Low back pain, whether constant or recurring, can not only cause discomfort, but can also make a person's life unbearable.People suffering from severe back pain are not only deprived of the opportunity to play sports and physical work - they often find it difficult to even walk, stand or sit, which means that the most ordinary activities are a real test for them.Therefore, if someone has back pain in the lumbar region, it is extremely important to understand the causes of this disease in time and start proper treatment to avoid much more serious health problems.
The main causes of pain
Discomfort and unpleasant sensations in the lower back that occur from time to time are often not related to certain diseases, but to the effect of harmful factors on the human body.We are talking about:
- sedentary work, for example, long hours behind the wheel or in the office in front of a computer;
- excessive physical activity;
- prolonged stress;
- intense training in the gym that does not match one's abilities;
- poor diet, which leads to a lack of vitamins and microelements;
- poor quality mattress and so on.
In children, back discomfort is most often associated with incorrect posture, improperly selected chair and study table, as well as backpacks and shoes.Being overweight can also cause pain at any age, especially if the excess pounds have appeared in a short time.
The bottom line is that by eliminating the influence of the above factors, you can quickly get rid of waist problems and return to your normal lifestyle.
However, if the lower back regularly bothers you, and even more so, if the intensity of the sensations increases each time, then 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 related to the musculoskeletal system, and the second includes various pathologies of internal organs.
Lower back pain, as the main symptom, manifests itself when:
- lumbar osteochondrosis;
- osteoporosis;
- intervertebral disc protrusion;
- intervertebral hernia;
- spondylosis;
- curvature of the spine (scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis);
- arthritis;
- spinal tuberculosis;
- myositis;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- sciatica.
Congenital anomalies of the spine structure and previous injuries also belong to this group.
If the pain in the lumbar region is reflective, i.e. it is related to disturbances in the functioning of nearby internal organs, the patient can be diagnosed with:
- urolithiasis;
- pancreatitis;
- cholecystitis;
- hemorrhoids;
- chlamydia;
- colitis;
- liver diseases;
- kidney pathologies;
- benign or cancerous tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.
Unpleasant sensations in the lower back can be residual phenomena after a severe cold, flu or sore throat, as well as the consequences of frequent and long-lasting constipation.
In women, the lower back often hurts for completely natural reasons, which are related to the processes taking place in their body.We are talking about discomfort and nagging pain during PMS and menstruation, menopause or pregnancy.In the latter case, the discomfort in the back of the expectant mother often accompanies her throughout the 9 months and increases with the growth of the fetus and the increase in the load on the spine.
The pathological causes of women are most often related to infectious processes occurring in the vagina (candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis), inflammation of the appendages or inner mucous membrane of the uterus (endometriosis), the development of polyps or ovarian tumors, and uterine contractions after abortion.In addition, severe pain in the lower back in pregnant women can indicate the risk of premature labor or miscarriage.
In addition to the above diseases, men's pain and its causes can also be associated with inflammation of the epididymis or prostate.For example, in the case of epididymitis, the discomfort mainly localized in the groin area can spread to the lower back, and in the case of prostatitis, in addition to discomfort in the anus, right-sided back pain often radiates to the legs and buttocks.
Types of pain
The nature, intensity and duration of discomfort in the lumbar region are different.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 causes those feelings and how to eliminate their root cause.
For example, severe pain that haunts a person 24 hours a day can indicate osteochondrosis.A patient with this disease has difficulty not only lifting weights or walking, but also sitting, coughing or sneezing.It is accompanied by severe pain and radiculitis, which affects 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 your position or walk.
In the vast majority of cases, acute pain in the lower back refers to muscle tension, excessively sudden movements, excessive physical exertion, injuries, hypothermia or prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position.In this case, the patient suffers from so-called "lumbago", which looks like an electric shock.The aching pain is primarily characteristic of the inflammatory process of the muscles.Most often, they are associated with stiffness of movement, due to which the patient has to stop all manifestations of activity and stay in bed for several days.
Intermittent pain can be caused by abnormal physical activity, uncomfortable posture during work or sleep, and 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 discovered in time, and the disease has managed to gain momentum, the associated discomforts can become chronic.We are talking about inflammatory processes or degenerative changes in bone and cartilage structures, damage to nerve fibers and circulatory disorders in the veins of the legs.
A distinction must also be made between local and generalized pain.In the first case, the discomfort is felt in a specific place in the lumbar region, or it spreads only to nearby areas, for example, the buttocks or thighs.In the second case, the pain syndrome covers the entire back, pelvic region and legs, including the feet and fingers.
When can you not do without your medical help?
