Low back pain is one of the most common health problems.The causes of pain are different: from simple excessive physical exertion after an uncomfortable body position to serious disorders in the human body.
Types of painful sensations
The lower back is the part of the lower 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 dull, aching or burning, it can be concentrated in one location or spread across the entire back.
Based on duration, low back pain is classified into:
- periodic, associated with physical activity, excessive effort, bodily characteristics or internal diseases;
- permanent or chronic, 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 and can only be reduced or interrupted for a short period.
Why does the discomfort occur?
Pain in the lower back is a consequence of a person walking upright, in which a large load falls on the lumbar spine.The base of the spine is made up of bone tissue and around it are nerve roots that send pain signals.
If a person sits in the same position for a long time, when they stand up, a “lumbago” occurs, which does not allow them to straighten up.The reason for this may be compression of nerve endings near the spine, swelling of muscles, intervertebral discs or ligaments.
To diagnose the problem, it is necessary to have an external examination of the spine by a doctor and additional tests:
- Radiographic 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 spinal region, 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.
The most common causes of lower back pain include the following conditions:
- Lumbago.It manifests as sudden sharp pain in the lower back due to pathological changes in the vertebrae.
- Osteochondrosis.It includes a number of diseases of an inflammatory or dystrophic nature, which are manifested in impaired elasticity and strength of intervertebral discs, loosening of the surface of bone and cartilaginous tissue with damage to nerves.Protrusion of the intervertebral disc refers to one of the stages of osteochondrosis, in which cartilage protrusion occurs.
- Sciatica.It occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed or compressed;the pain starts in the lower back and radiates to the back of one leg.
- Lumbar radiculitis.It can occur when bending, sneezing or laughing, it is caused by inflammation of the nerve endings and can lead to decreased sensitivity and loss of the ability to move.
- Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine to one side, which manifests itself in asymmetry in shoulder height, poor posture and the formation of bulges.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 lot of time in an uncomfortable body position (sitting at a computer or hunched over garden beds), which causes muscle stiffness and muscle spasms, are predisposed to spinal diseases.
Diseases of the internal organs can also cause back pain:
- most often there is pain 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 dull pain in the lower back;
- if the lungs are affected (pneumonia), there may be a sensation of pain in the lower back, especially when coughing;
- bone tuberculosis and other infections;
- growing tumors, benign or malignant, that increase in the direction of nerve fibers in the back.
In men
Periodic lower back pain can occur in men during intense physical activity, when working in the cold or under strong drafts.
Also, pain is characteristic of some male diseases:
- in prostatitis, they appear occasionally and radiate to the back, accompanied by general weakness and fever;
- with epididymitis (inflammatory process in the epididymis) they are localized in the groin with a return to the lumbar region.
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:
- in inflammation of the appendages (adnexitis), they begin in the lower abdomen and then radiate to the back;
- during the period of pregnancy, it may hurt in the lower back and radiate to the spine under the pressure of the growing fetus (from the 5th month of pregnancy), if there is a threat of miscarriage, they manifest themselves in the form of contractions;
- During menopause, the pain changes location, 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 distrust.Those associated with nervous stress are treated with psychological correction.
Pain relief methods
For low back pain, after clarifying the cause and diagnosing the underlying disease, the neurologist prescribes painkillers in the form of ointments, tablets or injections.Its use allows the patient to feel better, relieving negative feelings and leading a normal life.
Main groups of analgesics:
- analgesics;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory 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;
- adhesives and medicinal patches.
Medicines help not only relieve pain, but also normalize blood circulation and restore nervous tissue.
All medicines have side effects and contraindications, therefore they are used only after consultation with a doctor.
In especially severe cases, drugs 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 for the underlying disease is carried out.
With the authorization of the attending physician, it is possible to use alternative methods:
- therapeutic massage course;
- manual therapy, which must 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 blueberries.The dry mixture is brewed with boiling water and drunk in small portions throughout the day.
- An ointment made from butter with the addition of chopped garlic cloves and ginger root.It must be applied to the painful area.
Prevention
To avoid unpleasant pain in the lower back, you must follow the basic prevention rules:
- sleep on a semi-rigid mattress, assuming the correct physiological position;
- when sitting in the same position for a long time, do not get up abruptly;you need to take breaks, warm up or exercise;
- avoid sudden movements and bending;
- perform a series of special gymnastic exercises daily to train all parts of the spine (only with the permission of a doctor).