Lower Back Pain and Other Muscular Aches
My husband and I have been following Atkins for 3 months now. We are currently on OWL, and eating around 30-40 grams of carbs a day. Ever since we started the diet, my husband has had muscular soreness, especially in his left arm. We know it is muscular because he can bring the pain on by moving it a certain way. He has changed the way he slept, he has tried keeping it immobile, but nothing helps.
He has also started having lower back pain about 2 weeks ago. Again, he has increased his walking to strengthen the area, we have tried heat and massage, but nothing seems to help. He feels it is the diet, and I am beginning to suspect he is right. He had his annual physical one month ago, and was pronounced to be in perfect health, albeit fat (and with high cholesterol for the first time in his life *sigh*). The doctor feels that it is better that my husband lose the weight, but is suspicious of Atkins. We have started taking calcium, magnesium, and potassium supplements as of last week, hoping that this would help. So far, he feels no different. We have had some nice results from this diet, but we have also seen some odd things. Between his muscle pain and my hair loss, we are getting frustrated. I have searched on backaches and muscular pain on this website, and it seems this is not uncommon (this is where I got the suggestion for cal/mag & potassium). If anyone has had similar problems and resolved them, I would appreciate advice. Thanks! ~~Amaara |
the vits are good. Give them a bit more time, maybe, and check the dosage. Also, how's his water intake?? Is he exercising??
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hi Amaara, Is he taking a cholesterol-lowering medication? Muscle aches and pain are a side-effect of some of the statin drugs, and can indicate a serious problem of muscle tissue breakdown. If this is the case, please contact the dr ASAP as the medication will need to be stopped or switched to something else. Otherwise, the minerals should be helpful. Make sure he's drinking lots of water .. dehydration can cause muscle cramps and weakness too. hth, Doreen |
I too had a lot of back pain but it started much earlier, probably around the 1st month and continued through the 3rd month. I attribute my back pain to the fact that I lost so much weight and was carrying myself differently. Because I lost weight so fast the muscles were unable to "keep up" and it took them a while to be strong enough to support my new posture.
That's my theory and I'm sticking with it. |
Please pay exteme attention to what Doreen advised. My Mom ended up with paralysis from those drugs. The blood levels must be monitored closely. Once they hospitalized her and got her off the meds and then started her on some other, she was fine. I really don't think its the diet, but get him to a Dr. NOW. I would also think about finding a physician who is schooled in Atkins and go for another opinion AFTER the meds are checked. Good luck and keep us informed!
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This new WOE has taken my worst back pains away. Not sure if true but was told for every extra pound around the mid section puts 10 pounds of pressure. True or not, it sure seemed to be the case for me.
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After two months, the cholesterol can be high, but that should calm down. Unless it that some people are sensitive to arachnoid acid, and need to cut down on the red meats and eggs. I know I've read about this but can't find it on the web, perhaps another poster can expand on this.
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Doreen |
lower back pain can also be caused from constipation. you might want to take some fiber or something. when my lower back starts to really bother me, it is almost always related to constipation. as far as muscle aches i havent had any of those, but maybe give it awhile longer and see how it turns out.
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Please don't give up this way of eating!
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Just last week, so give it time, cause you really should have been doing this all along. I't's not going to change overnight. And putting on weight is not going to help a darn thing, right? I agree to about if he is on meds like Lipator, that damn stuff did my hubby in, he felt as weak as a kitten! He also has Parkinsons, but that Lipator made him feel far worse then the PD did. He is now on non flushing Niacin for chol. and it is working, he is checked every three months. The day he quit the lipitor he felt much better, his leg muscles seemed to wake up, his sore back went away! Hang in there, Kathy |
Thanks, all. The doc did prescribe Lipitor, and he took it for 3 days, then his back started hurting. We *immediately* stopped it, because of the known side effects. This was two weeks ago.
He is walking 30 minutes every day, but he hasn't been drinking enough water, imho. I had been nagging him, but he has begun (today) to dramatically increase his water intake. He hasn't been constipated. Thanks again. I will keep everyone apprised. ~~Amaara |
LACK of vitamin C can cause muscle pains. Please be aware of how much you may have changed that - do you take a multi vitamin with vit C in it? Are you following strict induction still? This could be the culprit...
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Oh also hair loss is very common with stress and your body views weight loss as stress, there was agreat thread on that with a link to a very informative article, look it up on here, if I find it I will let you know...
Here is the link site: http://www.lowcarbluxury.com/newsle...07.html#letters |
If the back pain is muscular, as you say, then perhaps it is because of the actual weight loss and not the diet.
The stonger your stomach muscles are, the stronger your back is. So I suggest situps or cruches daily to strengthen the abdomen to "carry" the back. |
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