What organs can cause lower back pain? 8 Organs That Might Be the Culprit…

Do you know what organs can cause lower back pain? The answer will surprise you!

When you think of lower back pain, you probably typically think of a slipped disc, hernia, or lower back injury.

But what if I told you that not all back pain is from mechanical problems in your spine? What if a lot of the pain was actually caused by your organs?

You’ll be amazed by how many different organs can be behind your lower back pain. We’re going to answer the question “What organs can cause lower back pain?” to help you understand some of the other culprits behind the pain you might be feeling.

What Organs Can Cause Lower Back Pain?

Let’s take a look at a few of the organs most likely to be behind your lower back pain:

Kidneys – Or, more accurately, kidney stones! Kidney stones are hard pieces of calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals that form in your kidneys and can travel to other parts of your urinary system. When they form, you’ll typically feel a sharp, stabbing pain—not only in your kidney, but also in your lower back.

The lower back pain will often be accompanied by blood in your urine, as well as pain in your side, groin, or abdominal area, particularly while urinating. The pain can be so bad that it will trigger nausea or vomiting, and it can last for hours or even days until you pass the stone. The good news is that MOST kidney stones are so small they pass without causing problems. It’s really only the big ones that trigger the pain in your kidney, abdomen, and lower back.

Kidney infections can also cause lower back pain on both right and left sides, depending on which kidney gets infected. These infections often start out as urinary tract infections that migrate “upstream” into the kidneys, and can lead to serious organ damage if left untreated.

Uterus – For women, endometriosis is a very common cause of lower left back pain. This condition is caused by uterine lining cells growing outside the uterus, leading to swelling and bleeding during menstruation. This can be incredibly painful and cause serious cramps, along with painful bowel movements, pain during sex, and lower back pain.

Fibroids, or tumors that grow on the uterine walls, can also be a cause of back pain. Though the tumors are typically benign, the growth itself is likely the cause behind the pain in your lower left back. Fibroids can also cause frequent urination, pain during sex, abdominal bloating, painful periods, and heavy bleeding.

Appendix – If your appendix gets infected or blocked, it can swell up and cause intense pain in your abdomen. When the pain gets really bad, it may radiate to the right side of your lower back.

The function of the appendix isn’t quite clear, but it’s believed to support your digestive and immune systems. Blockages of the appendix can lead to appendicitis, which is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical care. Symptoms include lower right back pain, bloating, abdominal swelling, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and loss of appetite.

Intestines – Your colon (large intestines) can cause lower back pain, often as a result of ulcerative colitis. This chronic condition triggers inflammation in your colon’s internal lining, leading to ongoing diarrhea—often filled with pus or blood. Abdominal discomfort and cramping can cause radiating pain on both sides of your lower back, along with appetite loss, nausea, unexplained weight loss, anemia, fatigue, and fever.

Testicles – Testicular torsion can cause serious back pain among men! It occurs when one or both testicles rotate, which twists the spermatic cord inside the scrotum. The twisting may reduce or even totally block the flow of blood from reaching the testicles, leading to a number of symptoms, including swelling, radiating pain in the lower back, pain in the testicles or groin, vomiting, and blood mixed into the semen. This is a condition that requires urgent treatment—long-term, it can cause irreversible damage.

Pancreas – Inflammation of the pancreas, or pancreatitis, can lead to lower back pain, along with upper abdominal pain, fever, and nausea. The pancreas plays a vital role in your digestive function and is responsible for producing insulin. Abdominal surgery is a known cause of pancreatitis, as are certain medications and alcohol abuse.

Prostate – Lower back pain may be a sign of prostate problems, particularly prostate cancer. Initially, prostate problems may cause no symptoms, and the pain will only settle in once the condition has advanced or spread. If the cancer spreads from the prostate to the spinal vertebra, it can lead to weakness in the spinal bones, which can then collapse or compress the spinal nerves.

Prostatitis, or enlargement of the prostate gland, can also trigger lower back pain if it swells too large. The lower back pain may be accompanied by decreased urination, ejaculation difficulties, and burning when you urinate.

Gall Bladder – Similar to kidney stones, gallstones are hard mineral deposits that form in your gall bladder and get stuck in the bile ducts. This blockage can lead to pain, inflammation of the gall bladder, and possible damage to the pancreas or liver.

What Organs Can Cause Lower Back Pain? Try Back on Track for Rapid Relief!

You know that there are a lot of things that can cause your lower back pain—not just your musculoskeletal system, but also your organs. If you want to make sure you’re living and moving right to protect your back, you need our Back on Track System today.

Back on Track is a program that will teach you how to manage your back health in every way, from how you move to how you live even to how you breathe. You’ll learn the secrets to managing your physical health to improve back function, strengthen the vital muscles protecting your spine, and increase mobility. Within just a few weeks, you’ll feel exponentially better—and your back will thank you for it!