According to medical statistics, approximately 80% of people experience periodic lower back pain.It has a different character: painful, sharp, radiating to the lower extremities.Most of the time, people between 30 and 55 years old complain of pain.
There are many causes of low back pain and not all of them are associated with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.If discomfort appears regularly and reduces quality of life, you should consult a doctor who will help you identify its cause.After adequate therapy, it will disappear on its own.As a rule, you can get rid of pain with conservative methods, but in advanced cases surgery is necessary.Preventative measures will help maintain back health and prevent pain.
Causes of low back pain
The question of why the lower back hurts is quite relevant.The human spine is a complex structure consisting of vertebrae, the discs between them, the spinal cord, nerve roots and surrounding tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons).When problems arise with any of these components, back pain appears.Although in some cases discomfort occurs in the lower back due to rupture of other organs.
A sprain is one of the most common causes of pain in the lower spine.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.
- Lifting weights.
- Sudden movements.
Violation of the structure of the spine is another common reason why the lower back hurts.Low back pain associated with structural problems is often caused by the following diseases:
- Intervertebral disc rupture.When the integrity of the disc is violated, compression of the nerve bundles increases, which manifests as pain.
- Protrusion (bulging of a disc between the vertebrae without rupture of the fibrous ring) or intervertebral hernia.Then the pressure on the nerve bundles in the lower segment of the spine increases and severe pain appears in the lower back.
- Sciatica (compression or inflammation of the sciatic nerve) usually occurs due to protrusion or herniated disc.Then the pain spreads from the lower back to the back of the thigh.
- Arthritis of the lower back.
- Scoliosis is a disease in which there is a lateral curvature of the spine.
- Compression fractures (injuries to the vertebrae due to compression) of the lower back 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 lower back can be caused by the following reasons:
- Cauda equina syndrome is an injury to the nerve bundle that arises from the terminal portion of the spinal cord.Then a dull pain appears in the lower back, upper buttocks, sensitivity in the pelvis is impaired, control over urination and defecation disappears.
- Spinal tumors can compress nerves, causing pain.
- Spinal infections (osteomyelitis, discitis, spinal tuberculosis) cause pain, fever and hyperthermia in the lower back.
- Infectious diseases, for example cystitis or kidney inflammation (glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, urolithiasis) also cause pain.
- Shingles is a viral disease that can damage nerve bundles in the lower back.
In addition, pain in the upper lumbar region may occur with an atypical course of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).Often, discomfort occurs due to sleep disturbances or resting on a poor mattress that does not support the spine well.
Everyday activities also cause pain in the lower back:
- Sitting for a long time in an uncomfortable position.
- The person often pushes or pulls something.
- Lifts or carries objects.
- When 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 appears with prolonged tension in the neck, which is directed forward, for example, if a person is sitting at a computer or driving.
Reference.Lumbago is a sharp pain that occurs when the back is overcooled or under dynamic loads.Lumbodylia is a painful sensation caused by prolonged static loads.Lumboischialgia is a painful syndrome that spreads from the lower back to the leg due to an intervertebral hernia.
Group of risk
Most of the time, back pain is caused by the following factors:
- frequent stress;
- pregnancy, which is associated with an enlarged uterus and tension in its ligaments;
- sitting for prolonged periods associated with work characteristics;
- old age and associated changes in the spine;
- mental disorders;
- excessive body weight;
- smoking;
- hard physical work.
Reference.According to statistics, women suffer from lower back discomfort more often than men.
The likelihood of low back pain increases after long-term steroid use, drug addiction, and in patients between 30 and 55 years of age.
Symptoms
If you have lower back pain, pay attention to the nature of the pain;it can be sharp, dull, painful, burning.Sometimes unpleasant sensations such as tingling and numbness appear.Pain in the lower back can spread to the buttocks, down the back of the leg and into the foot.The severity of the pain syndrome also differs: from mild to unbearable, which does not allow movement.
