According to statistics, back pain is common.This is confirmed by the fact that about 80% of the population has experienced discomfort in the belt area at least once in their lives.It is also known that one of the main symptoms of various diseases is lower back pain.Some experts believe that discomfort in this area of the spine is a kind of punishment for a person to walk upright.
For the most part, as long as the pain in the lumbar region is not severe or persistent, but appears periodically, people do not tend to pay attention to it and go to the doctor.As a result, the discomfort usually increases and becomes chronic.At an appointment with a specialist, it turned out that the cause of the discomfort is a serious disease that requires surgical therapy.
As a rule, acute lumbar pain turns into persistent pain over time.According to neurologists, in the following year after recovery, relapse occurs in 40% of patients, while in the long term, discomfort returns in 85% of patients.
Types of back pain
For some people, lower back problems become so common that they stop noticing them.In general, an unpleasant sensation in the lower back can be observed in a person once, and then never occurs again.
Or they can always come back, causing incredible suffering.But before visiting the doctor, you can determine by the symptoms of the painful syndrome and its localization what disease is causing it.
There are five types of back pain:
- local;
- reflected;
- reflected spondylogenic (pathology);
- radicular;
- caused by muscle spasms.
Local and referred back pain
Local localization of pain occurs due to irritation or compression of sensitive nerve endings.It is provoked by a fracture, rupture or tension of sensitive fibers.An unpleasant sensation of a local nature that does not change in strength when changing the position of the body suggests the presence of a spinal tumor or infection.
The source of referred pain, which is felt in the lower back, may be a problem with the abdominal or pelvic organs.Very often, but not always, the pain is localized in addition to the lower back, also in the abdomen and pelvis.When the spine moves, the unpleasant sensation does not increase, but no specific relief is felt either.
Pain referred to spondylogenic in case of damage to the upper lumbar spine is felt in the lower back, groin area or on the front surface of the thigh.When the pathology affects the lower lumbar region, discomfort usually occurs in the buttocks, behind the thighs, and in rare cases in the calves or legs.
Sharp pain and cramping
Classic discomfort in the lower spine of radicular origin is usually characterized by severity and spread to the legs.
Often lower back pain when coughing is provoked by coughing, sneezing or other tension in the abdominal muscle tissue.This occurs due to the tension of the affected root or nerve during a certain position or movement of the body.
Therefore, pain in the lower back when sitting occurs due to tension on the sciatic nerve (L5 and S1 roots react) running along the back of the thigh.The nature of the sensation itself usually does not make it possible to distinguish radicular pain from non-radicular pain.What causes the discomfort of muscle spasms is usually not clear.Pain occurs with various diseases of the spine.During spasms, the spine bends, the deep back muscles tense, and a dull ache occurs.
Often discomfort in the lower back appears due to spinal pathology.In some cases, it can be caused by damage to the kidneys, pancreas and lumbar muscle tissue.The cause of pain is usually determined by a neurologist.If necessary, therapists and orthopedic specialists are involved.
Common Causes of Back Pain
Doctors recommend paying attention to unpleasant sensations in the lower back, especially since it can be one of the symptoms of some serious diseases.The nature of the manifestation of lumbar syndrome depends solely on the cause that caused it.Only a specialist can determine the "source" of pain, as well as what diseases may cause discomfort in the lumbar region.
Causes of persistent back pain:
- cholelithiasis;
- pancreatitis;
- prostatitis;
- inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs;
- benign and malignant tumors of the pelvic organs;
- stomach and duodenal ulcers;
- aortic aneurysm;
- kidney stones or urinary tract infection.
Causes of pain related to the spine and back muscles
In medicine, there are some relatively rare spinal pathologies that can cause lumbar syndrome.Ankylosing spondylitis, when the spinal joints become inflamed, stands out especially among such diseases.Also, pain in the spine in the lumbar region can be caused by a bacterial infection, osteomyelitis.
In 90% of cases, lumbar syndrome is caused by various problems with the spine and back muscle tissue.In this case, the most common causes of pain are:
- degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis, spondylosis deformans, progressive osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc herniation);
- severe tension of the lumbar muscles;
- complex fracture of the spine - traumatic or compression.
Separately in the list of causes is psychosomatic - lower back pain, according to this direction in medicine, is caused by psychological problems.For example, the inability to find one's true purpose, too heavy a burden (taking care of a sick relative, small children, problems in the family, etc.).In this case, working on yourself will help.
