Pain in back during adrenalin rush situations

Hi people in the same boat here , 32 years old had this problem about 12 years or so, find it happens more if I have been over indulging in alcohol on holiday or a heavy weekend, any update from anyone on here would be great

I too have had this kind of pain. I am 39 years old and have been experiencing this for about 20 years. In the last 10 years it has moved up into my neck. Doctors don't know what we're talking about. So they can't help us. I think it has to do with blood pressure as well. Stress will always increase blood pressure. Diet will cause it as well. Eating less processed food and eating more vegetables and fruits can help regulate hormones and blood pressure. By eating this way it should alleviate this issue. Give it a try. What's the worst that could happen? I'm willing to try it to see if it will get rid of the pain.

I am a 38 year old physician with these symptoms. I have had them all my life but they have tended to get more severe as I’ve got older. I always used to “feel” adrenaline rushes in real time in my lower back - it wasn’t painful back then and would be triggered when I drove too fast past the cops or avoided an accident. These episodes are still triggered by adrenaline release but are now distinctly painful (today’s was immediately after a roller coaster ride and was the most severe I’ve had). The pain is strongly pulsatile, feels visceral rather than muscular and today spread sequentially from the back of my skull down my thoracic and lumbar back in the midline over the course of a minute or so. This feels to me like spinal meningeal irritation linked to elevated blood pressure and/or vasoconstriction due to the adrenaline response. I’m not sure what the anatomical correlate could be but the epidural venous plexus receives a dump of blood volume from the increased cardiac output and vasoconstriction and maybe irritates the meninges. Of potential importance and like others describe in these responses, I have always had very strong adrenaline responses with fear of public speaking, stress when being observed/tested and very well documented and reproducible white coat hypertension. I’m otherwise well, BMI 24-26. I wonder whether we have an increased sensitivity to endogenous adrenaline and/or congenitally narrow spinal canals (I don’t have the latter as I’ve had MRIs for research purposes). I will talk to some cardiology friends and get their opinions.

42 Male here. Can confirm the same situation for me, very much like the doctor above describes.
Pulsating, coming on in 10 seconds to a very high level of pain although in my case more from the lower back up my spine, always caused by high levels of adrenaline.
Might me having a lumbar puncture as a kid (+/- 8yo) due to meningitis be related here? Can a lumbar puncture cause spinal trauma related to this?

42 Male here. Can confirm the same situation for me, very much like the doctor above describes.
Pulsating, coming on in 10 seconds to a very high level of pain although in my case more from the lower back up my spine, always caused by high levels of adrenaline.
Might me having a lumbar puncture as a kid (+/- 8yo) due to meningitis be related here? Can a lumbar puncture cause spinal trauma related to this?

I have this issue as well but mine is just in lower back, I had a back injury long ago helping my mom move her heavy c**p lol she would never pack and always depended on me to move it all. So I’m going all rage monster and didn’t “bend my knees” and on the last heavy object I collapsed. Ever since then depending on the level of pissed off I get will directly control the pain level that hits once I’m coming down. I have no pain anywhere in my body except this lower area. If I’m full blown 10/10 crazy it will literally bring me to my knees and a time or two I started to almost feel my self bordering passing out from the intense pain. I feel like dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde. All crazy pumped up then coming down like someone have an exorcism.

HEY. I am 36 and active work hard and get adrenalin rush when i think about burning my nemesis house and garage to the ground. When i play Rules of Survival on my ipad. And when i race people on the highway. and they are gooders. i enjoy the rush. the first time i seized up after a rush was defending a guy while incarcerated. i was ready to woop some ass. when the tough guy backed down i was left sitting there with a killer back ache. fast forward 20 years. so i pull into an apartment building parking lot to pick my daughter up. I lay on the horn. Nothing....so i let er rip. yeah probably pissed the whole building off. Anyways this guy comes flying out of the building gonna teach me respect manners what have you.....lol whoop whoop someone wants to fight. f*****g eh... so when i got out and told the guy i have no problem having a little dust up. he changed his mind and started to explain how bad his day was. it s happened a few other times that i remember. but i dont remeber exactly why. unlike these times. it hurt after the incident within five minutes.i figured its because i didnt use the addrenalin. or i was left not needing it. like th eothr guy said only during confrontations that ended non-violently. its day 3 in bed now. day 2 i could stand up strait or walk. went to ER give me shot and xray. everying fine in my back it not the bone it my adrenal glands apparently. i think next time i will take the assault charge instead of my adrenalin taking me out

I've been following this thread since at least early 2017 but have not contributed. Just adding another voice with the same symptoms and a little detail on my lifestyle.

