Episodic or persistent low back pain often indicates the development of an inflammatory or degenerative-dystrophic disease in the body. Early diagnosis of this disease can increase the chances of complete recovery. Pain in the lumbosacral region of the spine may indicate osteochondrosis, hernias, protrusions, infections, or problems with internal organs.
Why does your back hurt
If a person complains of painful manifestations in the lower back, the doctor first suspects that the patient has problems with the musculoskeletal system. And only after the exclusion of such diseases is a comprehensive study to assess the condition of the internal organs.
This is because the spinal vertebrae and intervertebral discs have a common innervation with the nerve tissue trunks. For this reason, for example, the appearance of pain in the digestive organs can be attributed only to the lumbar region. Let's take a closer look at some of the causes of back pain.
Excessive loads
Back pain is a relatively natural source. With heavy physical labor or active sports training, muscle tissue is subjected to excessive stress. Collects lactic acid, which irritates skeletal muscle tissue. As a result, in addition to pain, a person notices the appearance of a strong enough burning sensation. Because lactic acid is expelled from the muscles, any discomfort disappears after a short break.
If you have back pain during exercise, the intensity of which remains unchanged for several hours, you should consult a doctor. Excessive exercise, lifting heavy objects, often leads to the appearance of microtraumas in the discs and spine, the development of diseases of a degenerative-dystrophic nature.
Osteochondrosis and intervertebral hernia
Stage I, II and III lumbar osteochondrosis is the main cause of back pain. At an early stage, the patient is concerned about a small disturbance that indicates a slight destruction of the intervertebral discs.
If the patient consults a neurologist during this period, it is possible to completely cure the disease and partially restore the destroyed tissues. Increased sharp, severe pain during bending or twisting of the trunk indicates severe damage to the spinal structure.
Against the background of radiological grade II or III osteochondrosis, the formation of hernias or protrusions is often observed. For this reason, piercing pain appears and serious complications - radicular syndrome, discogenic myelopathy - can also develop.
Gynecological diseases
Low back pain worries women diagnosed with adnexitis, as well as inflammation affecting the ovaries and fallopian tubes (uterine appendages). In addition to pain syndrome, patients report discharge from the genitals, problems with conception, and menstrual irregularities.
A similar symptomatology is observed with inflammation of the uterine appendages, the formation of a cyst in the ovaries and the formation of polyps in the uterus.
Kidney disease
Because the kidneys are located directly next to the lumbar region, a person may experience back pain when their functions are reduced. Influence of the bean-shaped pair of organs is manifested by impaired urinary function, the formation of purulent or bloody impurities in the urine, and generally worsening of well-being.
Low back pain is often a concern in the presence of such diseases: cystitis (including hemorrhagic), glomerunonephritis, pyelonephritis, acute and chronic renal failure.
Carry the baby
This is one of the natural factors that cause uncomfortable manifestations in the lower back. When a woman gives birth to a baby, the uterus and fetus increase in size, resulting in damage to the nerve receptors below.
During the last three months, the mother's body begins to produce a special hormone - relaxin. This causes the ligaments and tendons to relax to make it easier for the fetus to pass through the birth canal. Therefore, the intensity of pain may increase sharply.
Endometriosis
It is a common gynecological disease against the background of excessive growth of internal uterine tissue. Endometrioid tissue increases its sensitivity to hormones synthesized by the body, so endometriosis manifests itself as menstrual bleeding. Therefore, one of the symptoms is the development of inflammation, a pain syndrome that spreads to the lumbosacral region of the spine.
Mens
Painful manifestations of a moderate severity of withdrawal appear in half of women before menstruation or during bleeding. This pain is quite natural and disappears immediately after menstruation. Anxiety can also be felt in the lower back.
The pathological etiology of low back pain during menstruation is indicated by the presence of dyspeptic disorders, diarrhea or constipation, frequent headaches and dizziness. In a similar situation, a woman may be diagnosed with algomenorrhea or menstrual dysfunction.
