Back pain in the lumbar region: 30 reasons for treatment

When you have back pain in the lumbar region, discomfort appears, which varies in strength and character.The cause may be muscle fatigue, but more often lower back pain is the first sign of a serious illness.

Regardless of the duration and intensity of the symptom, the pathological condition is a reason to consult a doctor.A specialist doctor will conduct a thorough diagnosis of the spine and abdominal organs, and then prescribe effective back treatment.

In the article we will tell you in detail about all the causes of lower back pain, what each type of pain means (severe, acute, etc.), when to see a doctor, how to treat it (tablets, injections, ointments, patches), photos.I promise it will be interesting.

Reasons

According to statistics, more than 85% of the world's population suffers from lower back pain.This fact is due to the heavy loads that the lumbar spine undergoes daily.In a standing position, the pressure exerted on the intervertebral discs is approximately 100 kg;in a horizontal position, the load decreases to 50 kg, and if the posture is altered, it reaches 220 kg.

Sometimes the cause of lower back pain is excessive load or prolonged stay in an unusual position.The main feature of such pain is the absence of concomitant manifestations, such as deterioration in general condition, hyperthermia, spread of the pain reaction to neighboring areas of the body.

In most cases, pain indicates a pathological process that can affect not only the spine, but also internal organs..The main causes of lower back pain include:

• osteochondrosis;
• old injuries;
• pancreatitis;
• radiculitis;
• infections (tuberculosis, brucellosis);
• malignant neoplasms and their metastases;
• curvature of the spine – scoliosis, increased lumbar lordosis or thoracic kyphosis;

• kidney pathologies – pyelonephritis, kidney stones;
• Reiter's syndrome;
• spondylolisthesis;
• abscess in the epidural area;
• rheumatoid arthritis;
• intervertebral hernia.

Among the atypical factors provoking a painful reaction are diseases of the intestines or genitourinary system.

In women

Due to physiological characteristics and hormonal fluctuations, back pain in women has several specific causes:

• adnexitis (inflammation of the ovaries);
• ectopic pregnancy;
• proliferation of endometrial cells (endometriosis).

Many women experience pain in the lower back during menstruation, as well as during inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs.Hormonal changes during menopause lead to the leaching of calcium and disruption of the mineral composition of bone tissue, causing the development of osteoporosis.

In addition to the femur and pelvic bones, the vertebrae are also affected by osteoporosis, which threatens a pathological fracture of the spine even with minor trauma.

In men

Due to the nature of their work, men are more often subjected to intense physical activity, which leads to premature wear of the lumbar vertebrae.Excessive tension gradually causes morphological changes in the cartilaginous discs, which explains the frequent formation of hernial protrusion in humans.The main manifestation of hernias in the lower back is acute pain in the lumbar region in the form of lumbago.

Distinctive causes of pain in men are:

• ankylosing spondylitis;

• spondylolisthesis – slipping of the vertebrae relative to each other;
• pinched sciatic nerve;
• inflammatory process of the prostate.

The negative impact of stress and a sedentary lifestyle cannot be excluded.Lack of sufficient physical activity leads to impaired nutrition and gas exchange of spinal tissues.As a result, metabolic processes are disrupted, leading to irreversible changes causing pain.

Classification of pain

Depending on the nature, intensity, duration and cause of its appearance, the painful symptom is divided into several types.

• If the discomfort bothers the patient for no more than a month and a half, the pain is considered acute.

• The duration of the syndrome from 6 weeks to a year is diagnosed as a subacute condition.
• The pain syndrome becomes chronic if its duration exceeds one year.

Depending on the location, there are 3 types of low back pain:

1. Local - appear at the site of injury, most often after injury to the muscles, tendons or bones of the back.
2. Reflected - are a consequence of somatic pathologies, when in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, stomach ulcers), pain is felt in the lower back.
3. Projected - a reaction of a neurogenic nature, when a painful impulse spreads to parts of the body along the nerve trunk.An example is pain when pinching the sciatic nerve, which radiates down the entire leg.

The nature of the pain varies from aching and insignificant to sharp and impulsive.This characteristic depends on the disease that is causing the symptom.

Strong

Severe pain occurs when the pain receptors in the paraspinal tissues are irritated or when there is a compressive effect on the large nerve trunks of the spinal cord.One of the main causes of severe pain are degenerative changes in stages 3-4 of osteochondrosis.

