Low 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 play sports, for example, or physical work, but 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 suffers from back pain in the lumbar region, it is extremely important to understand the causes of this ailment in time and start adequate treatment to avoid much more serious health problems.
Main causes of pain
Discomfort and unpleasant sensations in the lower back that occur from time to time are often associated not with specific diseases, but with the impact of adverse 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 the computer;
- excessive physical activity;
- prolonged stress;
- intense training in the gym that does not match a person's capabilities;
- poor nutrition leading to a deficiency of vitamins and microelements;
- poor quality mattress and so on.
In children, back discomfort is often associated with poor posture, an incorrectly selected chair and study table, as well as a 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.
However, if your lower back bothers you regularly, and even more so if the intensity of sensations increases every time, it is very likely 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 the internal organs.
Low back pain 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 anomalies of the structure of the spine and previous injuries.
If the pain in the lumbar region is of a reflex nature, that is, associated with disorders in the functioning of nearby internal organs, the patient can be diagnosed:
- urolithiasis;
- pancreatitis;
- cholecystitis;
- hemorrhoids;
- chlamydia;
- colitis;
- liver disease;
- kidney disease;
- 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 occurring in their body.We are talking about discomfort and nagging pain during premenstrual syndrome and during menstruation itself, menopause or pregnancy.In the latter case, back discomfort often haunts the expectant mother throughout the entire 9 months, intensifying as the fetus grows and the load on the spine increases.
Pathological causes in women are often associated with infectious processes in the vagina (candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis), inflammation of the appendages or the inner lining of the uterus (endometriosis), the formation of polyps or ovarian tumors, as well as contraction of the uterus after an abortion.Also, in pregnant women, severe pain in the lower back may indicate 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 prostate.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
The unpleasant sensations that occur in the lumbar region vary in nature, intensity and duration.The pain can be sharp and sharp or annoying and aching, barely noticeable or aching, paroxysmal or constant.Only by understanding what exactly a person feels can you understand what causes these sensations and how to eliminate the root cause.
For example, severe pain that haunts a person almost 24 hours a day may indicate osteochondrosis.A patient suffering from this disease has difficulty not only lifting weights or walking, but also sitting, coughing or sneezing.It accompanies 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 changing the position of your body or walking.
Sharp pain in the lower back in the vast majority of cases indicates muscle fatigue, excessively sudden movements, excessive physical exertion, injury, hypothermia or a long stay in an uncomfortable position.In this case the patient suffers from so-called "low back pain", which feels like an electric shock.Aching pain is characteristic, first of all, of the inflammatory process in the muscles.Very often they are accompanied by stiffness in movements, due to which the patient has to give up any manifestations of activity and remain in bed for several days.
Periodic pain can be caused by abnormal physical activity, an 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 discovered in time and the disease manages to gain momentum, the discomfort associated with it can become chronic.We are talking about inflammatory processes or degenerative changes in bone and cartilaginous structures, damage to nerve fibers and circulatory disorders in the vessels of the legs.
There is also a distinction between local and generalized pain.In the first case, the discomfort is felt in a specific point of 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 region and legs, including the feet and fingers.
When can't you do without medical help?
The first thing you need to do if you experience discomfort and pain in your back is to simply get some rest.It is quite possible that the reason for these sensations lies in ordinary fatigue, stress and endless worries or a generally uncomfortable office chair at work.But if the pain does not decrease or, after disappearing for a while, returns, there is simply no point in postponing the consultation with a specialist.Also, if it spreads simultaneously to the lower back, hips, legs and feet or is accompanied by loss of sensation in these areas.A good reason to visit a doctor is also the trauma you have suffered: not only serious car accidents, but also seemingly trivial falls on your back in icy conditions.In any case, if the severe back pain does not subside for 2-3 consecutive days, postponing 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 low back pain associated with pathologies of internal organs:
- Rapid and causeless weight loss, without dieting or intense exercise.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.Considered as one of the signs of ankylosing spondylitis.
- Increased body temperature, fever.
- Decreased skin sensitivity, as well as problems with urination and defecation, which may be a consequence of damage to the spinal cord.
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 women in menopause and under 20 years of age.Furthermore, any back discomfort cannot be ignored after an injury, no matter how long ago it occurred, if there are serious changes in blood tests and if the traditional treatment used in these cases has proven ineffective.
Who can help?
There are so many reasons that can lead a person to experience 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 need to visit a therapist, but if the pain occurs after a fall or blow, the patient should also consult a traumatologist.The therapist, after having carried out an initial visit and collected the medical history, usually refers the patient to a neurologist or rheumatologist to prescribe further tests and tests necessary to formulate the diagnosis.
If accompanying symptoms are present, the patient may be referred for further consultation to specialists.For example, a man with pain radiating not only to the lower back, but also to the groin area, should be examined by a urologist to make a definitive diagnosis, and a woman with suspected vaginal infection should definitely visit a gynecologist.
Diagnostic and therapeutic methods
Only a qualified specialist can determine exactly how to treat low back pain, making a definitive diagnosis after tests and examinations.The most common diagnostic methods used in this case are x-ray, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.Using an x-ray, you can detect a violation of the structures of the spine, see signs of inflammation and compressed nerve endings.CT provides a more detailed picture, allowing you to look practically deep into the spine and study existing pathologies in detail, and with the help of MRI it is possible to evaluate the condition of the spinal cord, blood vessels, muscles and identify possible intervertebral hernias.
In addition, the patient may undergo a general blood test, which allows the level of leukocytes to identify inflammation or infection, and based on severe anemia, it can be assumed that the patient has benign or cancerous tumors.Additionally, for low back pain, a urinalysis is often needed to rule out possible kidney disease.
After receiving 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 treatment, as a rule, is reduced to 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 to alleviate the patient's condition and move on to physical 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 narcotic drugs to cope with acute attacks.
In addition to tablets, to eliminate pain and discomfort in the back, injections and topical preparations are also used: gels and ointments, which not only relieve discomfort, but also relieve inflammation, improving blood circulation in the affected area.In more severe cases, the patient may be prescribed blocks - injections of painkillers that are injected directly into the deep tissues.
The next stage of treatment is to reduce inflammation, for which nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.If necessary, muscle relaxants are prescribed in parallel, relieving both pain and muscle spasms, chondroprotectors, restoring damaged cartilage tissue, and B vitamins, strengthening the protective functions of the body.In addition, if back pain is not associated with pathologies of the spine, but is caused by infections, for example, affecting the kidneys or genitals, it is necessary to take antibiotics.
Specially designed series of physical exercises are another mandatory component of the treatment of back pain.If performed regularly, 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.
A course of professional massage, which is necessarily prescribed to patients after relieving pain, helps to warm up 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, acupuncture.In parallel, you can also use remedies based on traditional medicine recipes - they serve as an excellent addition to drug treatment, effectively relieving pain, muscle tension and swelling without the risk of negative consequences.
The prevention of back pain also plays an important role, allowing you to avoid many health problems.Regular physical exercise, including in the form of regular morning exercises that tone and strengthen muscles, adherence to a dietary 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 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.