Back ache

[Butchga62]

hey I have a question. I know I’m 66 yoa. I have been told I have some degenerative back issues etc

But this week my back Lower has really hurt. Although I have been told not to take ibprofin I did because it has anti inflammatory. Can your kidneys cause this? I met with a dietician to start a new eating plan. I still am bummed out that my number was 44. Being so new to this it worries me. Can I get this number up. I am a natural born stressor and have been trying not to be. My blood pressure was 140/85. Then I took it again 140/75 and then when it a tad lower. What is the best time to get an accurate reading. Sorry for all the questions.

Thanks stressed in Alabama

[Bassetmommer]

We are here to answer questions...Don't take ibuprofen at all. It is the worst thing for the kidneys. You can take Tylenol in small doses and not for long. Can you get your numbers up... very good chance of that. Changing your diet to a renal friendly diet will be excellent for helping. Make sure that all your meds are kidney friendly. Take your med list to your pharmacist to review. And lastly, get your BP down. Taking BP at the same time, whether it is morning or night is important. It will help you to get the Bp lower also. Talk to your doctor about that.

[Butchga62 in reply to Bassetmommer]

is there anything to take with an a inflammatory? My doc said I could take any amount of Tylenol is that not good? At night I take 4 Tylenol extra strength. I do this every night. And can your kidneys be causing it? Thank u. All.

[Bassetmommer in reply to Butchga62]

Tylenol can cause injury to the liver when you take high doses and for a prolonged period. The max I take is 1000 and only once in a while. And it really is not as good as ibuprofen, I know. But I was prescribed 1800mg of ibuprofen by my GP (years ago) and it is one of the things that damaged my kidneys forever!

[bbeba103]

Hi,I have serve back pain have been dealing with it for yrs I was told yrs ago that my back muscles were wearing out. Back before finding out I had kidney disease I was prescribed ibuprofen, which I took for many yrs not releasing the damage it would cause. I explained a few times about my back pain it's mainly on my left side then about a year or so the pain extended to the front side. Was told it could be my kidney stone that they couldn't remove due to the location of the stone, and since it's not blocking anything the stone hasn't been removed. I was also told it could be I was dehydrated I thought that couldn't be possible since I drink water like a fish literally. A month or so I explained again to my new primary Dr she explained it sounded like muscle spams, but because of my kidney disease my treatment options are limited. She said to stay away from ibuprofen, because it is the worse medication to take. I had two other options muscle relaxer, but one of the medications because of my kidney disease would further damage them. I was given a muscle relaxer that wouldn't hurt my kidneys she gave 20 pills 25 mg I have yet started taking them although she said it wouldn't hurt my kidneys I'm afraid. I asked if I could take Tylenol she said yes Tylenol was kidney friendly. I have avoided even taking Tylenol, but have when the pain, because to unbearable, Bengay helps me also, but recently it's not as effective.

Stay blessed 🌹

[RickHow in reply to bbeba103]

Nsaids (Ibuprofen) are not recommended for those with low kidney function. BUT all my doctors (I have cancer and CKD) neurologist, oncologist, cardiologist, primary care, kidney sat that OCCASIONAL use of ibuprofen is NOT enough to destroy your kidney function. In other words, for a couple of days when your back is really bothering you, a couple of Ibuprofen is not harmful. It takes constistent use to cause problems. Same with Tylenol. it is not good for the liver, but it would take weeks and weeks of frequent use do severe damage.

Now this is what I am told as a cKD stage 3 patient. Low stage 3, stage 4, would have different standards.

[bbeba103 in reply to RickHow]

Hi,

I'm trying my best to avoid Tylenol, and especially and Ibuprofen it's scary to think how medication can cause more damage to our kidneys. My back can get pretty chronic, but I'm holding back on taking anything for it. I'm looking into hot pads, and see if that takes some of the tension I feel. I was on three blood pressure pills, but when admitted in June they thought it was best I stop taking them. Recently I noticed that I had heart palpitations, and was started back on metoprolol 25 mg which has helped. My eGFR when admitted was 30 when I went back 3 months ago it 47 then they checked again it went down to 44. I might be suffering from anxiety every time I go see my nephrologist my blood pressure would go up. Trying to avoid thinking about this new journey, but hasn't been easy, and reading online sometimes doesn't help.

Stay blessed 🌹

Happy holidays

[RickHow in reply to bbeba103]

Here is what I would do if I were you. It struck me as odd that you were on 3 bp meds and they stopped them all in the hospital. But that might have been just temporary. The answer lies in your current pressure. Get a bp monitor. Take you pressure 2 or 3 times a day, each day at the same time, for about 5 days, and see what your pressure is. That will easily tell you if you need bp meds or not.

