According to statistics, lower back pain is quite common.This is confirmed by the fact that approximately 80% of the population has experienced discomfort in the belt area at least once in their life.It is also known that one of the main symptoms of a wide range of ailments is low back pain.Some experts believe that discomfort in this area of the spine is a kind of retribution for a person for walking upright.
In most cases, as long as the pain in the lower back is not intense or constant, but appears periodically, people are not willing to pay attention to it and go to the doctor.As a result, the discomfort often increases and becomes chronic.At an appointment with a specialist, it turns out that the cause of the discomfort is a serious illness that requires surgical treatment.
As a rule, acute lower back pain turns into constant pain over time.According to neurologists, during the following year after recovery, a relapse occurs in 40% of patients, while in the long term the discomfort returns in 85% of patients.
Types of low back pain
For some people, lower back problems become so common that they stop noticing them.In general, unpleasant sensations in the lower back can be observed in a person once and then not occur again.
Or they may return constantly, causing incredible suffering.But before visiting a doctor, it is possible to determine by the symptoms of the painful syndrome and its localization which ailment is caused.
There are five types of low back pain:
- local;
- reflected;
- spondylogenic reflex (pathological);
- root;
- caused by a muscle spasm.
Local and referred lumbar pain.
Local localization of pain occurs as a result of irritation or compression of sensitive nerve endings.It is caused by fractures, breaks or tension of sensitive fibers.Unpleasant sensations of a local nature that do not change in strength when changing body position suggest the presence of a spinal tumor or infection.
The source of referred pain, which is felt in the lower back, may be problems with the abdominal or pelvic organs.Very often, but not always, the pain is located in addition to the lower back, also in the abdomen and pelvis.When the spine moves, the unpleasant sensations do not increase, but no particular relief is felt either.
Spondylogenic referred pain in case of damage to the upper lumbar spine is felt in the lower back, in the groin or on the anterior surface of the thighs.When the pathology affects the lower lumbar region, discomfort usually appears in the buttocks, the back of the thighs and, in rare cases, the calves or feet.
Sharp, cramp-like pain
Classic discomfort in the lower part of the spine of root origin is usually characterized by being severe and extending to the leg.
Low back pain when coughing is often caused by coughing, sneezing, or other tension in the abdominal muscle tissue.This occurs due to tension of the affected root or nerve during a certain position or movement of the body.
Thus, pain in the lower back when sitting occurs due to tension in the sciatic nerve (the L5 and S1 roots react) that runs along the back of the thigh.The nature of the sensations themselves usually does not allow radicular pain to be distinguished from non-radicular pain.It is usually unclear what causes the discomfort of muscle spasms.Pain occurs with various spinal ailments.During a spasm, the spine bends, the deep muscles of the back tense, and a dull pain occurs.
Discomfort often appears in the lumbar area due to spinal pathology.In some cases, it may be due to 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 low back pain
Doctors recommend paying attention to the unpleasant sensation in the lower back, mainly because it can be one of the symptoms of several serious diseases.The nature of the manifestation of lumbar syndrome depends solely on the causes that caused it.Only a specialist can determine the “source” of the pain, as well as what condition may have caused the discomfort in the lower back region.
Causes of persistent low back pain:
- cholelithiasis;
- pancreatitis;
- prostatitis;
- inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs;
- benign and malignant tumors of the pelvic organs;
- stomach and duodenal ulcers;
- aortic aneurysm;
- kidney stones or urinary tract infections.
Causes of pain associated with the spine and back muscles.
In medicine, there are a number of fairly rare pathologies of the spine that can cause low back syndrome.Among these diseases, ankylosing spondylitis stands out, when the joints of the spine become inflamed.Additionally, pain in the lumbar spine can be caused by a bacterial infection, osteomyelitis.
In 90% of cases, low back syndrome is caused by various problems in the spine and muscle tissue of the back.In this sense, the most common causes of pain are:
- degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis, spondylosis deformans, progressive osteoarthritis, herniated intervertebral disc);
- severe tension of the lumbar muscles;
- Complex fractures of the spine: traumatic or compression.
Separately in this list of reasons is psychosomatic: low back pain, according to this direction of medicine, is caused by psychological problems.For example, the inability to find the true purpose, too heavy a burden (caring for a sick relative, a small child, problems in the family, etc.).In this case, it will be useful to work on yourself.
