Experiencing pain in both the testicles and lower back can be concerning. While this combination of discomfort is often due to treatable medical conditions, prompt medical evaluation from a healthcare professional is always necessary. A timely diagnosis helps determine the underlying cause and ensures appropriate management, especially since some conditions require immediate attention.
Conditions Affecting the Urinary System
Issues within the urinary system commonly cause both lower back and testicular pain. Kidney stones are a prominent example. These solid masses form in the kidneys and cause intense pain when they move or obstruct urine flow through the ureters. This pain typically begins in the flank or lower back and can radiate to the groin and testicles as the stone progresses. The pain’s severity can fluctuate as the stone attempts to pass.
A kidney infection is another urinary tract condition that can cause this dual pain. This infection causes inflammation of the kidney tissue. Individuals with a kidney infection experience lower back pain, fever, chills, and sometimes referred pain in the testicles. The back pain is usually a dull ache, distinct from the sharp pain of kidney stones. Certain bladder conditions or severe urinary tract infections (UTIs) can also cause referred pain to the lower back and, less frequently, to the testicular area.
Conditions Affecting the Male Reproductive Organs
Inflammatory conditions affecting the male reproductive organs often cause testicular pain that can radiate to the lower back. Epididymitis, an inflammation of the epididymis, and orchitis, an inflammation of the testicle, are common examples. Both conditions cause testicular swelling, tenderness, and pain, which can extend into the lower abdomen or groin and occasionally refer to the lower back. These inflammations are often caused by infections.
Testicular torsion is a medical emergency where the spermatic cord twists. This twisting cuts off the blood supply, leading to sudden, severe pain in the testicle that can rapidly extend to the lower abdomen and back. The pain is abrupt and accompanied by swelling, tenderness, and sometimes nausea or vomiting. Immediate medical intervention is necessary to prevent permanent damage to the testicle.
Prostatitis, an inflammation of the prostate gland, is another condition causing pain in these areas. The prostate gland is located just below the bladder. Its inflammation can lead to pelvic, perineal, and lower back pain, often radiating to the testicles or tip of the penis. Symptoms can vary in intensity and duration.
Less common conditions like varicocele, an enlargement of veins within the scrotum, or hydrocele, a fluid accumulation around the testicle, can occasionally cause dull testicular ache that might be felt in the lower back. Direct testicular trauma can also cause severe testicular pain that may result in associated lower back discomfort.
Musculoskeletal and Nerve-Related Causes
Problems originating in the lower back, spine, or associated nerves can also cause pain in both the lower back and testicles. A herniated disc in the lumbar spine, where a disc presses on nearby nerves, is a frequent cause. Depending on which nerves are compressed, such as those supplying the groin and testicles, lower back pain can radiate down the leg and to the scrotal area. This referred pain occurs because the same nerve pathways serve both regions.
Severe lower back muscle strain or spasms can also lead to localized back pain and referred pain to the groin and testicles. Muscle injury can irritate nearby nerves or trigger pain signals interpreted as originating from the testicles. Specific nerve compressions, such as pudendal neuralgia or genitofemoral nerve entrapment, can also cause this dual pain. Pudendal neuralgia involves irritation of the pudendal nerve, causing chronic pain in the perineum and genitals, sometimes radiating to the lower back. Genitofemoral nerve entrapment can result in chronic pain in the groin, testicles, and occasionally extend to the lower back region.
Other Abdominal and Pelvic Conditions
Other conditions originating outside the urinary or reproductive systems can also cause both testicular and lower back pain. An inguinal hernia, where tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal wall, is one example. This protrusion can cause pain or a dragging sensation in the groin and testicles, and the strain from the hernia can lead to referred lower back discomfort. The pain often worsens with activities like lifting, coughing, or bending.
Appendicitis, an inflammation of the appendix, can cause referred pain to the lower back and testicles. The pain typically begins around the navel and shifts to the lower right abdomen. Serious conditions, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm or certain types of tumors in the pelvic or abdominal region, can also cause both lower back and testicular pain due to nerve compression or mass effect.