Breast sizes
In women with large breasts, the spine is overloaded. If the mammary glands are not properly distributed, the risk of degenerative-destructive processes increases. Women with large breasts often bend, which leads to deterioration of the spine.
Uncomfortable shoes
Pain in the lower back, which appears at the end of a working day, is common for women who wear narrow heels. This leads to vascular disorders, circulatory disorders in the lower extremities and pelvic organs. As a result, the nutrition of the intervertebral discs in the lumbar region deteriorates and is therefore destroyed. The condition worsens due to increased stress on the spine.
Menopause
During menopause in women, there is a decrease in the production of estrogen, which is involved in the regulation of recovery processes in the musculoskeletal system. Bone structure loses its ability to fully absorb the trace elements needed for regeneration. It often becomes brittle, which can lead to fractures. Painful manifestations in the lower back during menopause may indicate bone resorption, the formation of osteoporosis.
Overweight
One of the causes of lumbosacral osteochondrosis is overweight. Excess weight increases the load on the intervertebral discs, which leads to an increased risk of microtrauma with further destruction of vertebral tissues.
People who are overweight generally do not eat well. His diet is rich in high-calorie foods, and fresh vegetables and fruits, which are essential trace elements and vitamins, are not consumed in sufficient quantities. With increasing loads in the absence of nutrients, there is a tendency to osteochondrosis of the lumbar region.
Oncology
Changes in the genetic structure of cells disrupt the regulation of their growth and reproduction. As a result, there is a pathological spread of tissues, the formation of benign or malignant tumors.
Lumbar back pain can manifest itself against the background of disruption of sensitive nerve receptors, spine, soft tissue and circulatory system. Calcium is absorbed in large quantities by the neoplasm, so there is a deficiency of this substance in the bone tissue, which leads to thinning of the bones.
Hypothermia
Skeletal muscles in the lumbosacral region are often inflamed by low temperatures. This causes myositis, a disease that manifests itself as local pain syndrome in damaged muscles. Intensity increases significantly during movement and palpation. There is an increase in muscle tone against the background of the inflammatory process, which causes the lower back to be less mobile.
Different types of pain
An initial diagnosis can be made based on a detailed description of the anxious symptomatology. Pain with each disease manifests itself with different intensity, frequency, situation before it occurs.
Severe pain
This pain syndrome is characteristic of stages II and III of lumbar osteochondrosis. At this stage, a significant destruction of the intervertebral discs occurred and the damping properties disappeared. They are unable to soften the load during movement, which destabilizes the spinal structure.
This leads to compression of the soft tissues. Severe pain begins to bother even in a sedentary state, grows against the background of bending and twisting, loud laughter, coughing and sneezing. In addition, there are "gas bumps" and a feeling of weakness in the muscles.
Acute pain
The reason for the appearance of acute pain syndrome is the compression of receptors in the spinal canal by osteophytes or discs. This is typical for lumbago attacks, which often manifest themselves in rheumatic diseases, lumbosacral osteochondrosis, radiculopathy.
Painful feelings are so pronounced that the patient can not move. Often, a person is unable to straighten his back for fear of pain.
It is a dull pain
Back pain of a dull, painful and oppressive nature is characteristic of diseases of the internal system, including the genitourinary and reproductive organs. Such anxiety may indicate the development of osteochondrosis, spondyloarthritis, spondyloarthritis.
The pain is not localized, but can spread to the hips, thighs and ankles. Often, aching pain is evidence of a destructive process in the spine or inflammation in the internal system.
Chronic pain
Pain of a persistent nature in the back indicates that the disease has become a chronic disease. Acute, strong during relapse, spreads to nearby areas of the body. During remission, there is a slight discomfort during hypothermia, physical exertion, exacerbation of other diseases, acute respiratory viral infections.
The pain syndrome increases against the background of bending, turning the body, climbing stairs and walking for a long time.