Provocative factors
In the case of a large number of diseases of the spine and damage to the nerve roots, discomfort in the lower back may be observed.
However, this disease can occur for a long time without manifestation.Only under the influence of certain factors do they make themselves felt.Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate not only unpleasant sensations, but also the underlying disease.
Factors that contribute to back pain:
- ignorance of weight lifting rules;
- lack of physical activity;
- hormonal imbalance;
- use of uncomfortable furniture (chairs, armchairs, etc.);
- incorrect posture.
Hypothermia, changes in atmospheric pressure, and magnetic storms can also cause pain in the lower back.In any case, the sensitive nerve roots of the spinal cord become irritated.It can also be observed due to pathological deposits of calcium salts.Spinal hernias and protrusions (bulging intervertebral discs) can also cause pain in the tailbone and lower back.
Lower back pain: symptoms
Any disease has its own symptoms, but with lumbar syndrome, symptoms appear depending on the reason that causes discomfort in the lower back.For example, sharp discomfort may be due to renal colic.In this case, a person will not be able to find a body position that allows him to withstand discomfort.
Pain in the lower back and groin sometimes reflects the movement of stones from the renal pelvis into the ureter.When the fifth vertebra is displaced, pain with severe weakness can be felt not only in the lumbar region, but also in the hips and legs.
It is difficult for a person to move, because the syndrome only increases and becomes unbearable.The disease itself is called spondylolisthesis.
Middle-aged women often experience lower back pain after sleep, as well as morning weakness.In addition, there is inactivity of the spinal column and discomfort along it.Such symptoms are characteristic of fibrositis.When the disease progresses, the pain in the lower back when moving becomes quite severe, because the fibrous connective tissue, when inflamed, reacts very sensitively to the movement of the human body.
Lumbar syndrome deserves special attention, taking into account the side of the body:
- pain in the right side of the lumbar region is a sign of problems in the sexual field, as well as a signal of pathology of the right kidney, abdominal wall, intestine or cecum appendix;
- discomfort in the left side of the lumbar region is a sign of diseases of the reproductive system, problems with the ureter, left kidney, hernia, intestine, abdominal wall.
Lower back pain treatment
It happens that lower back pain during cold, as well as caused by other reasons, is so severe that it is impossible to do without therapy.Regardless of what caused the attack, it is recommended to stay in bed for the first few days.If the discomfort in the lower spine is caused by a sprain, then a heating pad or a warm bath will help improve your well-being.If the injury is serious, seek medical advice immediately.
Conservative therapy
Irritating ointments, as well as mustard plasters or pepper plasters will help to carry out local heating of the lumbar region in the area of the worst pain.
Wrapping yourself in a warm fleece scarf, using electric heating pads, heated sandbags, and leeches will provide relief.Hot compresses help with myositis.
Depending on the observed parallel symptoms, lower back pain can be eliminated by electrical procedures: diadynamic current, transcutaneous electroanalgesia, sinusoidal modulated current, electrophoresis with novocaine and others.Reflexology (acupuncture, moxibustion, electroacupuncture, laser therapy), including novocaine blockade, will also help relieve discomfort.
For radiculitis caused by intervertebral disc displacement, traction therapy is prescribed - stretching the body on a bed or under water.The same procedure is carried out in a hospital environment.Balneotherapy is also recognized as effective.These are radon, sulfide, chloride, sodium, turpentine, iodine-bromine bath, low temperature mud application, naphthalan.
Rubbing with anti-inflammatories and pain relievers is quite effective for lumbar syndrome.You can relieve the pain and irrigate the affected area with ethyl chloride.
Prevention
Of no small importance in eliminating lumbar syndrome and preventing its attacks is wearing an external support system - orthosis.
At the doctor's discretion, this can be a corset, a half-corset, a posture corrector, or a reclinator (a special corset that eliminates tilting), or a bandage.Sometimes a belt is recommended: corset, anti-radiculitis, elastic and others.
Only one universal remedy will help relieve lower back pain after sitting and prevent the development of lumbar syndrome - physical therapy (or yoga - a set of exercises that improve health).It is also important to monitor your posture while sitting, and when your back lumbar region becomes stiff, do light exercises.Massage will help a lot.It will relieve muscle spasms and bring the muscles into proper tone.
In general, lower back pain can have many causes.It is important not to ignore the symptoms and go to the clinic on time.Prophylaxis will prolong the effect of treatment achieved.Therefore, you should not carry heavy objects and fully comply with the doctor's recommendations.Then, perhaps, the pain in the lumbar region will not appear again.