The back is a complex structure based on the spine. The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae, starting from the 20th from the top. They are the largest among the other vertebrae and downwards, from the first to the fifth lumbar vertebra, they gradually increase in size, as this area is the greatest load. The back in the area of these vertebrae is called the lower back.
Changes in this part of the back lead to pain, and such problems are worth treating carefully. Pain can be caused by both congenital anomalies and acquired diseases. These can be the consequences of injuries during intense physical exertion, infections, tumors, hernias, etc.
Causes of back pain
In most cases, lower back pain is caused by osteochondrosis. But it is not the only cause of lumbar pain. Some people don’t even know why their backs are problematic. Many diseases of internal organs, injuries and physiological conditions are reflected in back pain, and on this list are:
- kidney and pelvic diseases;
- physiological pain during menstruation in women;
- spinal cord injury;
- spinal muscle injuries (sprains);
- diseases of the digestive system;
- scoliosis;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- infections that destroy the spine and discs (tuberculosis, epidural abscess);
- tumor processes;
- Reiter's syndrome.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
In 90% of cases, back pain is caused by problems with the spine and back muscles. The lumbar vertebrae are affected more often than other parts of the spine. They are subjected to enormous loads when walking, as they are the center of gravity in upright people. Also, there is a lot of pressure on the lower back when a person is sitting.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be asymptomatic for a long time, and back pain is often the first sign of the disease. It can be of different intensity and duration - periodic aching pain in the lower back or acute pain syndrome with pinching of nerve roots.
Pathologies that cause back pain include:
- osteochondrosis;
- intervertebral horizontal protrusions, vertical hernia (Schmorl) and disc protrusion;
- primary and secondary (metastatic) malignant tumors in the bones and soft tissues of the back;
- lower back muscle myositis;
- osteomyelitis (an infectious purulent process caused by a pathogenic microflora, for example, the tubercle bacillus or the causative agent of brucellosis);
- ankylosing spondylitis;
- radiculitis;
- sciatica (damage or irritation of the sciatic nerve);
- deforming spondylosis;
- rheumatoid arthritis and Reiter's syndrome;
- diseases of the sacroiliac and hip joints;
- epiduritis (inflammation of the dura mater of the spinal cord);
- rachiocampsis;
- injuries to bone structures, muscles and ligaments of the back;
- metabolic changes in bone tissue (osteoporosis, osteomalacia).
Acute lower back pain is often called lumbago (back pain). Its main causes are vertebral displacement, intervertebral hernia and congenital anomalies of the spine. Back pain can last from a few hours to a few days and stop abruptly if the "vertebrae are in place".
Pain in kidney disease
Often lower back pain accompanies kidney pathology. It does not change with body position and increases if a person stands on their feet for a long time. It is more often unilateral and indicates chronic diseases. You must see a doctor if you have back pain and the following symptoms:
- signs of intoxication and general weakness (chills, fatigue, etc. );
- swelling of the eyelids and face in the morning;
- violation of the process of urination (frequent, painful, etc. );
- increase or sharp drop in blood pressure;
- nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting;
- change in urine parameters (too dark, cloudy, with an unpleasant odor, etc. ).
The appearance of blood in the urine and severe back pain are characteristic of an attack of urolithiasis. In this case, painful sensations can be given from the back along the ureter, in the groin, genitals and the inner surface of the thigh.
Haematuria may also indicate kidney cancer. But unlike urolithiasis, in most cases, tumors grow asymptomatically for a long time, and the back hurts only in the last phase of the process.
Lower back pain and pregnancy
During gestation and childbirth, a woman's lower back experiences tremendous stress. If the future mother has back pain, then it can be a physiological phenomenon or signal the development or worsening of the disease.
Increased load
Any physical activity can cause back pain. It can occur after summer work, weight lifting, intense strength training, etc.
Excess weight
Excess weight negatively affects the condition of the spine. Every extra pound is an extra burden for the lower back.
In obese individuals, the risk of developing osteochondrosis and intervertebral hernias increases dramatically. Obese people are also prone to the formation of kidney stones, early onset of osteoporosis and other pathologies that cause back pain.
Other reasons
Sometimes your back hurts for other reasons:
- Pathological. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (colitis, intestinal tumors, gallstones, etc. ); pelvic pathology (prostatitis, endometriosis, neoplasms, infections and inflammation); circulatory disorders in the spine; atherosclerosis or abdominal aortic aneurysm.
- physiological. Long-term static load on the back, prolonged work at the computer, several hours of driving, etc.
Lumbodinia can radiate to the lower back in the case of ectopic pregnancy and "acute abdomen".
Types of pain and their causes
When the back hurts in the lumbar region, the person sometimes cannot even move. The nature of the pain can change within a day: first you feel a dull pain in the lower back, then acute, and then it subsides again. Also, it can be constant and does not subside. At a young age it is more easily tolerated than in the elderly, when the lower back is constantly sore.
In general, pain is a mechanism for recognizing problems caused by disease. Pain reveals a hidden problem, so it plays a big role. But, of course, you can't tolerate it. You must contact a specialist immediately who will determine the cause and prescribe treatment.
Chronic pain
Chronic back pain is a frequent companion of diseases of the spine and internal organs. It is pronounced and constant in patients with cancer with metastases to the vertebrae or their primary tumor lesion.
Sharp pains
Acute lower back pain can signal a serious problem that requires proactive tactics. She is attracted to the following pathologies:
- spinal fractures and other acute back injuries;
- worsening of inflammatory processes in the joints;
- spinal epiduritis;
- intervertebral hernia;
- exacerbation of osteochondrosis;
- acute abdomen (intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, ovarian apoplexy, etc. );
- movement of stones with ICD or gallstones;
- pinched nerves;
- acute circulatory disorders in the vessels of the back;
- pyelonephritis in the acute phase.
