCH MUCH worse.

Around the time I got this, i was working out moderately, and had been on antidepressants for a year.

I don't know what went wrong, all I can think of is the that its the job.

I posted a similar question to this on this board and didn't get anyone really answering it.

Have you talked to your doc or tried physical therapy?

No type of treatment has helped me yet. Doctors are saying its chronic muscle spasms.

jaus tail wrote:bpd causes depression so you eat less, stay at home, lie on the couch, no exercise, no food, so back aches.

eat more, force yourself to eat healthy food. i had three and a half ice creams last month and did push ups.

let the nurturing parent take over. look after yourself. eat more, fruits, juices, do exercise, walks, yoga, whatever, just work out and eat more. it helps.

take care..

Thank you jaus

This is great advice!!!

I am going to start today, eating better and getting more exercise.

Huge hugs!!!!

-- Sun Nov 17, 2013 8:31 am --

noreally_imfine wrote:I HAVE CHRONIC NECK & SHOULDER PAIN!

you're in your twenties too, right? Yeah, I'm only 25! I don't know if it has anything to do with BPD or not though. I've had it now for 2 years. I think its because of the repetition of my job. I feel very stiff. It has made my depression MUCH MUCH worse.

Around the time I got this, i was working out moderately, and had been on antidepressants for a year.

I don't know what went wrong, all I can think of is the that its the job.

I posted a similar question to this on this board and didn't get anyone really answering it.

Have you talked to your doc or tried physical therapy?

No type of treatment has helped me yet. Doctors are saying its chronic muscle spasms.

Thank you for replying!

I'm glad I'm not the only one. It sucks huh? I hate it.

I'm a little older than you but mine starting in my early 30s. It also started while I was working full time and I think a lot of it was the stress from the job. I went to the doctor but they just wanted to give me muscle relaxants. I didn't take them because I don't believe in taking medicine unless its really necessary.

I think mine is caused by muscle spasms too. When I massage my shoulders they feel really stiff and tight. I'm working on stretching my neck because it also feels stiff.

It gets worse whenever I'm stressed out. I don't know what to do about it. I think some people carry stress and tension in different areas of the body. I guess we carry it in our neck and shoulders. Maybe we need to learn how to relax, and also do what jaus said, get exercise and eat more fruits and juices etc.

justagirl00 wrote:
Thank you for replying!

I'm glad I'm not the only one. It sucks huh? I hate it.

I'm a little older than you but mine starting in my early 30s. It also started while I was working full time and I think a lot of it was the stress from the job. I went to the doctor but they just wanted to give me muscle relaxants. I didn't take them because I don't believe in taking medicine unless its really necessary.

I think mine is caused by muscle spasms too. When I massage my shoulders they feel really stiff and tight. I'm working on stretching my neck because it also feels stiff.

It gets worse whenever I'm stressed out. I don't know what to do about it. I think some people carry stress and tension in different areas of the body. I guess we carry it in our neck and shoulders. Maybe we need to learn how to relax, and also do what jaus said, get exercise and eat more fruits and juices etc.

I think stress can instigate the issue but I've talked to two orthopedists and a neurologist and they kept saying it could bother your condition but i don't think it can directly CAUSE it. Just like you, I notice when I'm stressed, it gets MUCH worse. I don't know if I do this every time, but i have noticed sometimes that when Im stressed, i do shrug my shoulders and that makes it worse. Also when i wake up, its terrible. Ive caught myself falling asleep with my shoulders shrugged. its like I naturally do it!

Because ive had it for two yrs and its getting worse, regular stretches don't help anymore. Im going to try seeing a Neuromuscular Therapist ... my insurance doesn't cover it but I'm trying to get my PCP to write a note and prove that its a medical necessity that I need to go. If not, it'll be like 800 total for several treatments. yuck.

All I can do for exercise with my neck and shoulder condition is walk. and I'm NOT a fan of walking. Needless to say, I've been very inactive over the past several months and gaining weight.

I don't have a HEAVY heating pad so its a pain in the butt trying to wrap the one i have around my neck and shoulder but when my lower back acts up, i put the heating pad on it and it works wonders! have you tried it?

While I don't think this is directly related to BPD, I can see how pwBPD could experience increased back and neck pain as that is where a lot of stress is held in the body. With a heightened emotional response, I could see how we may experience stress more than others which could lead to increased pain. How about getting a massage?

Cheze2 wrote:While I don't think this is directly related to BPD, I can see how pwBPD could experience increased back and neck pain as that is where a lot of stress is held in the body. With a heightened emotional response, I could see how we may experience stress more than others which could lead to increased pain. How about getting a massage?

Cheze paroxetine is PAXIL right? you're on that? I'm sure you and I have discussed what meds you were on a bunch of times.

Did you gain weight ?

Yes, it's paxil. It's hard for me to tell if I have gained weight while on it as my eating habits in general right now are awful. Since I started it, I have gained about 5-10lbs but like I said, since I'm eating horribly right now, it's hard to determine if it is the medication or just my eating habits.

for me it works great for my anxiety, but nothing for my depression.