Numerous conditions can cause lower back and stomach pain. According to MedlinePlus, stomach or abdominal pain may occur in conjunction with lower back pain. These symptoms may be caused by two different conditions or by the same condition. Organs or tissues in the abdomen or lower back can also refer, or send, pain to other parts of the body. The source of referred pain can often be difficult to determine.
Pyelonephritis
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK, pyelonephritis, also known as a kidney infection, may be caused by bacteria that spreads up the urinary tract from the bladder. The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The most common causes of kidney infections is bladder infections, urinary tract surgery and anatomical abnormalities in the urinary tract that obstruct the flow of urine. Common signs and symptoms associated with pyelonephritis include back, side, abdominal and groin pain, an unrelenting urge to urinate, burning pain when urinating, fever, nausea, and vomiting and blood in the urine. In some cases, kidney infections can cause serious health complications such as permanent kidney damage and long-term kidney disease.
Painful Menstrual Periods
The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center states that painful menstrual cramps, also known as dysmenorrhea, are characterized by cramping pain in the lower abdomen, intermittent sharp pain, aching pain and lower back pain. There are two principle types of dysmenorrhea: primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea affects over half of all women who have menstrual periods, and has no underlying cause; secondary dysmenorrhea is caused by a preexisting gynecological problem. Common symptoms associated with painful menstrual periods include continuous or intermittent pain in the abdomen, back or legs, headache, nausea, diarrhea or constipation, and a persistent need to urinate. In severe cases, dysmenorrhea can also cause vomiting and interfere with a woman's activities of daily living.
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer manifests in the ovaries, the female reproductive organs that generate eggs, or ova. Ovarian cancer symptoms can be vague and difficult to detect, notes MayoClinic.com, and in many cases the cancer is diagnosed late in the disease process and has already spread to tissue outside the ovaries. Possible signs and symptoms associated with ovarian cancer include lower back, abdominal and pelvic pain, abdominal pressure and bloating, urinary urgency, nausea, gas, changes in bowel and bladder habits, loss of appetite, pain during sex, fatigue and menstrual changes. Certain risk factors may increase a woman's likelihood of developing ovarian cancer, such as a previous history of ovarian cancer or a family history of breast cancer, adds MayoClinic.com.