Diagnostic measures
Diagnosis of the disease is based on the patient's complaints, visual examination, anamnestic data, the results of instrumental and laboratory diagnostics. X-ray examination is the most informative in identifying problems with the musculoskeletal system. In the resulting image, you can see the altered vertebrae, the resulting osteophytes (bone formations).
If the doctor suspects the development of a hernia, a bulge, internal system diseases, ultrasound, MRI and CT are prescribed. Thanks to these diagnostic methods, it is possible to study the localization of the disease and assess the degree of progression of inflammation.
A clinical examination of blood and urine is mandatory. If you suspect the presence of a systemic disease (gout, rheumatoid arthritis), biochemical, serological tests are performed.
Which doctor to contact
Often, back pain appears after an injury - subluxation of the vertebrae, severe bruising, damage to the spinal canal. In this case, you will need the help of a traumatologist.
You can also see a therapist. Such a doctor can diagnose diseases of the spine and internal systems. After reviewing the results of the diagnosis, it will determine which specialist (rheumatologist, neurologist or orthopedist) should be consulted to prescribe additional treatment.
First aid
If there is severe pain, the victim should be placed on a hard surface in a position where there is less discomfort. You can lie on your knees slightly bent and put a bent quilt underneath. You can take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to relieve pain quickly.
Therapeutic measures
Analgesics can help relieve back pain. If you do not treat the underlying disease properly, their effects will not last long. Some pathologies of the internal systems, including oncology, are well treated. Against the background of osteochondrosis, complete restoration of destroyed intervertebral discs and deformed vertebrae is impossible. The goal of therapy is to achieve a stable remission that does not cause back pain.
Drug treatment
First of all, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for low back pain are prescribed in tablet or capsule form.
When there are oncological diseases, they seek the help of narcotic analgesics. If the pain is caused by skeletal muscle spasm, a muscle relaxant is indicated.
Analgesics are also prescribed in the treatment of diseases of the internal system.
Treated with ointments and gels
Ointments and gels are used to relieve mild to moderate discomfort in the lumbar region. Medications for external use include therapeutic regimens to reduce the dose of injections and tablets to reduce the pharmacological load on the body.
The use of external agents from the following groups can be prescribed for low back pain:
- NSAIDs have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and decongestant effects.
- Warming gels and ointments - have analgesic, local irritant and distracting effect.
- Against the background of osteochondrosis, chondroprotectors have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, stimulate disc regeneration.
Injections
The choice of painkillers is based on the type and course of the disease and the severity of the pain syndrome. To relieve acute pain, they often resort to drug blockades with the use of glucocorticosteroids and anesthetics. The use of hormonal agents is very harmful to the body, such procedures can be performed a maximum of 1 time in 1-3 months.
NSAIDs are given as a muscle injection to relieve severe pain.
Physiotherapy
If the disease has already been diagnosed or to prevent its development, experts advise patients to exercise therapeutic gymnastics every day. This will help:
- improve blood circulation in the lumbar region;
- strengthen the muscular frame of the back;
- reduces the severity of pain.
The gymnastics complex is prepared by the attending physician based on the type of disease, existing complications and the patient's physical condition.
Massage treatment
It is recommended to carry out a massage to improve the supply of blood and nutrients to the tissues, to normalize the tone of skeletal and smooth muscles, to strengthen muscles:
- classic;
- point;
- segmental;
- canned.
Massage is prescribed both for therapeutic purposes and to prevent exacerbation in the chronic course of the pathology.
Heat and cold treatment
The effect of heat on the lower back helps to relieve pain, but only after the cessation of the acute inflammatory process. For this purpose, a heating pad, warming ointment or gel, bath is suitable.
Adaptation systems are activated under the influence of cryotherapy (cold treatment). At the heart of this physiotherapeutic procedure is the body's response to hypothermia of the outer layers of the skin.
Preventive measures
By eliminating the factors that can cause the appearance of the problem, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of low back pain. You need to stop walking in high heels and minimize the consumption of high-calorie foods. Regular exercise, swimming and yoga are good prevention.