80% of people in the world have experienced lower back pain at least once. Its causes can range from the so-called psychosomatic, when the painful pain in the lower back is caused by stress, to a much more terrible and difficult to treat cancer diagnosis.
How to understand when discomfort and back pain speak of a diseased spine, and when they signal a state of unhealthiness in other organs? And how not to miss the right time to see a doctor for pain in the spine in the lumbar region?
Causes of back pain in the lumbar region.
In the lumbar region there are several organs and systems at once: these are the digestive, urinary, reproductive and musculoskeletal systems, and a number of glands that affect the well-being of a person. Fortunately, most conditions that manifest with severe lower back and lumbar pain are treatable and not life-threatening. Only one in 20 cases of pain in the lumbar region requires surgical intervention or complex therapeutic measures.
Consider the causes of pain in the spine in the lumbar region in more detail. These include:
- overexertion of the back muscles, in particular, the lumbosacral region;
- spasms of muscles and internal organs;
- the presence of inflammation or abscess;
- hormonal disorders;
- heart diseases;
- diseases of the stomach or intestines (gastritis, peptic ulcer and others);
- posture disorders;
- neuralgia, including psychogenic character;
- osteochondrosis, stenosis of the spinal canal, spinal hernia and other pathologies of the spinal column;
- diseases of the kidneys or internal genital organs;
- obesity;
- the pregnancy;
- neoplasm metastases.
The nature of pain in osteochondrosis of the lower back.
It is necessary to distinguish between primary pain in the lumbar vertebra (associated with degenerative-dystrophic, inflammatory processes and spinal injuries) and secondary, "reflected" pain, which occurs due to functional disorders in the muscles and internal organs. Primary aching pains in the lumbar region appear as if on their own and are rarely accompanied by additional symptoms (usually already in the later stages, for example, with advanced protrusions of the intervertebral discs). Secondary pains are almost always accompanied by swelling, changes in urination and defecation (they are rare, frequent, painful or have other non-characteristic features), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever. The type of pain in the lower back can also tell a lot about the problem:
- paroxysmal ("seizes the inside") - diseases of the kidneys and pelvic organs;
- increasing every day: an inflammatory process (for example, in the epithelial coccygeal passage), abscess, cyst;
- sharp stitches (especially after an injury) - rupture of an internal organ (liver, spleen, kidney, bladder, etc. ) or vessel, internal bleeding, stomach or intestinal ulcer, obstruction of the vessel by a dislodged thrombus (immediately consult a doctor for so much pain! );
- periodic shooting - characteristic of squeezing the spinal roots (radicular syndrome), may be accompanied by spasms;
- continuous opaque - indicates a disease of the liver, kidneys, spleen, some endocrine glands;
- pulling, aggravated by movement - injuries to the spinal column and adjacent tissues.
Location of low back pain.
- Pain in the lumbar region and above the sacrum can occur due to trauma, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system, as well as injuries, oncology or simple overexertion. Often, this zone manifests itself after unsuccessful sports activities, especially with poorly thrown shots, an unworked fall and non-compliance with the exercise technique.
- Below the waist (above the tailbone) often hurts due to overexertion when lifting loads, standing or walking for a long time, with bruises on ice and other hard surfaces. Sometimes the cause of aching pain in the lumbar region can be an infection or hypothermia. The most common pain is due to working or resting in an uncomfortable and unphysiological posture, for example, due to spending time in front of the computer or driving in a half-bent "banana" position. Pain is less common due to disturbances in the functioning of the intestines and the genitourinary system (constipation, cystitis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis, dysmenorrhea). The "low" localization of pain can also indicate problems with the hip joint, especially in older people or athletes.
- If it hurts to the left of the spine, then this does not exclude problems with it, for example, scoliosis and / or osteochondrosis, impaired blood circulation, and even infection of the spinal canal.
- Especially characteristic of infections and osteochondrosis is persistent pain, which intensifies with the slightest physical exertion.
