Back and ovary pain

Ovarian Cyst Back Pain: Is There a Connection?

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can form in or around your ovaries. They’re actually very common and most often form naturally around the time of ovulation. Most simple ovarian cysts go away without treatment.

While many ovarian cysts don’t cause symptoms, those with larger cysts may experience symptoms like abdominal pain. In some cases, pain can also occur in the lower back.

Keep reading to learn more about ovarian cysts and lower back pain, what causes cysts to form, and how they can be treated.

Pain from an ovarian cyst is most often felt in the lower abdomen. While it can vary by individual, this pain typically:

feels dull
is mild in intensity
may come and go

Some people may experience lower back pain from an ovarian cyst. A 2019 analysis studied MRI images from 400 people with lower back pain. Of the 90 patients whose pain didn’t relate to the spine, 40 of them (44. 5 percent) had ovarian findings.

Lower back pain from an ovarian cyst often feels dull and achy. Sometimes, a cyst can burst or rupture. When this happens, you may feel sharper, more severe pain.

If you have unexplained lower back pain, other symptoms that may indicate that it could be caused by an ovarian cyst include:

a feeling of fullness or pressure in your pelvic area
bloating or swelling in the lower abdomen
painful or irregular periods
spotting between periods
pain during sex or while urinating
constipation
feeling like you need to urinate more often

There are actually several types of ovarian cysts, including:

Functional cysts. These are the most common type of ovarian cyst, including follicular and corpus luteum cysts. They happen when the follicle or corpus luteum don’t follow their usual pattern during your menstrual cycle. They often disappear on their own.
Dermoid cysts (teratomas). Dermoid cysts are actually slow-growing tumors that are most often benign (noncancerous). They contain tissues from other parts of the body, such as skin and hair, and are often present from birth.
Cystadenomas. Cystadenomas are also benign tumors that contain a watery or mucus-like fluid. They may look similar to functional cysts, but cystadenomas continue to grow over time and can become very large.
Endometriomas (chocolate cysts). Endometriomas are blood-filled cysts that form due to endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to uterine lining grows outside of the uterus. When the ovaries are impacted by endometriosis, endometriomas can form in them.

Ovarian cysts are more likely to cause lower back pain when they grow to a larger size. When this happens, they can begin to press on the organs and tissues of your abdomen, leading to pain or discomfort in your back.

Large cysts are rare. Most ovarian cysts will go away after a few menstrual cycles and are only about 1 to 3 centimeters in diameter — about 1 inch or smaller. In very rare cases, a cyst may grow to be 15 to 30 centimeters in diameter (about 6 to 12 inches).

If you have lower back pain that’s not severe, you can do the following things at home to help ease it:

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications. OTC pain medications can help alleviate pain. These include acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve).
Heat. Applying a heating pad to the affected area may aid in reducing pain and inflammation.
Stretching. Gentle stretching may also help with back pain. Ask your doctor about what types of stretches may be appropriate. Try to avoid motions or activities that make your back pain worse.

If your lower back pain is due to an ovarian cyst, the above methods can help reduce pain, but they won’t help the cyst to go away. If you suspect that you have an ovarian cyst, make an appointment with your doctor.

If the tips above aren’t helping, and you’re experiencing lower back pain along with other symptoms of ovarian cysts, you’ll want to see your doctor. A pelvic exam and ultrasound can confirm the presence of ovarian cysts.

There are some ovarian cyst symptoms for which it’s important to seek prompt medical attention, including:

sudden, severe pain in your lower abdomen or back
nausea and vomiting
feeling faint or dizzy
quick breathing
rapid pulse

The symptoms above could indicate a complication, such as a ruptured cyst or a twisted ovary (ovarian torsion).

It’s also a good rule of thumb to see your doctor for any lower back pain that:

significantly impacts your ability to perform daily activities
is severe or persistent
radiates to other areas of your body
affects your ability to urinate or have a bowel movement
occurs along with weakness or numbness and tingling
can’t be explained by other known health conditions
happens after an injury

In addition to ovarian cysts, other conditions can cause lower back pain, including:

injuries
conditions such as arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spondylosis
nerve compression, which can be caused by things like sciatica, spinal stenosis, or herniated discs
pregnancy
uterine fibroids
endometriosis
kidney stones
osteoporosis
fibromyalgia
scoliosis
tumors

Many cysts will go away on their own without treatment.

