It turns out that back pain in the lumbar region is very common.
According to biologists, this symptom is a consequence of our upright posture, in which the load falls mainly on the lumbar region, and is not evenly distributed over the entire spine. Pain in the lower back can signal very serious problems not only with the spine, but also with the internal organs.
If the pain is acute and accompanied by fever, call an ambulance.
If such symptoms are not observed, it is worth contacting a therapist for an accurate diagnosis. Let's see why these symptoms occur, how they can be addressed and prevented.
The main causes of back pain
First, let's find out the reasons for these unpleasant symptoms. The pain can be primary with pathologies of the spine or secondary with diseases of the internal organs.
Along with the reasons, it is important to identify the factors that increase the pain syndrome.
Here they are:
- Features of the profession: heavy physical activity for builders and loaders and weightlifting for athletes.
- Prolonged sitting.
- Sedentary and overweight lifestyle.
- Improper nutrition and lack of protein, calcium and phosphorus in the body.
- Bad habits: alcohol and alcoholic beverages.
Even by reducing the impact of these factors, you will greatly alleviate your condition and spine health.
Primary factors
Primary factors are associated with degenerative-dystrophic processes in the spine.
These include:
- Osteochondrosis is a change in cartilage and intervertebral discs that leads to disc herniation or disc deformation.
- Spondylosis is characterized by the formation of bony growths on the vertebrae. With this growth, a spasm of the muscles around the spine occurs, which limits its mobility. The appearance of injuries in the lower back.
- Spondyloarthrosis is a degeneration of the articular surfaces in the vertebrae, as well as their involvement in the pathological process of ligaments, joints and muscles. In this case, deformation of the intervertebral discs occurs, and the mobility of the spine is also limited.
- Spondylolisthesis is manifested by the displacement of the vertebrae, as a result of which the lumen of the spinal canal changes.
- Herniated discs.
- Radiculopathy is a nerve root injury.
Secondary factors
Secondary ones arise with concomitant pathologies:
- Metabolic problems.
- Curvature of the spine.
- When located near the spine of malignant formations.
- Infectious diseases: spinal osteomyelitis, tuberculous spondylitis, spinal epidural abscess.
- Spine injuries.
- Autoimmune Diseases.
- Painful symptoms of a psychogenic nature.
- Diseases of the digestive system.
- Diseases of the pelvic organs.
- Menstrual pain.
Also, spinal problems can be affected by flat feet, i. e. flattening of the arch of the foot.
Pregnancy can also cause pain. In the early stages, they appear when progesterone is exposed to the ligaments and muscles, even with the threat of miscarriage or with an ectopic pregnancy.
After childbirth, pain may appear due to the stretching of the pelvic muscles or increased stress on the spine, with the frequent carrying of the baby in the arms.
What diseases does this pain signal?
The location of the pain is also important.
So, let's take a look at each case:
- aching pain to the right and above the lower back may indicate a pathology of the lungs. These symptoms are accompanied by shortness of breath, cough and fever. Also on gallbladder or liver problems. In this case, the nature of the pain is excruciating;
- if you feel discomfort above the lower back on the left, this could be a sign of pancreatitis, myocardial infarction, pericarditis, or left-sided pleurisy;
- pain symptoms in the lumbar region signal osteochondrosis in this area, intervertebral hernias and compression fractures;
- a painful symptom under the lower back, radiating to the lower abdomen, is a sign of diseases of the pelvic organs. Such diseases include fibroids, endometriosis, prostate pathology, colon diseases and infectious gynecological diseases. It can also indicate that the kidneys are out of order.
Which doctor will help?
Most often, back pain occurs temporarily. Only in rare cases such symptoms signal complex diseases.
In any case, it is worth knowing which doctor can help in such a situation. Often, acute pain occurs with increased physical exertion.
In other cases, you can seek help from a surgeon, urologist, or even a chiropractor who will make a more accurate diagnosis and prescribe rather than treat a similar problem.
Also, with such pains, it may be necessary to consult a traumatologist, orthopedist, gastroenterologist, infectious disease specialist, proctologist or gynecologist.
Characteristics of the treatment
Depending on the causes of back pain, the doctor prescribes the following treatment options:
- drug treatment with analgesics and hormones;
- blocks, which are injections into the intervertebral joints;
- manual techniques;
- physiotherapy procedures;
- Physiotherapy;
- acupuncture.
