80% of people in the world have experienced back pain at least once. Their causes can range from so-called psychosomatics to the diagnosis of cancer, which is more terrible and difficult to treat when pain in the lower back is triggered by stress.
How can it be understood that anxiety and back pain speak of a sick spine and signal an unhealthy condition in other organs? And how not to miss the right moment to see a doctor for back pain in the lower back?
Causes of low back pain
There are several organs and systems in the lumbar region at once - the digestive, urinary, reproductive and musculoskeletal systems, and a number of glands that affect a person's well-being. Fortunately, most pathologies that cause severe pain in the lower back and lumbar region can be treated and are not life-threatening. Surgical intervention or complex therapeutic measures are required only in every 20th case of pain in the lumbar region.
Take a closer look at the causes of back pain in the lumbar region. These include:
- excessive tension of the back muscles, especially the lumbosacral region;
- spasms of muscles and internal organs;
- presence of inflammation or abscess;
- hormonal disorders;
- heart disease;
- gastric or intestinal diseases (gastritis, gastric ulcer, etc. );
- posture disorders;
- including neuralgia. psychogenic character;
- osteochondrosis, stenosis of the spinal canal, spinal hernia and other pathologies of the spine;
- diseases of the kidneys or internal genitals;
- obesity;
- pregnancy;
- neoplasmic metastases.
The nature of pain in lumbar osteochondrosis
It is necessary to distinguish between primary pain in the lumbar spine (degenerative-dystrophic, associated with inflammatory processes and spinal injuries) and secondary, "reflected" pain caused by functional disorders in the muscles and internal organs. The initial excruciating pain in the lumbar region appears to be spontaneous and is rarely accompanied by additional symptoms (usually in the later stages, for example, with advanced protrusions of the intervertebral discs). Secondary pain is almost always accompanied by bloating, changes in urination and defecation (rare, frequent, painful or other abnormalities), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever. The type of pain in the lumbar region can also say a lot about the problem:
- paroxysmal ("occupies") - diseases of the kidneys and pelvic organs;
- increasing every day - inflammatory process (eg, epithelial coccygeal transition), abscess, cyst;
- acute stabbing (especially after injury) - rupture of an internal organ (liver, spleen, kidney, bladder, etc. ) or a vessel, internal bleeding, gastric or intestinal ulcer, occlusion of a vessel with a separated thrombus (see a doctor immediately) for such pain! );
- periodic withdrawal - is characteristic of compression of the spinal roots (radicular syndrome), may be accompanied by spasms;
- dull persistence - indicates disease of the liver, kidneys, spleen, some endocrine glands;
- pulling, aggravated by movement - damage to the spine and adjacent tissues.
Localization of lumbar pain
- Pain in the lumbar region and above the sacrum can occur due to trauma, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system, as well as injuries, oncological or simple overexertion. This zone often manifests itself after unsuccessful sports activities, especially with weak strikes, untreated falls and non-compliance with training techniques.
- Below the waist (above the coccyx) it often hurts when lifting loads, standing or walking for long periods of time, due to excessive tension with bruises on ice and other hard surfaces. Sometimes the cause of back pain in the lower back may be an infection or hypothermia. The most common pain is working or resting in a restless, non-physiological position - for example, spending time at the computer or driving in a semi-bent "banana" position. Pain is less common due to disorders of the intestinal and genitourinary system (constipation, cystitis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis, dysmenorrhea). The "low" localization of pain can indicate problems with the hip joint, especially in the elderly or athletes.
- If there is pain in the left side of the spine, it does not rule out problems with it - for example, scoliosis and / or osteochondrosis, circulatory disorders and even an infection of the spinal canal.
- It is a persistent aching pain, intensified by the slightest physical force, especially characteristic of infections and osteochondrosis.
- If the pain syndrome subsides from time to time and still interrupts the patient, it could be a displacement of the intervertebral disc, a compressed nerve root, or sciatica. Also, back pain can cause diabetes or hypothermia.
- If the patient often feels "on his feet" and feels pain after a few hours of sedentary activity, the pain may indicate a wrong lifestyle that has not yet become pathological, but requires urgent changes - not just pain relief in lumbar osteochondrosis. , but complex therapy.
Keep in mind that in severe pathologies of the heart and digestive organs, pain can be transmitted to the lower back. At the same time, if there is pain under the left shoulder blade and on the side, it is important to immediately rule out a heart attack. However, if the attacks of acute pain are painful - "as if cut alive" - a stomach or intestinal ulcer.
Back pain - diagnoses
Doctors have identified more than 120 possible causes of acute and chronic back pain. These are the most common.
- Diseases caused by degenerative-dystrophic and other lesions of the spine and hip joints. For example, osteochondrosis, osteoarthritis, spondylosis, vertebral hernia, spinal stenosis, kyphosis, scoliosis, protrusion, facet syndrome, sciatica, lumbago, neurogenic paralysis, hormonal spondylopathy.
- Autoimmune diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis, Bechterew's disease.
- Inflammatory diseases. Including spondyloarthropathies. psoriatic and reactive arthritis.
- Traumatic defeat. Spondylolisthesis, muscle and ligament damage, bruises, dislocations, subluxations, and vertebral fractures.
In rare cases, neoplasms and metastases in the spine, osteomyelitis, angina pectoris, cholecystitis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, myocardial infarction, duodenal ulcer and other diseases can cause back pain.