Because of this, your doctor may recommend watchful waiting. This involves periodically monitoring a cyst by ultrasound to check for changes in size or appearance.

When a cyst causes symptoms, including lower back pain, the following treatments may be recommended:

Pain medications. These can include OTC medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve). If pain is more severe, your doctor may prescribe a stronger medication.
Birth control pills. These can help to prevent new cysts from forming, but won’t shrink existing cysts.
Surgery. In some cases, a cyst may need to be removed during surgery. This is typically done using laparoscopy (minimally invasive surgery) or laparotomy (open surgery).

Surgical removal may be recommended if a cyst:

is already large or is continuing to get larger
doesn’t go away after several menstrual cycles
causes significant pain or other symptoms
appears potentially malignant (cancerous) on an ultrasound

Although rare, there are a few potentially serious complications that can occur due to ovarian cysts.

Ruptured cyst

Sometimes, an ovarian cyst can burst. When this happens, you may experience sudden, severe pain in your lower abdomen or back. While painful, a ruptured cyst doesn’t typically require treatment.

However, a large cyst that’s ruptured may lead to heavy bleeding. When this happens, you may feel faint, dizzy, or have rapid breathing. A ruptured cyst that’s causing heavy bleeding can be addressed through surgery.

Ovarian torsion

When an ovarian cyst gets very large, its weight can cause the ovary to become twisted around. This is called ovarian torsion and can lead to symptoms like:

sudden severe pain, often on one side of the abdomen
nausea and vomiting
rapid heart rate

A twisted ovary can disrupt blood flow to the affected ovary. Because of this, prompt surgery is needed to prevent tissue death.

Ovarian cysts often don’t cause symptoms, going away on their own without treatment. When symptoms are present, they can include pain in the lower abdomen or back.

Pain from an ovarian cyst often occurs when a cyst becomes large and begins to press on the organs and tissues that surround it. When a cyst causes lower back pain, it often feels dull and achy.

Lower back pain from an ovarian cyst can be treated at home using methods like OTC pain medications, a heating pad, and gentle stretching. While these things can ease pain, they won’t help the cyst to go away.

Watchful waiting is typically advised for smaller cysts. However, surgical removal is often necessary for a cyst that’s large or is causing significant symptoms. If you have lower back pain and other ovarian cyst symptoms, see your doctor.

Ovarian Cyst Back Pain: Is There a Connection?

While many ovarian cysts don’t cause symptoms, those with larger cysts may experience symptoms like abdominal pain. In some cases, pain can also occur in the lower back.

Keep reading to learn more about ovarian cysts and lower back pain, what causes cysts to form, and how they can be treated.

Pain from an ovarian cyst is most often felt in the lower abdomen. While it can vary by individual, this pain typically:

feels dull
is mild in intensity
may come and go

Lower back pain from an ovarian cyst often feels dull and achy. Sometimes, a cyst can burst or rupture. When this happens, you may feel sharper, more severe pain.

If you have unexplained lower back pain, other symptoms that may indicate that it could be caused by an ovarian cyst include:

a feeling of fullness or pressure in your pelvic area
bloating or swelling in the lower abdomen
painful or irregular periods
spotting between periods
pain during sex or while urinating
constipation
feeling like you need to urinate more often

There are actually several types of ovarian cysts, including:

Functional cysts. These are the most common type of ovarian cyst, including follicular and corpus luteum cysts. They happen when the follicle or corpus luteum don’t follow their usual pattern during your menstrual cycle. They often disappear on their own.
Dermoid cysts (teratomas). Dermoid cysts are actually slow-growing tumors that are most often benign (noncancerous). They contain tissues from other parts of the body, such as skin and hair, and are often present from birth.
Cystadenomas. Cystadenomas are also benign tumors that contain a watery or mucus-like fluid. They may look similar to functional cysts, but cystadenomas continue to grow over time and can become very large.
Endometriomas (chocolate cysts). Endometriomas are blood-filled cysts that form due to endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to uterine lining grows outside of the uterus. When the ovaries are impacted by endometriosis, endometriomas can form in them.

