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What Causes Lower Back Pain And Heart Burn In A Chronic Alcoholic?

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Posted on Fri, 14 Feb 2014
Question: 43-year old alcoholic male. Beer gut (upper body obesity), bloated face. 6'1 225 lbs. Fatigued. Constant athletes foot! (But has to wear steel-toed boots for work). Has had 2 bouts of pneumonia in past 3 years. Seems to have colds and sore throats often, but can usually still go to work. Moody. Urine is more orange than yellow/clear. Complains of lower back pain and heart burn on occassion. Has been drinking beer on a regular basis for approx 27 years, but has become worse (50-70 beers a week) in last 5 years. Refuses to see a doctor. I am thinking he may have cushings disease and probably has for some time (3-5 years ago is when the face became noticably 'fat'). If he does have Cushings disease, what is the prognosis if untreated?
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Answered by Dr. Raju A.T (11 hours later)
Brief Answer: Could be Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for your query. Yes, based on the description of the symptoms you provided Cushing's disease can be considered a possibility. The prognosis of the same depends on the levels of cortisol in blood. More the levels bad is the prognosis. Also, considering the chronic alcoholism I would suggest you to consider another possible diagnosis here. Alcoholic liver disease, in here ascites can also present with what appears like truncal obesity. I would recommend you to get the serum cortisol and Liver function tests done to rule out the same. Regards,
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Raju A.T

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 4923 Questions

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What Causes Lower Back Pain And Heart Burn In A Chronic Alcoholic?

Brief Answer: Could be Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for your query. Yes, based on the description of the symptoms you provided Cushing's disease can be considered a possibility. The prognosis of the same depends on the levels of cortisol in blood. More the levels bad is the prognosis. Also, considering the chronic alcoholism I would suggest you to consider another possible diagnosis here. Alcoholic liver disease, in here ascites can also present with what appears like truncal obesity. I would recommend you to get the serum cortisol and Liver function tests done to rule out the same. Regards,