Provoking factors
In the case of a significant number of spinal ailments and damage to the nerve roots, discomfort in the lower back may be observed.
However, these diseases can occur for quite a long time without manifestations.Only under the influence of certain factors do they make themselves felt.Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate not only unpleasant sensations, but also the underlying ailment.
Factors that contribute to low back pain:
- ignorance of the rules of weightlifting;
- lack of physical activity;
- hormonal imbalance;
- use of uncomfortable furniture (chair, armchair, etc.);
- incorrect posture.
Hypothermia, changes in atmospheric pressure, and magnetic storms can also cause pain in the lower back.In either case, the sensitive nerve roots in the spinal cord are irritated.It can also be observed by pathological deposits of calcium salts.Spinal hernias and bulges (bulging intervertebral discs) can also cause pain in the tailbone and lower back.
Low back pain: symptoms
Any ailment has its own symptoms, but in lumbar syndrome the symptoms appear depending on the reasons that caused the discomfort in the lower back area.For example, acute discomfort may be the result of renal colic.In this case, a person will not be able to find a body position that allows him to endure the discomfort.
Pain in the lower back and groin is sometimes a reflection of the movement of a stone from the renal pelvis toward the ureter.When the fifth vertebra is displaced, pain with severe weakness may be felt not only in the lower back, but also in the hips and legs.
It becomes difficult for a person to move, as the syndrome only intensifies and becomes unbearable.The disease itself is called spondylolisthesis.
Middle-aged women often experience lower back pain after sleeping, as well as morning weakness.In addition, there is inactivity of the spine and discomfort along it.These symptoms are characteristic of fibrositis.When the disease is advanced, the pain in the lower back when moving becomes quite severe, since the fibrous connective tissue, when inflamed, reacts very sensitively to the movement of the human body.
Low back syndrome deserves special consideration, taking into account the sides of the body:
- pain in the right lumbar region is a sign of problems in the sexual sphere, as well as a sign 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.
Low back pain treatment
It happens that lower back pain during a cold, as well as for other reasons, is so intense that it is impossible to do without therapy.Regardless of 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, a heating pad or a warm bath will help improve your well-being.If the injury is serious, consult a doctor immediately.
Conservative therapy
Irritant ointments, as well as mustard or pepper plasters, will help to perform local warming of the lower back in the area of greatest pain.
Wrapping yourself in a warm wool scarf, applying a heating pad, a bag of hot sand, and leeches will bring relief.Hot compresses help with myositis.
Depending on the parallel symptoms observed, low back pain can be relieved by electrical procedures: diadynamic currents, transcutaneous electroanalgesia, sinusoidally modulated currents, novocaine electrophoresis and others.Reflexology (acupuncture, moxibustion, electroacupuncture, laser therapy), including novocaine blocks, will also help relieve discomfort.
For radiculitis caused by displacement of intervertebral discs, traction therapy is prescribed - stretching the torso in bed or under water.Similar procedures are carried out in a hospital setting.Balneotherapy is also recognized as effective.These are radon, sulfide, chloride, sodium, turpentine, iodine-bromine baths, low-temperature mud applications and naphthalan.
Rubbing with anti-inflammatories and pain relievers is quite effective for lower back syndrome.You can relieve the pain and irrigate the affected area with ethyl chloride.
Prevention
Of no small importance in eliminating lumbar syndrome and preventing its attacks is the use of external support systems - orthoses.
At the doctor's discretion, it can be a corset, half-corset, a posture corrector or a recliner (a special corset that eliminates tilting) or a bandage.Sometimes belts are recommended: corset, anti-radiculitis, elastic and others.
Only one universal remedy will help relieve lower back pain after sitting and prevent the development of lower back syndrome - physiotherapy (or yoga, a series of exercises to improve health).It is also important to monitor your posture when sitting, and when the lumbar area of your back becomes stiff, perform light exercises.The massage will be of great help.It will relieve muscle spasms and give the muscles proper tone.
In general, low 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 achieved effect of the treatment.Therefore, you should not subsequently carry heavy objects and strictly follow the doctor's recommendations.Then, perhaps, the pain in the lumbar region will never manifest itself again.