Back pain in the lumbar region: 30 reasons for treatment

When your back hurts in the lumbar region, discomfort appears that differs in strength and character.The cause may be muscle fatigue, but often lower back pain is the first sign of a serious illness.

Regardless of the duration and intensity of the symptoms, the pathological condition is a reason to consult a doctor.Medical experts will carry out a comprehensive diagnosis of the spine and abdominal organs, and then prescribe effective back treatment.

In the article we will tell you in detail about all the causes of lower back pain, the meaning of each type of pain (severe, acute, etc.), when to see a doctor, how to treat it (tablets, injections, ointments, patches), photos.I promise it will be interesting.

The reasons

According to statistics, more than 85% of the world's population suffers from back pain.This fact is due to the heavy load experienced by the lumbar spine every day.In a standing position, the pressure on the intervertebral disc is about 100 kg;in a horizontal position, the load decreases to 50 kg, and if the posture is affected, it reaches 220 kg.

Sometimes the cause of back pain is excessive load or staying in an unusual position for a long time.The main feature of such pain is the absence of concomitant manifestations, such as deterioration of the general condition, hyperthermia, the spread of pain reactions to neighboring areas of the body.

In most cases, pain indicates a pathological process that can affect not only the spine, but also internal organs.The main causes of lower back pain include:

• osteochondrosis;
• old injuries;
• pancreatitis;
• radiculitis;
• infections (tuberculosis, brucellosis);
• malignant neoplasms and their metastases;
• curvature of the spine - scoliosis, increased lumbar lordosis or thoracic kyphosis;

• kidney pathology - pyelonephritis, kidney stones;
• Reiter's syndrome;
• spondylolisthesis;
• abscess in the epidural area;
• rheumatoid arthritis;
• intervertebral hernia.

Among the atypical factors that trigger pain reactions are intestinal or genitourinary system diseases.

In women

Due to physiological characteristics and hormonal fluctuations, back pain in the fairer sex has several specific causes:

• adnexitis (ovarian inflammation);
• ectopic pregnancy;
• proliferation of endometrial cells (endometriosis).

Many women experience pain in the lower back during menstruation, as well as during the inflammatory process of the pelvic organs.Hormonal changes during menopause lead to calcium leaching and disruption of the mineral composition of bone tissue, causing the development of osteoporosis.

Along with the bones of the femur and pelvis, the vertebrae are also affected by osteoporosis, which threatens pathological spine fractures even with minor trauma.

In men

Due to the nature of their work, men more often experience heavy physical activity, which leads to premature wear of the lumbar vertebrae.Excessive tension gradually causes morphological changes in the cartilage disc, which explains the frequent formation of herniated protrusions in men.The main manifestation of a hernia in the lower back is acute pain in the lumbar region in the form of lumbago.

Specific causes of pain in men are:

• ankylosing spondylitis;

• spondylolisthesis - slipping of the vertebrae relative to each other;
• pinched sciatic nerve;
• inflammatory process of the prostate gland.

The negative effects of stress and a sedentary lifestyle cannot be ruled out.Lack of adequate physical activity leads to impaired nutrition and gas exchange of spinal tissue.As a result, metabolic processes are disrupted, which leads to irreversible changes that cause pain.

Classification of pain

Based on the nature, intensity, duration and cause of the event, pain symptoms are divided into several types.

• If the discomfort bothers the patient for no more than a month and a half, the pain is considered acute.

• The duration of the syndrome from 6 weeks to one year is diagnosed as a subacute condition.
• Pain syndrome becomes chronic if the duration exceeds one year.

Depending on the location, there are 3 types of back pain:

1. Local - appears at the site of the lesion, most often after an injury to the back muscles, tendons or bones.
2. Reflected - is a consequence of somatic pathology, when in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, stomach ulcer) pain is felt in the lower back.
3. Projected - a reaction of a neurogenic nature, when pain impulses spread to parts of the body along the nerve trunk.An example is pain when the sciatic nerve is pinched, which radiates along the entire leg.

The nature of the pain varies from aching and subtle to sharp and impulsive.This feature depends on the disease that is the cause of the symptoms.

strong

Severe pain appears when the pain receptors in the paravertebral tissue are irritated or when there is a compression effect on the large nerve trunk of the spinal cord.One of the main causes of severe pain is degenerative changes in stage 3-4 osteochondrosis.

