Can internal organs refer pain to the lower back?
Yes, they can, and here's what to do about it
I was listening to On Being earlier with Krista Tippett. During the podcast (Episode 1,094), she was interviewing James Bridle who wrote Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence. They talk a good bit about the interconnectedness of humans with the natural world, that we are a part of the natural world, and all things that exist together have all evolved together.
It made me start to think how hard it is to determine the cause of lower back pain. Is it a muscle? Is it a bone or joint? Is it a nerve? Is it from another organ that sits close to the spine? Are there internal organs that can cause back pain? All of these structures are so interconnected.
We know that muscles and joints can cause pain in the lower back. Nerves can get irritated and cause pain in the lower back and legs. There are several organs and medical issues related to the internal organs that can refer pain to the lower back such as the kidneys, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, ulcerative colitis, appendix and pancreas. Typically, with organ dysfunction, you can experience a sudden flare up or sudden onset of pain not related to any particular activity. You may not only have back pain but also may have a fever or a change in typical behavior such as increased frequency of urination in the case of the kidneys, heavy bleeding or increased bleeding in the case of fibroids, increased bowel movement frequency with changes in consistency, nausea and vomiting among other symptoms.
If you have a sudden change in your pain or have any of the symptoms above, I would strongly encourage you to see your medical provider.
I find the connection between the organs and the lower back interesting. If the muscles, tendons, and nerves move, what about the organs?
From The Barral Institute website, I saw this statement:
“Your body is made up of many interrelated components such as bones, muscles, nerves, a thin connective tissue called fascia, as well as the internal organs (viscera). Your organs are in perpetual motion. When you breathe, walk and stretch, your organs move in your chest and abdomen. For example, when you take a breath, your kidneys move one inch; and with deep inhalation, they move 4 inches. In a day, they move a little over ½ mile. That's around 19,000 miles in a lifetime!”
According to Yu-Lun Tsai, the liver moves up and back during an inhale up to 11 mm.1
Another study2 showed that the pancreas can move up to 3.4 cm during inhalation.
If you recall from this post, I mentioned how the diaphragm and pelvic floor move together to create the space for the organs to move during inhalation and exhalation. There is a synchronous movement of the diaphragm and pelvic floor moving in a downward position during the inhale and then returning to its original position during an exhale. When there is an imbalance within our own system, just as when there are imbalances in the natural world, pain can occur. Pain can be experienced many different ways. I wonder if our breathing is shallow, do the organs not get the movement they need to function pain-free? Because of the fascia that surrounds the organs and muscles, are they communicating with each other and sensing the movement of each other as we breathe in and out?
Let’s take a moment to breathe and help mobilize our organs. Inhale, allowing the belly to expand. Continue with a slow inhale through the nose, if you can, feeling the lower ribcage expand in the front, on the sides and in the back. Continue with the inhale until you feel the upper ribcage/chest rise. Pause, holding the breath. Slowly, exhale allowing the chest to fall, the ribs to return to their resting position and then the belly to retract inward. Pause and hold the breath. Practice these deep breaths for five minutes without trying to force the inhale or the exhale. Notice what you feel.
Maybe with practicing these deeper breaths, our organs will naturally move, freeing up some of the space within our body to allow for a more harmonious existence between all of our internal systems.
Take good care,
Sharon
https://rdcu.be/c65ZW
Bhasin DK, Rana SS, Jahagirdar S, Nagi B. Does the pancreas move with respiration? J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006 Sep;21(9):1424-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2006.04324.x. PMID: 16911687.