Lower Back Cold: What to Do When Your Back Hurts During Flu or Cold?
Discover effective ways to relieve lower back pain caused by flu or cold. Learn why your back aches during illness and how to care for it properly to speed up recovery.
Lower back cold is a common term people use rather than a precise medical diagnosis. Regardless of the name, if you catch a cold and experience sudden lower back pain, immediate care is essential to protect your spine.
Most often, what is called a lower back cold is actually a side effect of the immune system's response. Sometimes, the immune system fights so aggressively against cold and flu viruses that it literally drains strength from muscles and joints.
Why Does the Lower Back Often Hurt During a Cold or Flu?
It’s well known that most symptoms during flu or cold indicate the body actively fighting infection. Lower back pain during such illnesses signals that the immune system is working hard to combat the virus.
When cold or flu viruses enter the bloodstream, the immune system immediately activates. This triggers a surge of protective substances like interferons and interleukins into the blood. The temporary excess of these substances causes fever and disrupts metabolism. Blood flow increases to critical areas for recovery but decreases to others like muscles, joints, and the stomach. This reduced circulation causes muscle weakness, joint aches, loss of appetite, and sometimes even cognitive sluggishness during illness. Lower back pain during a cold or flu is often a result of this redirected blood flow.
How to Soothe Lower Back Pain from a Cold
Warming the affected area can relieve lower back cold pain. However, avoid hot baths or steam rooms during fever as they strain the heart and blood vessels. Instead, use pharmaceutical warming ointments or aids like heating pads, wool belts, large wool scarves, and warming drinks.
Doctors usually recommend resting for several days to help the body overcome flu or cold. But if you experience lower back pain alongside other symptoms, avoid lying down for more than two days. Lack of movement causes muscle stiffness and can worsen back pain. Moderate activity is important—not intense exercise, but gentle movements to keep muscles engaged. Even in bed, you can perform simple exercises like pulling your knees to your chest and holding for a few seconds before stretching out. This helps loosen back muscles and eases pain.
If your back hurts, your lower back aches, and you have a fever, these signs likely indicate flu or cold, especially if accompanied by loss of appetite, drowsiness, weakness, runny nose, and cough. Usually, the back pain subsides as the infection clears. Using the above tips can speed up relief. However, if you only have severe lower back pain and high fever without other cold symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. This could indicate a more serious condition than a simple cold or flu.
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