Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLower Back Pain and Swelling in Legs and Feet from EdemaLower Back Pain and Swelling in Legs and Feet from InflammationTreatments for Lower Back PainTreatments for Swelling in Legs and FeetWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Lower Back Pain and Swelling in Legs and Feet from Edema
Lower Back Pain and Swelling in Legs and Feet from Inflammation
Treatments for Lower Back Pain
Treatments for Swelling in Legs and Feet
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Have you ever wondered if your lower back pain and leg and foot swelling are connected? Many different conditions can cause lower back pain or swelling in the legs and feet separately, but a few conditions may cause both simultaneously.
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Causes of Back Pain and Treatment Options
Edema is another word for swelling due to fluid buildup. Varicose veins, kidney disease, and pregnancy are a few conditions that cause both edema in the legs and feet and lower back pain.
Varicose Veins and Chronic Vein Insufficiency
Varicose veinsare enlarged, twisted veins that mostly occur in the lower legs. Varicose veins result from increased blood pressure and weakening of blood vessel walls and valves of the affected veins. Insufficient blood flow from the legs back to the heart causes swelling in the feet and legs. Symptoms of varicose veins can also include leg aches and pains, heaviness, and itching or burning sensations.
Although varicose veins do not directly cause lower back pain, varicose veins and lower back pain share some common possible causes such as obesity, pregnancy, and prolonged standing. That said, it is not uncommon for lower back pain and varicose veins to occur at the same time.
Kidney Disease and Kidney Failure
Kidney diseaseand resultingrenal (kidney) failurecan cause pain in the lower back below the rib cage and at the sides of the body.Renal conditions that affect kidney function also cause edema in the legs and feet due to increased sodium and fluid retention because the kidneys cannot properly filter out sodium from the blood.
Pregnancy
Conditions like arthritis, sciatica, ankylosing spondylitis, piriformis syndrome, arachnoiditis, and infection can cause lower back pain and swelling in the legs and feet from inflammation.
Arthritis
Inflammatory forms of arthritis, includingrheumatoid arthritis, can affect multiple joints of the body, including the spine, hips, and knees. Symptoms of arthritis include joint pain, stiffness, inflammation, and swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis may cause inflammation and swelling of the feet and ankles.
Ankylosing spondylitisis an inflammatory form of arthritis that most commonly affects the back and neck, resulting in neck and lower back pain, stiffness, fever, and fatigue. As the condition progresses other joints may become inflamed as well including the hips, knees, and ankles.
Sciatica
Sciaticaproduces pain in the lower back and down the legs from compression of thesciatic nerve. Other symptoms that can result from sciatic nerve compression or irritation include numbness, tingling, Swelling in the legs is rare.
Piriformis Syndrome
How to Sleep With Piriformis Syndrome
Infection
Infections can affect multiple parts of the body and cause a variety of symptoms.Cellulitisis a frequently occurring bacterial skin infection that affects the legs, resulting in pain, tenderness, redness, warmth, and swelling.
If cellulitis progresses, it can also causeosteomyelitis(a bone infection) that can cause lower back pain, andmeningitis(inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord), which can cause back and leg pain, weakness, fever, headaches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and other neurological symptoms.
The source of your lower back pain will help guide your treatment options. Some of the possible treatments based on broad categories of causes include the following.
Mechanical:
Kidney disorder:
Autoimmune forms of arthritis:Medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs,disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and biologics
Infections: Antibiotics or antivirals
Chronic nerve compression: Surgery
Pain medications taken orally via pill form, topically via creams or gels, or through injections into painful joints may be recommended for various causes of back pain.
Swelling in the legs and feet can result from a variety of different causes so treatment will vary. Treating any underlying conditions is necessary, and you should consult with your healthcare provider before attempting the following common treatments for general edema. Here are a few easy treatments to consider for generalized edema:
Back pain and swelling in the feet and legs that have not improved after one month warrants a visit with your healthcare provider to help determine the underlying cause. Having both symptoms at the same time without an injury to either your back, legs, or feet may indicate an underlying condition that needs to be treated.
If you exhibit significant pain, redness, warmth, and swelling in your legs, or experience fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, you should seek immediate medical attention as these are signs of an infection.
Summary
Lower back pain and swelling in the legs and feet are not abnormal or uncommon symptoms to have, but when they occur together underlying conditions need to be considered and treated accordingly.
