Lower back pain is one of the most common health problems.The causes of pain are different: from simple physical overstrain after an uncomfortable posture to serious disorders in the human body.
Types of painful sensations
The lower back is the lower part of the back that starts from the ribs and ends at the tail.Lumbar pain can manifest itself in different ways: it can be sharp or nagging, aching or burning, it can be concentrated in one place or spread over the entire back.
Depending on the duration, low back pain is classified into:
- periodic, related to physical activity, overexertion, body characteristics or internal diseases.
- permanent or chronic, caused by irreversible pathology in diseases of the musculoskeletal system or in diseases of the blood vessels of the legs.
The latter type often accompanies inflammatory or degenerative processes in bone or cartilage tissue, which are not completely curable, can be limited or stopped only for a short time.
Why does discomfort occur?
Lumbar pain is a consequence of a person walking in an upright position, during which a large load falls on the lumbar spine.The base of the spine is made of bone tissue and around it are nerve roots that send signals about pain.
If a person sits in one position for a long time, then when he stands up a "lumbago" appears, which does not allow him to straighten up.The reason for this can be pinched nerve endings near the spine, swelling in the muscles, intervertebral discs or ligaments.
To diagnose the problem, it is necessary to undergo an external examination of the spine by a doctor and additional tests:
- x-ray?
- computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Main reasons
Low back pain is divided into 2 groups based on origin:
- primary, caused by the development of pathologies in the spine area, functional changes in muscles, joints, discs, ligaments and tendons.
- secondary, associated with spinal injuries, as well as various infections and diseases of internal organs located in the pelvic area.
The most common causes of pain in the lumbar region include the following diseases:
- Lubago.It manifests itself as a sudden sharp pain in the lumbar region due to pathological changes in the vertebrae.
- Osteochondrosis.It includes a number of diseases of an inflammatory or dystrophic nature, which are manifested by reduced elasticity and strength of the intervertebral discs, loosening of the bone surface and cartilage tissue with nerve damage.Intervertebral disc protrusion refers to one of the stages of osteochondrosis, in which cartilage protrusion occurs.
- Sciatica.It occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed or compressed.The pain starts in the lower back and radiates down the back of one leg.
- Lumbar radiculitis.It can appear when you bend over, sneeze or laugh, is caused by inflammation of the nerve endings and can lead to reduced sensitivity and loss of movement.
- Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine to one side, manifested by asymmetry in the height of the shoulders, poor posture and the formation of a hump.The cause of the disease is the decrease in the functions of the muscles and bones of the skeleton.
- Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic disease accompanied by loss of joint mobility due to the growth of connective tissue in the lumbar region and other areas.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the joints, including the hip.
People who spend a long time in an uncomfortable posture (sitting at a computer or bending over garden beds), which causes muscle tightness and muscle spasms, are predisposed to spinal diseases.
Diseases of internal organs can also cause lower back pain:
- more often occurs kidney pain (pyelonephritis, renal failure, stones, colic).
- diseases of the digestive system and gastrointestinal tract (cholecystitis, pancreatitis, appendicitis, adhesions after surgery) - often reflected by annoying pain in the lumbar region.
- If the lungs are affected (pneumonia), there may be pain in the lower back, especially when you cough.
- bone tuberculosis and other infections.
- growing tumors, benign or malignant, growing in the direction of the nerve fibers in the back.
To men
Periodic lower back pain can occur in men during intense physical activity, when working in the cold or in a strong current.
In addition, pain is characteristic of some male diseases:
- with prostatitis, they occasionally appear and radiate to the back, which is accompanied by general weakness and fever.
- with epididymitis (inflammatory process in the epididymis) they are located in the groin with a return to the lower back.
To women
Pain in the lumbar region in women can appear against the background of gynecological diseases or accompany certain physiological processes in the body:
- with inflammation of the appendages (adnexitis), they begin in the lower abdomen and then radiate to the back.
- during the period of the birth of a child, it can hurt in the lower back and radiate to the spine under the pressure of the developing fetus (starting from the 5th month of pregnancy), if there is a risk of miscarriage, they manifest in the form of contractions.
- During menopause, the pain changes location, moving from the head to the chest or lower back.they are caused by fluctuations in the level of estrogen in the blood and poor circulation in the pelvic organs.
Women experience back pain and increased suspicion.Those related to nervous stress are treated with psychological correction.
Methods of pain relief
For lower back pain, after clarifying the cause and diagnosing the underlying disease, the neurologist prescribes painkillers in the form of ointments, tablets or injections.Their use allows the patient to feel better in order to relieve negative emotions and live a normal life.
Main groups of painkillers:
- pain relievers?
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in tablet form.
- steroid hormone drugs;
- injections to relieve spasms and inflammation.
- muscle relaxants that help reduce skeletal muscle tone.
- Chondroprotectors are used for spinal hernia.
- ointments, gels and suppositories.
- medicated patches and stickers.
Medicines help not only to relieve pain, but also to normalize blood circulation and restore nerve tissue.
All drugs have side effects and contraindications, so they are used only after consulting a doctor.
In particularly severe cases, drugs are used that reduce pain by acting on the nervous system.However, when taken for a long time, they can become addictive.
Treatment
After determining the cause of pain in the lower back, complex treatment is carried out for the underlying disease.
With the permission of the attending physician, it is possible to use alternative methods:
- therapeutic massage class;
- manual therapy, which must be performed exclusively by qualified specialists to avoid complications.
- acupuncture (helps relieve muscle tension and pain);
- physical therapy and yoga.
To get rid of lower back pain, folk recipes are also used:
- Birch leaf and berry tea.The dry mixture is prepared with boiling water and drunk in small portions throughout the day.
- A butter salve with the addition of chopped garlic cloves and ginger root.It should be applied to the sore spot.
Prevention
To avoid unpleasant pain in the lower back, you should follow the basic rules of prevention:
- sleep on a semi-firm mattress, taking the correct physiological position.
- when sitting in one position for a long time, do not get up suddenly.you need to take breaks, warm up or exercise.
- avoid sudden movements and bending.
- perform a daily set of special gymnastic exercises to train all parts of the spine (only with the permission of a doctor).