How to Treat Back Pain From Gallstones
If you're feeling back pain caused by a gallbladder disorder, you've probably been diagnosed with biliary colic. This condition arises when gallstones prevent bile from draining out of the bile duct. It causes strong pain that can last up to several hours. According to back pain specialists Ambrose Hutson and Paul Osborne, four of five American adults feel pain in their lower back at some point in their lives. If yours is caused by gallstones, there are some conservative remedies you can take to control the pain.
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Instructions
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Start treating your back pain with over-the-counter acetaminophen. Back pain specialists Ambrose Hutson and Paul Osborne wrote in a 2005 article that if non-prescription drugs don't alleviate the symptoms, you should ask your doctor to prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) or opium-derived narcotics known as OPIOIDS.
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Ask your doctor about non-traditional treatments designed especially for back pain caused by gallstones. For example, ask about acupuncture, massage or even traction.
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Consult a chiropractor. Ask if he can perform manipulations to realign the vertebrae in your spine.
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Find out whether your doctor suggests epidural steroid injections. According to Hutson and Osborne, "epidural steroid injections....are directly introduced to the spine to control pain."
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Consider treating your back pain with diet. Paul Osborne, executive editor of the website, BackpainBeaten.com, suggests fasting from food for about three days while drinking lots of water to push the small stones out of your system.
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Continue with dietary changes. Osborne recommends drinking fruit juices following your fasting period and then gradually eating smaller meals after the pain lessens. He suggests a diet rich in vegetables and fruits once the pain is gone and to avoid fattening foods altogether.
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Treat the pain, even if temporarily, with a heating pad. Place the heating pad on your abdomen, beneath your rib cage.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're having trouble digesting your food, feel nausea or need to vomit after eating, you may be experiencing gallbladder pain which is exacerbating a pre-existing back condition.
While you are treating back pain from gallstones, avoid eating too many dairy products, which usually contain a great deal of fat. The gallbladder is the organ that helps to digest fat, but if you're consuming a great deal of fatty foods, bile can harden and produce more gallstones that block your biliary duct.
Never attempt to diagnose your own condition. Before proceeding with any self-prescribed treatment, check with your doctor who will probably recommend an ultrasound. This will confirm what is causing your pain and whether you may be suffering from another condition.
