Differential diagnosis of sudden “cutting” colic in one side of the lower back and abdomen

Sudden “cutting” colic on one side of the lower abdomen is usually seen with urinary stones. It radiates along the ureter to the lower abdomen, perineum and inner thighs, and can last from a few minutes to several hours. During the attack of low back pain, the patient is bent and arched, sitting and lying down, pale, and sweating profusely. In clinical practice, attention should be paid to the differential diagnosis of sudden onset of “cutting”-like colic on one side of the lower back and abdomen. 1.Lumbar pain when bending, picking a heavy load or lifting a heavy object: when lumbar pain occurs suddenly after bending, picking a heavy object or lifting a heavy object, and there is tenderness due to muscle spasm on both sides of the lumbar spine, it suggests that it may be an acute lumbar sprain or lumbar muscle strain. 2.Lumbar pain radiates to the lower limbs: the lumbar pain is as painful as “cracking” and radiates to the back of the thighs, armpits and outer calves, with pins and needles or electric shock-like sensation, and the lower limbs feel numb and swollen after the lumbar pain. The patient’s symptoms are relieved after lying down, and the lumbar pain is aggravated when standing, walking, or even coughing, sneezing, or straining to defecate, suggesting a possible lumbar disc herniation. Low back pain, especially pain beside the 4th to 5th lumbar vertebra, radiates to one lower limb, and even has obvious numbness and swelling, and the lower limb on the affected side cannot be lifted with straight legs when lying down, suggesting that it may be radicular sciatica. 3. Low back pain with frequent urination, urgent urination and painful urination: low back pain accompanied by frequent urination, urgent urination and painful urination suggests possible urinary tract infection. 4. Low back pain with percussion pain in the kidney area: Low back pain, especially when percussion on the waist, should be considered as pyelonephritis, renal tuberculosis, perinephric abscess and other kidney diseases. 5.Lumbar pain aggravated by lying in bed: Lumbar pain aggravated when lying in bed, but alleviated after getting up, should be considered lumbar fibrous tissue inflammation.