I started experiencing this around 2012, when I was 28 and in the best shape of my life--vegan diet, and riding my bike 30-180 miles, 4-6 days a week. Non smoker. No medications. Genetic high cholesterol, hence the (involuntary) vegan diet. I theorize I experience this most when driving because that's really the only time I get adrenaline rushes like when you have a close call and nearly have an accident.

Now in 2021, I haven't had an incident of this for about two years; however there is no pattern and I've gone a year or two only to experience it a couple of times in quick succession.

The pain is some of the worst I've experienced in my admittedly relatively pain free life. It's changed my countenance in general and I feel I suppress much of my excitement in life to avoid repeats (I used to be respectfully confrontational--I'm passionate..or was.) For example, I find myself mostly driving slowly and safely to ensure I lower the chances of it happening.

Symptoms: pulsing feeling in the lower back after a fight our flight situation. Lasts about 2-5 minutes. No effects after this small window of time. Breathing quickly seems to help a little as does mentally reminding myself that it will be over soon.

I'm genuinely concerned this "condition" will impact my ability to defend myself and family one day, which is why I set a reminder to check back on this thread to see if anyone has an explanation.

Stay safe my adrenally challenged friends.

I have had this symptom for several years. It was the first symptom in a long succession of symptoms that ultimately led me to seek a mental health professional. I have since been diagnosed with PTSD/ anxiety disorder. I have no definitive answers from any professional explaining this particular symptom, but my psychologist and MD agree that it probably stems from being in fight too often and for too long. The most critical systems in your body break down last. When fight or flight is overused, the ability to come down from fight or flight breaks down leaving only the ability to enter fight or flight which is the more critical to survival. The pounding in my kidneys seems to be caused by the failure to return from fight or flight normally. This may be an endocrine issue rather than nervous system, but it could also be caused by the blood pressure elevating response of fight or flight which, I believe, involves several systems and is controlled, at least in part, by the kidneys. I have been told that it is not life threatening. It is completely debilitating for me when this happens. I end up doubled over in agony until it passes. It takes several minutes to pass sometimes and often with a lingering feeling of pressure for a day or two. I hope this gets studied in depth someday soon. I would volunteer for a study.

I know this post is old but it helped me in away.. In 2009 I jump off a 360 track may be 2ft my back poped but I was ok! 2 weeks later Im in hospital with like a virus and legs not moving well No Dr had a clue .. I had MIR scans and nothing but it had kicked the hell out of me and took like a year to get going ...But all ways had back pain Like if someone cut me up in a car it was like being pumped with Adrenalin but hitting wall and I may be in pain for days ..Move on to 2014 I go for a hgv medical pass to I have a blood pressure test 180-120 I was sent to my gp was told I'm Fat and BMI and was given blood pressure tablets But they made me fill ruff and I have 4 kids so no time to add I would see the same Gp for ear pain .bleeding for my bottom..and pain in my lower tummy and was told I was full of poo...move on to 2017! I move and get a new Gp see him about my blood pressure .as it would hit 200-120! I get put on more tablets told im fat and he keeps on about BMI.  And he sent me to have a scan on liver and Heart for lots of Fat! as my liver was not happy with all the tablets no wonder!! Ps they I had normal fat amounts and I see a guy about my back.. not a thing they can do as it just a disc with a lump?!? on it ..So I end up seeing the head GP and put on more tablets s ...I get more sh*t and told about bmi and sent to a we'll being place ..like a gym .I get told at 5'11 my bmi would be 11 stone's but Im that in muscle.... To save time this year I got mad at my GP as... I had added it all up and got ??  "adrenal glands".  But my gp goes you can not get back pain from adrenal glands why my blood pressure was hitting 220 - 130..I end up going back to him and saying. Im right as my back is pinching??? My sns ??? that is telling my adrenal gland to pump adrenalin ...Adrenalin is kicks the hell out of my soft tissue and makes the muscle tense up and my veins... Ie high blood pressure' And all the thing like bleeding from my ring? and Ears etc is all from Adrenalin...I ask for Alpha 1 blokers and got them After a stand off with my gp now Im on Bisoprolol and Doxazosin And hell am I better with in no time B/p is not right but will drop in to the 137-80  but has not been over 170.100 and with litte to no back pain . ears good! my Ring! is getting better and my body Is soft to touch.. Down side is dream ar more there for longer !! .. But if you have back pain It may be your fight or flight responses is on?    Odd thing was why I know I was not fat etc was I would lift my girl to bed and up 12 steps and it was like hitting a wall ..But I would walk for miles amd not a thing but some back pain and I would B/p test my self if I had been a sleep b/p was low And the day before I hit 220-130 why with the GP I had moved a shed and filled and unfilled a van So my spine had a lot of down pressure on it  and I was ++++ off with him ..Sorry for bad spelling etc ..

