Persistent lower back pain - a possible sign of gallbladder disease

Persistent lower back pain - a possible sign of gallbladder disease

Gallbladder disease can cause a variety of nonspecific clinical manifestations in patients. Patients with gallbladder disease usually experience different symptoms depending on age and gender. Although gallbladder diseases and problems can occur in both sexes, females generally experience more intense and varied symptoms. The clinical manifestations of gallbladder disease are also influenced by the underlying causes of the disease and its stage of progression.

The gallbladder is a small organ located close to the liver in the upper right area of ​​the abdomen. Its main purpose is to help the liver digest fat by collecting and storing bile and then releasing this substance into the small intestine and stomach when needed. Bile produced by the liver plays an important role in the absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K. The composition of bile consists of water, bile acids, phospholipids, electrolytes and pigments. Gallbladder disease can be caused either by chemical imbalances in the composition of bile (which lead to thickening of bile and lead to the formation of gallstones), physiological dysfunction at the level of the biliary system, or infections of the gallbladder.

In the early stages of the disease, people with gallbladder disease rarely experience pain. The disease initially produces symptoms such as abdominal bloating, indigestion, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. As the disease progresses, patients experience radiating pain in the area of ​​the right upper abdomen, which eventually shifts to the lower back. Although lower back pain is not always very revealing in gallbladder diseases, it is still considered an important criterion in the diagnostic process. Recent studies have shown that patients with gallbladder disease often experience lower back pain in advanced stages of the disease. This symptom of gallbladder disease mostly occurs in patients over 50 years of age and rarely occurs in younger adults or children. Back pain in the gallbladder can be due to either severe inflammation of the gallbladder or biliary colic.

Biliary colic is a common cause of back pain. Biliary colic refers to the formation of gallstones in the gallbladder and bile ducts of the hepato-biliary ducts. Gallstones, also called gallstones, are small stones formed from excess cholesterol, calcium and bile pigments. When gallstones accumulate in large quantities, they can completely block the bile ducts and make it easier for gallbladder infections to occur. Combined with inflammation and infection of the gallbladder, biliary colic causes severe, persistent pain in the lower abdomen and lower back. Gallbladder back pain usually occurs in episodes, with each attack lasting between 20 and 30 minutes to a few hours.

The formation and accumulation of gallstones at the level of the biliary system is a common disease that affects more than 15 percent of people over 50 years old. Gallstones can be easily observed using ultrasound tests and computed tomography and patients can be quickly diagnosed with biliary colic. If you have severe abdominal and back pain associated with bloating, nausea, and vomiting, you should see a doctor as soon as possible to receive appropriate medical treatment.

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