Can Fibroids Cause Lower Back Pain?
Lower back pain is a common concern that affects millions of individuals worldwide, often attributed to various factors like poor posture, muscle strain, or spinal issues.
However, there’s growing awareness of another potential culprit: uterine fibroids. These are non-cancerous or benign growths that form in the uterus.
What are Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are the most common gynecologic tumors in reproductive-aged women with a prevalence of up to 80%.
These growths vary in size, number, and location within the uterine wall, leading to symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain or pressure, frequent urination, and, in some cases, lower back pain.
Can Fibroids Cause Lower Back Pain?
The link between fibroids and lower back pain primarily stems from the size, location, and pressure exerted by the fibroids on surrounding structures. When fibroids grow large enough, they can press against nearby organs and tissues, leading to discomfort. This pressure often results in pain that can extend beyond the pelvic region.
Do fibroids cause back pain? Yes, they can. Fibroids can also cause pelvic pain and pressure, which may radiate to the lower back, hip, and leg. This is because there are many nerves passing through the lower lumbar spine in the mid-pelvis. In some women, fibroids occupy the entire pelvic cavity, while in others, a large fibroid located near the back of the uterus presses against the spine and/or pelvic nerves (lumbosacral plexus). This compression can lead to significant back pain and can also cause tingling, numbness, and radiating pain in the thigh, hip, and leg—a condition often referred to as sciatic pain.
The connection between fibroids and back pain is well-documented, particularly when considering how these benign tumors interact with the body’s nerve pathways. Large fibroids can exert pressure on the lumbosacral plexus, causing symptoms similar to sciatica.
Can fibroids cause sciatica? Yes, they can. When fibroids press on the sciatic nerve, they may trigger symptoms commonly associated with sciatica, including radiating pain down the leg.
Understanding this connection is essential for women experiencing unexplained back pain. By recognizing the potential impact of fibroids, women can seek appropriate medical advice and explore treatment options that may alleviate their symptoms.
Can fibroids cause sciatica? The answer is clear—they can, and managing fibroids may be key to finding relief from this debilitating condition.
What Fibroids Cause Lower Back Pain?
- Subserosal fibroids arise on the outer portion of the uterus, protruding outward. They can grow quite large, potentially compressing nearby organs or resting on them, leading to pelvic pain that radiates to the lower back, hips, and legs.
- Intramural fibroids develop within the uterine walls, protruding inward. They can increase in either number or size sufficiently to enlarge the uterus, leading it to exert pressure on neighboring organs. This pressure often results in sensations of pain, pressure, and discomfort.
When large or multiple fibroids grow on the back of the uterus, they can produce pain like sciatica, which radiates down the leg to the foot. This pain can mimic symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy, where the sciatic nerve is compressed.
Consequently, fibroids pressing on the lower spine might be misdiagnosed due to the similarity in symptoms. These women frequently visit Neurological clinic and Orthopedic spine surgeon, who mis-diagnosed them as lumbar radiculopathy or lower extremity neuropathy. MRI lumbar spine would be unremarkable except that it might disclose large pelvic mass (uterine fibroids) in pelvic sections of MRI.
Women diagnosed with fibroids experiencing back pain or leg and hip pain should seek medical advice to ascertain if their symptoms are related to the fibroids. These symptoms would resolve following fibroid treatment.
How Can I Stop My Fibroid Lower Back Pain?
Let Dr. Sandeep Burathoki Help With Your Fibroid Lower Back Pain
Fibroids can indeed cause lower back pain due to various factors such as their size, location, and pressure on surrounding structures. It’s essential for women experiencing fibroid lower back pain or related symptoms to consult with a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and management.
With advancements in medical technology, treatments like Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) offered by experts like Dr. Sandeep Burathoki provide a non-surgical alternative for addressing back pain from fibroids. This innovative procedure is designed to target fibroids directly, reducing their size and the associated discomfort.
If you’re struggling with back pain with fibroids or other fibroid symptoms affecting your quality of life, seek assistance from Dr. Sandeep Burathoki to explore personalized treatment options and regain comfort and well-being. With his expertise in UFE, you can find relief from fibroids lower back pain and improve your overall health. Don’t let lower back pain and fibroids hold you back—take the first step toward recovery today.
FAQs
Yes, fibroids can cause lower back pain due to factors such as their size, location, and pressure on surrounding structures, leading to discomfort and radiating symptoms.
Yes, treating fibroids can help alleviate associated back pain. Options such as Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) may provide relief by reducing fibroid size and symptoms.
Consulting with a healthcare professional experienced in fibroid treatment, such as Dr. Sandeep Burathoki, can help explore personalized treatment options to alleviate fibroid-related lower back pain.
Yes, uterine fibroids can cause back pain when they grow large enough to exert pressure on the spinal nerves or muscles in the lower back.
Fibroids can cause back pain by pressing against the spine or nerves, particularly when they grow large or are positioned near the back of the uterus.
The link between fibroids and back pain lies in the size, location, and pressure of the fibroids on surrounding tissues, such as nerves and muscles in the lower back.
Yes, fibroids can cause hip pain if they press on the nerves that extend from the lower back to the hips, resulting in discomfort or pain in the hip area.
Fibroids can cause lower back pain by pressing on the nerves in the lower lumbar region, especially if they are located on the posterior side of the uterus.
Yes, fibroids can cause radiating pain in the lower back and legs if they press on the sciatic nerve or other nerves in the pelvic region.
Treatment options like Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) can reduce the size of fibroids and alleviate back pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers, physical therapy, or alternative therapies may also provide relief.
Yes, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional if you have fibroids and are experiencing back pain to receive a proper diagnosis and explore treatment options tailored to your needs.
