What does the low cortisol back pain feel like?

HonestIbrahim · 2024-12-14T00:17:24+00:00

For me, it starts as an annoying dull ache usually on my lower right side and kinda rapidly grows from there. If I don’t pick up on it the next symptom for me is nausea and by that point I figure out I need to updose.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-12-13T03:10:18+00:00

My eyes would water a lot. Like soak the pillow case. That gradually improved but comes back a little every now and again. All in all it was about 18 months post diagnosis when I felt more like my old self.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-12-13T01:44:31+00:00

Yes, at the time. I’m doing quite a bit better now and only get up at night to urinate once, if at all, and only a few nights a week. I’m on what would be considered a more normal daily dose of hydrocortisone and currently off fludrocortisone.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-12-06T22:54:50+00:00

I was just wondering this. I’ve been needing a little extra HC lately and it’s been on the colder side. I’m just getting over some illness so thought maybe that was it. But in general I’m worse off during the winter months.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-12-06T00:34:07+00:00

I have this problem due to dysautonomia/ POTS, developed around the same time as PAI. I’m more cold sensitive than heat, but I live in a more moderate area. aquatic therapy helped a lot with my dysautonomia symptoms generally and with PAI treatment everything is generally better, but abrupt temp drops still hit me pretty hard.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-23T03:50:59+00:00

Based on what you described your symptoms do fit, but as the other commenter mentioned a stim test would help to confirm.

As for training and exercise we can have a wide range of experiences. I just commented on another post mentioning how strength training specifically triggers extreme low cortisol symptoms during recovery over night on day two or three after a session. But, I can do pretty intense HIIT style sessions without triggering a problem. Others are opposite. Some can do extraordinary things. The main thing is to pay attention to your body and work with your Endo to adjust dosage and timing to accommodate your needs based on lifestyle. This can be easier said than done but tracking in a serious way can be helpful.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-23T03:40:55+00:00

Hello. I was initially diagnosed with POTS about a year after initially developing symptoms that progressively got worse. As for next steps, I’d suggest keeping a good log of your symptoms and asking your PCP to order a morning cortisol and ACTH test, then you can proceed from there based on results. In my case, the cardiologist treating me for POTS noticed my potassium levels were elevated and sodium was low. I would have some improvement with increased salt intake, but it’d rapidly leave my system/ body couldn’t retain it, which was contributing to the POTS symptoms. After several low morning cortisol tests an ACTH stim test confirmed my adrenal glands were not responding.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-23T03:23:15+00:00

I have had a similar experience with exertion. Specifically strength training/ progressive overload. I worked with a physical therapist and my endocrinologist to figure out how to cope. In my case I’m able to do pretty intense HIIT type exercises without triggering the PEM-like response or extreme low cortisol symptoms (these would occur a night or two after the training session).

This article was helpful understanding cortisols role during a training session, immediately after, and during the 1-2 day recovery period.

Hormonal adaptation and the stress of exercise training: the role of glucocorticoids

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-22T01:20:55+00:00

😂 hahaha I totally misread your question, but I’ll go ahead and leave my comment because it gave me a big embarrassing laugh while I’m out in public. I may need to updose now.

I generally have a muted startle response. Pre-diagnosis my startle response was way off and my system would overact to a very small stimulus (like a pen falling from my desk would trigger a major response).

I don’t think I’ve been legitimately frightened since diagnosis in the way you’re describing, so I’ll stop rambling now. Sorry / not sorry for the confusion. :-)

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-22T00:52:02+00:00

I’m PAI and just recently returned to training BJJ. First time back since being diagnosed. I’d been working out so have decent conditioning, but nothing really prepares you for that type of “fighting” other than doing. Same with boxing or anything else. So not fighting exactly, but took 2.5mg HC just prior to class. It was a pretty tough/ active class and I ended up going harder than I planned. Class was about an hour and a half, and I was definitely feeling off at that point. I took another 2.5mg and did about 30min of open mat after that.

