Low back pain is very common. From time to time it occurs in 90% of the population and it is not always possible to identify the true causes. Most often, lower back pain occurs after intense physical activity and may indicate back problems or diseases of the internal organs. The diagnosis determines what treatment will be: conservative or surgical.
Causes and nature of pain.
Low back pain can be acute, sudden, appear after physical effort and cause a forced body position. Pain in the lower spine is constant, aching or pulling, accompanied by stiffness, numbness and tingling.
The intensity of pain in the lumbar region also varies: from mild, which does not interfere with everyday life, to unbearable, forcing you to take painkillers and lie in bed. Sometimes the pain extends beyond the back, affecting the buttocks, thighs, and even the legs.
The pain may go away on its own, but in the worst case it worsens, causes discomfort and limits mobility. In order not to live with pain, it is necessary to discover the reason why your lower back hurts. In most cases, a preliminary diagnosis can be made based on the nature of the pain.
Herpes
This lower back pain is not limited to the lumbar region. They extend throughout the back, along the torso, and can radiate to the lower abdomen, gluteal region, and legs.
The most common cause of low back pain in the lower back is osteochondrosis. This is a chronic disease of the spine that causes pinched nerve endings and pain. The symptoms are complemented by sensory disturbances, numbness and disorders of internal organs.
The source of pain in the waist may be located above the lumbar level and not be associated with diseases of the spine. In this case, the patient simply feels pain in the lower back, but the pain itself is localized in the chest area.
The cause of shingles pain in the lower back can be diseases of the internal organs, especially the heart, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. For example, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, stomach or duodenal ulcer, pleurisy, pneumonia, heart attack.
The pain is caused by irritation of the nerve fibers of the organs.
Pain below the lumbar level in the coccygeal region is a sign of diseases of the kidneys and reproductive organs.
To walk
The lumbar region is represented by 5 vertebrae, intervertebral discs and ligaments. Many nerve endings that intervene during walking originate from it. In any lower back disease, the nerves can become compressed during movement, causing lower back pain.
The intensity and nature of the pain depends on the scale of the injury. If it hurts to move, it is a sign of osteochondrosis or herniated intervertebral disc. In the latter case, terrible pain occurs in the lower back when walking. It decreases slightly when a person is sitting.
The cause of lower back pain when walking may be excessive physical activity the day before. It appears only at the moment of movement and disappears at rest, there are no accompanying manifestations.
Acute pain
Acute pain in the lower back is also called lumbago or lumbago. Immobilizes and forces you to adopt a forced position. An attack of terrible lower back pain can last only a few minutes and sometimes several days.
One of the common causes of back pain in the lumbar region is excessive physical activity, which causes sprains, strains or muscle spasms. This can happen due to sudden movements, heavy lifting, poor body rotation, or awkward postures. Muscle inflammation is caused by hypothermia or being in a draft.
If you twist or strain when moving, your lower back hurts even more.
The cause of severe low back pain may be lumbosacral radiculitis or a herniated disc. In this case, when you stand up, bend over, or walk, your lower back hurts even more.
The cause of acute low back pain can be other diseases of the musculoskeletal system:
- osteochondrosis;
- osteoarthritis of the facet joints;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- osteoporosis;
- spondylosis;
- spondylolisthesis;
- spinal injuries;
- outgoing;
- infectious diseases of the spine (tuberculosis, epidural abscess, osteomyelitis);
- spinal canal stenosis;
- rachiocampsis;
- tumors;
- Bekhterev's disease.
The reason why the lower back and tailbone hurts may be diseases of the internal organs. Acute pain syndrome occurs with cholecystitis, pancreatitis, inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system, pyelonephritis, renal colic and aneurysm of the abdominal artery.
Constant pain
Constant pain in the lower back is usually painful in nature. Pain intensity may increase with hypothermia, physical activity, injuries, or failed movements. A common symptom that accompanies regular lower back pain is stiffness of movement. It manifests itself especially after rest.
The cause of constant pain in the lumbar region is vascular pathologies, which cause poor circulation. For example, vascular atherosclerosis, phlebothrombosis, thrombophlebitis.
The lower back can also hurt due to inflammatory and degenerative processes of the musculoskeletal system.
