Back pain is one of the most common health problems.The causes of pain are diverse: from simple physical overexertion after an uncomfortable body position to serious disorders in the human body.
Types of painful sensations
The lower back is the lower part of the back that starts from the ribs and ends at the tailbone.Back pain can manifest itself in different ways: it can be sharp or nagging, it can be painful or burning, it can be concentrated in one place or it can spread all over the back.
According to the duration, back pain is divided into the following:
- cycle related to physical activity, excessive load, body characteristics or internal diseases;
- permanent or chronic caused by irreversible pathology in diseases of the musculoskeletal system or diseases of the blood vessels of the legs.
The latter type is often accompanied by inflammatory or degenerative processes in bone or cartilage tissue, it is not completely cured, they can only be reduced or stopped for a short time.
Why anxiety?
Pain in the lumbar region is the result of a person walking upright, when a large load falls on the lower back.The core of the spine is bone tissue, and around it are nerve roots that send signals about pain.
If a person sits in one position for a long time, "lumbago" occurs, which does not allow to correct it when standing up.This can be caused by pinched nerve endings near the spine, swelling in the muscles, intervertebral discs or ligaments.
To determine the problem, it is necessary to undergo an external examination of the spine by a doctor and additional examinations:
- x-ray examination;
- computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
The main reasons
Lower back pain is divided into 2 groups according to its origin:
- primary, the development of pathologies in the area of the spine, functional changes in muscles, joints, discs, ligaments and tendons;
- secondary, associated with spinal injuries, as well as various infections and diseases of internal organs located in the pelvic region.
Among the most common causes of pain in the lumbar region are the following diseases:
- Lumbago.It manifests itself in the form of sudden sharp pains in the lumbar region as a result of pathological changes in the vertebrae.
- Osteochondrosis.It includes a number of diseases of inflammatory or dystrophic nature, manifested by the violation of the elasticity and strength of the intervertebral discs, the damage to the nerves and the loosening of the surface of the bone and cartilage tissue.Protrusion of the intervertebral disc refers to one of the stages of osteochondrosis, in which cartilage protrusion occurs.
- Sciatica.Occurs when the sciatic nerve is inflamed or compressed;the pain starts in the lower back and spreads to the back of one leg.
- Lumbar radiculitis.It can occur when bending, sneezing or laughing, is caused by inflammation of the nerve endings and can cause sensitivity and loss of mobility.
- Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine to one side, manifested by asymmetry in shoulder height, poor posture and the formation of a hump.The cause of the disease is a decrease in the functions of the muscles and bones of the skeleton.
- Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic disease accompanied by loss of joint mobility due to the growth of connective tissue in the lumbar region and other areas.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the joints, including the hip.
People who spend long periods of time in uncomfortable body positions (sitting at a computer or hunched over garden beds) that cause muscle contractions and muscle spasms are prone to spinal disorders.
Diseases of internal organs can also cause back pain:
- most often, pain occurs in the kidneys (pyelonephritis, kidney failure, stones, colic);
- diseases of the digestive system and gastrointestinal tract (cholecystitis, pancreatitis, appendicitis, adhesions after surgery) - often reflected by nagging pain in the lower back;
- if the lungs are affected (pneumonia), there may be pain in the lower back, especially when coughing;
- bone tuberculosis and other infections;
- benign or malignant tumors growing in the direction of the nerve fibers behind.
In men
Periodic back pain in men can occur during heavy physical activity, when working in cold or strong draft.
In addition, pain is characteristic of some male diseases:
- with prostatitis, they sometimes appear and radiate to the back, accompanied by general weakness and fever;
- with epididymitis (inflammatory process in the epididymis), it is localized in the groin, returning to the lower back.
In women
Back pain in women can occur against the background of gynecological diseases or accompany certain physiological processes in the body:
- with inflammation of the appendages (adnexitis), they start from the lower abdomen and then radiate to the back;
- during the birth of a child, under the pressure of the growing fetus (starting from the 5th month of pregnancy), pains in the lumbar region can spread to the spine, if there is a threat of miscarriage, it manifests itself in the form of contractions;
- During menopause, the pain changes localization, moving from the head to the chest or lower back;they are caused by changes in estrogen levels in the blood and poor circulation in the pelvic organs.
Women experience back pain and increased doubt.Those related to nervous tension are treated with psychological correction.
Methods of pain relief
For back pain, after clarifying the cause and diagnosing the underlying disease, the neurologist prescribes painkillers in the form of ointments, tablets or injections.Their use allows the patient to feel better in order to overcome negative feelings and lead a normal life.
The main groups of painkillers:
- analgesics;
- anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs in the form of tablets;
- steroid hormonal drugs;
- injections to relieve spasms and inflammation;
- muscle relaxants that help reduce skeletal muscle tone;
- chondroprotectors are used for spinal hernia;
- ointments, gels and suppositories;
- medicated patches and stickers.
Medicines help not only to relieve pain, but also to normalize blood circulation and restore nerve tissue.
All drugs have side effects and contraindications, so they are used only after consulting a doctor.
In especially severe cases, narcotics are used that reduce pain by affecting the nervous system.However, when taken for a long time, it can become addictive.
Treatment
After determining the cause of back pain, complex therapy is carried out for the main disease.
With the permission of the attending physician, it is possible to use alternative methods:
- therapeutic massage course;
- manual therapy, which should be carried out only by highly qualified specialists to avoid complications;
- acupuncture (helps relieve muscle tension and pain);
- physical therapy and yoga.
Folk recipes are also used to get rid of back pain:
- Tea made from birch leaves and lingonberry.The dry mixture is brewed with boiling water and drunk in small portions throughout the day.
- Ointment made of oil with the addition of chopped garlic cloves and ginger root.It should be applied to the painful area.
Prevention
To avoid unpleasant pain in the back, you should follow the basic prevention rules:
- sleeping on a semi-hard mattress, taking the correct physiological position;
- do not stand up suddenly when sitting in one position for a long time;need to take breaks, warm up or exercise;
- avoid sudden movements and bends;
- perform daily special gymnastic exercises to train all parts of the spine (only with the permission of a doctor).