According to statistics, lower back pain is quite common.This is confirmed by the fact that approximately 80% of the population has felt discomfort in the waist area at least once in their life.It is also known that one of the main symptoms of a wide range of diseases is lower back pain.Some experts believe that discomfort in this area of the spine is a kind of retribution for a person who walks upright.
For the most part, as long as the pain in the lumbar region is not intense or constant, but appears periodically, people are not inclined to attach importance to it and consult a doctor.As a result, discomfort usually increases and becomes chronic.At an appointment with a specialist, it turns out that the cause of the discomfort is a serious illness requiring surgical treatment.
Typically, acute lower back pain develops into constant pain over time.According to neurologists, within a year after recovery, a relapse occurs in 40% of patients, while in the long term, discomfort reappears in 85% of patients.
Types of lower back pain
For some people, lower back problems become so common that they no longer notice them.In general, unpleasant sensations in the lower back can be observed in a person once, and then will never occur again.
Or they may return constantly, causing incredible suffering.But before consulting a doctor, you can determine by the symptoms of pain syndrome and its localization, what disease it is caused by.
There are five types of low back pain:
- local;
- thoughtful;
- reflected spondylogenic (pathological);
- radicular;
- caused by muscle spasms.
Local and referred lower back pain
Local localization of pain results from irritation or compression of sensitive nerve endings.It is caused by fractures, ruptures or tensions of sensitive fibers.Unpleasant sensations of a local nature, which do not change in intensity when changing body position, suggest the presence of a tumor or infection of the spine.
The source of referred pain, felt in the lower back, may come from problems in the abdominal or pelvic organs.Very often, but not always, the pain is localized in addition to the lower back, also in the abdomen and pelvis.When the spine moves, unpleasant sensations do not increase, but no particular relief is felt either.
Referred spondylogenic pain in cases of injury to the upper lumbar spine is felt in the lower back, in the groin area or on the front of the thighs.When the pathology affects the lower lumbar region, discomfort usually occurs in the buttocks, back of the thighs and, in rare cases, in the calves or feet.
Acute pain and cramping
Classic lower spinal discomfort of radicular origin is generally characterized by its severity and spread to the leg.
Often, lower back pain when coughing is caused by coughing, sneezing, or other tension in the abdominal muscle tissues.This occurs due to tension of the affected root or nerve during a certain position or movement of the body.
So, lower back pain when sitting is due to tension in the sciatic nerve (the L5 and S1 roots react) which runs along the back of the thigh.The nature of the sensations themselves generally does not allow radicular pain to be distinguished from non-radicular pain.The cause of the discomfort caused by muscle spasms is generally unclear.Pain occurs with various spinal conditions.During a spasm, the spine bends, the deep back muscles contract and a dull pain appears.
Discomfort in the lower back often appears due to spinal pathology.In some cases, this can be caused by damage to the kidneys, pancreas, and lumbar muscle tissue.The cause of the pain is usually determined by a neurologist.If necessary, a therapist and an orthopedist intervene.
Common causes of lower back pain
Doctors recommend paying attention to the unpleasant sensation in the lower back, primarily because it can be one of the symptoms of many serious illnesses.The nature of the manifestation of lumbar syndrome depends only on the reasons that provoked it.Only a specialist can determine the “source” of the pain, as well as the disease that may have caused the discomfort in the lumbar region.
Causes of persistent lower back pain:
- cholelithiasis;
- pancreatitis;
- prostatitis;
- inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs;
- benign and malignant tumors of the pelvic organs;
- gastric and duodenal ulcers;
- aortic aneurysm;
- kidney stones or urinary tract infections.
Causes of pain associated with the muscles of the spine and back
In medicine, there are a number of fairly rare spinal pathologies that can cause lumbar syndrome.Among these diseases, ankylosing spondylitis, characterized by inflammation of the joints of the spine, particularly stands out.Additionally, spinal pain in the lumbar region can be caused by a bacterial infection, osteomyelitis.
In 90% of cases, lower back syndrome is caused by various problems in the muscular tissues of the spine and back.In this regard, the most common causes of pain are:
- degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis, deforming spondylosis, progressive osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc herniation);
- severe tension of the lumbar muscles;
- complex fractures of the spine - traumatic or compression.
Separately in this list of reasons are psychosomatic - lower back pain, according to this direction of medicine, is caused by psychological problems.For example, the inability to find one's true purpose, a burden that is too heavy (caring for a sick loved one, a small child, family problems, etc.).In this case, working on yourself will be useful.
