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What Causes Severe Back Pain In A Person With High BP?

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Posted on Thu, 23 Apr 2015
Question: email is: YYYY@YYYY My Question
Around 1994 I had by lateral femoral by pass. All went well, was able to walk afterwards fine. I am now 78 yrs. have been having severe pain in lower back, due a lot to Artheritis, as well as severe pain in buttocks and
unable to walk short distances, again. Wed of last week saw a good vascular Dr. and had XXXXXXX injected into upper arteries and duplex of lower ones. Was told again I am very blocked and he could not operate and do a by pass because there was nothing to attach the by pass to. What is this claudiation called and what is prognoness? Could he attach another by pass to old one? I know I should ask him but he was still in scrubs from operating room and had people lined up like cattle waiting to see him so he could not spend that time with me. Also, I was somewhat in a state myself learning he couldn't help me so forgot to ask all these things. I will be seeing him again in 6 mo because my left kidney is blocked and that he said he could help me with a stent. My left kidney has been blocked since 1st by pass but now the claudiation is progressing, so it is making my blood pressure go up over 200 believe it or not. I am on 3 blood pressure meds. Labetalol 3xday 100 mg / Losartan 100mg 1x day/ Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 1x day.Thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Your blood pressure needs to be aggressively controlled

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I am sorry to hear about your condition, but your severely raised blood pressure has direct association with the problems that you are facing. It needs to be treated aggressively. The BP medication regimen might need to be changed or modified. You would need to talk to your doctor about this. The raised BP is predisposing you to intermittent claudication and is causing the blockages to occur. The nature of the blockages needs to be evaluated. Talk to your doctor whether clot dissolving agent or agent like clopidogrel are indicated and whether revascularization is possible. About the bypass, a route of approach is definitely needed. Another bypass cannot be attached to the old one. If there are hindrances, a detailed look is required as to whether an alternative route can be taken. It is difficult for me to comment on this.

Intermittent claudication is a symptom that describes muscle pain (ache, cramp, numbness or sense of fatigue), classically in the calf muscle, which occurs during exercise, such as walking, and is relieved by a short period of rest. It is caused due to blockage of a supplying artery. Exercise can improve symptoms, as can revascularization. Pharmacological options exist, as well. Medicines that control lipid profile, diabetes, and hypertension may increase blood flow to the affected muscles and allow for increased activity levels. Catheter-based intervention is also an option. Atherectomy, stenting, and angioplasty to remove or push aside the arterial blockages are the most common procedures for catheter-based intervention. Surgery is the last resort; vascular surgeons can perform either endarterectomies on arterial blockages or perform an arterial bypass.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (11 hours later)
I have been taking plavix for the last 8 yrs. The vascular Dr. said, He could not do a bypass because there is nothing to sew onto. The claudiation is in my buttocks and lower back. It was also noted from the 1st bypass my legs were crystal clear. Question, Is there nothing to sew onto there? Could one do a atherectomy or angioplasty in that area? If not why? Wouldn't he suggest other means, if possible? If nothing can be done, how does this disease progress and how fast from here? I have heard of blasting it out. I understand there is risk with surgery but are the arteries too small in that area to get hold of, can only large arteries be used as a bypass method? Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (15 hours later)
Brief Answer:
An arterial bypass may not always be the option.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Sorry for not being able to write back earlier.

Plavix contains clopidogrel that I had suggested earlier. Please continue it. A bypass surgery means taking a portion of relatively unimportant artery and substituting it for a more important and blocked one. An arterectomy needs to be backed up with a bypass, else it will not serve its purpose. An extra artery for bypass might not be further available. Very small arteries would not serve the purpose and a reasonable size would be needed. So, indeed there can be justification in what your doctor says. Whether angioplasty can be done depends on the number of blockages and their severity. About the prognosis, you will have to discuss with your doctor about the severity and subsequent plans. In extreme cases, gangrene may occur, but I doubt whether it is that intense. Talk to your doctor about the possibilities of revascularization.

Hope I have been able to answer your queries.

If you found my answer to be helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.

Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1954

Answered : 4467 Questions

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What Causes Severe Back Pain In A Person With High BP?

Brief Answer: Your blood pressure needs to be aggressively controlled Detailed Answer: Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic. I am sorry to hear about your condition, but your severely raised blood pressure has direct association with the problems that you are facing. It needs to be treated aggressively. The BP medication regimen might need to be changed or modified. You would need to talk to your doctor about this. The raised BP is predisposing you to intermittent claudication and is causing the blockages to occur. The nature of the blockages needs to be evaluated. Talk to your doctor whether clot dissolving agent or agent like clopidogrel are indicated and whether revascularization is possible. About the bypass, a route of approach is definitely needed. Another bypass cannot be attached to the old one. If there are hindrances, a detailed look is required as to whether an alternative route can be taken. It is difficult for me to comment on this. Intermittent claudication is a symptom that describes muscle pain (ache, cramp, numbness or sense of fatigue), classically in the calf muscle, which occurs during exercise, such as walking, and is relieved by a short period of rest. It is caused due to blockage of a supplying artery. Exercise can improve symptoms, as can revascularization. Pharmacological options exist, as well. Medicines that control lipid profile, diabetes, and hypertension may increase blood flow to the affected muscles and allow for increased activity levels. Catheter-based intervention is also an option. Atherectomy, stenting, and angioplasty to remove or push aside the arterial blockages are the most common procedures for catheter-based intervention. Surgery is the last resort; vascular surgeons can perform either endarterectomies on arterial blockages or perform an arterial bypass.