If you have lower back pain that’s not severe, you can do the following things at home to help ease it:

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications. OTC pain medications can help alleviate pain. These include acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve).
Heat. Applying a heating pad to the affected area may aid in reducing pain and inflammation.
Stretching. Gentle stretching may also help with back pain. Ask your doctor about what types of stretches may be appropriate. Try to avoid motions or activities that make your back pain worse.

There are some ovarian cyst symptoms for which it’s important to seek prompt medical attention, including:

sudden, severe pain in your lower abdomen or back
nausea and vomiting
feeling faint or dizzy
quick breathing
rapid pulse

The symptoms above could indicate a complication, such as a ruptured cyst or a twisted ovary (ovarian torsion).

It’s also a good rule of thumb to see your doctor for any lower back pain that:

significantly impacts your ability to perform daily activities
is severe or persistent
radiates to other areas of your body
affects your ability to urinate or have a bowel movement
occurs along with weakness or numbness and tingling
can’t be explained by other known health conditions
happens after an injury

In addition to ovarian cysts, other conditions can cause lower back pain, including:

injuries
conditions such as arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spondylosis
nerve compression, which can be caused by things like sciatica, spinal stenosis, or herniated discs
pregnancy
uterine fibroids
endometriosis
kidney stones
osteoporosis
fibromyalgia
scoliosis
tumors

Many cysts will go away on their own without treatment.

Because of this, your doctor may recommend watchful waiting. This involves periodically monitoring a cyst by ultrasound to check for changes in size or appearance.

When a cyst causes symptoms, including lower back pain, the following treatments may be recommended:

Pain medications. These can include OTC medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve). If pain is more severe, your doctor may prescribe a stronger medication.
Birth control pills. These can help to prevent new cysts from forming, but won’t shrink existing cysts.
Surgery. In some cases, a cyst may need to be removed during surgery. This is typically done using laparoscopy (minimally invasive surgery) or laparotomy (open surgery).

Surgical removal may be recommended if a cyst:

is already large or is continuing to get larger
doesn’t go away after several menstrual cycles
causes significant pain or other symptoms
appears potentially malignant (cancerous) on an ultrasound

Although rare, there are a few potentially serious complications that can occur due to ovarian cysts.

Ruptured cyst

Sometimes, an ovarian cyst can burst. When this happens, you may experience sudden, severe pain in your lower abdomen or back. While painful, a ruptured cyst doesn’t typically require treatment.

Ovarian torsion

When an ovarian cyst gets very large, its weight can cause the ovary to become twisted around. This is called ovarian torsion and can lead to symptoms like:

sudden severe pain, often on one side of the abdomen
nausea and vomiting
rapid heart rate

A twisted ovary can disrupt blood flow to the affected ovary. Because of this, prompt surgery is needed to prevent tissue death.

Ovarian cysts often don’t cause symptoms, going away on their own without treatment. When symptoms are present, they can include pain in the lower abdomen or back.

Pain from an ovarian cyst often occurs when a cyst becomes large and begins to press on the organs and tissues that surround it. When a cyst causes lower back pain, it often feels dull and achy.

Lower back pain? Do not put off a visit to the doctor - FSBI "NMIC TPM" of the Ministry of Health of Russia

We usually associate back pain with the words "sciatica" or "osteochondrosis". Indeed, these diseases lead to pain, but are by no means the main ones. In more detail about what back pain can be associated with and why it is important to see a doctor, says the head of the neurological department of the Federal State Budgetary Institution National Research Center for Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Ph. D. Sofia Gennadievna Zhdanova.

In more than 50% of cases, the cause of pain is problems with the muscles and ligaments surrounding the spine, such pain is usually moderate, aching or pulling in nature, aggravated by movements that create a load on the sore muscle. Predisposing moments for the appearance of such pains are hypothermia, unusual physical activity, sedentary work, poor posture, scoliosis.

BACK PROBLEMS OR…

Of course, you can treat your back with home remedies, but it's still better to turn to specialists. First of all, see a neurologist. But it is worth remembering that pain often occurs in connection with various lesions of the internal organs located at the level of the sacrum and lower back.

