It is common to experience low back pain when feeling unwell. This discomfort is often a response to the body’s efforts to fight off infection or manage the physiological changes brought on by illness. While bothersome, this type of back pain is frequently temporary.
Understanding the Connection: How Illness Triggers Back Pain
When the body encounters an illness, its immune system initiates a response, leading to widespread inflammation. This systemic inflammation can cause muscle aches and joint pain throughout the body, including the lower back. Immune system substances contribute to generalized soreness during sickness.
Symptoms like persistent coughing, sneezing, or vomiting can strain back muscles. These forceful actions can lead to muscle fatigue and minor injuries, resulting in localized back pain. Repetitive movements from severe coughing particularly affect the lower back and rib cage.
Fever contributes to overall body aches and can heighten pain sensitivity. Illness often leads to reduced fluid intake, causing dehydration. Dehydration can exacerbate muscle cramps and pain, as muscles require adequate water. Prolonged bed rest or reduced physical activity during recovery can also stiffen muscles and joints. This inactivity contributes to new or worsened back discomfort as support structures become less flexible.
Common Illnesses Associated with Back Pain
Low back pain frequently accompanies common illnesses like influenza and the common cold. These viral infections often trigger generalized body aches due to the immune system’s inflammatory response. The muscle pain can extend to the lower back.
Kidney infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs) are conditions where lower back pain is a prominent symptom. This pain is typically localized to the flank or lower back region due to the infection’s proximity to the kidneys. It is often accompanied by other symptoms like fever, chills, frequent or painful urination, and sometimes cloudy or foul-smelling urine.
Gastrointestinal illnesses, with symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea, can also lead to back pain. Repetitive muscle contractions from vomiting or abdominal cramping from diarrhea can strain back muscles. The pain might be referred from the abdominal area to the back. Other viral infections can also cause broad body aches, including discomfort in the lower back.
When to Be Concerned
While back pain during illness is often temporary, certain signs indicate a more serious underlying condition requiring medical attention. Severe or worsening back pain that does not improve with rest or home care should be evaluated. Pain accompanied by a high fever or chills could signal a serious infection, such as a spinal or severe kidney infection.
Seek Medical Attention If You Experience:
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs, which may indicate nerve involvement or compression.
A loss of bowel or bladder control, which is a medical emergency.
Unexplained weight loss accompanying back pain.
Back pain that does not improve with rest or worsens at night.
Back pain that follows a recent injury or trauma.
Managing Discomfort
Managing low back pain when sick involves home care strategies. Rest is important, but prolonged inactivity can worsen back stiffness. Gentle movement, such as short walks or light stretches, can help maintain flexibility and reduce muscle tension. Staying well-hydrated supports muscle function and overall recovery, helping prevent muscle cramps and soreness.
Over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage muscle aches and reduce fever. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Acetaminophen can also alleviate pain and fever. Consult a healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking these medications, especially if other medications are being used.
Applying heat or cold therapy can provide relief. Cold packs reduce inflammation and numb the area. Heat, such as a heating pad or warm bath, can relax tense muscles and improve blood flow. Supportive sleep positions can also minimize spinal strain, such as sleeping on the side with a pillow between the knees or on the back with a pillow under the knees. If symptoms persist or worsen, or if any red flag symptoms appear, seek medical advice.