Low back pain caused by a duodenal ulcer. 1998

D J Weiss, and T Conliffe, and N Tata
Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital & Care Network, Chicago, IL 60608, USA.

The common diagnoses in low back pain are lumbar strain, lumbosacral radiculopathy, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Unusual causes of low back pain that have been previously identified include abdominal aortic aneurysms, pelvic neoplasms, and retroperitoneal hemorrhages. This report describes a case of back pain that was apparently caused by a duodenal ulcer. A 54-year-old man with no significant medical history presented with a complaint of mid to low back pain (T10-L2), which was diagnosed as joint dysfunction. A comprehensive treatment program was prescribed and the patient was instructed to return to clinic in 4 weeks. Three weeks later, he experienced a syncopal episode followed by coffee ground emesis. He immediately sought medical attention at an emergency room, where he was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal bleed. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a large duodenal ulcer, and the patient underwent vagotomy and pyloroplasty. He returned to his physiatrist's office 3 weeks after hospital discharge with minimal back pain. The cause of the back pain proved to be referred visceral pain from his duodenal ulcer. This case is presented to reemphasize the need to include the uncommon phenomena in the differential diagnosis of low back pain.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010438 Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage Bleeding from a PEPTIC ULCER that can be located in any segment of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT. Hemorrhage, Peptic Ulcer,Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhages,Ulcer Hemorrhage, Peptic
D011183 Postoperative Complications Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery. Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D011706 Pyloric Antrum The region between the sharp indentation at the lower third of the STOMACH (incisura angularis) and the junction of the PYLORUS with the DUODENUM. Pyloric antral glands contain mucus-secreting cells and gastrin-secreting endocrine cells (G CELLS). Antrum, Pyloric,Gastric Antrum,Antrum, Gastric,Antrums, Gastric,Antrums, Pyloric,Gastric Antrums,Pyloric Antrums
D004381 Duodenal Ulcer A PEPTIC ULCER located in the DUODENUM. Curling's Ulcer,Curling Ulcer,Curlings Ulcer,Duodenal Ulcers,Ulcer, Curling,Ulcer, Duodenal,Ulcers, Duodenal
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014628 Vagotomy The interruption or removal of any part of the vagus (10th cranial) nerve. Vagotomy may be performed for research or for therapeutic purposes. Vagotomies
D017116 Low Back Pain Acute or chronic pain in the lumbar or sacral regions, which may be associated with musculo-ligamentous SPRAINS AND STRAINS; INTERVERTEBRAL DISK DISPLACEMENT; and other conditions. Lumbago,Low Back Ache,Low Back Pain, Mechanical,Low Back Pain, Posterior Compartment,Low Back Pain, Postural,Low Back Pain, Recurrent,Low Backache,Lower Back Pain,Mechanical Low Back Pain,Postural Low Back Pain,Recurrent Low Back Pain,Ache, Low Back,Aches, Low Back,Back Ache, Low,Back Aches, Low,Back Pain, Low,Back Pain, Lower,Back Pains, Low,Back Pains, Lower,Backache, Low,Backaches, Low,Low Back Aches,Low Back Pains,Low Backaches,Lower Back Pains,Pain, Low Back,Pain, Lower Back,Pains, Low Back,Pains, Lower Back

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