Diseases of the urinary system (cystitis, pyelonephritis, and especially urolithiasis) are most often manifested by pain in the lower back. Moreover, the pain can be so acute that you rush to call an ambulance even without our recommendations.

People with gastric and duodenal ulcers experience pain in the lumbar region in 75% of cases. Another disease of the gastrointestinal tract, in which the back can hurt, is acute pancreatitis. The pain is girdle in nature, localized in the region of the right or left hypochondrium, radiating to the back.

Sometimes back pain radiating to the lower back occurs with acute appendicitis. This is mainly characteristic of cases where the appendix (appendix) is located behind the caecum. Of course, this is only one of the complaints, and the main symptoms are fever, peritoneal irritation, and upset stool.

In diseases of the female genital organs, along with pain in the lower abdomen, pain in the sacro-lumbar spine may occur. Moreover, it can disturb you periodically during menstruation, during sexual intercourse, or be long-term and become chronic.

In most cases of low back pain, it makes sense to do an ultrasound of the pelvic organs. For example, painful sensations can be provoked by volumetric formations of the ovaries located behind the uterus.

With uterine myoma, the nature and location of pain depend on the location of the node in the uterus, its size, and are caused by stretching of the peritoneum, compression of the nerve plexuses of the small pelvis. Often severe and prolonged pain in uterine fibroids is associated with its rapid growth.

However, acute pain may indicate a violation of the blood supply to the myoma node and requires emergency medical attention.

In endometriosis, pain occurs as a result of inflammation, adhesions and tissue fibrosis with the growth of endometrioid lesions.

When the internal genital organs are prolapsed, the patient is troubled by pulling pain in the lumbosacral region, which is aggravated by walking, physical exertion and heavy lifting. The mechanism of pain in this pathology is associated with a violation of the anatomical location of the pelvic organs, which leads to a violation of the venous and lymphatic outflow .

Thus, there are a large number of reasons for the occurrence of pain in the back. To make a correct diagnosis and receive adequate treatment, you need to seek the advice of a specialist.

Don't put off health problems. In our Center you will receive qualified advice and assistance from all specialists, you will be able to undergo all examinations in a short time and, if necessary, be hospitalized.

Make an appointment with a neurologist by phone: 8 (495) 790-71-72

Drawing pains in the lower back and groin in men, women: causes, how to treat

It is rather difficult to determine why pain in the back appeared, since there are many reasons that can cause pulling pains in the lower back and groin. Moreover, often the pain is not just pulling - it can be sharp, paroxysmal, stabbing, etc. In order to accurately determine the cause of this phenomenon, it is important not to delay contacting a doctor and prescribing adequate treatment.

Diseases and pathologies that cause lower back pain to radiate to the groin

If the pain in the lower back strongly radiates to the groin, inflammation or a degenerative process has probably begun in the spinal column or in the internal organs. It is worth familiarizing yourself with the main reasons for which pain in the back may appear, extending to the groin area.

Heavy physical work

This is one of the common factors that provoke discomfort and soreness. If you carry a lot of heavy weights at work, you may experience severe pain while moving. However, when physical activity ends, the pain may gradually decrease and then completely disappear.

Trauma

The causes of pain in the groin and lower back often lie in back injuries. Such pain is distinguished by the fact that it manifests itself at the time of exertion and is almost unbearable, very sharp. The area near the groin begins to swell, the skin turns red and swells. The pain may not go away for up to a day, and the patient is forced to take strong painkillers, and is also often in a forced position, since this somewhat reduces the pain syndrome.

Osteochondrosis

The occurrence of pulling pains in the lower back and groin is not uncommon if you have osteochondrosis in the lower back. This condition manifests itself in the fact that the cartilage tissue becomes not so dense, and the cartilages themselves become thinner and do not cope with their functions. The reasons may be low mobility, obesity, monotonous back loads, etc.

Arthrosis of the hip joint

Due to arthrosis, pain in the groin and lower back most often occurs in women over the age of 45. Both joints or one joint can be affected at once. It is not easy to define the disease, it disguises itself as a mass of others. The first manifestations may be that it “aches” near the buttocks, and the pain occurs with minimal exertion.

