Lower back pain

According to medical statistics, about 80% of people regularly suffer from lower back pain.It has a different character: painful, stabbing, radiates to the lower extremities.People between the ages of 30 and 55 most often complain about pain.

There are many causes of lower back pain, and not all of them are associated with musculoskeletal disorders.If symptoms occur regularly and affect quality of life, you should see a doctor to help you determine the cause.After adequate therapy, it goes away on its own. As a rule, you can eliminate the pain using conservative methods, but in advanced cases, surgery is required.Preventive measures will help maintain the health of your back and prevent pain.

Causes of lower back pain

The question of why the lower back hurts is quite relevant.The human spine is a complex structure consisting of vertebrae, the intervertebral discs between them, the spinal cord, nerve roots and surrounding tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons).When problems occur with any of these components, back pain occurs.However, in some cases, discomfort in the lumbar region occurs due to disruption of other organs.

Sprains are one of the most common causes of lower spine pain.Discomfort occurs when muscles, ligaments or muscle spasms are damaged.The causes of sprains can be the following human actions:

• Incorrect lifting of an object.
• Lift weights.
• Sudden movements.

Injury to the structure of the spine is another common reason for lower back pain.Low back pain related to structural problems is often caused by the following diseases:

• Intervertebral disc rupture.When the integrity of the intervertebral disc is violated, pressure on the nerve bundles increases, which is manifested by pain.
• Protrusion (bulging of an intervertebral disc between the vertebrae without rupture of the fibrous ring) or intervertebral hernia.Then the pressure on the nerve bundles in the lower section of the spine increases and severe pain occurs in the lower back.
• Sciatica (compression or inflammation of the sciatic nerve) often occurs due to a slipped or herniated disc.Then the pain spreads from the lower back to the back of the thigh.
• Arthritis of the lumbar region.
• Scoliosis is a condition that causes a sideways curvature of the spine.
• Compression fractures (injury to the vertebrae due to compression) in the lumbar region can also cause severe pain.
• Osteoporosis is a pathology in which bone density decreases and the vertebrae become porous.This disease increases the risk of compression fractures.

In addition, pain in the lumbar region can have the following causes:

• Cauda equina syndrome is damage to the nerve bundle that originates from the end section of the spinal cord.Then dull pains appear in the lower back and upper part of the buttocks, sensitivity in the pelvis is impaired, control over urination and bowel movements disappears.
• Spinal tumors can compress nerves and cause pain.
• Spinal infections (osteomyelitis, discitis, spinal tuberculosis) produce pain, fever, and hyperthermia in the lower back.
• Infectious diseases, for example bladder infections or kidney infections (glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, urolithiasis), also cause pain.
• Herpes zoster is a viral disease that can damage the nerve bundles in the lower back.

In addition, with an atypical course of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), pain in the upper lumbar region may occur.Discomfort often occurs due to difficulty sleeping or lying on a poor mattress that does not support the spine well.

Everyday activities also cause lower back pain:

• Sitting in an uncomfortable position for a long time.
• The person often pushes or pulls something.
• Lifts or carries objects.
• If you stand for a long time, your back also hurts.
• Prolonged bending or frequent turning.
• Excessive tension or overstretching of the muscles in the lower back.

Severe discomfort in the lower back occurs with prolonged tension of the neck directed forward, for example, when a person sits at the computer or drives a car.

Reference.Lumbago is an acute pain that occurs when the back is hypothermic or during dynamic stress.Lumbar bodylia is a painful, aching sensation caused by prolonged static stress.Lumbosciatica is a pain syndrome that spreads from the lower back to the leg due to an intervertebral hernia.

risk group

Most often, pain in the spine is caused by the following factors:

• frequent stress;
• Pregnancy, which is accompanied by an enlarged uterus and tension in its ligaments;
• prolonged sitting related to work characteristics;
• Age and associated changes in the spine;
• mental disorders;
• excessive body weight;
• Smoke;
• hard physical work.

Reference.According to statistics, women suffer from back problems more often than men.

The likelihood of low back pain increases after prolonged use of steroids, drug addiction and in patients between the ages of 30 and 55 years.

Symptoms

If you suffer from back pain, pay attention to the type of pain.it can be sharp, dull, painful or burning.Sometimes unpleasant sensations such as tingling and numbness occur.Pain in the lumbar region can spread to the buttocks and the back of the leg to the foot.The severity of the pain syndrome also varies: from mild to unbearable, which does not allow movement.

