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 denied the opportunity to do sports or physical work, for example, but they often also find it difficult to even walk, stand or sit, so that the simplest everyday activities become a real test of endurance for them.Therefore, if a person has back pain in the lumbar region, it is extremely important to understand the causes of this condition in a timely manner and initiate appropriate treatment in order to avoid much more serious health problems.
Main causes of pain
Aches and pains in the lower back that occur from time to time are often not associated with specific diseases, but with the impact of harmful factors on the human body.We talk about:
- sedentary work, for example for long periods of time behind the wheel or in the office in front of the computer;
- excessive physical activity;
- persistent stress;
- intense training in the gym that does not correspond to a person's capabilities;
- poor nutrition, leading to a deficiency of vitamins and microelements;
- poor quality mattress etc.
In children, back problems are most often associated with incorrect posture, an incorrectly chosen chair and study table, and a backpack and shoes.Being overweight can also cause pain in people of all ages, especially if the extra pounds arose within 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 the lower back bothers you regularly and the intensity of the sensations increases each time, there is a high probability that the cause is much more serious.All diseases that can cause back pain can be divided into two groups: the first includes problems with 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;
- herniated 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 spinal structure, as well as previous injuries.
If the pain in the lumbar region is of a reflected nature, that is, it is associated with dysfunction of neighboring internal organs, the patient can be diagnosed with:
- 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 stabbing pain during PMS and during menstruation itself, menopause or pregnancy.In the latter case, expectant mothers are often plagued by back pain throughout the entire 9 months, which increases 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 lining of the uterus (endometriosis), the 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 indicate an impending premature birth or miscarriage.
In men, pain and its causes can, in addition to all of the diseases mentioned above, also be accompanied by inflammation of the epididymis or prostate.For example, with epididymitis, discomfort localized mainly in the groin can spread to the lower back, and with prostatitis, back pain on the right side, in addition to discomfort in the anus, often radiates to the leg and buttocks.
Types of pain
Unpleasant sensations in the lumbar region vary in type, intensity and duration.The pain may be stabbing and sharp or excruciating 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 their root cause.
For example, severe pain that haunts a person almost 24 hours a day may indicate osteochondrosis.A patient with this disease not only finds it difficult to lift weights or walk, but also 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 sensations intensify, you just need to try to change your posture or gait.
Acute lower back pain in the vast majority of cases indicates muscle tension, excessively sudden movements, excessive physical exertion, injury, hypothermia or a long stay in an uncomfortable position.In this case, the patient suffers a so-called “lumbago,” which feels 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 has to give up all activity and stay in bed for several days.
Regular pain can be caused by abnormal physical activity, uncomfortable posture when working or sleeping, as well as diseases of some internal organs.They disappear completely once their source is identified and eliminated.If the cause of poor health is not recognized in time and the disease gains momentum, the associated complaints can become chronic.We are talking about inflammatory processes or degenerative changes in the bone and cartilage structures, damage to nerve fibers and circulatory disorders in the vessels of the legs.
A distinction is also made between local and generalized pain.In the former, discomfort occurs in a specific location in the lumbar region or only spreads to neighboring areas such as the buttocks or thighs.In the second case, the pain syndrome affects the entire back, pelvic area and legs, including the feet and fingers.
When can you not do without medical help?
The first thing you need to do when you feel discomfort and pain in your back is to rest a little.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.However, if the pain does not subside or recurs after a long period of disappearance, there is no point in postponing a consultation with a specialist.In addition, if it spreads to the lower back, hips, legs and feet at the same time or is accompanied by a loss of sensitivity in these areas.Another good reason to see a doctor is the trauma you have suffered - not only serious car accidents, but also seemingly insignificant falls on your back in icy conditions.If severe pain in the lower back does not subside for 2-3 days in a row, postponing a visit to the doctor will definitely be dangerous to your health.
In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to other alarming symptoms that indicate secondary causes of lower back pain associated with pathologies of internal organs:
- Fast and causeless weight loss, without diets or intense exercise.In combination with frequent back pain, a sharp decrease in body weight raises the suspicion that the patient has a malignant tumor.
