When you age, it is common for you to develop back pain, for several reasons. You may have heard many people complaining about back pain, more so when they’re growing old. And yes, years of bad posture, hard work, and more may indeed have contributed to developing chronic back pain. However, what you may not know is that there are six health conditions that back pain may be a symptom of, and these are more significant troubles than just posture. Read on to find out more – and don’t panic, because a visit to your doctor is the only way you will know whether you have any of these conditions!
Kidney Stones
It’s no secret that kidney stones are intensely painful. When the stone makes its way through the urethra, it causes very intense pain. Clinically this is known as renal colic. People who do have kidney stones are known to experience pain running along the sides as well as the lower back, and even below the ribs. The sufferings can spread to areas such as the groin and the lower abdomen too.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
It’s a name for a form of arthritis that can exist in the body, which primarily affects the spine. Inflammation of the spine’s vertebrae is the reason for the chronic pain associated with this condition. The most common symptom in patients who have ankylosing spondylitis is back pain. The pain persists throughout the day and night impacting the regular life of the patient.
Stiffness is also another common complaint, along with pain in numerous all the larger joints of the body like the shoulders or hips. Another common symptom of Ankylosing Spondylitis is severe pain in neck and fatigue.
Gonorrhea
This disease usually takes several weeks to show any signs after the transmission of the virus. In most cases, the patients who have contracted the disease remain untreated. This causes numerous other medical complications including infertility.
People with this infection usually present with symptoms like pain in the area of the groin and pelvis, and this pain tends to radiate to the lower back as well.
Reactive Arthritis
The Arthritis Foundation reports that most forms of health conditions related to arthritis end up affecting the joints and muscles of the body. This can result in individuals experiencing discomfort, pain, stiffness, and even severe swelling of the back.
When a person has arthritis, it is the lower back that tends to be most affected by the condition. Reactive arthritis is an arthritis-related health condition that results from an infection of the urinary tract, gastrointestinal system, or the genitals.
Slipped Disc
The human spine has several bones stacked over each other. These spinal column bones have discs between them for cushioning, which are there to protect the different parts of the bone by absorbing shock from daily activities like twisting, lifting, and even walking.
Weakness and injury result in the inner area of the disc protruding, this is known as a slipped disc. The lower back area is commonly affected by a slipped disc. Slipped disc can happen by doing something in an awkward position, playing sports, or even lifting something burdensome up or lifting something awkwardly.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
This condition is an infection in the female reproductive system. The lower back is behind the reproductive area, where the fallopian tubes, cervix, ovaries, and uterus are present. When there is a pelvic infection, this area is affected.
The pain can travel all the way up to the lower back and cause discomfort to the patient. This is commonly seen in women younger than 25 but may present in older women. Of course, a doctor will have to examine the body to know whether this infection is a cause for the back pain or not.
So no more brushing off your back pain as just another sign of growing older. Loss of muscle tone and decreased fluid between the vertebrae of the spine may well be the cause, but it is better to be safe than sorry, so it is best to visit a doctor and rule out any other health conditions that your back pain may be a sign of. There is no reason for alarm if you do not have other signs or symptoms. However, not having your back pain checked up on would be a foolish choice! Your health is essential, because, without good health, you have less quality of life!