Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 5/22/2008

Question
Last night out of nowhere, I started getting this back pain in the lower right side of my back and I felt a little nauseated. This morning I still feel the back pain on my lower right side but when I deeply inhale, I have pain across my entire lower back but only when I sit back against the back of my chair. When I sit up straight, I do not feel it. Are these signs of a kidney infection?
Thank you.

Answer
Hello Sheena,

Hope you are feeling better- even before you get this answer!

"...Out of nowhere...back pain...", so, I guess you have never had back pain before, never had a pain like this before.  Out of nowhere- I guess you mean you have no explanation- ie: you did heavy work the day before, or fell down the stairs, or had some strenuous or different activity from usual.

Stop and think, did you bend, lift, do any extra, different or heavy work?, There was no trauma or injury, nothing different.  You may be able to point to the cause if you remember something like that.

Pain and Nausea.  Were you nauseated from the pain? or was nausea and the pain separate symptoms? Any other symptoms? Fever, fatigue, pain anywhere else. Kidney, urinary tact infection (UTI),,, any pain on urination, burning, difficulty starting or stopping, foul smell, change in color, pain from te back into the groin?, these are all symptoms one could expect with a UTI.

Low Back Pain, let us locate that even better,,, is it down as low as your waist or beltline?, is it right on top of your buttocks?, or is it up a little, still in the low back, but kind of closer to the lower ribs?  If the pain is in your low back, but kind of up a little bit- nearer the lower ribs, and kind of off the spine- this could be called 'flank' pain.  If it is flank pain, it could be kidney (still does not 100% have to be kidney pain, but flank pain is closer to kidney pain then just low back pain), and if it is kidney, this pain could radiate down towards your groin, and you could have pain, burning or difficulty starting/ stopping urination (see above).

Does the pain relate to movement or position?  If you stand, sit, walk, lay down; does it get any different- better, worse, no change at all?

If it is your "low Back", but even a little higher, it could even be a lung problem.  Different people have different ideas of 'low back'- if it is up in your 'low back' but kinda underneath the ribs, it could even be a lung congestion problem.  Kidney is more common to think of, lung is in the far distance, but I am just giving you some ideas as to location and possibilities.

A distant problem could also be an arterial problem.  Problems with your aorta or iliac arteries could conceivably give you back pain also, but this possibility is remote.

Thinking of kidney is a good start.  I would also think of musculo-skeletal problems: Low Back sprain/ strain, muscle spasm, overwork. Perhaps you even just slept in a wrong position and caused  what Doctors of Chiropractic call a  'vertebral subluxation'.

This Staten Island Chiropractor uses the following as an explanation of lower back pain caused by vertebral subluxation:

Lower  Back  Pain  (LBP):          Low  Back  Pain  can be caused by many different things.  Big, BAD, catastrophic things like a tumor or a cancer can cause low back pain (usually NOT very likely) - (only a proper exam by a licensed doctor, like your family Doctor of Chiropractic, or your family Doctor of Medicine, can evaluate your signs and symptoms, and perhaps refer for testing).  Big, bad things like a Herniated Disc, sciatica, possible fracture or dislocation can cause LBP (again, best evaluated by your DC or MD, and perhaps referral).  Common, everyday Bad things, like  - Sprains, Strains, contusion, or Vertebral Subluxation Complex (all very efficiently diagnosed and treated by your Doctor Of Chiropractic.  LBP can come from an auto accident, sport injury, slip, trip, fall, arthritis, lifting improperly, work comp injury, or even bad posture in standing, sitting or sleeping.  All of these things often have a Lumbar (Low Back) Vertebral Subluxation involved.
              Vertebral   Subluxation   Complex    (a.k.a.  ‘subluxation’)
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.

This is a condition identified by its five parts:
    Spinal Kinesiopathology:
         This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
    Neuropathophysiology:
         Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
    Myopathology:
          Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
    Histopathology:
         A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.
    Pathophysiology:
         Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.

The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
         Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
          Vertebral  Subluxation  cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone.  Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical-  problem requires a mechanical   correction-  -  -    a manipulation,     best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.

Thank you for giving me a chance to expound upon lower back pain.
For a good first evaluation I would visit my family Doctor of Chiropractic.  Your chiropractor can evaluate and give you an idea as to the cause and seriousness of your complaint.

As always this article is for discussion purposes only, for information and education.  Specific evaluation, DX, TX, RX, PX can only be given by a treating licensed health professional.

Good Luck, and Good Health, Naturally!

Victor Dolan, DC DACBSP
http://www.DocDolan.net
http://www.GoodHealthNaturally.info
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com  (newsletter)