If a pregnant woman feels that her back is very sore, she should seek medical help immediately. In case of severe pain in the lower back of the child, the parents are obliged to show the baby to the pediatrician.
Strong pain
If you are worried about severe back pain and taking analgesics does not help, consult a doctor.
Painful pains
Lower back pain is often thought to be the result of muscle fatigue. This is a fallacy. Sometimes the back hurts with severe pathologies of the pelvis (prostate cancer in men and uterine cancer in women).
Also, painful sensations of a similar nature are typical of slow infectious processes, growing benign formations, and hernias. They intensify over time, supplemented by other signs of the disease.
Displaced pain
When the back hurts, and lumbodia is different in intensity and duration, the cause can be not one pathology, but several. You should make an appointment with a specialist and undergo a comprehensive examination.
Which doctor should I go to?
If your lower back hurts, you should see a therapist first. The doctor will take a medical history, describe the back pain in detail, perform an examination and make a plan of diagnostic measures. Depending on their results, he will prescribe treatment or send for consultation to a specialist:
- neurologist;
- vertebroneurologist;
- gastroenterologist;
- neurosurgeon.
Diagnosis
When the lower back hurts, diagnostic measures are prescribed in the complex. Laboratory examinations, ultrasound examinations, X-ray methods, instrumental examinations and others are obligatory.
x-ray
Bone X-ray is a simple and affordable diagnostic method. In spinal pathology, all existing defects are visible in the images. Focusing on the obtained data, the doctor makes a diagnosis and determines further tactics for managing a patient who has back pain.
CT scanner
Computed tomography is prescribed to clarify the diagnosis and strictly according to the indications. Bone defects are clearly visible on the tomograms, which caused pain in the lower back.
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging is a modern highly informative diagnostic method. It allows you to explore any part of the body. With its help, the condition of blood vessels, nerve structures, spinal cord and internal organs is assessed.
Despite the relative safety, it can not be assigned to "everyone in a row" who have back pain. The examination has a number of contraindications.
Possible complications and consequences of pain
If you do not consult a doctor and determine the cause of back pain, the consequences can be serious. The symptom cannot be ignored.
When the back hurts intensely, spinal injuries or acute processes in the abdomen are possible. Ignoring lumbodinia with pinched nerves can lead to permanent loss of sensitivity and motor activity. Lower back pain is fraught with serious consequences, such as rupture of internal organs, bleeding, abscess, sepsis, etc.
First aid for acute pain
If there is acute back pain, call a doctor or ambulance. Before the arrival of the doctor, the patient needs:
- take a position corresponding to the lumbar region;
- take an anesthetic, and if there is no effect, repeat the pill after half an hour (give an intramuscular injection);
- relieve spasm with medication;
- eliminate possible swelling by drinking diuretics or herbal tea;
- improve tissue nutrition by taking a complex vitamin-mineral preparation;
- lubricate the lower back with ointment or gel.
Sometimes they use folk methods (tincture of horseradish, pepper or nettle). When you have back pain, you should adhere to a diet for "unloading", to exclude all irritating factors.
How to recover from lower back pain?
There are several treatments for back and lower back pain. But they all refer to traditional (medical methods) or alternative.
Traditional methods include:
- bed rest;
- drug treatment;
- physiotherapy;
- surgical treatment;
Alternative methods include:
- massage;
- acupuncture;
- yoga classes.
The main goal of these methods is to alleviate suffering and the golden rule: "Do no harm".
When your back hurts, first of all, it is necessary to consult a doctor, and based on the diagnosis and recommendations, to carry out treatment at home. Injections, electrical procedures must be obtained in a health institution, and back massage, application of heating pads and ointments on the lower back, and taking tablets can be taken not only in the clinic, but also at home. Self-medication and improper adherence to recommendations will only do harm.
Drug treatment
Treatment should be prescribed by a doctor depending on the cause of the back pain. Self-medication is unacceptable.
Ointments and gels
Lubrication of the back is recommended for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The following types of fats are distinguished:
- combined, which have several effects (relieve inflammation, relieve pain, heal);
- anti-inflammatory analgesics (containing menthol, lavender and similar ingredients);
- irritants (herbal, animal or synthetic);
- chondroprotectors (to restore and protect cartilage tissue).
If your lower back hurts but the diagnosis is not clarified, you should not use external means.
Injections
Sometimes back pain is treated with injections. The doctor injects an analgesic into the affected area. In some situations, anesthetic blockade is used.
Physiotherapy
When your back hurts, exercise is almost always recommended. Gymnastics helps to strengthen the muscular frame of the lower back, improve tissue trophism and stretch ligaments. The set of exercises is chosen individually.
Masotherapy
Lower back pain can be effectively eliminated with massage therapy. You can turn to professionals or perform the manipulations yourself. In the case of pathology of internal organs and neoplasms, it is impossible to massage the back.
Physiotherapy
If you have back pain, physiotherapy is prescribed for a number of diseases. Physiotherapy is especially effective in osteochondrosis of the lower back. They use magnetotherapy, laser treatment, electrophoresis, pulse currents, chiropractic and other techniques.
Prevention of back pain
If a person has a chronic condition that can cause back pain, prevention will be to prevent exacerbations. In order not to encounter this symptom in principle, the health of the spine should be monitored first of all. If you have back pain, preventive measures are:
- active lifestyle;
- daily gymnastics;
- a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals;
- adequate physical activity for the back;
- exclusion of lower back injuries;
- lack of stress;
- treatment of foci of infection.
Annual preventive check-ups are of great importance in order to detect existing health problems in time and prevent back pain.