Morphological changes affect cartilaginous tissue and bone structures.Progressive softening of the intervertebral disc leads to the formation of a spinal herniation.A protrusion directed towards the spinal canal area or at the exit of the nerve root causes pain associated with impaired sensitivity along the innervation of the affected area.

If the load on the vertebrae is poorly distributed due to degeneration of the cartilaginous disc, marginal osteophytes appear on the vertebral body.When the gap between the vertebral bodies is significantly reduced, the growths create compression on the soft tissue structures.

Severe pain in the initial stage of the disease forces the patient to consult a doctor for diagnosis, which facilitates treatment and guarantees a favorable outcome.

A common cause of severe pain is sciatica in the lumbosacral region.Pain syndrome is caused by inflammation of the spinal cord root of the lumbar spine.The symptom is characterized by radiation to the buttocks and lower limbs.

Constant

Chronic pain is reduced.Such pain does not depend on physical activity and remains in a calm state.The symptom appears with spondylosis and is often accompanied by atony of the leg muscles, paresis and loss of skin sensitivity.Ankylosing spondylitis, metabolic disorders and neoplasms of various types are also accompanied by constant debilitating pain.

Sharp

Sudden pain, forcing a person to adopt a forced position, occurs in cases of sciatica or lumbago.Usually the patient stands in a bent position, holding the lower back with one hand.Sciatica develops when the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed.A sharp pulse of pain travels along the back of the thigh, down the lower leg to the toes.

The cause of lumbago is most often the development of an intervertebral hernia, when pressure is exerted on the spinal roots.Lumbago is a “lumbago” in the lower back, which is in most cases caused by intense physical activity.In this case, the pain is concentrated not only in the back, but spreads to the right or left lower limb.

Muscle

Spasms of muscle fibers in the lumbosacral region are the result of:

• unusual physical activity;
• sudden movements causing muscle tension;
• static tension in an unusual position;

• curvature of the spine - scoliosis;
• muscular imbalance in neurological diseases.

In addition, myofascial pain can occur after performing sports exercises.This pain is caused by the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscle fibers.

Painful

Unpleasant and painful sensations occur with myositis, when the back muscles become inflamed.Pancreatitis manifests itself as girdle pain in the lumbar region.Sensations of tightness accompany diseases of the pelvic organs in men (inflammation of the prostate) and in women (damage to the internal genital organs).

Pregnant women complain of painful pain during the second half of pregnancy.These manifestations are due to an increase in body and abdominal weight with fetal growth.In this case, muscle tension appears in the lower back, causing a moderate painful reaction.

Acute

Acute pain syndrome is a consequence of pathological conditions:

• injuries – bruising, vertebral subluxations, compression fracture;
• hypothermia;

• lifting heavy objects;
• steep slopes.

Acute pain can be caused by renal colic.To clarify the etiology and effectively eliminate the pain syndrome, a detailed diagnosis and a visit to a specialist doctor will be required.

When to consult a doctor?

A visit to the doctor should not be postponed if painful symptoms do not stop for more than 3 days.A warning sign would be a fall on your back, which could cause serious injury.The spread of the painful impulse to the buttocks, thighs and lower legs should not be ignored.

If there is a burning and tingling sensation on the skin, loss of sensation in the legs, groin, large nerves are involved in the pathological process.Severe cases cause disturbances in urination and bowel movements.All of the above signs indicate a serious pathology that must be immediately diagnosed and treated.

Which doctor treats you?

Treatment of lower back pain is a complex task, the implementation of which will require consultation of highly specialized doctors.The initial diagnosis is carried out by a therapist, who refers the patient for consultation to other specialists:

• to a traumatologist - if a back injury is suspected;
• orthopedist - to examine the joints and the entire musculoskeletal system;
• a vertebrologist who treats the spine;
• neurologist – to get rid of neurological symptoms;
• to a neurosurgeon, if surgery cannot be avoided;
• rheumatologist – for autoimmune diseases.

If the functioning of the pelvic organs is disturbed, an additional examination is carried out by a urologist and a women's gynecologist.Therapeutic tactics for lower back pain are based on a set of diagnostic results.

What to do if it hurts a lot: first aid

Premedical actions are carried out with the aim of alleviating the condition and maximizing pain relief before consulting a doctor.The first aid algorithm includes the following measures:

• Rest and bed rest, excluding stress on the lower back.To do this, the patient is placed on a hard surface.If a back injury is suspected, the victim is not allowed to move.