It's a dull pain
Pain in the lower back often indicates diseases of the internal organs. If your back hurts, this may be a symptom of the following diseases:
- pyelonephritis;
- kidney stone disease;
- endometriosis;
- inflammation of the uterus or appendages;
- ectopic pregnancy.
The peculiarity of all these diseases is that low back pain occurs against the background of a general deterioration in well-being.
If the spine hurts in the middle, this indicates pancreatitis or cholecystitis.
when you are sitting
If your lower back hurts when sitting, this indicates excessive physical activity or serious spinal pathologies. In this case, the pain in the lower back is sharp or burning. A dull, aching pain, on the other hand, can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle.
The reason why the lower back hurts after sitting is the pinching of the intervertebral discs.
If the cause is radiculitis, hernia, tumor, protuberance, the lower back hurts even more when standing up.
Pain can occur with diseases of the pelvic organs and kidneys.
when you are standing
If your lower back hurts a lot when standing, it could be radiculitis. To reduce pain, you should change your position. The lumbar spine may hurt in an upright position due to a hernia.
Which doctor treats low back pain?
If your lower back hurts, you should contact the following specialists for treatment:
- orthopedist;
- neurologist;
- vertebrologist
An osteopath, reflexologist or chiropractor may participate in the therapy. Sometimes the help of a surgeon, gastroenterologist, gynecologist, urologist, nephrologist and oncologist is required.
Hospital attendance should be mandatory in the following cases:
- pain caused by an injury;
- the pain extends beyond the back and is accompanied by other symptoms (numbness, urinary or fecal incontinence);
- lasts more than 3 days or reappears after a while.
Diagnosis
To understand why pain in the lumbar region may appear, the doctor conducts a visual examination and listens to the patient's complaints. Based on what she saw and heard, she draws up a clinical picture and can make a diagnosis or prescribe additional tests.
During the examination, it is important to determine the cause-effect relationship.
Diagnosis of pain in the lower back may include the following examination methods:
- blood and urine tests;
- spine x-ray;
- CT or MRI;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
- chest x-ray;
- ECG;
- fibrogastroduodenoscopy.
Treatment
If low back pain occurs, treatment depends directly on the cause. Immediately after the onset of a painful attack, it is worth limiting physical activity for 2-3 days, but bed rest is also not recommended. It is best to sleep in the fetal position with a pillow between your knees. In this way the back is relieved.
In case of severe pain, you can take a pain reliever. If the pain occurs as a result of an injury, cold should be applied to the sore spot.
For spinal canal stenosis, injection block with steroids and pain relievers is used.
Don't forget that long-term use of pain relievers is not an option. The pills only mask the problem and do not solve it.
Pain is most often treated with medications (NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants, vitamin complexes), massage, manual therapy, exercise therapy (Bubnovsky complex) and physiotherapeutic procedures. Acupuncture is increasingly popular for relieving muscle tension.
In most cases, pain can be relieved in 4 to 6 weeks.
If conservative therapy is ineffective (mainly in the case of a hernia), surgical intervention is performed. During the operation, the hernia is removed. The patient immediately feels significant relief.
What can't you do?
You should not self-medicate or use painkillers or anti-inflammatories for a long time. If the pain does not go away within 3 days, you should visit a doctor.
You cannot perform a series of exercises on your own. To prevent the pain from worsening, the training program must be prescribed by a specialist. In case of exacerbation of diseases of the spine, massage and physical exercise are usually contraindicated until relief occurs.
In case of injury, you cannot adjust the vertebrae yourself or heat the affected area.
Prevention
Precautionary measures:
- do not lift weights;
- do not make sudden movements, avoid excessive physical exertion;
- sleeping on a hard mattress;
- observe a rest regime;
- lead an active lifestyle, walk at least 1 hour a day;
- for sedentary work, do it every 40-50 minutes. warm-up break;
- do exercises every day, it is useful to hang on the horizontal bar;
- do not cool too much;
- Healthy food;
- take vitamin complexes containing calcium.
To prevent lower back pain, you should not overload your back. We must not forget that the functioning of internal organs depends on the health of the spine.
If your back hurts, don't hesitate, you should seek help from a doctor. They will determine the true cause and help avoid serious health problems.