How common is the symptom Back pain among people with endometriosis?
94,52% of people with endometriosis reported Back pain as a symptom of endometriosis in our survey.
How common is the symptom Back pain among people with endometriosis compared to the non-affected group?
35,52% of people with endometriosis suffer from the symptom Back pain very strong compared to a prevalence of 9,43% among non-affected individuals.
The following table shows the symptom Back pain in people with endometriosis compared to non-affected individuals. The scale ranges from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very strong).
| Symptom severity | Endometriosis | Non-affected | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| not at all | 5,48% | 21,38% | -15,90% |
| slightly | 6,46% | 21,38% | -14,92% |
| moderate | 19,72% | 28,30% | -8,58% |
| strong | 32,81% | 19,50% | 13,32% |
| very strong | 35,52% | 9,43% | 26,09% |
Based on the datasets, we calculated the Kendall correlation. The following symptoms could be related to Back pain.
| Symptom name | Correlation |
|---|---|
| Leg pain | moderate correlation (34,00%) |
| Joint pain | moderate correlation (33,00%) |
| Shoulder pain | moderate correlation (31,00%) |
| Limb pain | moderate correlation (31,00%) |
| Numbness in legs | weak correlation (29,00%) |
| Exhaustion / Fatigue | weak correlation (28,00%) |
| Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen | weak correlation (27,00%) |
| Dizziness | weak correlation (25,00%) |
| Kidney pain | weak correlation (24,00%) |
| Pain during urination | weak correlation (23,00%) |
| Headaches / Migraine | weak correlation (23,00%) |
| Nausea | weak correlation (22,00%) |
| Bloated belly / Endo-Belly | weak correlation (22,00%) |
| Shortness of breath | weak correlation (21,00%) |
| Lower abdominal pain | weak correlation (21,00%) |
| Frequent urination | weak correlation (20,00%) |
| Hot flashes | weak correlation (20,00%) |
| Pain during bowel movements | weak correlation (20,00%) |
Back pain is among the most widespread health conditions and complaints in Germany. Around two thirds of people in Germany experience back pain at least once per year. Women are affected significantly more often than men. In most cases, the symptoms are caused by overuse, improper loading, or a lack of physical activity. Back pain can also accompany menstrual bleeding in otherwise healthy women. However, if you have back pain in every cycle, if the pain is particularly severe, or if it increases over time both in intensity and in duration (chronification), back pain may also be a sign of existing endometriosis.
Endometriosis can trigger back pain in the area of the lumbar spine and the sacrum, as well as in other regions of the spine. The underlying mechanisms can differ: On the one hand, uterine contractions during menstruation are often stronger in women with endometriosis than in women without the condition. Because the internal female reproductive organs are attached to the spine and the posterior pelvic wall, stronger contractions exert greater traction on the spine. This can cause pain in the lower back. In addition, with endometriosis, accumulations of endometriotic cells occur outside the uterus. These endometriotic lesions are found in the pelvis, but they can also arise throughout the abdominal cavity and even on the diaphragm and in the lungs. These cell clusters are subject to the hormonal cycle just like the endometrium within the uterus. They therefore grow during the cycle and then bleed. This leads to inflammation, space-occupying effects (mass effect), and scarring, which can cause back pain both through pressure on the spine at the corresponding site and through nerve irritation. Furthermore, back pain caused in this way may also occur outside the phases of menstrual bleeding. Depending on the location and extent of the endometriotic lesions, the pain can vary in intensity and character. It is described as cramping, stabbing, or tingling. The severity of the pain is assessed using a pain scale.