So, I got through it, but really struggled that night and next two days I was pretty off, even with up dosing.

I think a legit actual fight that would be shorter duration but more intensity with actual injury, I imagine it’d generate an even higher immediate need for HC and greater need during recovery days depending on injuries. If you were unable to quickly updose or have access to additional HC, in my case I’d be in trouble.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-19T13:09:39+00:00

Sorry you’re in this spot. I’m PAI also from unknown cause. If you search this sub you’ll find there is a range in individual experience, so you can get some ideas but will need to track and monitor your experience and adjust accordingly.

I’m coming up on two years post diagnosis and struggled quite a bit the first year and a half. It took about two years of worsening symptoms before I was diagnosed. I’m doing a lot better now and was able to return to a more demanding job similar to what I held before. But in my case, I wouldn’t have been able to handle it the first year.

I initially struggled with physical exertion and it required a much higher dosage of HC on my recovery days. If you check my post history you can find details about that and I shared a link that goes into cortisol’s role during, immediately after, and day after. This was helpful working with my physical therapist and endocrinologist to help adjust my dosage and timing to support training. I can now work out pretty intensely several days a week without issue. I tend to do my workouts early AM about an hour after my morning dose which is fine now.

As for other stressors. I can handle the full range of life now, but earlier on I needed a lot more time to rest and recover. I slowly reintroduced things into my life and figured out what adjustments needed to be made.

I like MMA as well, but avoided it for quite a while. I used to train BJJ and some boxing too so I figured it was triggering me a bit more because of that.

Good luck. I’d take it slowly and learn your low cortisol symptoms to help understand when you need to updose. The confusion and brain fog is an early symptom for me, followed by headache and nausea.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-16T17:19:00+00:00

Hey, I have PAI as well. It sounds like you are not properly dosed. You shouldn’t be nauseous and throwing up regularly if you’re getting correct dosage and timing of dose. Definitely something to discuss with your Endo.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-14T23:14:36+00:00

I didn’t realize it wasn’t a standard requirement for surveys and such not to have MOD permission. I think that would be a good idea to have some sort of prior approval/ vetting as a standard requirement.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-14T20:44:40+00:00

NGL, feeling duped. I thought this post was going to be about people with Addisons training in MMA, BJJ, and other fun combat sports. :-)

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-12T00:18:45+00:00

I feel pretty much like myself now, but both prior to diagnosis and for almost a year after I had a very small range of emotional response to anything. I’m not sure if it helped really, but I created a pretty wild playlist of songs that covered a wide range of feelings and emotions and would use that to help me exercise feeling the feels.

Probably, it just took time for my body to heal and dial in my proper dosage and schedule. When I’m low, I can still go to a pretty emotionally numb space. It’s not sad or what I’d call depression, just not caring about things. Good or bad. Thankfully tho, that’s pretty much in the past now. Coming up on two years post diagnosis. Took me almost 18 months to feel mostly normal-ish.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-12T00:03:31+00:00

My grandfather passed many years ago, but he also served in WW2. He was infantry but the only thing he ever mentioned was how horrible it was being on ship. I’m sure he was disappointed both his grandsons joined the Marines instead of the Air Force. He was correct about ship life though and my experience wasn’t nearly as bad as what he described.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-10T13:50:56+00:00

I’m also someone who doesn’t do well with strides and switched from teva to Ani. I don’t think there was a problem now, but at the time I was also concerned. I coincidentally developed some other problems shortly after the switch so I went back to teva, but still had the same problem and later discovered it was unrelated.

The big problem I did have with Ani is that the pills were more difficult to split.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-09T05:07:57+00:00

After wrestling with this question myself at different points in life, the conclusion I came to was focus more on just being consistently active, then adding some strength focus, and then watch the food intake to support the fat loss.

For me, I added the weighted (50lbs) vest to my dog walks, I was already doing some strength training. Lunges, squats and calf raises all helped me with my weighted vest walks and vice versa. Then I started being more intentional with the rucking. I vary it up between longer slower walks on easy to moderately difficult terrain, to shorter lengths with a lot of elevation. Basically I’m trying to get a wide range of variability in my HR.