Herniated disc

With a hernia, pain manifests itself at the time of the load on the lower back. They have an acute "shooting" character, and only after a while the pain syndrome "descends" to the lower abdomen.

Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head

Pain in the groin and lower back often manifests itself in men aged 30-50 years, the pain syndrome is sudden and sharp. The condition is facilitated only by the use of prescription painkillers.

Intestinal pathology

The problem may lie in intestinal pathologies, examples are appendicitis, obstruction, or even oncology. Against the background of pain in the lower back with a return to the groin, it happens that vomiting, bloating and pain in the abdomen, impaired defecation occur.

Pain in the groin and lower back in men

In some cases, pain in the groin and lower back is detected, the causes of which are associated with the functioning of the male reproductive system. There are several types of diseases that can cause pain in the groin and lower back.

Varicocele

It is a fairly common disease that occurs in about 15% of the stronger sex. Varicocele appears from the fact that the outflow of blood in the veins near the spermatic cords is disturbed. Men complain that the groin hurts and at the same time gives to the lower back, pain occurs near the scrotum or testicle, more often the left one.

Prostate cancer

Lower back pain most often occurs with a long and chronic course of the disease, when the kidneys or urinary tract are already affected. The pains have a different character: long aching, shooting or short sharp. At the same time, there is a burning sensation during urination, a stomach ache, erectile function is disturbed, and discomfort occurs during intercourse.

Cyst of spermatic cord

The reason why low back pain radiates to the groin may be due to a funicocele, which means the development of a cyst - a cavity in the membrane filled with fluid. In this case, one side of the groin clearly hurts, the lesion can overtake the left or right cord. On examination, the doctor reveals swelling of the scrotum, the leg may swell on one side.

Pain in the groin and lower back in women

Treatment of lower back pain that radiates to the groin is often required for women. The reasons may be the development or exacerbation of various diseases. It should be understood that self-diagnosis is not possible here, and you will need a timely appeal to a qualified specialist who will carefully examine the state of health and prescribe medications.

Pelvic inflammatory disease

These include the uterus and ovarian appendages. The pain does not have a clear localization - the entire lower abdomen hurts, it hurts the lower back. There may be an increase in pain against the background of severe hypothermia, when the temperature rises, malaise and weakness appear. Often there are uncharacteristic for a healthy body discharge from the vagina.

Exacerbation of chronic cystitis

If the lower back pain on the right or on the left radiates to the groin, you have frequent and painful urge to go to the toilet, and the process itself does not bring relief, it hurts to go to the toilet, you want to urinate even with an empty bladder, then it is probably an exacerbation of cystitis. This can significantly change the color and smell of urine.

Ovarian cyst

Apoplexy of the right ovary is similar to appendicitis, as it is accompanied by nausea, sharp pain, vomiting and a decrease in pressure. With the left ovary, the situation is the same, only because of the localization of pain, the cyst in this case cannot be confused with appendicitis.

Trochanterite

If the lower back hurts on the left or right and radiates to the groin, this may be a symptom of inflammation of the tendons of the thigh, which is otherwise called trochanteritis. This phenomenon is sometimes observed during the menopausal syndrome, when the level of sex hormones in the woman's blood drops. The pain can be given not only in the groin, but also inside the thigh.

How to relieve pain

It is not always possible to immediately get to the doctor if the lower back hurts and radiates to the groin. Sometimes you have to look for a temporary solution that will ease the pain in the lower body before visiting the clinic. Taking antispasmodics, which include no-shpa and papaverine, can help. If you want to bring down the temperature, you can drink Ibuprofen or Nurofen, but if the temperature is below 38 degrees, it is not recommended to bring it down. In no case should you heat or cool a sore spot without the direction of a doctor. It is also worth providing the patient with bed rest.

Which doctor to contact

As it has already become clear, there are many reasons why there is pain in the groin and on the left or right in the lower back. It is not possible to independently determine whether it is required in this case to be treated by urologist-andrologist or gynecologist , by neurologist or surgeon. The best solution in such a situation is to make an appointment with a general practitioner. After the specialist makes an examination, he will make preliminary conclusions about your state of health and prescribe the necessary types of diagnostics. Based on the results of a more detailed examination, it will become clear to which specialist you need to be redirected, and whether it will be needed at all.