Hi, I have been sort of worried about having something like this for a little while now. I have a constant ache in my lower back, and lately I have been getting some pains in my abdomen which are not excrutiating but they are sharp and localized around my navel. Could this be an Anuerysm and should I get it checked out? I have heard that an traumatic accident can cause an anuerysm. I have had a snowboarding accident a few years back which caused
two compression fractures in my back. I can't remember the exact vertebraes that were affected. I have been very worried about it and had a few panic attacks due to this fear. Everyone is telling me that its probably regular back pain... but I don't know.

Please help

Max

Max,


It's far more likely that those old compression fractures are causing your symptoms rather than an abdomina' aortic aneurism. The spinal damage can easily irritate a couple of nerve roots that can refer pain anywhere in the abdomen.

When my back acts up I also get colonic pain referral...you are probably getting referral to the front.

If this pain worries you to the point of panic, I would see my family physician. They are well trained in finding abdominal aortic aneurysms, by examining your abdomen and feeling for a "pulsatile mass left of the midline". Your pain/problem needs to be checked out by your doctor. Low back pain can come from many sources, from prostate infections to cancer. Not to mention the obvious, in your case, which is the spinal injury. I once had a few ulcers that felt like barbed wire rolling around, beneath my navel.

Here is some non-copyrighted info:

Approximately 75 percent of abdominal aortic aneurysms are asymptomatic and are detected during routine physical examination or during an unrelated radiologic or surgical procedure.

Symptoms of abdominal aortic aneurysm may result from expansion or rupture of the aneurysm, pressure on adjacent structures, embolization or thrombosis. The most commonly reported symptom is any type of abdominal, flank or back pain. Pressure on adjacent viscera may result in compression of the bowel.

The abrupt onset of severe, constant pain in the abdomen, flank or back, unrelieved by positional changes, is characteristic of expansion or rupture of the aneurysm. The cause of pain related to expansion of the aneursym is poorly understood but may be related to the stretching of the layers of the aortic wall, putting pressure on adjacent somatic nerves.


B-mode ultrasound is the screening method of choice for asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms. It is available in most hospitals, is relatively inexpensive (about $150 per examination), does not require ionizing radiation, reveals details of the vessel wall and associated atherosclerotic plaques and allows accurate measurement of the aneurysm in both longitudinal and transverse dimensions.

Cool, thanks.

Nice thing about Canada is that if my doctor has be go in for a test. Its free. I have an appointment today with him, so I will mention my fear.