- Current 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 one of the signs of ankylosing spondylitis.
- Increased body temperature, fever.
- Decreased sensitivity of the skin and problems with urination and bowel movements, which may be a result 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 old, since at this age there is a high risk of developing osteoporosis, especially in menopausal women and under 20 years old.In addition, back pain after an injury should not be neglected, regardless of how long ago the injury occurred, whether there were serious changes in the blood test and whether conventional treatment has proven to be ineffective in such cases.
Who can help?
There are so many reasons that can cause discomfort and pain in the lumbar region that it can be quite difficult to figure out which specialist is best to contact for help.First of all, you need to see a therapist, but if the pain occurs after a fall or blow, the patient also needs to see a traumatologist.After an initial examination and taking an anamnesis, the therapist usually refers the patient to a neurologist or rheumatologist in order to order further tests and examinations necessary to make a diagnosis.
If there are accompanying symptoms, the patient can be referred to specialists for further advice.For example, a man with pain radiating not only to the lower back, but also to the groin area needs to be examined by a urologist to make a final diagnosis, and a woman with suspected vaginal infection should definitely see a gynecologist.
Diagnosis and treatment methods
Only a qualified specialist can determine exactly how to treat lower back pain and make a final diagnosis after tests and examinations.The most commonly used diagnostic methods in this case are radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.An x-ray allows you to detect injury to the structures of the spine, detect signs of inflammation and compressed nerve endings.CT provides a more detailed image, allowing you to practically look deep into the spine and examine the existing pathologies in detail.MRI allows you to assess the condition of the spinal cord, blood vessels and muscles and identify possible intervertebral hernias.
In addition, the patient may be referred for a general blood test, which makes it possible to detect inflammation or infection based on the level of leukocytes, and due to severe anemia, it may be assumed that the patient has benign or cancerous tumors.Even if you have lower back pain, a urine test is often necessary to rule out possible kidney disease.
After all the necessary results are obtained, the doctor selects 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 medical recipes to improve the patient's condition without the risk of serious side effects.
The emphasis is initially on pain relief to alleviate the patient's condition, and then moves on to exercise therapy and physiotherapeutic procedures.In most cases, lumbar pain can be effectively treated with conventional painkillers, but if necessary, patients are also prescribed narcotics to manage acute attacks.
To eliminate pain and discomfort in the back, in addition to tablets, injections and topical preparations are used - gels and ointments that relieve not only discomfort, but also inflammation and improve blood circulation in the affected area.In severe cases, the patient may be prescribed blocks - injections of painkillers injected directly into deep tissue.
The next stage of treatment is to relieve inflammation, for which non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.If necessary, muscle relaxants are prescribed in parallel, which relieve both pain and muscle spasms, chondroprotectors, restore damaged cartilage tissue and B vitamins, which strengthen the body's protective functions.In addition, if back pain is not accompanied by diseases of the spine, but is caused by infections, for example of the kidneys or genitals, it is necessary to take antibiotics.
Another obligatory component of the treatment of lower back pain is specially tailored physical exercises.If carried out regularly, you can not only eliminate discomfort and muscle tension in the back, but also slow down the inflammatory process by improving the blood supply to the affected area.
A 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 overall condition of the patient.In addition, physical procedures are also effective against pain: electrophoresis, UHF therapy, ultrasound treatment, laser therapy, mud baths, acupuncture.In parallel, you can also use remedies based on traditional medicine recipes - they serve as an excellent complement to drug treatment and effectively relieve pain, muscle tension and swelling without the risk of undesirable consequences.
Preventing back pain also plays an important role and can prevent many health problems.Regular physical exercise, including in the form of regular morning exercises, which strengthens and strengthens the muscles, compliance with a drinking regime, a balanced diet that provides the body with all the necessary vitamins, minerals and microelements, and, of course, regular examinations by specialists who will help identify and eliminate possible problems without waiting until they pose a serious threat to a person, can protect the lower back from discomfort and unpleasant sensations.