Pain in the lower back in women
In women, acute and subacute (periodic or lasting up to 12 weeks) back pain may indicate minor hormonal disorders or natural physiological processes - during menstruation, pregnancy or menopause. But he often states:
- lumbar osteochondrosis - women who stay on the heel for a long time, regularly carry a load of more than 5 kg, and are forced to be in a bent position for a long time while performing professional or household chores;
- Arthritis is an inflammatory disease that young women are susceptible to. This can be triggered by lower back injury, genitourinary infection, hypothermia due to fairly warm but fashionable clothing, as well as heredity (e. g. , the presence of rheumatoid arthritis in relatives);
- Osteoarthritis is an age-related disease that often occurs after 40 years in response to hormonal changes in the body;
- inflammation of the appendages (adnexitis);
- cervical or ovarian cancer;
- twisting of the ovarian cyst;
- endometriosis.
If you have symptoms of back pain, consult a doctor immediately:
- appeared after injury;
- occurs with oncological and precancerous conditions (eg, cervical dysplasia) in the patient's medical history;
- accompanied by an increase in temperature;
- accompanied by unexplained weight loss;
- causes difficulty in urination and defecation;
- to accompany the stain;
- a feeling of numbness or stiffness in the legs is associated with a change in gait.
Pain in the lower back in men
Men suffer less from back pain than women. Often, as in women, their cause is osteochondrosis or kidney disease. Among the sexually transmitted diseases that cause pain in the spine in the lumbar region, we can mention the following:
- epididymitis (inflammation of the seminal appendix);
- prostatitis;
- orchitis (swelling of the testicles);
- testicular and other oncological diseases of the genital organs;
- prostate cancer.
Often, low back pain in the strong half occurs due to a vertebral or inguinal hernia. Men over the age of 40 are especially prone to these diseases. This pathology is less common in women.
Treatment of low back pain
Treatment of low back pain (lumbar) requires a therapeutic effect on the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, nerve fibers and muscles. In addition to relieving pain in the lower back, it is necessary to slow down the degenerative processes in the spine, if any, to eliminate inflammation, restore blood microcirculation and conduction of nerve impulses. Treatment is prescribed only by one doctor or immediately by a group of specialists - a neurologist, traumatologist, gynecologist, orthopedist, rheumatologist and other doctors, depending on the underlying and accompanying diagnoses.
In more than 98% of cases of spinal diseases, treatment is conservative - in the case of a hernia, such an operation can be avoided.
Medical approach
With the help of drugs, pain can be completely eliminated in a few months (for example, pain in the spine in the lumbar region, compression of the roots, hernias are treated for 3-4 months). Then, depending on the diagnosis, therapy is completed or periodically, in courses - to maintain remission.
Helps in the treatment of low back pain:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of tablets, ointments, injections.
- Hormonal drugs (in the form of blockades and drops).
- Analgesics to relieve pain.
- Chondroprotectors.
- Warming preparations, for example, ointments based on bee and snake venom, mustard plasters.
- Venotonics and angioprotectants.
- Anticonvulsants, anxiolytics and antidepressants.
Physiotherapy for low back pain
Used to treat low back pain:
- massage (classic, cup, hydromassage);
- phonophoresis;
- electrophoresis;
- magnetotherapy;
- laser therapy;
- diadynamic therapy;
- electrical neuromyostimulation;
- hand therapy;
- acupuncture;
- balneological procedures and mud therapy;
- kinesitherapy.
Exercise therapy for low back pain
A number of exercises for pain in the lumbar region are performed daily and only after reaching remission! With the exacerbation of the disease, any burden can only aggravate the situation. You should consult an exercise therapy instructor before performing the exercises.
- Get on your knees and place your right foot forward (feet on the floor, knees bent at right angles). While maintaining balance, pull your left leg to the hip with your left hand and feel the tension in the muscles. 10 times on each side.
- Get up on all fours, look straight ahead. Bend your back and bend - train the "cat".
- Lie on your back and keep your feet under your knees, pull your knees up to your chest and lock in this position for a few seconds. 10 times.
- The starting position is the same. Cross your legs (with weights) and stretch the muscles well, supporting the lower leg below the knee with both hands.
- Standing on all fours, raise your left arm and right leg perpendicular to the ground. Repeat for the other party. 10 times.
A series of exercises for pain in the lower back with a massage roll is also recommended. For example, place the roll under the sacrum and pull the knee to the chest with the other foot on the ground. Repeat 10 times for each leg. If the tension is not enough, place your hand behind your head and / or pull your bent knee slightly to the side.
How to care for your back - doctor's advice
Here are 10 simple tips to protect your back.
- To keep your back healthy, it is important to avoid serious physical (as well as mental and emotional) overwork and hypothermia. If you have to work for a long time in the cold or in rooms with sudden temperature changes, get high-quality thermal underwear.
- Timely treatment of low back pain.
- If you have already been diagnosed with osteochondrosis in the early stages, if you have congenital or acquired deformities of the musculoskeletal system, use orthoses - special bandages and corsets that help relieve your back. If you are carrying a heavy backpack, get a bag designed to protect your back from back pain symptoms.
- Also, do not forget to take chondroprotectors for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes for at least 3-6 months a year.
- Balance your diet so that your body gets enough vitamins and minerals, as well as protein.
- Properly equip the place to sleep. The mattress should not be too soft or too hard, the length of the bed should be slightly larger than your height. The height of the pillow is also important to relieve pain in osteochondrosis of the spine - it is better to take an orthopedic. If pets force you to sleep restlessly, do not put them to bed.
- When sitting, make sure that your elbows are on the table, at a comfortable height, and that the chair seat allows you to keep your legs perpendicular to the floor.
- If you are diagnosed with a disease of the spine, pay attention to rational exercise, which will reduce occupational stress in the lower back.
- Try not to abuse alcohol, coffee and smoking.
- Maintain a normal level of physical activity (at least 3-4 times a day in the form of 15-minute exercises for back pain).
health to your back!