Provoking factors
In the case of a significant number of spinal conditions and nerve root injuries, discomfort in the lower back may be observed.
However, these diseases can occur for quite a long time without manifestations.It is only under the influence of certain factors that they make themselves felt.Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate not only unpleasant sensations, but also the underlying disease.
Factors contributing to lower back pain:
- ignorance of the rules of lifting weights;
- lack of physical activity;
- hormonal imbalance;
- use of uncomfortable furniture (chair, armchair, etc.);
- bad posture.
Hypothermia, changes in air pressure, and magnetic storms can also cause lower back pain.In all cases, the sensitive nerve roots in the spinal cord are irritated.This can also be observed due to pathological deposits of calcium salts.Spinal hernias and protrusions (bulging of the intervertebral discs) can also cause pain in the tailbone and lower back.
Lower back pain: symptoms
Any disease has its own symptoms, but in lumbar syndrome, the symptoms appear depending on the reasons that caused the discomfort in the lower back.For example, acute discomfort may be a consequence of renal colic.In this case, a person will not be able to find a body position that would allow him to endure discomfort.
Pain in the lower back and groin sometimes reflects the movement of a stone from the renal pelvis toward the ureter.When the fifth vertebra is displaced, pain accompanied by severe weakness may be felt not only in the lumbar region, but also in the hips and legs.
It is difficult for a person to move, because the syndrome only intensifies and becomes unbearable.The disease itself is called spondylolisthesis.
Middle-aged women often experience lower back pain after sleep, as well as morning weakness.Additionally, there is inactivity of the spine and discomfort along it.Such symptoms are characteristic of fibrositis.When the disease is advanced, the pain in the lower back when moving becomes quite intense, since the fibrous connective tissue, when inflamed, reacts very sensitively to the movement of the human body.
Lumbar syndrome deserves special attention, considering the sides of the body:
- pain in the right region of the lumbar region is a sign of problems in the sexual sphere, as well as a signal of pathology of the right kidney, abdominal wall, intestines or appendix of the cecum;
- discomfort in the left side of the lumbar region is a sign of diseases of the reproductive system, problems with the ureter, left kidney, hernia, intestines and abdominal wall.
Treatment of lower back pain
It happens that lower back pain caused by a cold, as well as for other reasons, is so severe that it is impossible to do without treatment.Whatever the cause of the attack, it is recommended to stay in bed for the first few days.If discomfort in the lower spine is caused by a sprain, then a heating pad or a warm bath will help improve your well-being.If the injury is serious, seek medical attention immediately.
Conservative therapy
Irritating ointments, as well as mustard or pepper plasters will help to achieve local warming of the lumbar zone in the most painful area.
Wrapping yourself in a warm woolen scarf, applying an electric heating pad, a heated sandbag and leeches will provide relief.Hot compresses help fight myositis.
Depending on the parallel symptoms observed, lower back pain can be relieved by electrical procedures: diadynamic currents, transcutaneous electroanalgesia, sinusoidally modulated currents, electrophoresis with novocaine and others.Reflexology (acupuncture, moxibustion, electroacupuncture, laser therapy), including novocaine blockades, will also help relieve discomfort.
For radiculitis caused by displacement of the intervertebral discs, traction therapy is prescribed - stretching the torso on the bed or under water.Similar procedures are performed in a hospital setting.Balneotherapy is also recognized as effective.These are radon, sulfide, chloride, sodium, turpentine, iodine-bromine baths, low temperature sludge applications, naphthalan.
Rubbing with anti-inflammatories and pain relievers is very effective for lumbar syndrome.You can relieve pain and irrigate the affected area with ethyl chloride.
Prevention
Wearing external support systems - orthotics - is of no small importance in eliminating lumbar syndrome and preventing its attacks.
At the doctor's discretion, it can be a corset, a half-corset, a posture corrector, or an incliner (a special corset that eliminates tilt), or a bandage.Sometimes belts are recommended: corset, anti-radiculite, elastic and others.
Only one universal remedy will help relieve lower back pain after sitting and prevent the development of lumbar syndrome - physiotherapy (or yoga - a set of health-improving exercises).It is also important to monitor your posture when sitting, and when the lumbar area of your back becomes stiff, do light exercises.Massage will be greatly helpful.It will relieve muscle spasms and restore proper tone to the muscles.
In general, lower back pain can have various causes.It is important not to neglect the symptoms and go to the clinic on time.Prophylaxis will prolong the effect obtained from treatment.Therefore, you should not carry heavy objects and fully follow the doctor's recommendations.Then, perhaps, pain in the lumbar region will never appear again.