- If the pain syndrome periodically subsides and still gives the patient a break, it may be a displacement of the intervertebral disc, a pinched nerve root, or sciatica. Also, pain in the lower back can cause diabetes or hypothermia.
- If the patient often feels that he has "stayed" and feels pain after several hours of sedentary activities, the pain may indicate an incorrect lifestyle that has not yet become a pathology, but requires urgent changes, not only for relieve pain in lumbar osteochondrosis. , but complex therapy.
Note that pain in the lower back can be given in case of serious pathologies of the heart and digestive organs. If it hurts simultaneously under the left shoulder blade and in the side, it is important to urgently exclude a heart attack. However, if the attacks of acute pain are tormented, "as if they were being cut alive" - an ulcer of the stomach or intestines.
Low back pain - diagnoses
Doctors identify more than 120 causes that can cause acute and chronic back pain. The most common of these are.
- Diseases resulting from degenerative-dystrophic and other lesions of the vertebral and hip joints. For example, osteochondrosis, osteoarthritis, spondylosis, vertebral hernia, spinal stenosis, kyphosis, scoliosis, protrusion, facet syndrome, sciatica, lumbago, neurogenic lameness, hormonal spondylopathy.
- Autoimmune diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis, Bechterew's disease.
- inflammatory diseases. Spondyloarthropathies, incl. psoriatic and reactive arthritis.
- Traumatic defeat. Spondylolisthesis, damage to muscles and ligaments, bruises, dislocations, subluxations and fractures of the vertebrae.
Less often, neoplasms and metastases in the spine, osteomyelitis, angina pectoris, cholecystitis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, myocardial infarction, duodenal ulcer and other diseases can become the cause of low back pain .
Lumbar spine pain in women.
In women, acute and subacute back pain (recurrent or lasting up to 12 weeks) may indicate minor hormonal disturbances or natural physiological processes, during menstruation, pregnancy or menopause. But most of the time, it declares itself this way:
- lumbar osteochondrosis - women who stand on their heels for a long time, regularly carry loads of more than 5 kg, are forced to stand in an inclined position for a long time when performing professional or household work;
- Arthritis is an inflammatory disease to which young women are vulnerable. It can be provoked by an injury to the lower back, a genitourinary infection, hypothermia due to insufficiently warm fashionable clothing, as well as heredity (for example, the presence of rheumatoid arthritis in relatives);
- osteoarthritis is a predominantly age-related disease that often occurs after the age of 40 as a reaction to hormonal changes in the body;
- inflammation of the appendages (adnexitis);
- cervical or ovarian cancer;
- torsion of an ovarian cyst;
- endometriosis
Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms of low back pain:
- appeared after injury;
- occur in the medical history of the patient with oncological and precancerous conditions (for example, cervical dysplasia);
- accompanied by an increase in temperature;
- accompanied by unexplained weight loss;
- cause difficulty urinating and having a bowel movement;
- accompany spotted;
- associated with a feeling of numbness or stiffness in the legs, a change in gait.
Lumbar spine pain in men.
Men suffer from lower back pain less often than women. Most often, as in women, its cause lies in osteochondrosis or kidney disease. Among the gender-specific diseases that cause pain in the spine in the lumbar region, we can name:
- epididymitis (inflammation of the seminal appendix);
- prostatitis;
- orchitis (swelling of the testicles);
- testicular diseases and other oncological diseases of the genital organs;
- Prostate cancer.
Often, strong mid-low back pain occurs due to a vertebral or inguinal hernia. These diseases are especially predisposed to men over 40 years of age who are actively engaged in physical labor or work in an uncomfortable position. In women, this pathology is less common.
back pain treatment
Treatment of back (lumbar) pain requires a therapeutic effect on the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, nerve fibers and muscles. Along with relieving pain in the lumbar spine, it is necessary to slow down degenerative processes in the spine, if any, relieve inflammation, restore blood microcirculation and conduction of nerve impulses. Treatment is prescribed exclusively by a doctor or immediately by a group of specialists: neurologist, traumatologist, gynecologist, orthopedist, rheumatologist and other doctors, depending on the main and concomitant diagnoses.