The patient may often feel pain in the lower back due to kidney pathologies.To determine whether this sensation is caused by a kidney problem, pay close attention to your symptoms.In kidney disease, pain is not associated with physical activity, fever occurs (from 37.5°), urination is impaired and urine becomes cloudy.When you hit the kidney area, severe pain appears.
As mentioned, atypical forms of pancreatitis can also be accompanied by severe pain in the lower back.
In osteochondrosis, aching pain appears that radiates to the legs, intensifies when walking and sometimes “lumbago” occurs.Over time, the sensitivity of the lower part of the body (buttocks, groin, legs) becomes impaired.The lower extremities quickly freeze and sweat production is impaired.There is no fever in osteochondrosis.
In neuralgia, pain spreads along the affected nerve.The pain is sharp, burning, appears quickly and disappears suddenly.The color of the skin in the affected area changes, sweating increases during an attack, and muscles tremble.
You should seek medical help if you have back pain and at least one of the following symptoms:
- weight loss;
- increase in temperature (from 37.5°);
- swelling in the lower back;
- the pain does not subside even when the patient is lying down;
- pain radiates to the legs;
- you have recently injured your lumbar spine;
- control over urination and defecation is impaired;
- the sensitivity of the groin area, buttocks or legs is impaired.
To understand exactly what is wrong and what are the causes of the discomfort, undergo a medical examination.
Diagnostic measures
If your lower back hurts, you need to see a therapist or orthopedist.If you suspect neurological disorders, visit a neurologist.Physiological examination and medical history often help establish the diagnosis.
If injuries, diseases of the spine or other organs or neuralgia are suspected, the doctor prescribes instrumental studies:
- X-rays will help identify lumbar injuries, inflammation of the vertebrae and imbalance of spinal elements.
- MRI or CT will show intervertebral hernias, structural disorders of the spine, problems with surrounding tissues (nerves, muscles, blood vessels).
- Bone scintigraphy is used to detect bone tumors and compression fractures.During the study, a radioactive drug is used, which is injected into a vein and then accumulates in areas with increased metabolism.
- Electroneuromyography is effective in identifying compression of nerve bundles that occurs against the background of an intervertebral hernia or spinal stenosis.This diagnostic method allows you to identify any damage to the neuromuscular system.
If an infectious disease is suspected, the patient will be prescribed laboratory blood tests.
If the doctor suspects that pain in the lower back is caused by problems with the kidneys, pelvic organs or pancreas, a set 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.With timely diagnosis, treatment is carried out at home.Over-the-counter pain relievers are used to relieve pain.
Patients should know how to relieve pain if it surprises them.If the discomfort is caused by osteochondrosis, it is necessary to act according to the following plan:
- warm the lower back with a woolen scarf or belt;
- lie down on a hard surface;
- take NSAIDs;
- treat your back with anti-inflammatory ointment.
Carefully.Do not take NSAIDs if you have problems with your digestive organs, as they damage mucous membranes.
NSAIDs and antispasmodics help relieve neuralgia pain.In addition, complete rest must be observed.If the pain is very severe, the patient will need to be hospitalized.
If you have lower back pain caused by kidney disease, call an ambulance urgently.The patient must lie down and take antipyretics (antipyretics) and antispasmodics to normalize the temperature.It is necessary to control blood pressure and body temperature whenever possible.Other actions are performed by the doctor.
Carefully.It is strictly forbidden to use warm compresses or take a hot bath if you have kidney inflammation!
Pain in the lower back due to inflammation of the pancreas (atypical form) is very strong.During an attack, you need to call a doctor.Before the doctors arrive, you cannot eat;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 rest threatens to weaken the muscles and episodes may recur more frequently.
Acute pain in the lower back appears suddenly and lasts for a maximum of 12 weeks.Constant pain during the chronic process develops slowly and persists for 3 months or more.Many patients present with acute and chronic pain, making diagnosis very difficult.
