Back pain when walking.

[Pippa80]

I have AF & high blood pressure and take atenolol, losartan and digoxin. I find that when out walking I get back ache across the middle of my back. It doesn’t occur when pottering about at home. I have to stop and rest for a few minutes. My legs are Ok and I am not too out of breath. I was wondering if it was the medication causing this or perhaps a muscular problem with my back.

I don’t think it was quite so bad when I was taking Diltiazem but I stopped this because it was causing my ankles and fingers to swell up.

I was wondering if anyone has this problem or can offer any advice.

[Hidden]

I think I would see a physiotherapist if I was in your position. You could ask the pharmacist employed by your doctor’s surgery for their opinion on the medication.

I say physio because I know one personally and she can always get me an appointment within a week, privately, whereas to see a physio via the NHS might take a few months.

[Pippa80 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply. Yes, it may be a good idea to see a physiotherapist. I did enquire about a group course but you had to be able to get up off the floor. Something I find hard to do!!

[HenryTudor]

Have your kidney function checked. Maybe you’re a little dehydrated. Just a thought, because I used to think I was having back pain. I had a scan a couple of years ago and when they injected the dye was told I would feel a warmth in my kidneys and only then realised exactly where they are located (rather higher than I’d always believed).

[mozart27 in reply to HenryTudor]

This seems sensible. Losartan, an ARB, might be affecting your kidneys. I'm not a doctor or a pharmacist but you are on a beta blocker as well, Atenolol. I understand that ordinary beta blockers (such as Atenolol) are not a good fit with ARBs. The only beta blocker which is a good fit with an ARB is Nebivolol. If you look on Google Scholar you should be able to find some medical papers which talk about this.

[Pippa80 in reply to HenryTudor]

I had a urine test last week as part of check up for newly diagnosed diabetes. The urine albumin: creatine ratio is 6.6 mg/mmol, the normal range is 0 to 3. However, my GP has put “no action” on my records. I cannot try to make an appointment until 14th March because the latest appointments are not released until then and it will be until the end of April before I can see him!The last time I had a urine test was in 2018 and the ACR was 2.0. Thanks for your reply, you may be right about a kidney problem.

[Pippa80 in reply to HenryTudor]

Thanks for your reply. I had a urine test last week and although the ACR was way out of range my GP has put, no action, on my records(. 6.6 mg/mmol.)I had a kidney scan a few years ago and a cyst was found on my right kidney but no action again!

[HenryTudor in reply to Pippa80]

Not very good really. I only found out I have stage 3 CKD when I got a copy of my medical records before buying a pension annuity.

[FrankWillbe]

Please also ask about having your heart checked and the possibility it is angina. I had similar back pain when walking fast and playing badminton. I always thought it was an old muscle injury causing problems but later on after HA and bypass op the consultant shared a few thoughts while reviewing my history.

[Will_2 in reply to FrankWillbe]

I would agree that angina should be ruled out. A few years ago I started having back pain like that when walking uphill and wound up being diagnosed as having a blockage in the LAD. I'm so thankful it got caught before I had a heart attack.

[Pippa80 in reply to Will_2]

Yes, I will get it checked.

although it is only in my back not my chest. Thanks for your advice.

[Pippa80 in reply to FrankWillbe]

Thanks for your advice. My GP doesn’t seem concerned. He said last time I saw him “What do you expect at your age” (84). Tried to change to another GP but no luck! Best wishes

[junik53]

I think when we are. Poorly like this our bodies get out of condition , I know I get backache when walking due to lack of tone in my core , I strive to do excersizes to strengthen my tummy muscles. You will know it’s this if when you really hold your tummy in the backache nearly disappears. Good luck .

[Pippa80 in reply to junik53]

Yes, I do not exercise as much as I should do. I used to be quite active but since having AF my activity level has dropped considerably since I cannot walk far without getting out of breath and tired. I have been pottering around in the garden because of the lovely weather these last few days. So I hope that helps. Thanks for your reply.

[phebamom]

I am on Losartan for at least the past ten years. I have a rare form of Multiple Myeloma, MGRS. The cancer was attacking my kidneys. Since chemo and stem cell I now have low blood pressure, so the treatment is working. BP used to be 180/110, now it is usually 118/77 I have stage 3 kidney disease from the cancer. I get a low to mid back ache when my kidneys act up, especially the one on the left and also when I am constipated, and it puts pressure on my kidneys. I just try to keep things from going off kilter. I drink 4 28 oz. glasses of water every 24 hours, more or less. I do not drink soda pop or other sugary drinks, just water. Prior to treatment for the cancer I was on Losartan, Hydrochlorothiazide and Verapamil. I was taken off of Verapamil and the hydro 6 weeks ago. My cognition improved dramatically off of Verapamil. I had a DVT during stem cell so am also on Eliquis, which also lowers my BP.

Can you find out what your kidney numbers are. There is a number they use called a GFR. It stands for Glomerular filtration rate . Also what is your creatinine level? That is another marker they use. My creatinine is always somewhat high, but is better than it used to be. I limit meat consumption to 4 oz. per day. Meat has creatine, which becomes creatinine and kidneys have a hard time with it. We raise beef cattle so no small irony there.

For an example my husband who is in perfect health has a GFR in the upper 90s, meaning his kidneys function at over 90% of what they should. My last GFR was 31, which means my kidneys function about 31 percent of what they should, 100 being the max. Prior to stem cell my GFR was 22.

[Pippa80 in reply to phebamom]

From my urine test last week my creatine rate was 9.4mmol.L my albumin rate was 62mg/L and the ratio (ACR) was 6.6 mg/mmol I do not know what my GFR number is, I’m afraid. I wish you well.

[phebamom in reply to Pippa80]

You seriously need to be seeing a good kidney specialist. I was heading quickly to dialysis when I was referred to a wonderful kidney specialist. She suspected something so she did a kidney biopsy and found the cancer. I had been having issues for at least 3 or 4 years. She saved my life. Some doctors just wait for their patients to get to dialysis. This doctor fights to keep her patients off of dialysis. Find a good doctor. Your creatinine level is dangerously high. If you eat meat, reduce consumption to 4 oz. per day. That is the size of a deck of playing cards. Drink a lot of water. Do not drink fizzy drinks of any kind, diet or otherwise.

[Sharpglo]

it could be water retention. I get severe pain beneath rh rib, through to back etc. after being on feet for a couple ofhour or more, physical. You can get pain all over. Explained to me that lungs and liver have a thin sheath around them and this is where fluid gathers if the heart is not sending sufficient blood to virtal organs e.g. Kidney. Ask Dr. I'm on a diuretic but can only take 1/2 tab as kidneys ache. Fluid, I believe as they picked it up on me once, via an X-ray. All the very best.

[Pippa80 in reply to Sharpglo]

Thank you,yes I am on a diuretic ,Fruesomide,for water retention. This was for swollen ankles and breathlessness. GP not keen on increasing dose since it could put too much pressure on kidneys. The pain in my back isn’t severe, it’s a dull ache across the middle of my back. I was wondering if it was my posture because I do have a tendency to stoop. Best Wishes.