What Causes Persistent Pain In Lower Back?

Question: when in Thailand I got flu type symptons and returned home early due to continuing aches and pains in my back. Saw my GP 2 weeks later as lower back pain not gone but flu had. She gave me an antibiotic but believed the back pain was muscular strain. But I had no injury. The pain has continued (7 weeks now) but it seems to move around. Last week my lower back, before that upper back, and today its in in my left hip/back area. The pain is intensifying. I woke this morning with stabbing pain more intense than yesterday. I've been taking paracetamol and ibuprofen which helps a little sometimes. But most days I struggle to cope with the discomfort. Is this just a "bad back" or is something else likely to be going on? I am usually fit an active and while I have been forced to slow down I am still being active. , I'm a healthy 60kg

Thank you for your reply;
Can you recommend a more effective pain med? I am waking in the night with pain every time I try to roll over

Also - Is it possible it is virus related? Or was the flu I got possibly bacterial and Is that how it may become bacterial arthritis? My daughter who travelled with me thru Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam got the flu like symptoms as well and is also experiencing similar back ache, though I don't think as bad. We were worried it might be some weird tropical disease!

More background;

An xray 25 years ago after the delivery of my first daughter which resulted in lots of backpain showed arthritis in my lower spine. I was told to stay fit and active and the aches and pains were gone a year or two later. The pain I am experiencing now is quite different, more debilitating, shaper at times and moving to different areas.

I don't think it is related but I have also have been passing an excessive amount of wind. (rear-end) I thought it might be the fruit, yoghurt and protein smoothies I have for breakfast but since eliminating them it has continued. My stomach has grown but I have gained no weight, its sort of bloated out like in pregnancy. (I'm not) I started taking protein about 6 months ago as I keep losing weight, just a few kilos each year for no apparent reason. I eat well, balanced diet of carbs and vegetables and meat, mostly chicken and fish (no red meat) but also eat less healthy snacks between meals often enough. I've always been able to eat what I like with no weight gain.

I had gestational diabetes but this has been tested for regularly but has been a year since last tested. My last test results were higher but still just in the acceptable range. My cholesterol is also on the high side of acceptable range. My iron levels were regularly low though last tested fine. Had a XXXXXXX inserted about 5 years ago due to irregular but very heavy periods; after about 6 months no more periods.

I have also had some strange episodes (twice in last 5 years), that the hospital emergency staff put down to migraine. The left side of my body goes tingly and numb, starting with eye, tongue arm and leg. lasts for half an hour followed by massive headache for 24 hours. They checked heart and BP rates normal (my normal BP is quite low and always questioned by GPs) and some blood tests were done with no results (don't know what was tested for) so put down as migraine. There is a history of brain aneurisms in my maternal family with my nephew (30)dying last year, my aunt and grandmother in their early 40s. Is this a concern?

I will go to Dr, and ask for tests but was considering emergency clinic today but stabbing pains have resided now just dull since taking painkillers. It is a holiday long weekend here so it will have to wait as is very expensive and I don't have insurance.

Also relevant, I am a smoker still struggling to quit! And I know this is a massive health concern and I'm working on it, but don't need any more lectures, it is the main reason why I avoid my GP - according to her all my health issues are because I smoke and so she doesn't look at any other possibilities.

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