Connection between Low Testosterone and Back Pain

The Connection between Low Testosterone, Back Pain, and Stiffness ‎

You did not exercise, sleep or move the wrong way, or lift something heavy. Why, then, does your back hurt? Your mind starts to worry about arthritis, possibly kidney stones, maybe even cancer. The reason for your back pain might be hormonal. In this report, we examine the connection between low testosterone, back pain, and stiffness.

You may feel pain or discomfort in your joints, muscles, nerves, or bones. It may only hurt when you walk, stand, sit, or move. For some people, the pain is constant, and nothing seems to help. What can be even worse is when the low back pain radiates down into the legs. Upper back pain can impact the arms, which can trigger concerns of having a heart attack.

As you can see, there are many fears associated with back pain. It always helps when you can get to the root of the problem to alleviate those fears.

The connection between low testosterone levels and back pain can be due to muscular or skeletal issues, or a combination of both. The level of testosterone decline can also influence the severity of the pain. Back pain can become debilitating, reducing your quality of life and ending all physical activities that you find enjoyable.

It does not have to stay that way. Testosterone therapy can help improve flexibility while reducing and possibly even eliminating back pain.

Before you fear that your unexplained back pain is due to a more serious condition, check to see if you have low testosterone levels.

Why Does Low Testosterone Cause Back Pain? ‎

The connection between low testosterone, back pain, and reduced joint mobility may be influenced by one or more issues.

The first concern is synovial fluid. Testosterone is an androgen hormone, and synovial fluid contains androgen receptors. Synovial fluid is the lubricant that keeps the bones in the joints from rubbing together. If these receptors do not get enough testosterone, synovial fluid may decline.

Why does low testosterone cause back pain that occurs out of nowhere?

It is not so much that it just happens overnight. Testosterone decline is a gradual process. Its effects on the body are cumulative. Some people have no idea that it is affecting their bones until they experience a fracture. If they have never undergone bone density testing for osteoporosis, they may have no idea that they are at risk. Back pain may suddenly appear after years of decay and declining testosterone levels.

That takes us to the next reason why low testosterone, lower back pain, and upper back pain are also connected – decreased bone density. Testosterone plays a crucial role in preserving bone mineral density. It is the source hormone for estradiol, a form of estrogen that slows old bone cell turnover. However, it is essential to maintain proper testosterone to estrogen ratio in the body to protect the bones. If either of these hormones is out of balance, the bones could weaken faster.

Next, we look at how testosterone influences growth hormone production and why that is crucial for reducing back pain. GH is the stimulator of cellular regeneration. Just preventing old bone cell turnover is not enough. You also have to ensure you have enough new bone cells to take their place. Growth hormone, along with insulin growth factor 1, provides those new cells.

An important fact to note is that growth hormone and testosterone mutually stimulate each other’s production. When one is low, the other may be, as well.

Low testosterone is also common in people who are overweight. Because both testosterone and growth hormone influence metabolism, their deficiencies can lead to weight gain. More weight on the bones can lead to wear and tear of the joints, weakened vertebrae, and possibly even osteoarthritis. OA increases back pain for many people.

Loss of synovial fluid, decreased bone density, weight gain, and osteoarthritis are all reasons why low testosterone may be influencing back pain.

What Other Factors of Low Testosterone Influence Back Pain?

There is more to low testosterone and back pain than just what we have mentioned. The following three factors may also contribute to your aches and stiffness:

• Enlarged Prostate

  Along with declining testosterone levels with age, men also can count on the likelihood that their prostate gland will enlarge. As that happens, it begins to crowd the bladder and other organs. It is also possible to get a urinary tract infection or develop bladder stones. The result can be lower back pain. A dull, deep pain in the lower back or stiffness in the pelvis may also be a sign of prostate cancer.

• Poor Circulation

  Testosterone stimulates the hormone erythropoietin necessary for red blood cell production in bone marrow. Low testosterone levels can lead to anemia and poor circulation. Since testosterone (as well as growth hormone) helps to keep cholesterol levels in balance, it reduces the risk of atherosclerosis due to clogged arteries. If there is plaque build up in the arteries, blood flow becomes compromised. Poor circulation can lead to cardiovascular problems that can cause fatigue and lessen the ability to exercise. Lack of exercise increases the risk of back pain and stiffness.

• Muscle Loss

  It should come as no surprise that muscle loss is on the list of issues contributing to back pain. After all, the muscles protect the bones from harm. They support the skeletal integrity of the body, cushioning us against injuries. Testosterone is essential for building and maintaining muscle tissue. A decline in testosterone levels often equates to a loss of lean muscle.

As you can see, the connection between low testosterone, back pain, and stiffness influences how you feel and move on many counts. Many factors of Low T go into reaching a point where back pain becomes unbearable. When that occurs, or when the quality of life suffers, it is time to act.

Other factors, such as prostate enlargement, poor circulation, and muscle loss associated with low testosterone can influence back pain.

How Can Increasing Testosterone Levels Reduce Back Pain? ‎

If low testosterone is a contributing factor to your back pain, then improving testosterone levels is the likely treatment. Once you receive a diagnosis of low testosterone, backache, muscular stiffness, loss of flexibility, and all the other concerns associated with Low T can become a thing of the past.

Testosterone replacement therapy provides the body with a supplemental supply of testosterone. Red blood cell production and circulation improve. Balanced cholesterol levels help reduce plaque build up in the arteries. Exercise capacity increases, allowing for more physical activity.

Improved bone density and muscle mass strengthen the structural integrity of the body. In all areas mentioned in this report, you will likely experience benefits from testosterone therapy. Height shrinkage is a telltale sign that you are losing bone density. If you notice a change in your height, do not hesitate to get your hormone levels checked.

For more information about the connection between low testosterone, back pain, and reduced flexibility, please contact our hormone clinic. Consultations are provided at no charge and are confidential.

Increasing testosterone levels can help reduce back pain and improve mobility.