If conservative treatment does not help, surgery is used.
In the treatment of herniated disc against the background of osteochondrosis, physiotherapeutic methods are used in addition to the main treatment.
Healing blocks are used when other methods do not give the desired effect. Most often, anesthetics are injected into the lumen of the affected joint for this.
Acupuncture is recommended for disc protrusions, osteochondrosis, or hernias. If the pain radiates to the leg, physical therapy is also used.
Wearing a special corset allows you to limit movement in the lumbar region. This helps reduce pain in the area of joint inflammation.
For back pain, the doctor can give the following recommendations:
- Bed rest on a hard surface for 2-5 days.
- Wear a special bandage.
- The use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
- To eliminate muscle spasm, muscle relaxants are prescribed. Special medications are also used to help relax the muscles.
- To improve blood circulation and reduce edema, vascular drugs and diuretics are used.
- All kinds of gels and ointments are used as a local therapy.
- To consolidate the positive result, physiotherapy procedures are prescribed. This can be electrophoresis, phonophoresis and magnetotherapy.
Physiotherapy and special massage help improve blood circulation, relieve muscle tension and eliminate inflammation.
If pain in the lower back is not associated with complex diseases, yoga will help alleviate the condition.
You can do these exercises at home and they don't take a lot of time.
Pain from hypothermia
Did you know that hypothermia is a common cause of back pain. In this case, you don't even need to freeze, just sweat and go under the air conditioner.
In this case, the hot surface of the body will come into contact with a stream of cold air. And the next day it will be difficult to straighten up or stand up.
In such a situation, the pain becomes constant and painful.
First of all, you need to warm up your back. For this, a warming-type ointment is suitable. If there is no remedy, regular alcohol will also come in handy. After rubbing, the lower back should be wrapped in something warm.
A similar procedure is carried out every day. In case of severe pain, it is worth seeking the help of a doctor. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used for pain relief.
If you are often hypothermic, get a dog or sheep wool belt.
What to do with lower back pain?
Such pain occurs with intense physical exertion. A sharp pain that passes to the leg appears when wearing weights.
A similar symptom is characteristic of lumbosacral radiculitis, which is called low back pain or low back pain. In such a situation, you need to lie down on a hard surface.
Take a pain reliever for pain relief.
Remember that with such signs, you can not take a hot bath or take a steam bath. In this case, dry heat will help the most.
For example, a special ointment. It is also worth limiting salt and liquid intake for several days.
What will help with a hernia?
With a hernia, there is a sharp and constant pain that increases with any movement. Relief comes only in the supine position.
You may also feel numbness in the lower back. To relieve pain, bed rest and pain relievers should be taken. Then you need to call a doctor.
In the acute period, serious and qualified treatment is required.
What to do for prevention?
Do not wait for severe pain to appear, but start taking preventive measures.
Here they are:
- Identification and treatment of concomitant diseases that can cause low back pain.
- Proper nutrition with sufficient amounts of phosphorus, calcium and other vitamins.
- Heavy physical exertion and heavy lifting should be avoided. In this case, the load should be evenly distributed. Don't make sudden movements.
- Lead an active lifestyle. Go for a walk, swim, or yoga.
- Take therapeutic massage courses from time to time.
- When you are sedentary, take a break every hour and get some exercise.
- The bed must be comfortable, for example with an orthopedic mattress.
For prevention, you can wear special elastic belts, posture correctors or bandages.
Such devices are recommended for pregnancy and heavy physical exertion.
It is important to control weight, as a high body weight increases the load on the spine. Get rid of bad habits and also do a routine checkup every year.
Physiotherapy
Practice at home to strengthen your back muscles and prevent pain. Exercise should be done regularly.
A well-designed set of exercises will help improve posture, increase muscle tone and also activate blood circulation.
In such a complex, you can use the following movements:
- the body tilts in different directions. Left and right first, then back and forth;
- turns of the body to the sides;
- in the knee - in the elbow position, you need to bend your back up and down;
- lying on his back with legs bent at the knees, the pelvis is raised;
- from a prone position, the straightened legs should be bent at the knees and pulled to the chest.
Perform each exercise 8-10 times.
Do not ignore the symptoms of pain in the lumbar region, go to the doctor and take preventive measures that will help normalize your well-being and strengthen your health.