Pain in the lower abdomen and in the lower back
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Pain in the lower abdomen and in the lower back is a phenomenon that is troubled by more than a dozen people. However, unfortunately, many people prefer to pretend that they do not exist, or think that they will pass and will not happen again. The maximum that many patients undertake is to muffle the pains in the lower abdomen and lower back with anesthetics. For a while this, of course, gives its effect, but the cause of the pain in the lower abdomen and lower back does not eliminate. Therefore, if the pain of the lower abdomen and lower back is renewed again and again, you must always contact the doctor.
Very often there is a combination of pulling pains in the lower abdomen with back pain. More often such phenomenon meets at women, but pains in the bottom of a stomach and a loin and at representatives of a man's part of mankind are frequent.
Cause of pain in the lower abdomen and lower back
Frequent and most common cause of pain in the lower abdomen and lower back is acute cystitis. In this case, the pain in the lower abdomen and lower back is added to the presence of blood during urination, painful sensations at the end of the urine, frequent urge to "go to the toilet." Such symptoms indicate cystitis, for an accurate diagnosis it is necessary to undergo a number of additional examinations with a urologist.
In the event that the above symptoms of cystitis are not observed, then, perhaps, the patient is dealing with intestinal problems. The pains in the lower abdomen and lower back of the woman can also testify about the ovarian cyst in the initial stages, adnexitis or some other fairly serious diseases associated with the female genitourinary system. Most accurately the cause of the onset of pain in the lower abdomen and lower back in a woman can establish a doctor-gynecologist.
As for the pains in the lower abdomen and lower back in men, this is a rather rare phenomenon. But these symptoms may indicate that the digestive or genitourinary system does not work as expected. Pain in the lower abdomen and lower back can also be accompanied by prostatitis. When there are pains of this nature, a man should consult a gastroenterologist and a urologist.
If the pains in the lower abdomen and in the lower back are accompanied by an increase in temperature, then such diseases as mycoplasmosis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, ureaplasmosis are possible.
[3]
Symptoms of pain in the lower abdomen and lower back
Pain in the lower abdomen and lower back can be sharp or aching, cramping. Also, with them, you can often observe an increase or decrease in temperature, vomiting, bleeding, nausea, chills, blood when urinating, frequent urge to urinate.
The lower abdomen hurts and pulls the lower back
If the lower abdomen hurts and pulls the waist - this phenomenon in medical practice is called chronic pelvic pain. If within six months the patient has the above symptoms, doctors make this diagnosis. In most cases, chronic pain in the lower abdomen and lower back causes gynecological diseases, and relatively rarely - extrogenital.
More rare causes of pain in the lower abdomen and lower back may be the presence of:
- osteochondrosis of the spine;
- a herniated intervertebral disc;
- arthrosis of the intervertebral joints;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- stenosis of the intervertebral canal;
- infectious lesions of the vertebrae;
- scoliosis;
- stroke;
- osteoporosis.
Pain in the abdomen and lower back of young girls
Pain in the abdomen and lower back most often appear before menstruation or in days of "menstruation." Menstrual cramping pains, often palpable during the first three days. More than half of the women on Earth suffer from menstrual cramps, although most say that their temperament is moderate, the intensity is not high, because they can be safely tolerated.
Experts say that menstrual pain is affected by the special hormones of prostaglandins. But the pain can be very violent and painful. They can be caused by other complicating factors, for example, endometriosis or fibroma.
Pain in the lower abdomen and in the lower back of the pregnant
Pain in the lower abdomen and in the lower back is common in pregnant women. During pregnancy, the spine experiences increased stress. If the pulling pain began to manifest itself just before delivery, it could be a false fight (Brexton-Hicks). The presence of such symptoms in the early period is dangerous, they can threaten miscarriage. Then, as soon as possible, you need to report the situation to doctors.
Pain in the lower abdomen and lower back in girls can also be a signal of hypothermia. The naked loins, which girls often leave open for beauty, may overcool and, worst of all, lead to infertility.
What if I have a lower abdomen and lower back?
When a doctor diagnoses a patient for the purpose of identifying the cause of pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, first of all he needs to understand the degree of pain intensity and their nature. It is important for women to establish whether there is a connection with pregnancy or menstruation.
For diagnosis it is important to establish the nature of the pain and the frequency of their occurrence, since different characteristics may indicate different diseases. If the nature of the course of the disease is acute, then the patient can observe the presence of cramping pains, which gradually increase, complications bring chills, nausea, elevated body temperature. Such pains indicate that the inflammatory process is rapidly developing. When such a character pain is observed for a long time, it is quite possible to develop some kind of chronic disease, therefore it is important to go to the doctor as soon as possible.
To diagnose pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, clinicaboratory and instrument-instrumental methods of research are used:
- laboratory studies for herpetic infection, which affects the development of pelvic ganglioneuritis;
- ultrasound examination of pelvic organs (ultrasound) - to exclude organic diseases of the genitourinary system;
- X-ray of the spine and pelvic bones;
- Absorptive densitometry to exclude osteoporosis;
- X-ray (irrigoscopy), endoscopic (sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, cystoscopy) of the gastrointestinal tract and bladder;
- laparoscopy.
Treatment of pain in the lower abdomen and lower back
To eliminate pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, doctors do not recommend taking painkillers on their own. This can only worsen the patient's condition. First you need to understand what caused the pulling, stitching, aching or sharp pains in the lower abdomen and lower back, therefore independent initiatives here are undesirable. The pain is, first of all, the body's signal that a disease has arisen and develops that needs treatment only after the establishment of a specific cause, and only the doctor can do it. As we have already explained, the range of causes is very wide, and dull pain in the lower abdomen and lower back with painkillers is not an option, since the symptoms will be eliminated only for a while, and the disease will progress.