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What Causes Intermittent Back Pain?
Question: I am a male 59 1/2 years old. About a year and a half ago I found my that my back when I bend over for a period of 50 seconds or more painful when I stood back up. For example filling up the lawn mower. Now a year and a half later I go to bed at 10, get up at 1 am to urinate. Then at around 3:30 am my lower back starts hurting. I turn to the other side. Sometimes it works but mostly not. At this point I feel like my bladder is full and I have to pee. Most of the time this is all it takes to relieve the pain. Sometimes when I lie on my back it can become better. However, the general rule is that about five hours of sleep no matter what, my lower back to my hips hurt and I need to get up. Not sure this is physical bone structure or organ related. The only change I can see that may be related is that I took Colcrys for year for gout without never having a gout experience. My doctor wanted me to switch to Allopurinol instead to take care of the Uric Acid level. Might be coincidenal but six months after taking Allpourinal is when my back started hurting. Is it related or are my hips deteriorating?
Brief Answer:
Two possibilities - renal or back cause.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Your symptoms are not specific to one obvious cause.
Two investigations can help in your case.
First is an ultrasound focused on renal system. Kidneys are located along the back and can present like back pain. This, I am suggesting because your complaints are at night when your bladder might be getting full. Also at times you feel like full bladder, that make me think of this. At your age, bladder with back complaints, also makes me want to investigate your prostate. Ultrasound can help in this. If prostate is enalrged, get PSA done to rule out prostate cancer. It is more of screening in your case. Prostate issues quiet often present with back/bone pain.
Secondly either get xrays or if possible more desired is MRI of lower back done including both hips and SI joints in same study. This will help rule out any bone cause and also if there is any slipped disc which might be pressing on nerve roots to cause such pain.
Don't really feel this is gout related.
So, I recommend these investigations in your cause to know the underlying cause.
Hope this helps.Please ask if there are doubts. Regards.
Two possibilities - renal or back cause.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Your symptoms are not specific to one obvious cause.
Two investigations can help in your case.
First is an ultrasound focused on renal system. Kidneys are located along the back and can present like back pain. This, I am suggesting because your complaints are at night when your bladder might be getting full. Also at times you feel like full bladder, that make me think of this. At your age, bladder with back complaints, also makes me want to investigate your prostate. Ultrasound can help in this. If prostate is enalrged, get PSA done to rule out prostate cancer. It is more of screening in your case. Prostate issues quiet often present with back/bone pain.
Secondly either get xrays or if possible more desired is MRI of lower back done including both hips and SI joints in same study. This will help rule out any bone cause and also if there is any slipped disc which might be pressing on nerve roots to cause such pain.
Don't really feel this is gout related.
So, I recommend these investigations in your cause to know the underlying cause.
Hope this helps.Please ask if there are doubts. Regards.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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