Lower back pain, whether constant or recurring, can not only cause discomfort, but also make a person's life truly unbearable.People suffering from severe back pain are not only deprived of the opportunity to engage in sports or physical work, for example - they often find it difficult to even walk, stand or sit, which means that the most ordinary daily activities become a real test for them.Therefore, if a person has back pain in the lumbar region, it is extremely important to understand the causes of this disease in time and start appropriate treatment to avoid much more serious health problems.
Major causes of pain
Discomfort and unpleasant sensations in the lower back, which appear from time to time, are often not related to specific diseases, but to the impact of adverse factors on the human body.We are talking about:
- sedentary work, for example, long periods of time behind the wheel or in the office in front of the computer;
- excessive physical activity;
- prolonged stress;
- intensive training in the gym that does not correspond to the capabilities of a person;
- improper nutrition, which leads to a lack of vitamins and trace elements;
- poor quality mattress and so on.
In children, back discomfort is most often associated with incorrect posture, incorrectly selected chair and study table, as well as backpack and shoes.Excess weight can also cause pain in people of any age, especially if the extra pounds have appeared in a short period of time.
The main thing is that by eliminating the influence of the above factors, you can quickly get rid of lower back problems and return to your usual lifestyle.
But if the lower back bothers you regularly, and even more so, if the intensity of the sensations increases each time, there is a high probability that they are caused by much more serious reasons.All diseases that can cause back pain can be divided into 2 groups: the first includes problems with the musculoskeletal system, and the second includes various pathologies of internal organs.
Pain in the lower back as the main symptom occurs when:
- lumbar osteochondrosis;
- osteoporosis;
- protrusion of the intervertebral disc;
- intervertebral hernia;
- spondylosis;
- curvature of the spine (scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis);
- arthritis;
- spinal tuberculosis;
- myositis;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- sciatica.
This group also includes congenital abnormalities of the spine structure, as well as previous injuries.
If the pain in the lumbar region is reflected, i.e.associated with disorders in the functioning of nearby internal organs, the patient may be diagnosed with:
- urolithiasis;
- pancreatitis;
- cholecystitis;
- hemorrhoids;
- chlamydia;
- colitis;
- liver diseases;
- kidney pathologies;
- benign or cancerous neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract.
Unpleasant sensations in the lumbar region can also be a residual phenomenon after a severe cold, flu or sore throat, as well as a consequence of frequent and prolonged constipation.
In women, the lower back often hurts for completely natural reasons related to the processes taking place in their body.We are talking about discomfort and excruciating pain during PMS and during menstruation, menopause or pregnancy itself.In the latter case, discomfort in the back often haunts the expectant mother for all 9 months, intensifying with the growth of the fetus and the increase in the load on the spine.
Pathological causes in women are most often associated with infectious processes in the vagina (candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis), inflammation of the appendages or the inner lining of the uterus (endometriosis), formation of polyps or ovarian tumors, as well as contraction of the uterus after an abortion.In addition, in pregnant women, severe pain in the lower back can mean a threat of premature birth or miscarriage.
Pain and its causes in men, in addition to all the above diseases, can be associated with inflammation of the epididymis or the prostate gland.For example, with epididymitis, discomfort localized mainly in the groin area can spread to the lower back, and with prostatitis, in addition to discomfort in the anus, back pain on the right often radiates to the leg and buttocks.
Types of pain
Unpleasant sensations arising in the lumbar region differ in nature, intensity and duration.The pain can be sharp and sharp or nagging and aching, barely noticeable or painful, paroxysmal or constant.Only by understanding exactly what a person is feeling can you understand what is causing these sensations and how to eliminate their root cause.
For example, severe pain that haunts a person almost 24 hours a day can mean osteochondrosis.A patient with this disease finds it difficult not only to lift weights or walk, but even to sit, cough or sneeze.It is accompanied by severe pain and sciatica, affecting not only the lower back, but also the hips, buttocks and legs.At the same time, discomfort and unpleasant sensations intensify, you just need to try to change the position of your body or walk.
Sharp pain in the lower back in the majority of cases indicates muscle tension, too sudden movements, excessive physical exertion, injuries, hypothermia or long stay in an uncomfortable position.In this case, the patient suffers from the so-called "lumbago", which is felt like an electric shock.Aching pain is primarily characteristic of the inflammatory process in the muscles.Most often, they are accompanied by stiffness in movement, which is why the patient must refrain from any activity and stay in bed for several days.
Periodic pain can be caused by unusual physical activity, uncomfortable position of the body during work or sleep, as well as pathologies of some internal organs.They disappear completely as soon as their source is identified and eliminated.If the cause of poor health is not detected in time and the disease managed to gain momentum, the discomfort associated with it can become chronic.We are talking about inflammatory processes or degenerative changes in bone-cartilage structures, damage to nerve fibers and blood circulation disorders in the vessels of the legs.
There is also a difference between local and generalized pain.With the first, the discomfort is felt in one specific place in the lumbar region or spreads only to nearby areas, such as the buttocks or thighs.In the second case, the pain syndrome covers the entire back, pelvic area and legs, including the feet and toes.
When can you do without medical help?