Causes of both symptoms concurrently include varicose veins, pregnancy, kidney disease, arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, arachnoiditis, systemic infections, and sciatic nerve compression from piriformis syndrome.
If you have been experiencing symptoms for more than one month without any improvement, make sure you see a medical professional to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.
Frequently Asked QuestionsSome conditions that affect the back can also result in swelling in the legs if the blood vessels and/or nerves traveling from the back to the legs are impacted.You should go to the hospital immediately if you exhibit significant pain, redness, warmth, and swelling in your legs, or experience fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. These are signs that an infection is likely present.Back pain and general body aches are among the most frequently reported symptoms of COVID-19. Swelling and redness in the toes and feet have also been reported.
Some conditions that affect the back can also result in swelling in the legs if the blood vessels and/or nerves traveling from the back to the legs are impacted.
You should go to the hospital immediately if you exhibit significant pain, redness, warmth, and swelling in your legs, or experience fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. These are signs that an infection is likely present.
Back pain and general body aches are among the most frequently reported symptoms of COVID-19. Swelling and redness in the toes and feet have also been reported.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Raetz J, Wilson M, Collins K.Varicose veins: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(11):682-688.American Kidney Fund.Signs and symptoms of kidney disease.Soi V, Yee J.Sodium homeostasis in chronic kidney disease.Adv Chronic Kidney Dis.2017;24(5):325-331. doi:10.1053/j.ackd.2017.08.001The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Back pain during pregnancy.NHS.Swollen ankles, feet, and fingers in pregnancy.NYU Langone Health.Types of foot and ankle arthritis.Jankovic D, Peng P, van Zundert A.Brief review: piriformis syndrome: etiology, diagnosis, and management.Can J Anaesth.2013;60(10):1003-1012. doi: 10.1007/s12630-013-0009-5.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cellulitis.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Back pain: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Managing chronic kidney disease.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rheumatoid arthritis: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Raetz J, Wilson M, Collins K.Varicose veins: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(11):682-688.American Kidney Fund.Signs and symptoms of kidney disease.Soi V, Yee J.Sodium homeostasis in chronic kidney disease.Adv Chronic Kidney Dis.2017;24(5):325-331. doi:10.1053/j.ackd.2017.08.001The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Back pain during pregnancy.NHS.Swollen ankles, feet, and fingers in pregnancy.NYU Langone Health.Types of foot and ankle arthritis.Jankovic D, Peng P, van Zundert A.Brief review: piriformis syndrome: etiology, diagnosis, and management.Can J Anaesth.2013;60(10):1003-1012. doi: 10.1007/s12630-013-0009-5.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cellulitis.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Back pain: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Managing chronic kidney disease.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rheumatoid arthritis: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Raetz J, Wilson M, Collins K.Varicose veins: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(11):682-688.American Kidney Fund.Signs and symptoms of kidney disease.Soi V, Yee J.Sodium homeostasis in chronic kidney disease.Adv Chronic Kidney Dis.2017;24(5):325-331. doi:10.1053/j.ackd.2017.08.001The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Back pain during pregnancy.NHS.Swollen ankles, feet, and fingers in pregnancy.NYU Langone Health.Types of foot and ankle arthritis.Jankovic D, Peng P, van Zundert A.Brief review: piriformis syndrome: etiology, diagnosis, and management.Can J Anaesth.2013;60(10):1003-1012. doi: 10.1007/s12630-013-0009-5.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cellulitis.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Back pain: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Managing chronic kidney disease.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rheumatoid arthritis: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
Raetz J, Wilson M, Collins K.Varicose veins: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(11):682-688.
American Kidney Fund.Signs and symptoms of kidney disease.
Soi V, Yee J.Sodium homeostasis in chronic kidney disease.Adv Chronic Kidney Dis.2017;24(5):325-331. doi:10.1053/j.ackd.2017.08.001
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Back pain during pregnancy.
NHS.Swollen ankles, feet, and fingers in pregnancy.
NYU Langone Health.Types of foot and ankle arthritis.
Jankovic D, Peng P, van Zundert A.Brief review: piriformis syndrome: etiology, diagnosis, and management.Can J Anaesth.2013;60(10):1003-1012. doi: 10.1007/s12630-013-0009-5.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cellulitis.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Back pain: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Managing chronic kidney disease.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rheumatoid arthritis: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
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