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Back Pain Caused by Problems Elsewhere in the Body

Sometimes back pain can be the result of a problem not located in the back. Possible causes include:

• Kidney stones or kidney infections. Because of the kidneys' location in the lower back, problems with the kidney may be felt as back pain.

• Pregnancy. Weight gain from pregnancy can both stress the back and stretch and weaken muscles that support the spine.

• Obesity. Being overweight or obese, particularly if excess weight is carried in the abdomen, places stress on back muscles, causing pain.

• Endometriosis. This is a condition in which the endometrial tissue (tissue that lines the uterus) migrates from the uterus and deposits on other organs and structures. Pain from endometriosis is often felt in the abdomen and back.

• Aortic aneurysms. In rare cases, the aorta (the body's main artery that originates at the heart and runs down the body just in front of the spine) develops an aneurysm, a balloon-like swelling in the artery's muscular wall. If the wall ruptures or causes compression of the blood vessels that run off it, the result can be pain that is felt in the chest, abdomen and/or lower back. This is a medical emergency, requiring immediate treatment.

• Tumors. In rare cases, tumors – either malignant (cancerous) or benign (not cancerous) – can affect the tissues of or near the spine, causing pain.

NORENE

07 Jun 2011, 20:49

I NEED TO WALK FOR EXERCISE, BUT THE PAIN IN MY KOWER BACK AND WHERE MY LEGS JOIN MY BODY IS SO INTENSE I HAVE TO KEEP SITTING DOWN, VERY FRUSTRATING, I USED TO JOG AND RIDE BIKES, ALSO HAVE TYPE 2 DIABETES, ALWAYS EXHAUTED. I ALSO GET PINPRICJ PAIN IN MY FEET, LEGS, HANDS. IT IS SO DEPRESSING. HELP, PLEASE.

Peggysue

06 Apr 2011, 01:55

Rosann, have you asked your doctor about costochondritis? I just recently dealt with this. It's inflammation around the rib cage. It's very painful. After a series of tests such as a chest x-ray, ekg, etc. it was finally diagnosed. It was so painful that I was put on Prednisone for a week and it helped get it under control. Now it comes and goes, but not as painful. Good luck and hope this helps.

Rosann

05 Apr 2011, 15:10

My dr. Cannot find why my back hurts done x-rays shows all is ok my lower back hurts sometimes can't breath hurts so bad what can help what to do?

sophie bum

12 Feb 2011, 16:13

hi there haveing pain in the back a lot and down below when i cough does not feel right can someone help please

michel casse

03 Sep 2010, 19:19

I have mild bilateral facet arthropathy and small central broad based protusion type herniation results in mild central canal stenosis. Neural exit foramina patent. This is L4 and L5. L5/S1 broad based right paracentral protrusion type herniation is non neural compressive. Central canal and neural exit foramina patent. No pre or paravertebral soft tissue abnormality. Bilateral thigh numbness. Exclude bilateral L3 and L4 nerve root irritation.Lumbar vertebral alignment and morphology witin normal limits. Intervertebral disc desiccation inferiority with height loss at L5/S1. No significant focal vertebral osseous lesion. Distal spinal cord of normal signal intensity morphology and contour. The conus medularis terminates appropriately. Can my condition above cause me to have facet of joint arthritis or degenerative changes in my back? Please let me know. I am most interested. Can it cause different defect in my life or become paralysed?

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Back Pain Caused by Problems Elsewhere in the Body

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