Awful backache after illness - connected?

[FreezerBird]

I spent four days (starting Christmas Day) in bed with sore swollen throat and other cold symptoms; couldn't speak or swallow for about 24h of it. Was properly ill - DH said he's never seen me like that before and we've been together about 20 yes.

Gradually getting better since the weekend. Now just a bit snotty with one very blocked up ear and occasional cough, but very tired and just feeling a bit out of it.

But also have this weird back ache. It's in my lower back, lumbar/sacral I reckon, but it's not like any back pain I've had before. At times it almost feels like it reaches around to the front of my hip bone. I can't find a comfortable position apart from a slight slump which can't be good. It's slightly affecting my mobility as I'm moving very gingerly. It varies from just being aware of it to it really hurting to the point of being a bit tearful.

It just doesn't feel like back pain I've had before (generally from bad posture, sleeping funny or a weak core), and I can't work out whether it's in some way connected with being ill before.

Am I missing something I should be concerned about?

I can’t tell you what it is but can empathise. Both my husband and myself had a vomiting bug around two years ago and afterwards, we both got really bad back pain. Mine hurt so much that I struggled to walk. I don’t know what caused it as it passed before I went to see anyone about it. I found painkillers and a heat pouch really helped.

Hope you get better soon OP :-)

I would imagine it's a combination of four days in bed, which will not have been great for your back muscles and possibly a bit of dehydration thrown in.
Plenty of fluids and some really gentle stretches to wake up glutes, hamstrings and lower back.
Obviously if it gets worse go to GP. Hope you feel better soon.

Were you drinking enough when you were ill ? You might have a uti if you haven't taken in enough fluid and you are feeling it in your back.

I would also agree that a huge contributing factor will have been 4 days spent in bed!
I suffered a couple of slipped discs a while ago and even now my back aches something chronic if I spend too long in bed.
Annoying but you’re probably just stiff and need stretching out a bit.

Were you drinking enough when you were ill ?

Definitely not when I was at my worst, but I was aware of that and have been making sure to drink plenty of fluids since. No other uti symptoms but will keep an eye on it.

Build up of oxalate crystals in your kidneys maybe. So not to the point where you have stones but enough that they're causing discomfort. Due to not drinking enough fluids.

Drink lots of water. Cut down on vitamin C for a week or two. Increase how much calcium you're having so yogurts and salmon would be good. Avoid foods high in oxalate (google will point you in the right direction).

All this is only if you think it's kidney related and only if you're not having issues with urinating. If you get any trouble there go to your gp asap in case it's a uti.

Purely guessing obviously and just from my own experience. It might just be from lying in bed for a longer time than usual. I hope you feel better soon.

Oh and if you do think it might be your kidneys (usually you'd feel achy generally too but again, this is pure speculation that it's that.) then sour cherry juice is excellent for it.