Due to kidney disease, the patient may often experience pain in the lower back.To determine whether this feeling is caused by a kidney problem, pay close attention to your symptoms.With kidney disease, the pain is not associated with physical activity, fever occurs (from 37.5°), urination is impaired and the urine becomes cloudy.If you tap on the kidney area, severe pain occurs.

As already mentioned, atypical forms of pancreatitis can also be accompanied by severe pain in the lower back.

With osteochondrosis, aching pain occurs that radiates to the legs, increases when walking and sometimes leads to “lumbago”.Over time, the sensitivity of the lower body (buttocks, groin, legs) becomes impaired.The lower extremities freeze quickly and sweat production is impaired.There is no fever with osteochondrosis.

In neuralgia, the pain spreads along the affected nerve.The pain is sharp, burning, comes on quickly and subsides suddenly.The skin color in the affected area changes, sweating increases during an attack, and muscles tremble.

If you have back pain and at least one of the following symptoms, you should see a doctor:

• weight loss;
• temperature increase (from 37.5°);
• swelling in the lumbar region;
• the pain does not subside even when lying down;
• the pain radiates to the legs;
• You recently injured your lumbar spine;
• control of urination and bowel movements is impaired;
• the sensitivity of the groin, buttocks or legs is impaired.

To understand what exactly is wrong and what the causes of the discomfort are, you should undergo a medical examination.

Diagnostic measures

If your lower back hurts, you need to see a therapist or orthopedist.If you suspect neurological disorders, see a neurologist.A physiological examination and anamnesis often help in making the diagnosis.

If injuries, diseases of the spine or other organs or neuralgia are suspected, the doctor prescribes instrumental examinations:

• X-rays help detect injuries to the lumbar spine, inflammation of the vertebrae, and imbalance in the elements of the spine.
• Magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography show intervertebral hernias, structural disorders of the spine and problems with surrounding tissues (nerves, muscles, blood vessels).
• Bone scintigraphy is used to detect bone tumors and compression fractures.The study uses a radioactive drug that is injected into a vein and then concentrates in areas of increased metabolism.
• Electroneuromyography is effective for detecting compression of nerve bundles that occurs against the background of an intervertebral hernia or spinal stenosis.This diagnostic method allows you to detect any damage to the neuromuscular system.

If an infectious disease is suspected, the patient is prescribed laboratory blood tests.

If the doctor suspects that the lower back pain is caused by problems with the kidneys, pelvic organs or pancreas, a series of appropriate tests will be prescribed.

Conservative treatment

If you don't know how to get rid of lower back pain, consult a doctor first.If diagnosed in a timely manner, treatment is carried out at home.Over-the-counter painkillers are used to relieve pain.

Patients should know how to relieve pain if it occurs unexpectedly.If the discomfort is caused by osteochondrosis, you need to act according to the following plan:

• warm your lower back with a woolen scarf or belt;
• lying on a hard surface;
• take NSAIDs;
• Treat your back with an anti-inflammatory ointment.

Carefully.Do not take NSAIDs if you have problems with your digestive organs, as they damage the mucous membranes.

NSAIDs and antispasmodics help relieve pain from neuralgia.In addition, complete silence must be maintained.If the pain is very severe, the patient must be hospitalized.

If you suffer from back pain caused by kidney disease, you should urgently call an ambulance.The patient should lie down and take antipyretic drugs (fever reducers) and antispasmodics to normalize the temperature.It is necessary to control blood pressure and body temperature whenever possible.Further measures will be carried out by the doctor.

Carefully.The use of warm compresses or a hot bath for kidney inflammation is strictly prohibited!

Pain in the lower back due to inflammation of the pancreas (atypical form) is very severe.During an attack, you must call a doctor.Before the doctors arrive, you must not eat anything;You need to take a comfortable position and drink water in small sips.It is advisable to have someone close to the patient.The knee-elbow or fetal position helps reduce discomfort.

Regardless of the cause of the pain, the patient should rest for 1 to 2 days.Longer periods of rest threaten to weaken the muscles and the episodes can then repeat themselves more frequently.