The first thing you should do if you feel discomfort and pain in your back is just to rest a little.It is quite possible that the cause of these sensations lies in simple fatigue, endless stress and worries, or a generally uncomfortable office chair at work.But if the pain does not subside or after disappearing for a while it returns again, there is simply no point in postponing the consultation with a specialist.In addition, if it spreads simultaneously to the lower back, thighs, legs and feet or is accompanied by a loss of sensation in these areas.A good reason to see a doctor is also the trauma suffered - not only serious road accidents, but also at first glance insignificant falls on the back during ice colds.In any case, if the severe pain in the lower back does not subside for 2-3 days in a row, delaying the visit to the doctor becomes dangerous for your health.
In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to other alarming symptoms that indicate secondary causes of pain in the lower back associated with pathologies of internal organs:
- Fast and reasonless weight loss, without diets and intense training.In combination with frequent back pain, a sharp decrease in body weight raises suspicions that the patient has a malignant tumor.
- Recent infectious diseases of the bladder and kidneys.Discomfort in the lumbar region in such patients may indicate the development of pyelonephritis.
- Increased pain after rest or in the morning.It is considered one of the signs of ankylosing spondylitis.
- Increased body temperature, fever.
- Decreased sensitivity of the skin, as well as problems with urination and defecation, which can be a consequence of spinal cord damage.
Consultation with a doctor for pain and discomfort in the lower back is mandatory for patients over 50 years of age, due to the high risk of developing osteoporosis at this age, especially in menopausal women and under 20 years of age.In addition, discomfort in the back after an injury cannot be ignored, regardless of how long ago it happened, if there are serious changes in the blood test and if the traditional treatment used in such cases has proven ineffective.
Who can help?
There are so many reasons that can make a person feel discomfort and pain in the lumbar region that it can be quite difficult to understand which specialist is best to turn to for help.First of all, you should visit a therapist, but if the pain appears after a fall or a blow, the patient should also consult a traumatologist.The therapist, after an initial examination and collection of anamnesis, usually refers the patient to a neurologist or rheumatologist in order to prescribe additional tests and research necessary to establish the diagnosis.
If there are accompanying symptoms, the patient can be referred for additional consultation with specialists.For example, a man with pain radiating not only in the lower back, but also in the groin area, should be examined by a urologist to make a final diagnosis, and a woman with suspicion of a vaginal infection should definitely visit a gynecologist.
Methods of diagnosis and treatment
Only a qualified specialist can determine exactly how to treat lower back pain, making a final diagnosis after tests and examinations.The most common diagnostic methods used in this case are radiography, computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance.With the help of an X-ray, you can detect a violation of the structures of the spine, see signs of inflammation and compressed nerve endings.CT gives a more detailed picture that allows you to practically look deep into the spine and study existing pathologies in detail, and with the help of MRI you can assess the condition of the spinal cord, blood vessels, muscles and identify possible intervertebral hernias.
In addition, the patient can be referred for a general blood test, which allows the level of leukocytes to identify inflammation or infection, and based on severe anemia, an assumption can be made that the patient has benign or cancerous tumors.In addition, lower back pain often requires a urine test to rule out possible kidney disease.
After receiving all the necessary results, the doctor chooses the optimal treatment option, which can be conservative or surgical.Surgical intervention is used only as a last resort, so treatment, as a rule, is reduced to drug therapy, special gymnastics, massage, physiotherapy and, if necessary, the use of prescriptions from traditional medicine to improve the patient's condition without the risk of serious side effects.
First of all, the emphasis is on pain relief to alleviate the patient's condition and move on to exercise therapy and physical therapy procedures.In most cases, pain in the lumbar region is effectively treated with conventional analgesics, but if necessary, patients are also prescribed narcotic drugs to cope with acute attacks.
In addition to tablets, to eliminate pain and discomfort in the back, injections and local preparations - gels and ointments are used, which not only relieve discomfort, but also relieve inflammation, improving blood circulation in the affected area.In severe cases, the patient may be prescribed blockades - injections with painkillers that are injected directly into the deep tissues.
The next stage of treatment is to reduce inflammation, for which non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.If necessary, muscle relaxants, which relieve pain and muscle spasms, chondroprotectors, which restore damaged cartilage tissue, and B vitamins, which strengthen the body's protective functions, are prescribed in parallel.In addition, if the back pain is not related to pathologies of the spine, but is caused by infections, for example, affecting the kidneys or genitals, it is necessary to take antibiotics.
Specially developed complexes of physical exercises are another mandatory component of the treatment of pain in the lower back.With regular performance, you can not only eliminate discomfort and muscle tension in the back, but also slow down the inflammatory process by improving blood supply to the affected area.
The course of professional massage, which is necessarily prescribed to patients after pain relief, helps to warm up the muscles and relieve spasms, activate blood circulation and improve the patient's condition in general.In addition, physical procedures also effectively deal with pain: electrophoresis, UHF therapy, ultrasound therapy, laser therapy, mud baths, acupuncture.In parallel, you can also use remedies based on recipes from traditional medicine - they serve as an excellent complement to drug treatment, effectively relieving pain, muscle tension and swelling without the risk of adverse consequences.
Preventing back pain also plays an important role, allowing you to avoid many health problems.Regular physical exercises, even in the form of regular morning exercises that tone and strengthen the muscles, compliance with a drinking regime, a balanced diet that provides the body with all the necessary vitamins, minerals and trace elements and, of course, regular examinations by specialists who will help identify and eliminate possible problems without waiting until they begin to pose a serious threat to a person, can protect the lower back from discomfort and unpleasant sensations.