Lower back pain, whether constant or recurring, can not only cause discomfort, but also make a person's life truly unbearable.People who suffer from severe back pain are not only deprived of the possibility of playing sports, for example, or physical work - they often find it difficult to even just walk, stand or sit, which means that the most ordinary everyday 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 problem in time and start appropriate treatment in order 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 specific diseases, but to the influence of harmful factors on the human body.we are talking about:
- sedentary work, for example, long periods behind the wheel or in the office in front of a computer;
- excessive physical activity;
- prolonged stress;
- intensive training in the gym that does not match the person's capabilities;
- poor nutrition that leads to a lack of vitamins and microelements;
- poor quality mattress and so on.
In children, discomfort in the back is most often associated with incorrect posture, wrongly chosen chair and study table, as well as backpack and shoes.Excess weight can also cause pain in people of any age, especially if the excess weight 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.
However, if your lower back regularly bothers you, and even more so if the intensity of the sensation 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 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.
This group also includes congenital anomalies of the spine structure, as well as previous injuries.
If the pain in the lumbar region is of a reflected nature, that is, associated with disturbances in the work of nearby internal organs, the patient can 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 long-term 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 nagging pains during PMS and during menstruation, menopause or pregnancy itself.In the latter case, discomfort in the back often haunts the expectant mother for the entire 9 months, intensifying as the fetus grows and the load on the spine increases.
Pathological causes in women are most often associated with infectious processes in the vagina (candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis), inflammation of the appendages or inner lining of the uterus (endometriosis), the formation of polyps or ovarian tumors, as well as contraction of the uterus after abortion.In addition, in pregnant women, severe pain in the lower back can indicate the threat of premature birth or miscarriage.
Pain and its causes in men, in addition to all the mentioned diseases, can also be associated with inflammation of the epididymis or prostate.For example, in epididymitis, discomfort localized mainly in the groin area can spread to the lower back, and in prostatitis, in addition to discomfort in the anus, back pain on the right side often radiates to the leg and buttocks.
Types of pain
Unpleasant sensations that arise 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 feels can you understand what causes these sensations and how to eliminate their root cause.
For example, severe pain that haunts a person almost 24 hours a day may indicate osteochondrosis.It is difficult for a patient with this disease not only to lift weights or walk, but even to sit, cough or sneeze.Accompanied by severe pain and radiculitis, affecting not only the lower back, but also the hips, buttocks and legs.At the same time, discomfort and unpleasant feelings intensify, you just have to try to change your body position or walk.
Acute pain in the lower back in the vast majority of cases indicates muscle strain, excessively sudden movements, excessive physical effort, injuries, hypothermia or long stay in an uncomfortable position.In this case, the patient suffers from so-called "lumbago", which feels like an electric shock.Aching pain is characteristic, above all, of the inflammatory process in the muscles.They are most often accompanied by stiffness of movements, which is why the patient has to give up any manifestations of activity and stay in bed for several days.
Periodic pain can be caused by abnormal physical activity, uncomfortable body position during work or sleep, as well as pathologies of some internal organs.They completely disappear as soon as their source is identified and eliminated.If the cause of poor health is not detected in time, and the disease has managed to gain momentum, the discomfort associated with it can become chronic.It is about inflammatory processes or degenerative changes in bone and cartilage structures, damage to nerve fibers and circulation disorders in the leg vessels.
There is also a difference between local and generalized pain.With the first, 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, pelvis and legs, including the feet and toes.
When can't you do without medical help?
The first thing you should do if you feel discomfort and pain in your back is just to get some rest.It is quite possible that the reason for these sensations lies in ordinary fatigue, endless stress and worries, or a generally uncomfortable office chair at work.But if the pain does not subside or returns again after some time, it simply does not make sense to postpone consultation with a specialist.Moreover, if it simultaneously spreads to the lower back, hips, legs and feet or is accompanied by a loss of sensitivity in these areas.A good reason to see a doctor is also the trauma you have suffered - not only serious car accidents, but also seemingly insignificant falls on your back during icy conditions.In any case, if severe pain in the lower back does not go away for 2-3 days in a row, delaying going 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 unreasonable weight loss, without diets and intense exercise.In combination with frequent back pain, a sudden decrease in body weight raises the suspicion that the patient has a malignant tumor.
