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 play sports, for example, or do physical work, but they often have difficulty walking, standing or sitting, which means that the most ordinary daily activities become a real ordeal for them.Therefore, if a person suffers from back pain in the lumbar region, it is extremely important to understand the causes of this disease in time and start appropriate treatment in order 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, such as long periods of time behind the wheel or in an office in front of a computer;
- excessive physical activity;
- prolonged stress;
- intense training in the gym that does not correspond to a person's capabilities;
- poor diet leading to a deficiency of vitamins and microelements;
- poor quality mattresses, etc.
In children, back pain is most often associated with poor posture, 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 appeared over a short period of time.
The main thing is that by eliminating the influence of the above factors, you can quickly get rid of back problems and return to your usual lifestyle.
However, if your lower back bothers you regularly, and even more so if the intensity of the sensations increases each time, there is a good chance 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 of 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;
- 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, as well as previous injuries.
If the pain in the lumbar region is of a reflex nature, that is, associated with disorders in the functioning of neighboring internal organs, the patient can be diagnosed with:
- urolithiasis;
- pancreatitis;
- cholecystitis;
- hemorrhoids;
- chlamydia;
- colitis;
- liver diseases;
- renal 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 persistent pain during premenstrual syndrome and during the period itself, menopause or pregnancy.In the latter case, back discomfort often haunts the expectant mother for all 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 the inner lining of the uterus (endometriosis), the formation of ovarian polyps or tumors, as well as contraction of the uterus after abortion.In addition, 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 of the above diseases, can be associated with 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, in addition to discomfort in the anus, back pain on the right often radiates to the leg and buttocks.
Types of pain
Unpleasant sensations appearing in the lumbar region vary in nature, intensity and duration.The pain can be sharp and sharp or throbbing and aching, barely noticeable or aching, paroxysmal or constant.Only by understanding what exactly a person feels, you can understand the causes of these sensations and how to eliminate their root cause.
For example, severe pain that haunts a person almost around the clock may indicate osteochondrosis.A patient with this condition has difficulty not only lifting weights or walking, but even sitting down, coughing or sneezing.Accompanying 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 have to try to change your body position or walk.
Acute pain in the lower back in the vast majority of cases indicates muscle tension, too sudden movements, excessive physical exertion, injuries, hypothermia or prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position.In this case, the patient suffers from what is 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 of movements, because of which 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 certain internal organs.They disappear completely as soon as their source is identified and eliminated.If the cause of poor health was not discovered 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 and cartilage structures, damage to nerve fibers and circulatory disorders in the vessels of the legs.
There is also a distinction between local and generalized pain.With the first, the discomfort is felt 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 covers the entire back, pelvic region and legs, including the feet and fingers.
When can we no longer do without medical help?
The first thing you should do if you experience discomfort and pain in your back is to get some rest.It is quite possible that the reason for these feelings lies in ordinary 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, reappears, there is simply no point in postponing a consultation with a specialist.In addition, if it simultaneously extends 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 in freezing weather.In any case, if severe lower back pain does not disappear for 2 to 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 lower back pain associated with pathologies of internal organs:
- Rapid, causeless weight loss without dieting or strenuous exercise.In combination with frequent back pain, a sharp decrease in body weight raises suspicion that the patient suffers from a malignant tumor.
- Recent infectious diseases of the bladder and kidneys.Discomfort in the lumbar region in these 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 skin sensitivity, as well as problems with urination and defecation, which may be the result of spinal cord damage.
Consultation with a doctor for pain and discomfort in the lower back is mandatory for patients over 50 years old due to the high risk of developing osteoporosis at this age, especially in postmenopausal women, and under 20 years old.In addition, any discomfort in the back cannot be ignored after an injury, regardless of how long ago it occurred, whether significant changes occur in the blood test and whether traditional treatment used in such 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 determine which specialist is best to turn to for help.First of all, you need to consult a therapist, but if the pain occurs after a fall or blow, the patient should also consult a traumatologist.The therapist, after carrying out an initial examination and collecting the history, generally refers the patient to a neurologist or rheumatologist to prescribe other tests and examinations necessary to establish a diagnosis.
If there are associated symptoms, the patient may be referred for further consultation to specialists.For example, a man suffering from pain radiating not only to the lower back, but also to the groin area, should be examined by a urologist to make a final diagnosis, and a woman with suspected vaginal infection should definitely consult a gynecologist.
Diagnostic and treatment methods
Only a qualified specialist can determine exactly how to treat lower back pain, making a final diagnosis after tests and examinations.The most commonly used diagnostic methods in this case are x-ray, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.With the help of an x-ray, you can detect a violation of the spinal structures, see signs of inflammation and compressed nerve endings.CT scan gives a more detailed picture, allowing you to practically examine the spine in depth 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.
Additionally, the patient may be referred for a general blood test, which helps identify 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, in cases of lower back pain, a urine test is often necessary to rule out possible kidney diseases.
After receiving all the necessary results, the doctor selects the optimal treatment option, which can be conservative or surgical.Since surgical intervention is used only as a last resort, treatment usually comes down to drug treatment, 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 focus is on pain relief in order to alleviate 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 painkillers, but if necessary, narcotics are also prescribed to patients 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, thereby improving blood circulation in the affected area.In severe cases, the patient may be prescribed blockages - injections of painkillers injected directly into 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 spinal pathologies, but is caused by infections affecting, for example, the kidneys or genitals, it is necessary to take antibiotics.
Another obligatory element of lower back pain treatment is specially designed sets of physical exercises.When 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, necessarily prescribed to patients after pain relief, helps to warm up the muscles and relieve spasms, activate blood circulation and improve the patient's general condition.In addition, physical procedures also effectively treat pain: electrophoresis, UHF therapy, ultrasound treatment, laser therapy, mud baths, acupuncture.In parallel, you can also use remedies based on traditional medicine recipes - they are an excellent complement to drug treatment, effectively relieving pain, muscle tension and swelling without the risk of unwanted consequences.
Preventing back pain also plays an important role in avoiding many health problems.Regular physical exercise, even in the form of regular morning exercises that tone and strengthen muscles, adherence to an alcohol 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 begin to pose a serious threat to a person can protect the lower back from discomfort and unpleasant sensations.