Low back pain is one of the most common health problems.The causes of pain are different: from simple physical overexertion after an uncomfortable position of the body 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 tailbone.Low back pain can appear in different ways: it can be sharp or annoying, aching or burning, it can be concentrated in one place or spread throughout the back.
According to the duration, lower back pain is divided into:
- periodic, related to physical activity, overexertion, body characteristics or internal diseases;
- permanent or chronic, which are caused by irreversible pathology in diseases of the musculoskeletal system or in diseases of the blood vessels of the legs.
The last type often accompanies inflammatory or degenerative processes in bone or cartilage tissue, which are not completely curable, they can be reduced or stopped only for a short period.
Why does discomfort occur?
Pain in the lumbar region is a consequence of a person walking upright, in 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 pain signals.
If a person sits in one position for a long time, then when he stands up, a "lumbago" occurs, which does not allow him to straighten up.The reason for this may be compression of the 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 examinations:
- x-ray examination;
- computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
The main reasons
Lumbar pains are divided into 2 groups according to origin:
- primary, caused by the development of pathologies in the spine area, functional changes in muscles, joints, discs, ligaments and tendons;
- secondary, associated with damage to the spine, as well as infections and various diseases of internal organs located in the pelvic area.
The most common causes of pain in the lumbar region include the following diseases:
- Lumbago.Appears as sudden acute 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 in impaired elasticity and strength of the intervertebral discs, loosening of the bone surface and cartilage tissue with nerve damage.Prolongation of the intervertebral disc refers to one of the stages of osteochondrosis, in which cartilage elongation occurs.
- Sciatica.It occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed or compressed;the pain starts in the lower back and radiates to the back of one leg.
- Lumbar radiculitis.It can happen when you bend over, sneeze or laugh, is caused by inflammation of the nerve endings and can lead to loss of sensation and loss of ability to move.
- Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine on one side, manifested in asymmetry in shoulder height, poor posture and the formation of a hump.The cause of the disease is a decrease in the functions of the muscles and bones of the skeleton.
- Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic disease associated with 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 body position (sitting in front of the 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 pain in the lower back:
- more often pain appears in the kidneys (pyelonephritis, kidney failure, stones, abdominal pain);
- diseases of the digestive system and gastrointestinal tract (cholecystitis, pancreatitis, appendicitis, adhesions after surgery) - often reflected by nagging pain in the lumbar region;
- if the lungs are affected (pneumonia), there may be a feeling of pain in the lower back, especially when you cough;
- bone tuberculosis and other infections;
- growing tumors, benign or malignant, that grow in the direction of nerve fibers in the spine.
In men
Periodic back pain can appear in men during heavy physical activity, when working in the cold or in a strong current.
In addition, pain is characteristic of some male diseases:
- with prostatitis they appear from time to time and radiate to the back, which is accompanied by general weakness and fever;
- with epididymitis (inflammatory process in the epididymis) are located in the groin with a return to the lower back.
In women
Pain in the lumbar region in women can occur 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 childbirth, it can hurt in the lower back and radiate to the spine under the pressure of the growing fetus (starting from the 5th month of pregnancy), if there is a threat of miscarriage, they appear in the form of contractions;
- During menopause, the pain changes localization, moving from the head to the chest or lower back;caused by fluctuations in the level of estrogen in the blood and poor circulation in the pelvic organs.
Women experience back pain and increased self-doubt.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 pain relievers in the form of ointments, tablets or injections.Their use enables the patient to feel better in order to relieve negative feelings and lead a normal life.
The main groups of sedatives:
- analgesics;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in tablet form;
- hormonal steroid 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;
- medical 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, narcotic drugs are used that reduce pain by acting on the nervous system.However, when taken over a long period of time, they can become addictive.
Treatment
After determining the cause of back pain, complex therapy is carried out for the underlying disease.
With the permission of the attending physician, it is possible to use alternative methods:
- therapeutic massage course;
- 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:
- Tea made from birch leaves and berries.The dry mixture is boiled with boiling water and drunk in small portions throughout the day.
- An ointment made from butter with the addition of chopped garlic cloves and ginger root.It should be applied to the injured area.
Preventing
To avoid unpleasant pain in the lower back, you should adhere to the basic rules of prevention:
- sleep on a semi-rigid mattress, taking the correct physiological position;
- when sitting in one position for a long time, do not get up suddenly;you need to rest, 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 doctor's permission).