I have been googling these symptoms and tried to explain them, it seems no one understands. Mine arent really in a fight or flight situation, its within a couple hours to day or so after. I thought at first it was my lungs but it appears the area in which throbs is more where my kidneys are. I have no kidney issues. (it also brought up pancreatic cancer but I dont think that s it. I describe it as an intense throbbing more so than sharp pain. Has anyone got any answers

I am 48 yr old female - on no medication at all and in the last three years have gained 40 pounds. I have the exact same symptoms - started 7 years ago when I was going through a very violent divorce. I thought originally the knife crippling pain was in my liver but later realised it had to be adrenals due to the onset of pain being severe anger, fight or flight, heavy traffic or nervousness- it kept happening while I was teaching …. When the strict vice principal would walk into my classroom -
It’s so debilitating and overwhelming. The pain leaves me weakened and out of breath. It also leaves me feeling washed out and weary for the rest of the day. I’ve spoken to my Dr but he just said for me to lose weight. (This started happening to me though when I was perfectly fit, slim and trim and 40 years old. ) at school the campus is on a 45 degree hill - if I walk up it too quickly or in an anxious mindset it causes the pain then too. I have to keep saying to my self - relax - relax - breathe -
I feel for you all - I’ve described it to my friends but they haven’t experienced it - I’m relieved to have found this forum even tho we haven’t found a solution as yet

Same problem,3 times in 4years,always adrenaline stress related.Differing level's same outcome.

I know this is an old thread but wanted to share my experience.
56 year old female. Liothyronine (generic Cytomel/T3) for thyroid resistance and Bupropion XL (generic Wellbutrin)
I’ve been experiencing the same symptoms as almost all the posters. High stress driving situations. I can feel it coming on and have to keep telling myself to breathe. The pain starts in the kidney/adrenal gland area and radiates up my back. I have a hard time breathing and my peripheral vision starts to go fuzzy and black like I’m going to pass out. It started about 7 or 8 years ago. I was having a few a year and when I told my GP she looked at me like I was crazy so I didn’t pursue it. For the past 2 years I’ve been taking bupropion for depression and these incidents stopped. Or maybe I didn’t get into any near misses which seems unlikely since I drive a lot to get to work. I decided to go off the bupropion in mid December and felt fine. On December 31st I was driving in heavy traffic and got cut off bad. The pain started immediately but I was able to keep it together. Same trip guy in front of me pulls over to the side of the road. As I’m passing him he pulls out. I swerved to not hit him and went into the other lab where a car was coming. Thankfully I was able to get out of the way in time. The pain started almost right away and I thought twice in one trip that’s crazy. It was the worst attack I’ve ever had and it really scared me. I thought I was going to blackout from the pain. Peripheral vision was closing in on me. I managed to pull myself together.
I got home and immediately emailed my neuroendcrinologist. He is exceptionally smart and is really good at getting to the bottom of things. He diagnosed my thyroid condition when no endocrinologist could. No more suffering that. I told him what happened and asked if he could investigate my adrenals. I think years of stress have caught up with me. He emailed me back asking questions and also saying he never heard of such a thing. I sent him a link to this forum to show him all the people out there suffering from the same thing. I guess it validated what I was saying. We all can’t be crazy. Right? He’s sending me for a CT Scan (if insurance ever approves it) of my adrenals and said we’ll start there. I trust that he will be able to find an answer to this. If he does I will come back to post again.

I have the same thing, except its not my back, its near my right knee. I have a disturbing pain there. But when I have an adrenaline rush, the pain is 20x more painful.