If home treatment for low back pain is ineffective, doctors prescribe prescription NSAIDs to patients.Narcotic pain relievers, such as codeine or hydrocodone, relieve severe pain.However, these medications are only used in extreme cases, and the doctor must monitor the patient's condition.To alleviate symptoms, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants, such as amitriptyline.
Treatment can be complemented with physiotherapeutic procedures.Electrophoresis, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, magnetic therapy, etc.have an excellent therapeutic effect.These procedures help to accelerate metabolic processes, blood circulation, improve tissue trophism, accelerate the healing of damaged areas and relax spasmodic muscles.
Therapeutic exercises can help strengthen muscles and ligaments, make them more elastic, and correct posture.The complex for each patient is drawn up by a doctor, taking into account age, symptoms, cause of pain and general condition.Training should be carried out in the remission phase, when the pain syndrome subsides.With regular exercise, the patient will be able to prevent recurring attacks.
Cortisone injections (a synthetic corticosteroid) will help relieve pain if the above methods are ineffective.After the procedure, the inflammation subsides and the discomfort disappears.The therapeutic effect lasts 6 weeks.
The following methods can help relieve pain and improve your overall condition:
- Osteopathy helps restore the structure of the musculoskeletal system using just the hands of a doctor.
- Chiropractic is a manual technique for correcting spinal defects.
- Acupressure – impact on energy points with the fingers and elbows of a specialist to eliminate discomfort and relax muscles.
- Reflexology is the introduction of special needles into biologically active points on the body.After the procedure, the production of endorphins is stimulated and pain is reduced.
- Yoga.When performing certain postures and movements, the muscular corset is strengthened and posture improves.However, the exercises must be performed under the guidance of a specialist, otherwise the pain syndrome may intensify.
The decision on how to treat low back pain is made by the doctor after a complete diagnosis and identification of the causes of discomfort.
Surgical intervention
The question of what to do if the lower back hurts constantly for a long time (more than 6 months) is quite relevant.In this case, doctors may prescribe surgery.As a rule, surgical intervention is indicated for intervertebral hernia, especially if the disease is accompanied by neurological disorders (numbness in the groin, legs, involuntary urination, defecation).
The following surgical techniques will help cure serious diseases of the lumbar segment of the spine, which are accompanied by pain:
- Spinal fusion is an operation to fuse two or more adjacent vertebrae, between which an implant is inserted.Unstable spine elements are fixed with special fastening materials (metal plates, screws).
- Intervertebral disc replacement.During the procedure, the destroyed disc is excised and an artificial one is installed in its place.
- Discectomy is the removal of part of a disc that compresses a nerve bundle or spinal cord.
- Laminectomy is the removal of a vertebral arch that compresses the nerve roots exiting the spinal cord.
There are many other surgical techniques that will help stabilize dislocated vertebrae, release nerve bundles and other tissues from compression, and restore spinal functionality.
Preventing low back pain
To prevent lower back pain, you need to follow these rules:
- Do exercises to strengthen your muscles and develop flexibility.
- Quit smoking as people with this bad habit are more likely to have back pain than their non-smoking peers.
- Control your weight and eat well.
- Observe your posture when standing or sitting.
- If you sit a lot at work, get up every 2 hours and do back exercises.
- Correctly set up your workplace, buy a chair with an orthopedic back.
- Sleep on an orthopedic mattress.
- When lifting heavy objects, transfer the weight from your back to your buttocks and legs.
- Wear orthopedic shoes.
These rules will help maintain the health of your lower back for a long time.
The most important thing
As you can see, low back pain can occur for many reasons: sprains, structural disorders, cancer, infectious diseases of the spine, daily activities, poor posture, etc.The risk group includes patients who lead a sedentary lifestyle, perform heavy physical work, are overweight, often experience stress or have bad habits.If the pain syndrome is accompanied by fever, swelling in the back or neurological disorders, you need to urgently seek medical help.Treatment tactics depend on the cause of the discomfort.Conservative methods are the most used.Surgery is prescribed if the pain does not go away for a long time or there are neurological disorders.Remember that low back pain is easier to prevent than to treat.