Has anyone experienced back pain since they started the Atkins diet? My husband has been on Atkins since September 2003 and has experienced alot of low back pain since he lost 45 pounds. He said the crazy thing is that he never had the back pain before he lost weight. Just curious if anyone else has experienced this or if you have any suggestions.
Thanks

Maybe his body is getting used to all the weight gone. i know the first week I felt the weight gone off my ribs I would hurt laying in bed(the padding just wasn't there any more LOL)
so maybe his bed is uncomfortable and he is just feeling it cause no padding?
My husband is very thin and he is very sensitive to things like that because of not alot of fat padding...
just a thought

Does he take a pottasium suppliment? It could be cramping, although that typically happens in legs form what others have said.

It could be form the weight. If he is still walking like he has that extra weight, his posture may be pulling on his back. If you can encourage him to start a program to strengthen the back muscles as well as abs. Abs support the back and protect it form injury. A pilates program could be great, I don't know if it would be to femanine for him though (men can be funny that way). If he is already exercising, make sure he pulls in his abs tightly during the moves to support the back. Slow controlled movements with weights while the abs are in tight also help focus the exercise on the muscle group wanted and not rely on momentum.

Does he drink enough water? Could it be kidney pain or other pain related to dehydration?

Did he have the pain since starting, or just the 45 pound mark? It could be some event at the 45 pound mark that injured his back, he just didn't relize it at the time. He might want to see a doctor to be sure there isn't a slipped disc or cracked vertabrea.

I had backpain after losing 40lbs and don't have a "medical" explanation...but here are my thoughts.......

A LOT of my weight was in my stomach. So, if you lose a lot of lbs in your stomach, your spine has to adjust to a new way of standing, right (if you don't believe me, have your DH strap on 40lbs to his stomach now and see what it does to his posture).

Sooooooo.....spine changes equals temporary back pain?

My pain has now gone away. I bought a pilates ball and have been doing situps on it to help strengthen my abs. The ball supports my back while I do them.

Just some thoughts....hope his back improves.

lower back pain may be a symptom of being constipated....

I am sorry he is feeling this way. Back pain can be very frusterating. If the pain is right below the ribs on either side of his back in the scooped out area, its his kidneys. If this is the case, tell him he has GOT to drink more water! Mine will hurt if I am not getting enough water and I take any suppliments/big meal ect. You need the water to dilute the filtrate to a comfritable(for your kidneys) consistantcy.

If his back pain is elsewhere, then I am sorry that I have no advice for you. I have never experienced this phenomenon outside from me just needing to drink more water. HTH

Hi,
Thanks for all the replies. His back pain appears to be right at the base of his spine. At least that is where he is always showing me when he talks about his back hurting.
It may be that his body is getting used to carrying the weight differently. It seems like his back started hurting around the 30 lb weight loss mark and hasn't gotten any better. If he stands for long periods of time he is in pain.
I've told him he needs to go to the Doctor, but of course, being a man he has that "I'm ok, I don't need to go to the doctor syndrome".
Thanks for all of the suggestions.

i'm having back pain right this moment, it actually started yesterday when i woke up this morning. anyway, i figured teh samething, that i was my kidneys .

but the difference with what you said is that i stand firm in saying that i drink more than plenty enough water through out the day. half my day is spent in the restroom becase of the water consumption.

i'm slightly worried that this could be something serious. just the other week i had the same lower back kidney pain,but the difference is that that one.... it just went away after a day.

this water consumption thing. everyone talks about drinking water, thats the onloy thing that i drink is water. NOTHING ELSE but water at every meal and in-between. sooooooooooo i dont know.