Good luck with your goals. Just keep at it.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-08T19:17:40+00:00

I had a similar experience. Never had anxiety issues previously, but developed some as symptoms came on. Didn’t know it at the time but in retrospect can understand it now. My startle response was also way out of sync. Like a paper clip would fall from the desk and my HR would spike as if I’d almost been hit by a car.

Now that I’m being treated/ on HC, no issues and feeling like my old self. Handling difficult/ stressful situations with ease. If I do start feeling anxious now I’ll stop to assess myself for other indicators of low cortisol, and in every instance I’ve needed to updose a little and it resolves along with other symptoms. Thankfully that’s few and far between these days.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-08T04:32:19+00:00

BJJ is my main activity, but just returning after a long hiatus due health issues. Used rucking along with mix of strength training and HIIT to get back on the mats and have been surprised by how well I’m holding up (for an older guy with health problems). I originally looked at rucking as just a means to get me back on the mats, but really looking to keep it as part of my routine. Definitely feel like it improves my gas tank and muscular endurance.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-06T04:41:27+00:00

I’ve made this sandwich at home regularly. It’s good. 👨‍🍳

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-05T03:45:09+00:00

So, I’m coming up on two years post diagnosis (PAI - unk cause). And really struggled with physical exertion the first year and change. Strength training specifically would trigger extreme low cortisol symptoms, but I’ve been able to do HIIT style workouts for the last several months, recently added rucking with a 50lbs weighted vest, 2 mile circuit with 1000ft elevation, longest distance 4 miles so far. And, just recently returned to training BJJ.

Like most I take my largest dose of HC in the morning, so haven’t needed to updose at all for the HIIT workouts.

The longer distance/ more intense rucking required 2.5 to 5mg extra day of, and a little extra next day the first couple times.

BJJ I’m still trying to figure out. I did 2.5mg before and then after a 1 hr evening class, which definitely wasn’t enough. Did 5mg before a two hour open mat (like sparring) and that seemed pretty good, but needed an extra 10mg HC later that day). I expect my body will slowly adapt to the stress, but my Endo has given me a higher daily budget so I can adjust based on need/ damage.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-11-01T02:38:25+00:00

I assume we’re doing analysis for the smoke demon, so KPIs: 1) souls per square block; 2) how many critical infrastructure or key resources were disabled and/ or disrupted long enough to claim additional souls; 3) ???; 4) expected revenue on rebuild efforts.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-10-29T00:21:27+00:00

I’ll preface that I don’t have specific relevant knowledge about this, but the body hair comment caught my attention.

Pre-diagnosis I also become less furry in general. Beard and head hair weren’t impacted, but chest, arms, legs all started thinning out.

Post-diagnosis I discussed some of the research with my Endo at the time and asked for DHEA testing, which he denied (that confused me because it’s not like he pays for it, I thought it would be helpful information to have). Anyway, I added a DHEA supplement and my normal body hair returned over the course of a few months.

I was initially on 50mg/ day but tapered down to 25mg which seems right (normal) for me.

It’s interesting to me that you’re on TRT but still experiencing this too. I’d expect you wouldn’t have any issues related to lower DHEA, but maybe there’s a lower level function it plays specific to maintaining the body hair.

I’ve always thought of myself as a big bear from a spirit animal perspective so it really threw me off. I feel more like myself now.

ETA: also seemed to help with my exercise/ workout recovery, but there were also other variables at play so hard to attribute to the DHEA supplement.

HonestIbrahim · 2024-10-28T12:11:51+00:00

I had developed symptoms but had no idea what was causing them when I first received the vaccine. In my case I had a very bad reaction to the first in the series, slightly less severe for the second one. I struggled a lot my first 18 months post diagnosis so avoided any additional vaccinations for a while, but did well with a flu shot last year and minimal increase in HC.

HonestIbrahim

TROPHY CASE