Low back pain is one of the most common health problems.The causes of pain are different: 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 at the ribs and ends at the tailbone.Low back pain can manifest itself in different ways: it can be sharp or nagging, aching or burning, it can be concentrated in one place or spread to the whole back.
Based on duration, lower back pain is classified into:
- periodic, associated with physical activity, overexertion, body characteristics or internal diseases;
- permanent or chronic, which is caused by irreversible pathology in diseases of the musculoskeletal system or in diseases of the blood vessels of the legs.
The latter type often accompanies inflammatory or degenerative processes in bone or cartilage tissue, which are not completely curable, they can only be reduced or stopped for a short period of time.
Why does discomfort occur?
Pain in the lower back is a consequence of a person walking upright, where a large load falls on the lumbar spine.The base of the spine consists of bone tissue, and around it there are nerve roots that send signals of pain.
If a person sits in a position for a long time, a "lumbago" occurs when he stands up, which does not allow him to straighten up.The cause of this can be pinched nerve endings near the spine, swelling in the muscles, intervertebral discs or ligaments.
To diagnose the problem, it is necessary to undergo an external examination of the spine by a doctor and further examinations:
- X-ray examination;
- computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Main reasons
Low back pain is divided into 2 groups based on origin:
- primary, caused by the development of pathologies in the area of the spine, functional changes in muscles, joints, discs, ligaments and tendons;
- secondary, associated with spinal cord injuries, as well as various infections and diseases of internal organs located in the pelvic area.
The most common causes of lower back pain include the following diseases:
- Lumbago.It manifests itself as sudden acute pain in the lower back due to pathological changes in the vertebrae.
- Osteochondrosis.Includes a number of diseases of an inflammatory or dystrophic nature, which manifests itself in reduced elasticity and strength of intervertebral discs, loosening of the surface of bone and cartilage tissue with damage to nerves.Protrusion of the intervertebral disc refers to one of the stages of osteochondrosis in which protrusion of cartilage occurs.
- Sciatica.Occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed or compressed;pain begins in the lower back and radiates to the back of one leg.
- Lumbar radiculitis.It can occur when bending, when sneezing or laughing, it is caused by inflammation of the nerve endings, and can lead to reduced sensitivity and loss of the ability to move.
- Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine to one side, manifested in 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 lower back and other areas.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the joints, including the hip.
People who spend a long time in an uncomfortable body position (sitting at a computer or bending over garden beds), which causes muscle tightening and muscle spasms, are predisposed to diseases of the spine.
Diseases of the internal organs can also cause lower 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 a feeling of tenderness in the lower back, especially when coughing;
- bone tuberculosis and other infections;
- growing tumors, benign or malignant, that increase in the direction of the nerve fibers in the back.
In men
Periodic pain in the lower back can occur in men during hard physical activity, when working in the cold or with strong drafts.
In addition, pain is characteristic of some male diseases:
- with prostatitis, they occasionally appear and radiate to the back, which is accompanied by general weakness and fever;
- with epididymitis (inflammatory process in the epididymis) is localized in the groin with a return to the lower back.
In women
Pain in the lower back 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 begin in the lower abdomen and then radiate to the back;
- during the period of giving birth to a child, it can pain in the lower back and radiate to the spine under the pressure of the growing fetus (starting from the 5th month of pregnancy), if there is a threat of abortion, they manifest in the form of contractions;
- During menopause, pain changes localization, moving from the head to the chest or lower back;they are caused by fluctuations in the level of estrogen in the blood and poor circulation in the pelvic organs.
Women experience back pain and increased suspicion.Those associated with nervous stress are treated with psychological correction.
Methods of pain relief
For lower 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 to relieve negative emotions and lead a normal life.
Main groups of painkillers:
- analgesics;
- anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs in tablet form;
- 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;
- medical patches and stickers.
Medication not only helps relieve pain, but also normalizes blood circulation and restores nerve tissue.
All drugs have side effects and contraindications, so they are used only after consultation with a doctor.
In particularly severe cases, narcotics are used that reduce pain by acting on the nervous system.However, when taken over a long period of time, they can become addictive.
Treatment
After determining the cause of lower back pain, complex therapy is carried out for the underlying 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 exclusively by highly qualified specialists to avoid complications;
- acupuncture (helps relieve muscle tension and pain);
- physiotherapy and yoga.
To get rid of lower back pain, folk recipes are also used:
- Tea made from birch leaves and lingonberries.The dry mixture is brewed with boiling water and drunk in small portions during the day.
- An ointment made from butter with the addition of minced garlic cloves and ginger root.It should be applied to the sore spot.
Prevention
To avoid unpleasant pain in the lower back, you must observe the basic rules of prevention:
- sleep on a semi-rigid mattress, take the correct physiological position;
- when sitting in a position for a long time, do not get up suddenly;you need to take breaks, warm up or exercise;
- avoid sudden movements and bends;
- perform a daily set of special gymnastic exercises to train all parts of the spine (only with the permission of a doctor).