The first thing you should do when you feel discomfort and pain in your back is just rest for a while.It is very likely that the cause of these feelings is everyday fatigue, endless stress and worries, or a generally uncomfortable office chair at work.But if the pain does not subside or returns after a while, there is simply no point in postponing the consultation with a specialist.Moreover, if it spreads simultaneously to the lower back, hips, legs and feet, or is accompanied by a decrease in sensitivity in these areas.Trauma is also a good reason to see a doctor - not just serious car accidents, but seemingly trivial falls on your back in icy conditions.In any case, if the severe lower back pain does not subside for 2-3 consecutive days, postponing the visit to the doctor becomes dangerous for your health.
In addition, attention should be paid to other alarming symptoms that indicate secondary causes of lower back pain related to pathologies of internal organs:
- Fast and reasonless weight loss without diets and intense training.A sharp decrease in body weight combined with frequent back pain raises the suspicion that the patient has a malignant tumor.
- Recent infectious diseases of the bladder and kidneys.Discomfort in the lumbar region of such patients may indicate the development of pyelonephritis.
- Increased pain after rest or in the morning.It is considered one of the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis.
- Increased body temperature, fever.
- Decreased sensitivity of the skin and problems with urination and defecation, which may be the result of damage to the spinal cord.
Patients over the age of 50 should see a doctor for lower back pain and discomfort, as the risk of osteoporosis is high at this age, especially during menopause and in women under 20 years of age.In addition, possible back discomfort after an injury, no matter how long ago, should not be ignored, if there are serious changes in the blood count, and if the conventional treatment used in such cases has proven ineffective.
Who can help?
There are so many reasons why a person may feel discomfort and pain in the lumbar region that it is quite difficult to figure out which specialist is the best to turn to for help.First of all, you need to visit a therapist, but if the pain occurs after a fall or blow, the patient should consult a traumatologist.After conducting the first examination and collecting the medical history, the therapist usually refers the patient to a neurologist or rheumatologist to prescribe further tests and examinations to establish a diagnosis.
If accompanying symptoms occur, the patient may be referred to a specialist for further consultation.For example, a man whose pain radiates not only to the waist but also to the groin should be examined by a urologist to establish a final diagnosis, and if a vaginal infection is suspected, he should definitely consult a gynecologist.
Diagnostic and treatment methods
Only a qualified specialist can accurately determine the way to treat low back pain, making a final diagnosis after tests and examinations.In this case, the most common diagnostic methods are radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.With the help of an X-ray, you can detect damage to the structure of the spine, you can see signs of inflammation and compressed nerve endings.CT gives a more detailed picture, which 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 identification of inflammation or infection based on the level of leukocytes, and based on severe anemia, it can be assumed that the patient has benign or cancerous tumors.In the case of lower back pain, a urinalysis is often necessary to rule out possible kidney diseases.
After obtaining all the necessary results, the doctor selects the optimal treatment option, which can be conservative or surgical.Surgical intervention is used only as a last resort, so the treatment usually refers to drug therapy, special gymnastics, massage, physiotherapy and, if necessary, the use of traditional medicine recipes to improve the patient's condition without the risk of serious side effects.
Above all, the focus is on pain relief in order to alleviate the patient's condition and transition to movement therapy and physiotherapy procedures.In most cases, pain in the lumbar region is effectively treated with traditional pain relievers, but if necessary, patients are also prescribed narcotics to cope with acute attacks.
In addition to tablets, injections and local preparations are used to eliminate back pain and discomfort - gels and ointments, 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 of 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 spasm, chondroprotectors, restore damaged cartilage and B vitamins, strengthen the body's protective functions, are prescribed in parallel.In addition, if the back pain is not related to the pathologies of the spine, but is caused by infections, for example, the kidneys or genitals, then it is necessary to take antibiotics.
Specially designed physical exercises are another mandatory component in the treatment of lower back pain.By performing it regularly, you can not only eliminate back discomfort and muscle tension, but also slow down the inflammatory process by improving the blood supply to the affected area.
A professional massage course, which is necessarily prescribed to patients after pain relief, helps to warm up the muscles and relieve spasms, activates blood circulation and improves the patient's condition.In addition, physical procedures also effectively treat pain: electrophoresis, UHF therapy, ultrasound treatment, laser therapy, mud bath, acupuncture.At the same time, you can also use remedies based on the recipes of traditional medicine - they are an excellent complement to drug treatment, they effectively relieve pain, muscle tension and swelling without the risk of harmful consequences.
Prevention of back pain also plays an important role, so many health problems can be avoided.Regular exercise, even in the form of regular, muscle-strengthening morning exercises, adherence to the drinking regime, a balanced diet that provides the body with all the necessary vitamins, minerals and microelements, and of course regular medical examinations, which help to identify and eliminate possible problems without waiting until they pose a serious threat to the person, can protect the lower back from discomfort and discomfort.