Acute lower back pain occurs suddenly and lasts a maximum of 12 weeks.Constant pain during the chronic process develops slowly and lasts 3 months or more.Many patients suffer from both acute and chronic pain, making diagnosis very difficult.

When home treatment for back pain is ineffective, doctors prescribe patients prescription NSAIDs.Narcotic painkillers such as codeine or hydrocodone relieve severe pain.However, these drugs are used only in extreme cases and the doctor must monitor the patient's condition.To relieve symptoms, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants such as amitriptyline.

The treatment can be supplemented by physiotherapeutic procedures.Electrophoresis, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, magnetic therapy, etc. have an excellent therapeutic effect.These procedures help accelerate metabolic processes and blood circulation, improve tissue trophism, accelerate healing of damaged areas and relax cramped muscles.

Therapeutic exercises can help strengthen muscles and ligaments, make them more elastic, and correct posture.The complex is compiled for each patient by a doctor, taking into account age, symptoms, cause of pain and general condition.Training should be carried out in the remission stage, when the pain syndrome subsides.With regular exercise, the patient can prevent recurring attacks.

Cortisone injections (a synthetic corticosteroid) help relieve pain when the above methods are ineffective.After the procedure, the inflammation subsides and the symptoms disappear.The therapeutic effect lasts 6 weeks.

The following methods can help relieve pain and improve your general condition:

• Osteopathy helps to restore the structure of the musculoskeletal system solely with the hands of a doctor.
• Chiropractic is a manual technique used to correct spinal defects.
• Acupressure - acting on energy points with a specialist's fingers and elbows to eliminate discomfort and relax muscles.
• During reflexology massage, special needles are inserted into biologically active points on the body.After the procedure, the production of endorphins is stimulated and pain is relieved.
• Yoga.When performing certain poses and movements, the muscle corset is strengthened and posture is improved.However, the exercises must be performed under the guidance of a specialist, otherwise the pain syndrome may worsen.

The decision about the treatment of pain in the lumbar region is made by the doctor after a thorough diagnosis and identification of the causes of the problem.

Surgical intervention

The question of what to do if your lower back hurts constantly for a long period of time (more than 6 months) is quite relevant.In this case, doctors may prescribe surgery.As a rule, surgical intervention is indicated for intervertebral hernias, especially if the disease is accompanied by neurological disorders (numbness in the groin, legs, involuntary urination, bowel movements).

The following surgical techniques help cure serious diseases of the lumbar spine that are accompanied by pain:

• Spinal fusion is a surgery to fuse two or more adjacent vertebrae with an implant inserted between them.Unstable elements of the spine are fixed with special fastening materials (metal plates, screws).
• Replacement of the intervertebral disc.During the procedure, the destroyed intervertebral disc is cut out and an artificial one is inserted in its place.
• A discectomy involves removing part of an intervertebral disc that is compressing a bundle of nerves or the spinal cord.
• A laminectomy involves removing a vertebral arch that compresses the roots of the nerves exiting the spinal cord.

There are many other surgical techniques that help stabilize displaced vertebrae, relieve nerve bundles and other tissue from compression, and restore functionality to the spine.

Prevention of lower back pain

To prevent pain in the lumbar region, you must follow these rules:

• Perform exercises to strengthen your muscles and develop flexibility.
• Quit smoking as people with this bad habit are more likely to experience back pain than non-smokers.
• Control your weight and eat right.
• Pay attention to your posture when you stand or sit.
• If you sit a lot at work, get up every 2 hours and do back exercises.
• Set up your workplace correctly, buy a chair with an orthopedic backrest.
• Sleep on an orthopedic mattress.
• When lifting heavy objects, shift your weight from your back to your buttocks and legs.
• Wear orthopedic shoes.

These rules will help maintain lower back health for a long time.

The most important

As you can see, lower back pain can occur for various reasons: sprains, structural disorders, cancer, infectious diseases of the spine, everyday activities, poor posture, etc. The risk group includes patients who lead a sedentary lifestyle, perform heavy physical work, are overweight, often suffer from stress or have bad habits.If the pain syndrome is accompanied by fever, swelling in the back or neurological disorders, you need to seek urgent medical help.The treatment tactics depend on the cause of the complaint.Conservative methods are most often used.Surgery is prescribed if the pain does not go away for a long time or if there are neurological disorders.Remember that back pain is easier to prevent than to treat.