A heating pad is worth a try. I find the help from one to be quite temporary and I hardly use it. But a lot depends on what is causing your pain. In my case, disc degeneration (therefore 2 bones rubbing together, won't be fixed with heat. If yours is caused my muscular issues then a heating pad is a great idea. I found what works best for me is one of those Velcro back braces that wrap around the waist and midriff area. If my back is acting up, I wear the belft for a day or 2 (not when I sleep) and it helps a great deal. Also quite helpful is one of those knee pillows. They are shaped like a U. You put it between your knees when you sleep. Really helps.

[bbeba103 in reply to RickHow]

Hi Rick,Since 2019 I was taking three high blood pressure at that time my kidneys seemed okay. When I was finally diagnosed with chronic kidney disease stage 3, they did question why the pervious hospital I was admitted to put me on three high blood pressure pills. My nephrologist kept me on those medication until I landed having to be admitted at her hospital. While there for about a week they suggested I be removed from all my medications my blood pressure was normal. She suggested I stopped talking them to preserve my kidneys from further getting damaged, I believe my blood pressure is more caused from emotional stress. Last visit my egfr levels went up to 47, then I was ordered urine test, and also blood work my egfr went down to 44. She did put me back on metoprolol 25 mg, because I was suffering from heart palpitations which she found odd, because from my blood work I had improved in some levels. I see her in January. From what we last spoke taking me off the blood pressure pills wasn't temporarily unless I need them is my guess. As far my back pain it gets very tense, but I'm trying to manage it without medication for now thank you for your advice.

Stay blessed 🌷

[Butchga62 in reply to bbeba103]

I was under a considerable amount of stress in my last job. Do you think stress can bring about this. 2018 my numbers were 58. That’s when I got a new supervisor who was the devil herself. Three years under her later dropped to 40. I retired!!

[bbeba103 in reply to Butchga62]

Hi Butchga62,

I can't say for certain, but when I was admitted around May to the hospital the attending Dr said I needed to control my stress. Not sure what my levels were at the time I did get the news from my nephrologist by via email my blood results, and ended up in the hospital. My blood pressure was high, and had a hard time breathing, later I was told I was suffering from heart palpitations which would be treated with medication. The next day I was I had a blood clot in my lung first time I heard of this total shock. When I was admitted in June to the hospital where my nephrologist works I was taken off all my medications blood pressure was normal. They did say I could be suffering from anxiety which it's pretty reasonable every time I go to the Dr it's always seemed like all I got were bad news. They suggested I see or join a support group, and see if that helped, but I haven't. I'm trying my best to control my stress. Glad you left that environment, it doesn't help.

God bless you 🌷

[Butchga62 in reply to bbeba103]

yes it didn’t help but I gave up several more years to add to my retirement. But I started not wanting to go into work and hardly getting out of bed. I had to go. Now I stress over the right decisions? Anyways thanks for the input. I have my doc appointment Friday. I hope my numbers are up a little.

[bbeba103 in reply to Butchga62]

I don't think we will ever be stress free lol. Good luck on your appointment Friday hoping you get good numbers.

🌷

[Butchga62]

wow looks like anything you take will be questionable. I researched Tylenol as I was taking 3-4 a night. My doc said it was fine. But online research says it could damage liver? I know many people on this site deal with low numbers fluctuating but it’s scary when you don’t fully understand all of it. I’m trying to. Thanks for everyone and their help.

[RickHow in reply to Butchga62]

I assume you go for blood testing on some type of schedule (every few weeks or months, etc.). Watch the trend of your AST and ALT as these will tell you the function of your liver.

I think you are taking far too much Tylenol for a daily dose. And remember Tylenol does not cure what you are taking it for. By that I mean if you have an inflammatory condition, it just masks the pain. The advantage of Ibuprofen is it "attacks" the inflammation, not just hiding the pain.

[RickHow]

Your bp is a bit high. I am 73. My doctor(s) want my bp to be in the 130-139/77-80 range. An occasional 140's is not harmful. The key to measuring your bp is consitency. Take it daily, at least twice a day, for a week. Take it about the same time each day. Make sure you sit still 4 to 5 minutes before taking. When you take it, take if once, then wait 3 or 4 minutes and take it again. Average the two sets of number and that is your true bp. Our bp does not remain consistent. It goes up and down throughout the day. Also such things as caffeine affect it. Our bp is also different at different time of day. For example bp is lower at night as we approach sleep, it is called nocturnal pressure.

As for your back. Usually (but not in every case) very low back pain (below the waist line) is generally caused by disc degeneration as we age. I have kidney cancer. I was experiencing very low back pain. They did an MRI and found the cancer has spread to my lower spine in the lumbar region. 2 vertebrae were practically totally eaten away. They operated and filled those voids with surgical cement, installed rod to support the remaining spine. Shortly after I was experiencing lower pain again. A simple MRI of the spine, showed just disc degeneration. Steroids were considered to make it feel better, but they would counteract my cancer medications so I just live with it.