Back problems are very common. According to statistics, more than 30% of the population is faced with pain. About 80% of them suffer from pain of varying intensity throughout their adult life.
Pain in the lower back occurs more often than in other segments of the spine. This is due to the fact that the lower back has the greatest load, the risk of developing pathological processes in this area is higher. Pain in the lumbar region can be associated not only with diseases of the spine, but also with pathologies of internal organs. Before treating low back pain, it is important to know the nature of its origin.
Causes of pain syndrome
90% of lower back pain is associated with vertebral pathologies, both congenital and acquired.
The most common causes are:
- osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region;
- intervertebral protuberances and hernias;
- spondylosis;
- spondylarthrosis.
Birth defects causing pain:
- irregular shape of the vertebral processes;
- division of the vertebrae;
- congenital curvature of the spine.
Neurological causes of low back pain:
- compression of nerve roots;
- lumboischialgia (occurs when the sciatic nerve is damaged);
- multiple sclerosis.
Low back pain can be a reflection and symptomatic of non-spinal diseases:
- infections of the urinary tract and genitals;
- kidney disease;
- nephrolithiasis and urolithiasis (stones in the kidneys and bladder);
- tumor formations in the gastrointestinal tract; hemorrhoids
- ;
- neoplasms in the uterus in women; radiculitis
- ;
- as a complication after previous viral infections.
Sometimes severe back pain in the lumbar region occurs against the background of physiological changes:
- during menstruation;
- after childbirth;
- during pregnancy;
- following rapid weight gain.
Factors causing low back pain can be:
- hypothermia;
- weakened immune system and body against the background of infectious lesions;
- irregular physical activity;
- work related to a long stay in a sitting position (office workers, vehicle drivers);
- excessive stress, which causes compression fractures of the spine, cracks, stretching of the back muscles;
- power sports (weight training, weight training, shot put);
- improper nutrition - a deficiency of vitamins and elements necessary for bone tissue (phosphorus, calcium, fluoride), excessive consumption of high-calorie foods;
- curvature of the spine (arch, kyphosis, scoliosis);
- stressful situations - prolonged nervous tension exacerbates a number of chronic diseases, weakens the body.
Determining the nature of the pain
Back pain in the lumbar spine can be of a different nature:
- sharp pains (last up to a month and a half);
- subacute (one and a half to three months);
- chronic (more than three months).
Types of pain:
- Nonspecific - there is no clear localization of pain sensations and the reasons for their occurrence.
- Specific - is a symptom of certain diseases (tumors, hernias, osteoporosis).
Acute low back pain, usually sudden, manifests as lumbar “lumbago” (lumbago). The pain can radiate to the buttocks, lower limbs and other parts of the body, mimicking certain diseases.
Depending on what caused the pain in the lumbar spine, they can be of a different nature (stab, cut, press, break, hurt).
At the beginning of the development of the pathological process, pain is often not pronounced. The patient may feel discomfort in the affected area, a feeling of "goosebumps" on the skin. Gradually, the symptoms start to increase and become more pronounced.
Pay attention!It is very important not to delay the visit of a specialist. If not treated in a timely manner, the pain will become more severe, in the future there may be signs of disturbance in the work of other organs and systems (sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence, paresis, limitation of lmotor activity).
Effective treatments
Before starting low back pain treatment, you should consult a vertebrologist or neurologist. He will try to find out the cause of the pain, prescribe the necessary research. If necessary, he will send for consultation to other specialists (gastroenterologist, gynecologist, urologist).
In addition to the patient interview and visual examination, it is recommended to diagnose using instrumental methods:
- radiography
- ;
- CT;
- IRM; Electromyelography
- .
In addition, a general blood and urine test, a sample of material for histological examination may be necessary.
The following conditions require immediate medical attention:
- for the first time and suddenly there was severe pain in the lower back;
- irradiation of pain in the leg and foot, a combination of pain with numbness in the thigh, lower leg;
- history of trauma;
- urinary and fecal incontinence;
- duration of pain for more than 3 days;
- presence of oncological disease;
- loss of appetite and dramatic weight loss;
- chills and fever;
- presence of bacterial infections;
- inability to self-serve due to pain.
In most cases, pain in the lumbar spine occurs due to damage to the spinal structures, it is necessary to eliminate its cause. The therapeutic approach must be comprehensive.
Drugs
For any back pain, medication is first used to relieve it. The doctor prescribes several groups of drugs in the form of injections, tablets, ointments.
Without finding the cause of the pain, prescribing certain medications (for example, NSAIDs or pain relievers) can only make the situation worse.
For diseases of the spine, it is recommended to use NSAIDs and analgesics to relieve pain, relieve inflammation.
Muscle spasms are relieved by short-term (up to 5 days) intramuscular or oral administration of muscle relaxants.
The use of back pain ointments is effective as an adjunct treatment for lower back problems. They help reduce pain, relieve inflammation and have a warming effect. Ointments are anti-inflammatory, analgesic, combined, irritant, chondroprotective. External means should be prescribed by a doctor, depending on the therapeutic effect to be achieved.
Corticosteroid injections are sometimes used to quickly relieve very severe pain. The drugs are injected directly into the lesion. The course of such treatment should not exceed 2-3 injections.
Treatment without medication
To restore the lower back and strengthen the result of drug therapy, the following measures are recommended to be used:
- massage
- ; Manual therapy
- ; exercise therapy
- ; Reflexology
- ;
- yoga;
- physiotherapy and other methods of influence.
These methods improve blood supply to problem areas, strengthen muscle tissue and ligaments, make them more elastic, and reduce pain. No medical procedure can be performed independently, without the supervision of a specialist. A certain charging mode must be observed.
Useful tips
Tips:
- In case of back pain, physical activity should be drastically reduced, and it is better to keep peace during the first 2 days of a seizure.
- Prolonged bed rest is not recommended, except in cases of fractures, high fever or other aggravating symptoms. Moderate activity always benefits the spine.
- It is best to take pain relievers if the pain is unbearable. It is best to protect the gastrointestinal tract as much as possible from the effects of drugs.
- It is better to sleep in a fetal position, to relieve the load on the lower back, you can put a pillow between your legs.
- In case of problems with the lower back, it is advisable to walk as often as possible, to warm up during work, which requires prolonged sitting.
Prevention of low back pain
Pain is a symptom of a dysfunction in the body. To avoid problems with the lower back, it is necessary to avoid as much as possible the appearance of provoking factors.
Preventive measures include:
- Regular moderate exercise. Physical education should be provided at least half an hour a day. It is useful to do yoga, swimming, morning workout.
- Respect for the consumption regime. You should drink up to 2 liters of fluid per day. Most should be in the first half of the day. After 8 p. m. , it is best not to drink any fluids at all.
- Eat well. Dramatically reduce the consumption of fatty and high-calorie foods. Better to use boiled and steamed dishes.
- At least once a year a routine check should be carried out.
- Take a therapeutic massage course twice a year.
Pain in the lumbar spine is a sign that there is a problem in the body. The causes of pain can be multiple. You cannot stop it immediately with anesthetic pills, you need to seek help from a specialist and be examined. After all, the problem can be hidden not only in the spine, but in the disruption of the work of other organs and systems. The sooner the cause of the pain is identified and treated, the higher the chances of recovery.