In more than 98% of cases associated with spinal diseases, treatment is carried out conservatively; surgery can be dispensed with even in the case of a hernia.
medical approach
With the help of medications, pain can be completely eliminated in a few months (for example, pain in the spine in the lumbar region is treated for 3-4 months with compression of the roots, hernias). Then, depending on the diagnosis, therapy is completed or carried out periodically, in courses, to maintain remission.
In the treatment of back pain (lumbar) helps:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of tablets, ointments, injections.
- Hormonal preparations (in the form of locks and droppers).
- Analgesics to relieve pain.
- Chondroprotectors.
- Warming preparations, for example, ointments based on bee and snake venom, mustard plasters.
- Venotonics and angioprotectors.
- Anticonvulsants, anxiolytics and antidepressants.
Physiotherapy for back pain
It is used to treat low back pain:
- massage (classic, cupping, hydromassage);
- phonophoresis;
- electrophoresis;
- magnet therapy;
- laser therapy;
- diadynamic therapy;
- electrical neuromyostimulation;
- manual therapy;
- acupuncture;
- balneological procedures and mud therapy;
- kinesitherapy
Exercise therapy for lower back pain.
A set of exercises for pain in the lumbar region is performed daily and only when reaching remission! With an exacerbation of the disease, any load can only aggravate the situation. Before doing the exercises, you should consult with an exercise therapy instructor.
- Get on your knees and bring your right leg forward (foot on the ground, knee bent at a right angle). Keeping your balance, bring your left foot toward your buttock with your left hand and feel the tension in your muscles. 10 times on each side.
- Get on all fours, look straight ahead. Bend and arch your back - exercise "cat".
- Lie on your back and, keeping your legs under your knees, pull your knees toward your chest and hold for a couple of seconds. 10 times.
- The starting position is the same. Cross your legs (over the weight) and stretch your muscles well, supporting your lower leg below the knee with both hands.
- Standing on all fours, raise your left arm and right leg perpendicular to the ground. Repeat on the other side. 10 times.
A set of exercises for pain in the lumbar region with a massage roller is also recommended. For example: Place the roller under your sacrum and pull your knee toward your chest while the other leg is on the ground. Repeat 10 times for each leg. If the tension is not enough, place your hand behind your head and/or move your slightly bent knee to the side.
How to take care of your back - recommendations of doctors
We recommend 10 simple tips to protect your lower back.
- To keep your back healthy, it's important to avoid physical (as well as mental and emotional) overwork and hypothermia. If you are forced to work for a long time in the cold or in rooms with sudden changes in temperature, get high-quality thermal underwear.
- Carry out timely treatment of pain in the spine in the lumbar region.
- If you have already been diagnosed with the initial stage of osteochondrosis, have congenital or acquired deformities of the musculoskeletal system, use orthoses - special bandages and corsets that help relieve back pain. If you carry a heavy backpack, get one designed to protect your back from low back pain symptoms.
- Also, do not forget to take chondroprotectors for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes for at least 3-6 months a year.
- Balance your diet so your body gets enough vitamins and minerals, as well as protein.
- Properly equip a place to sleep. The mattress should not be too soft or too hard, the length of the bed should be slightly larger than your height. The height of the pillow is also important in relieving pain in lumbar osteochondrosis; it is better to buy an orthopedic. If pets force you into an awkward sleeping position, don't let them climb on the bed.
- During seated work, make sure your elbows are on the table at a comfortable height and that the seat of the chair allows you to keep your shins perpendicular to the floor.
- If you have already been diagnosed with a spinal disease, take care of rational employment, which will reduce professional stress on the lower back.
- Try not to abuse alcohol, coffee and cigarettes.
- Maintain a normal level of physical activity (at least in the form of 15-minute exercises for low back pain 3-4 times a day).
Health to your back!