Have you ever experienced an aching shoulder and thought it might be a urinary tract infection (UTI)? Some people may associate this symptom with a UTI. But the truth is that UTIs are usually associated with symptoms such as pain or burning during urination and frequent urination.
So, what's causing that shoulder pain? Let's dive into the topic of UTIs and find out if there's any truth to the connection between UTIs and these aches and pains.
Can A UTI Cause Back And Shoulder Pain?
A UTI, or urinary tract infection, typically causes symptoms such as:
- Pain or burning during urination
- Frequent urination
- Cloudy or strong-smelling urine.
In cases where the infection spreads to your kidneys, you may sometimes have flank or lower back pain. But this usually comes with a high fever, nausea, or vomiting.
Shoulder pain is usually not on the list of symptoms when we think of a UTI. In fact, there are no available studies that suggest that a urinary tract infection can directly cause shoulder pain.
However, in our search for answers, we did find two very rare case reports. These were patients experiencing neck and shoulder pain as a complication of their UTI.
Can You Have Shoulder Pain With A UTI?
According to this case report, an 81-year-old man complained of worsening shoulder pain for 1 week. This was accompanied by fever and chills. The man also told the doctors that he had been having symptoms of a urinary tract infection for the past 2 weeks.
Upon further investigation, the man’s blood and urine tested positive for E. coli. Escherichia coli is the most common cause of urinary tract infections. Because he complained of shoulder pain, an x-ray scan was performed, showing osteomyelitis.
Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone that causes inflammation and pain. The infection can start directly in the bone through an injury. It can also result from an infection traveling to the bone from another part of your body. This is called hematogenous spread or seeding.
The patient was given antibiotics, and his shoulder pain resolved along with his UTI. This is the first case report of E. coli spreading to the sternoclavicular joint due to a urinary tract infection.
Can A UTI Cause Shoulder And Neck Pain?
Like shoulder pain, neck pain is usually not on the list of symptoms to watch out for when you suspect a urinary tract infection. There are no available studies or case reports that suggest a UTI can directly cause neck pain.
However, there is a case report of a man who developed a neck abscess after having a UTI. His main presenting symptom? Severe neck pain.
A 64-year-old man with a history of mild cervical degenerative disc disease developed a urinary tract infection (UTI). He was treated with antibiotics.
Nine days after contracting the UTI, the patient developed neck pain. This was associated with associated muscle spasms and pain that traveled down to his shoulders and arms.
This case report suggests that a urinary tract infection (UTI) can lead to neck pain in some individuals. This is likely due to the spread of the infection from the urinary tract to the spinal column, leading to abscess formation and pain in the neck.
However, there’s a specific factor we need to consider in this case. The presence of pre-existing mild cervical degenerative disc disease in this patient may have made him more susceptible to developing neck pain due to the UTI.
This is rare, and most individuals with UTIs will not experience neck pain. It's important to note that this case is only one instance and does not represent the general population.
How Do I Know If A UTI Has Spread To My Kidneys?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) that has spread to the kidneys is called acute pyelonephritis. Some signs and symptoms that a UTI has spread to the kidneys include:
- Severe back or abdominal pain
- High fever (above 101°F or 38.3°C)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Chills and shaking
- Confusion or changes in mental function
- Flank pain (pain in the side, near the ribs)
- You may also notice changes in the appearance of your urine (cloudy, bloody, or foul-smelling urine)
If you suspect a UTI that has spread to your kidneys, it's important to seek medical attention promptly. Your doctor may perform tests, such as a urine culture, to determine the cause of your symptoms and to confirm a diagnosis of pyelonephritis.
What Is Urological Sepsis?
Urologic sepsis, or urosepsis, is a serious condition that occurs when a bacterial infection spreads from the urinary tract to the bloodstream, causing a systemic response known as sepsis. This condition is sometimes referred to as urinary tract sepsis or urinary sepsis.
According to one study, urosepsis makes up 25% of sepsis cases, and in 10–30% of cases, the urinary tract is the initial site of infection in cases of severe sepsis and septic shock.
What Does Urosepsis Feel Like?
Aside from the usual symptoms of a common urinary tract infection, symptoms of urosepsis can include the following:
- High fever (above 101°F or 38.3°C)
- Chills and shaking
- Rapid heartbeat
- Low blood pressure
- Confusion or changes in mental function
- Decreased urine output
- Abdominal or back pain
- Nausea and vomiting
Urosepsis can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. It's important to seek medical attention if you suspect you have this condition. Early recognition and treatment of urosepsis are crucial to preventing further complications.
When Should I Seek Medical Attention For A UTI?
If you're experiencing symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI), it's definitely a good idea to check in with your doctor. UTIs can be uncomfortable, and if left untreated, they can become more serious. So, it's always best to play it safe and get checked out by a professional.
Some of the complications that can arise from a UTI include the following:
- The infection spreads from your bladder to your kidneys
- Recurrent UTIs, which can be both painful and frustrating
- Increased risk of kidney damage, which can have long-term consequences for your health
- Urosepsis
Takeaway
A urinary tract infection is usually associated with painful and frequent urination. It may also cause your urine to become cloudy and foul-smelling. Shoulder pain is usually never on the list.
There are no studies that directly link UTIs and shoulder pain together. However, two journal articles report two very rare cases of a UTI infection spreading to other parts of the body, causing shoulder and neck pain.
It’s important to note that the cases discussed are extremely rare, and most individuals who do get UTIs never experience neck or shoulder pain.