Morphological changes affect cartilage tissue and bone structure.The gradual softening of the intervertebral disc leads to the formation of a spinal hernia.Protrusion directed to the region of the spinal canal or at the exit of the nerve root leads to pain, combined with impaired sensitivity along the innervation of the affected area.

If the load on the vertebrae is distributed incorrectly due to cartilage disc degeneration, marginal osteophytes appear on the vertebral body.When the gap between the vertebral bodies is critically reduced, growth creates compression on the soft tissue structure.

Severe pain in the early stages of the disease forces the patient to go to the doctor for a diagnosis, which facilitates treatment and guarantees favorable results.

A common cause of severe pain is sciatica in the lumbosacral region.The pain syndrome is caused by inflammation of the spinal cord of the lumbar spine.This symptom is characterized by radiation to the back and lower legs.

continuous

Chronic pain is muted.Such pain does not depend on physical activity and remains at rest.These symptoms appear with spondylosis, and are often accompanied by muscle atony in the legs, paresis and loss of skin sensitivity.Ankylosing spondylitis, metabolic disorders, and neoplasms of various types are also accompanied by persistent debilitating pain.

sharp

Sudden pain, forcing a person to take a forced position, occurs with sciatica or lumbago.Usually the patient stands in a bent position, holding the lower back with one hand.Sciatica develops when the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed.Sharp pain impulses spread along the back of the thigh, the bottom of the leg to the toes.

The most common cause of lumbago is the development of an intervertebral hernia, when pressure is placed on the roots of the spine.Lumbago is "lumbago" in the lower back, which in most cases is provoked by heavy physical activity.In this case, the pain is concentrated not only in the back, but spreads to the right or left lower limb.

muscular

Spasm of muscle fibers in the lumbosacral region is the result of:

• unusual physical activity;
• sudden movements that cause muscle tension;
• static tension while in an unusual position;

• curvature of the spine - scoliosis;
• muscle imbalance in neurological disease.

In addition, myofascial pain may occur after performing sports exercises.This pain is caused by the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscle fibers.

heartache

Unpleasant and painful sensations occur with myositis, when the back muscles become inflamed.Pancreatitis manifests itself as back pain in the lumbar region.Sensations of attraction accompany diseases of the pelvic organs in men (inflammation of the prostate gland) and in women (damage to the internal genital organs).

Pregnant women complain of pain in the second half of pregnancy.This manifestation is caused by an increase in body weight and belly with the growth of the fetus.In this case, muscle tension appears in the lower back, causing a moderate pain response.

Acute

Acute pain syndrome is the result of pathological conditions:

• injuries - bruises, vertebral subluxations, compression fractures;
• hypothermia;

• lifting heavy objects;
• sharp slope.

Acute pain can be caused by renal colic.To clarify the etiology and effectively eliminate the pain syndrome, a detailed diagnosis and a visit to a medical specialist will be required.

When do you want to see a doctor?

A visit to the doctor should not be postponed if the symptoms of pain do not stop for more than 3 days.A warning sign is falling on your back, which can cause serious injury.The spread of pain impulses to the buttocks, thighs, and lower legs cannot be ignored.

If there is a burning and tingling sensation on the skin, loss of sensation in the legs, groin area, large nerves are involved in the pathological process.Severe cases lead to impaired urination and bowel movements.All of the above signs indicate a serious pathology that must be immediately diagnosed and treated.

Which doctor treated you?

Therapy for lower back pain is a complex task, the implementation of which requires consultation with a highly specialized doctor.The initial diagnosis is carried out by the therapist, who refers the patient to consult with other specialists:

• to a traumatologist - if a back injury is suspected;
• orthopedic specialist - to examine joints and the entire musculoskeletal system;
• a vertebrologist who treats the spine;
• neurologist - to eliminate neurological symptoms;
• to a neurosurgeon, if surgical intervention is unavoidable;
• rheumatologist - for autoimmune disorders.

If the function of the pelvic organs is disturbed, additional examinations are carried out by urologists and gynecologists for women.Therapeutic tactics for low back pain are based on a set of diagnostic results.

What to do if it hurts a lot: first aid

Pre-medical actions are carried out with the aim of reducing the condition and maximizing pain relief before seeking medical help.The first aid algorithm includes the following steps:

• Rest and bed rest, excluding pressure on the lower back.To do this, the patient is placed on a hard surface.If a back injury is suspected, the victim is not allowed to move.