• Cold is applied to the affected area.To do this, use a heating pad with ice and chilled food, previously wrapped in a cloth to prevent hypothermia.The cold compress should not be kept for more than 15 minutes and reused after 3-4 hours.
• Severe pain is a direct indication for contacting a doctor, therefore the patient should be taken to a medical institution as soon as possible.

General and local painkillers should be taken as prescribed by a doctor.Self-medication is dangerous for health and can lead to serious complications.

Uncontrolled use of painkillers dulls pain, complicating diagnosis.In addition, with the development of inflammatory processes or acute conditions affecting the functioning of internal organs, the course of the disease worsens.

The best medicines

The most effective method for treating back pain is drug therapy.Medicines prescribed by a doctor not only relieve the painful symptom, but also eliminate the etiological factor.

Sharp and sharp pains are blocked using local blocks performed by a neurologist or surgeon.At home, remedies are used in the form of tablets, ointments or injections.

Tablets

For symptomatic treatment, the following drugs are prescribed:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that effectively relieve pain and inflammation.
• Glucocorticoids when NSAIDs are ineffective.
• Muscle relaxers for pain caused by back spasms.
• B vitamins to improve the nutrition of muscle tissues and nerve cells.
• Chondroprotectors to inhibit degeneration of joints and spine.

Injections

Injection of drugs is prescribed for severe forms of the disease in order to achieve a rapid therapeutic effect.Basic criteria for the use of injections:

• the time before the therapeutic effect of the drug appears is reduced;
• the drug is not subject to decomposition by gastric juice;
• used for patients who have contraindications to taking analgesics.

Handling must be carried out by a qualified specialist;self-administration of injections is not recommended.The choice of the drug and the prescription of its dosage are the responsibility of the attending physician, taking into account the degree of the disease and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Ointments

Topical treatments can help improve the condition at home.Depending on the active ingredient, the ointment eliminates pain, relieves swelling and inflammation:

1. Anti-inflammatory drugs with analgesic effect.
2. Combined with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-edema effects.
3. Ointments and creams with an irritant effect have a warming effect.
4. Cooling medicines to relieve pain.

When using heating agents for local treatment, it is important to remember that during inflammation and in the first two days after injury, their use is strictly prohibited.

Plasters

This is the most practical form of local recourse.The advantage of patches is that you just need to stick them on the painful area and wait for the effect.As long as the product is in contact with the skin, it is effective.List of the most effective patches:

1. A patch containing an anesthetic that works well against inflammation and mild pain.Cannot be used for more than 5 days.The patch is valid for 12 hours.
2. NSAID patch.Has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.Do not use more than 10 days.The effect of a patch is 24 hours.

How to treat at home

Therapeutic measures at home consist of strict adherence to the doctor's prescriptions.After the acute period is over, massage sessions are recommended to normalize muscle tone and improve blood circulation in the lumbar region.

Therapeutic exercise helps reduce pain, strengthen the muscular corset of the back and restore mobility to the spine.A set of exercises is selected individually by a physiotherapist, taking into account the general functional state and age of the patient.

Traditional medicine is used as an addition to the main treatment.Cabbage with honey has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.To do this, wash a leaf of white cabbage and grease it with liquid honey, then apply it to the sore spot.Secure the compress on it with cling film and cover it with a warm blanket.The duration of the procedure can be up to 12 hours.

Vacuum massage cupping is an effective treatment method that can be used at home.Thanks to the vacuum that appears when using cupping, blood circulation increases, toxins are eliminated and congestion disappears.This leads to faster recovery of the patient.

If you are seriously considering treating your lower back yourself, physiotherapy devices can greatly help you.With their help, many diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be cured in a short time.

Prevention

To prevent the appearance of lower back pain, it is important to follow simple recommendations:

• eat well and lead an active lifestyle;
• engage in vigorous physical exercise;
• avoid heavy loads;
• carry out routine treatment of chronic diseases;
• wear quality shoes;
• correct deformities of the spine and feet.
• If a pain syndrome appears, conduct preventive courses of massage and exercise therapy every year.

Whatever the cause, lower back pain cannot be ignored at any age.Most often, a painful symptom is the consequence of spinal pathology, chronic injury or somatic disease.

When you have back pain at the lumbar level, early consultation with a doctor will allow you to prescribe effective treatment that will speed up recovery and regain back mobility.