Are there spinal fluid "Sacs" in the L5-S5 region?

I've been researching the spinal chord, canal and spinal fluid canal in hopes of finding something to explain a symptom and was wondering if anyone knows of the anatomy of this region. I had a very high temperature but felt absolutely freezing (was intensely thirsty but couldn't keep liquids down or in at either end) and kept having the urge to cough. I had somewhat high pulse - 2x more than normal. When I would cough or tense stomach muscles I would feel an incredibly sharp/painful sensation in where I thought my spinal fluid was, or around the spinal canal. The sharp spike in pain, some of the worst I've ever felt, lasted about 4-7 seconds when it happened. Even semi deep breaths would cause pain here like there was pressure on that area - so I also had shallow breathing.

I'm waiting to see a doctor about this but was wondering if there was some kind of spinal fluid reservoir. I was thinking that there was something like this where they do a spinal tap or where they do a myelogram but I've found nothing like this. It also felt like a "sac" or "reservoir" when I had the pain, b/c it seemed to react to an increase in blood pressure and because of the area where the pain was felt (size of ping-pong ball about). It also felt hot in that area during the pain.

I'm not asking anyone to diagnose this I'm just trying to figure out the anatomy so I can do the proper searches for it. The pain only lasted for a few hours (4-6) until the fever dropped and the shivers/shaking went away. I'm always skeptical of not knowing what is going on when I go to the doctor's because I was convinced to have what seems to have turned out to be unneeded surgery to remove an organ as another source of the pain has finally been identified - so I feel I need to do my research before going to the doc.

originally posted by: DigginFoTroof
I've been researching the spinal chord, canal and spinal fluid canal in hopes of finding something to explain a symptom and was wondering if anyone knows of the anatomy of this region. I had a very high temperature but felt absolutely freezing (was intensely thirsty but couldn't keep liquids down or in at either end) and kept having the urge to cough. I had somewhat high pulse - 2x more than normal. When I would cough or tense stomach muscles I would feel an incredibly sharp/painful sensation in where I thought my spinal fluid was, or around the spinal canal. The sharp spike in pain, some of the worst I've ever felt, lasted about 4-7 seconds when it happened. Even semi deep breaths would cause pain here like there was pressure on that area - so I also had shallow breathing.

I'm waiting to see a doctor about this but was wondering if there was some kind of spinal fluid reservoir. I was thinking that there was something like this where they do a spinal tap or where they do a myelogram but I've found nothing like this. It also felt like a "sac" or "reservoir" when I had the pain, b/c it seemed to react to an increase in blood pressure and because of the area where the pain was felt (size of ping-pong ball about). It also felt hot in that area during the pain.

I'm not asking anyone to diagnose this I'm just trying to figure out the anatomy so I can do the proper searches for it. The pain only lasted for a few hours (4-6) until the fever dropped and the shivers/shaking went away. I'm always skeptical of not knowing what is going on when I go to the doctor's because I was convinced to have what seems to have turned out to be unneeded surgery to remove an organ as another source of the pain has finally been identified - so I feel I need to do my research before going to the doc.

See a dr....then research, not before...you really dont know what it could be...

I could explain the body parts to you...but Im not....for the same reason you shouldn't.

See a dr., don't second guess....I wouldn't...and I've already got an idea as to what's what...go.

Good luck,
MS/EMT

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

Have you been lifting heavy objects lately, could be disc herniation.

This happens as the region you mention is a weight bearing area already and if been lifting heavy objects it can cause extra load causing said herniation, when this happens it leaks out a bit touching nearby nerve root (cauda equena i think) sending all sorts of undesirable messages to the brain thus creating symptoms such as you've described.

Anyway hope your feeling better soon with no lasting problems.

Take care.

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

Could be that the inflammation of the illness is exacerbating a back injury (which you might not be aware youhad), or, you tore something while puking. I'm going with illness + injury.

Sorry, I know I didn't answer your question, but that's not in my realm of knowledge. Back injuries, however, unfortunately, I'm well-versed in!

If you have a back brace, you may want to wear it. Especially if there's more puking to come. Will help against pain and further injury from coughing too (assuming there's an injury, which could be anything from a herniated disc to a muscle, ligament or tendon tear.)

That is something you will need to see a doctor about. It could be out of place down there and swelling can occur. They will need to take x'rays of that area. If it is just a little out of place and no protrusions, a good gently chiropractor may be able to adjust it, but if it is swollen, that is a doctor issue right now.

I have had that area give me problems over the years, the doctors just prescribed pain pills, but I went to them first. The chiropractor did get it back in place, it took a couple of sessions to keep it lined up. Another time I had a sciatic nerve problem, I went to a specialist for that and got a few shots to bring down the swelling, my chiropractor would not do anything till the swelling went down. With the shots at the spine, it settled down and actually went into place on it's own. The sciatic nerve is a bugger when it goes out.

That may not be the only area that is causing your problems, digestive issue nerves are usually a little higher up. It could be you have a couple of vertibrae out of line. It could also be a problem of something else, like a small hernia which can put pressure on the backbone or just a soft membrane in that area which bulges and pushes on the spine.

Go to a doctor.....something has gone amuck.