- Recent infectious diseases of the urinary 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 may be the result of damage to the spinal cord.
Consultation with a doctor for pain and discomfort in the lower back is mandatory for patients over the age of 50 due to the high risk of developing osteoporosis at this age, especially in menopausal women, and under the age of 20.In addition, any discomfort in the back after an injury cannot be ignored, no matter how long ago it happened, if there are serious changes in blood tests and if the traditional treatment used in such cases has proved ineffective.
Who can help?
There are so many reasons why a person can feel discomfort and pain in the lumbar region that it can be quite difficult to figure out which specialist is best to turn to for help.First of all, it is necessary to visit a therapist, but if the pain occurs after a fall or a blow, the patient must also consult a traumatologist.The therapist, after performing the initial examination and collecting the anamnesis, usually refers the patient to a neurologist or rheumatologist to prescribe further tests and examinations necessary for establishing a diagnosis.
If there are accompanying symptoms, the patient can be referred for additional consultations with specialists.For example, a man with pain that spreads not only to the lower back, but also to the groin, should be examined by a urologist for 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, computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.Using an X-ray, you can detect a violation of the spinal structures, see signs of inflammation and compressed nerve endings.CT gives a more detailed picture, allowing 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 may be referred for a general blood test, which allows the level of leukocytes to identify inflammation or infection, and based on severe anemia, it may be assumed that the patient has benign or cancerous tumors.Also, with lower back pain, a urine test is often necessary to rule out possible kidney disease.
After getting 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 usually consists of drug therapy, special gymnastics, massage, physiotherapy and, if desired, the use of traditional medicine recipes to improve the patient's condition without the risk of serious side effects.
First of all, the emphasis is on pain relief in order to ease the patient's condition and move on to exercise therapy and physiotherapeutic procedures.In most cases, pain in the lumbar region is effectively treated with conventional analgesics, but if necessary, patients are also prescribed narcotics to cope with acute attacks.
In addition to tablets, injections and local preparations - gels and ointments, which not only relieve discomfort, but also inflammation, improving blood circulation in the affected area - are used to relieve pain and discomfort in the back.In severe cases, the patient may be prescribed blocks - injections of painkillers that are injected directly into deep tissues.
The next stage of treatment is to reduce inflammation, for which non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.If necessary, muscle relaxants that relieve pain and muscle spasms, chondroprotectors, restore damaged cartilage tissue and B vitamins, strengthening the body's protective functions, are also prescribed.In addition, if back pain is not related to spinal pathologies, but is caused by infections, for example, affecting the kidneys or genitals, there is a need to take antibiotics.
Specially designed sets of physical exercises are another mandatory component of lower back pain treatment.By performing it regularly, you can not only eliminate discomfort and muscle tension in the back, but also slow down the inflammatory process by improving blood flow to the affected area.
A course of professional massage, which must be prescribed to patients after pain relief, helps to warm the muscles and relieve spasms, activate blood circulation and improve the patient's condition as a whole.In addition, physical procedures also effectively deal with pain: electrophoresis, UHF therapy, ultrasound treatment, laser therapy, mud baths, acupuncture.In parallel, you can also use medicines based on traditional medicine recipes - they serve as an excellent supplement to drug treatment, effectively relieving pain, muscle tension and swelling without the risk of harmful consequences.
Prevention of back pain also plays an important role, allowing you to avoid many health problems.Regular physical exercise, even in the form of regular morning exercises that tone and strengthen the muscles, adherence to the drinking regime, a balanced diet that provides the body with all the necessary vitamins, minerals and microelements and, of course, regular examinations by specialists that will help detect and eliminate possible problems without waiting for them to start posing a serious threat to a person can protect the lower back and back from unpleasant ailments.