• Cold is applied to the affected area.To do this, use a heating pad with ice, cold food, which has been wrapped in a cloth to prevent hypothermia.The cold compress should be kept for no more than 15 minutes and used again after 3-4 hours.
• Severe pain is a direct indication to call a doctor, so the patient must be taken to a medical facility as soon as possible.

General and local pain relievers should be taken as prescribed by the doctor.Medicines themselves are dangerous to health and can lead to serious complications.

Uncontrolled use of analgesics relieves pain, which complicates the diagnosis.In addition, with the development of inflammatory processes or acute conditions that affect the function of internal organs, the course of the disease worsens.

The best medicine

The most effective method of treating back pain is drug therapy.Medicines prescribed by the doctor not only relieve the symptoms of pain, but also eliminate the etiological factors.

Acute sharp pain is blocked using a local block performed by a neurologist or surgeon.At home, the medicine is used in the form of tablets, ointments or injections.

Tablets

For symptomatic treatment, the following drugs are prescribed:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that effectively relieve pain and inflammation.
• Glucocorticosteroids when NSAIDs are ineffective.
• Muscle relaxants for pain caused by back spasms.
• Vitamin B to improve the nutrition of muscle tissue and nerve cells.
• Chondroprotectors to prevent degeneration in the joints and spine.

Injection

Injections of drugs are prescribed for severe forms of the disease to achieve a rapid therapeutic effect.Basic criteria for injection use:

• the time before the onset of the therapeutic effect of the drug is reduced;
• the drug is not subject to decomposition by gastric juice;
• used for patients who have contraindications to taking painkillers.

Manipulation must be carried out by a qualified specialist;self-injection is not recommended.The choice of medicine and the prescription of its dosage is the responsibility of the attending physician, taking into account the degree of the disease and the presence of co-morbidities.

Ointment

Topical treatments can help improve the condition at home.Depending on the active ingredient, the ointment relieves pain, relieves swelling and inflammation:

1. Anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic effect.
2. Combined with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-edema effects.
3. Ointments and creams with an irritating effect have a warming effect.
4. Cold medicine to relieve pain.

When using heating agents for local treatment, it is important to remember that during inflammation and in the first two days after injury, their use is strictly prohibited.

Plaster

This is the simplest form of local medicine.The advantage of the patch is that you only need to stick it on the affected area and wait for the effect.As long as the product is on the skin, it works.List of the most effective patches:

1. A patch that contains an anesthetic that works well against inflammation and mild pain.Can not be used for more than 5 days.The patch is valid for 12 hours.
2. NSAID patch.Has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.Use no more than 10 days.The effect of one patch is 24 hours.

How to treat at home

Therapeutic measures at home consist of strict adherence to the doctor's prescription.After the acute period ends, a massage session is recommended to normalize muscle tone and improve blood circulation in the lumbar region.

Therapeutic exercises help reduce pain, strengthen the corset of the back muscles, and restore the mobility of the spine.A set of exercises is selected individually by the physiotherapist, taking into account the general functional state and the age of the patient.

Traditional medicine is used in addition to the main treatment.Cabbage with honey has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.To do this, wash white cabbage leaves and grease with melted honey, then apply to the sore spot.Fix the compress on top with cling film and cover with a warm blanket.The duration of the procedure can be up to 12 hours.

Vacuum massage cups are an effective treatment method that can be used at home.Thanks to the vacuum that appears when cupping is used, blood circulation increases, toxins are removed, and congestion disappears.This leads to a faster recovery of the patient.

If you are seriously thinking about treating your lower back yourself, then a physiotherapeutic device can help you with this.With their help, many diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be cured in a short period of time.

Prevention

To prevent lower back pain from appearing, it is important to follow simple recommendations:

• eat right and lead an active lifestyle;
• engage in vigorous physical exercise;
• avoid heavy loads;
• carry out routine treatment of chronic diseases;
• wear quality shoes;
• right spine and leg deformities.
• If pain syndrome appears, do a preventive course of massage and exercise therapy every year.

Whatever the cause, back pain should not be ignored at any age.Often, pain symptoms are the result of spinal pathology, chronic injuries or somatic diseases.

When your back hurts in the lumbar region, a preliminary consultation with a doctor will help you prescribe effective treatment that will speed up recovery and restore back mobility.