According to statistics, lower back pain is quite common.This is confirmed by the fact that about 80% of the population has experienced discomfort in the belt area at least once in their life.It is also known that pain in the lumbar spine is one of the key symptoms of a variety of ailments.Some experts believe that discomfort in this area of the spine is a kind of retaliation for a person for walking upright.
As long as the pain in the lumbar region is not severe or constant, but occurs periodically, most people are not inclined to pay attention to it and go to the doctor.As a result, the symptoms usually increase and become chronic.During an appointment with a specialist, it turns out that the cause of the symptoms is a serious illness that requires surgical therapy.
As a rule, acute pain in the lumbar spine turns into constant pain over time.According to neurologists, 40% of patients experience a relapse within the next year of recovery, while in the long term the symptoms recur in 85% of patients.
Types of lumbar pain
For some people, lower back problems are 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 never occur again.
Or they can continually return and cause incredible suffering.However, before consulting a doctor, you can determine what ailment is caused by the symptoms of pain syndrome and its localization.
There are five types of back pain:
- local;
- reflected;
- reflects spondylologists (pathological);
- root-shaped;
- caused by muscle spasms.
Local and referred pain in the lower back
Localized pain occurs due to irritation or compression of sensitive nerve endings.It is caused by breaks, breaks or tension of delicate fibers.Unpleasant sensations of a local nature, the strength of which does not change when changing the position of the body, indicate the presence of a spinal tumor or infection.
The cause of referred pain in the lower back can be problems with the abdominal or pelvic organs.Very often, but not always, the pain is localized not only in the lower back but also in the abdomen and pelvis.When the spine moves, the unpleasant sensations do not increase, but no particular relief is felt either.
When there is damage to the upper lumbar spine, spondylogenic pain is felt in the lower back, groin, or front of the thighs.If the pathology affects the lower lumbar region, discomfort most often occurs in the buttocks, the back of the thighs and, in rare cases, the calves or feet.
Stinging and cramp-like pain
Classic lower spine complaints with radicular origin are usually characterized by severity and extension to the leg.
Lower back pain when coughing is often caused by coughing, sneezing, or other tension in the abdominal muscle tissue.This happens due to the tension of the affected root or nerve during a certain position or movement of the body.
This is how lower back pain occurs when sitting due to tension in the sciatic nerve (the L5 and S1 roots respond), which runs along the back of the thigh.Due to the nature of the sensations themselves, it is usually not possible to distinguish radicular pain from non-radicular pain.It is usually not clear what causes the symptoms of muscle cramps.Pain occurs in various diseases of the spine.During a cramp, the spine bends, the deep back muscles tense and a dull pain occurs.
Due to spinal pathology, discomfort in the lower back often occurs.In some cases, it 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 are called in.
Common causes of lower back pain
Doctors recommend paying attention to the unpleasant feeling in the lower back, especially because it can be one of the symptoms of a number of serious diseases.The nature of the manifestation of lumbar syndrome depends solely on the reasons that caused it.Only a specialist can determine the “source” of the pain and also determine what ailment 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;
- stomach and duodenal ulcers;
- aortic aneurysm;
- Kidney stones or urinary tract infections.
Causes of pain related to the spine and back muscles
In medicine, there are a number of very rare diseases of the spine that can cause lumbar syndrome.Particularly noteworthy among these diseases is ankylosing spondylitis, in which the joints of the spine become inflamed.Pain in the spine in the lumbar region can also be caused by a bacterial infection, osteomyelitis.
In 90% of cases, lumbar syndrome is caused by various problems of the spine and back muscle tissue.In this context, the most common causes of pain are:
- degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis, spondylosis deformans, progressive arthrosis, herniated disc);
- strong strain on the lumbar muscles;
- complex fractures of the spine - traumatic or compression.
In this list of reasons there is also psychosomatics - according to this direction in medicine, pain in the lower back is caused by psychological problems.For example, the inability to find one's true meaning, a burden that is too heavy (caring for a sick relative, a small child, problems in the family, etc.).In this case, working on yourself helps.
Provoking factors
A variety of spinal problems and damage to the nerve roots can lead to problems in the lower back area.
However, these diseases can occur for a long period of time without any manifestations.They only become noticeable under the influence of certain factors.Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate not only the unpleasant sensations, but also the underlying suffering.
Factors contributing to back pain:
- Ignorance of the rules for lifting weights;
- lack of physical activity;
- hormonal imbalance;
- Use of uncomfortable furniture (chair, armchair, etc.);
- wrong posture.
Hypothermia, changes in barometric pressure, and magnetic storms can also cause lower back pain.In any case, the sensitive nerve roots of the spinal cord are irritated.It can also be observed due to pathological deposits of calcium salts.Spinal hernias and protrusions (bulging discs) can also cause pain in the tailbone and lower back.
Lower back pain: symptoms
Each disease has its own symptoms, but in lumbar syndrome the symptoms depend on the reasons that caused the discomfort in the lower back.Severe symptoms can, for example, be a result of renal colic.In this case, a person will not be able to find a posture that allows him to endure discomfort.
Pain in the lower back and groin sometimes reflects the movement of a stone from the renal pelvis into the ureter.When the fifth vertebra is displaced, pain with severe weakness is felt not only in the lumbar region, but also in the hips and legs.
It is difficult for a person to move, as the syndrome only worsens and becomes unbearable.The disease itself is called spondylolisthesis.
Middle-aged women often suffer from back pain and morning weakness after sleeping.In addition, there is inactivity of the spine and discomfort along the spine.Such symptoms are characteristic of fibrositis.In advanced disease, severe pain occurs in the lower back when moving, as the fibrous connective tissue reacts very sensitively to the movement of the human body when it is inflamed.
Lumbar syndrome deserves special attention, 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 signal of pathology of the right kidney, abdominal wall, intestines or appendix;
- Discomfort in the left lumbar region is a sign of diseases of the reproductive system, problems with the ureter, left kidney, hernia, intestines and abdominal wall.
Treating lower back pain
It happens that pain in the lower back during a cold, but also for other reasons, is so severe that therapy cannot be dispensed with.Regardless of what caused the attack, it is recommended that you stay in bed for the first few days.If discomfort in the lower part of the spine is caused by a sprain, a heating pad or a warm bath can improve your well-being.If the injury is serious, seek medical attention immediately.
Conservative therapy
Irritating ointments as well as mustard plasters or pepper plasters help to carry out local warming of the lumbar area in the area of greatest pain.
Wrapping yourself in a warm woolen scarf, using an electric heating pad, a bag of heated sand, and applying leeches can provide relief.Hot compresses help with myositis.
Depending on what parallel symptoms are observed, lower back pain can be relieved by electrical procedures: diadynamic currents, transcutaneous electroanalgesia, sinusoidal modulated currents, electrophoresis with novocaine and others.Reflexology (acupuncture, moxibustion, electroacupuncture, laser therapy), including novocaine blocks, also helps relieve discomfort.
With radiculitis caused by displacement of the intervertebral discs, traction therapy is prescribed - stretching the trunk on the bed or under water.Similar procedures are carried out in hospitals.Balneotherapy is also considered effective.These are radon, sulfide, chloride, sodium, turpentine, iodine-bromine baths, low-temperature mud applications, naphthalane.
Rubbing with anti-inflammatory and painkillers is very effective for lumbar syndrome.You can relieve pain and rinse the affected area with ethyl chloride.
Prevention
Of no small importance for the elimination of lumbar syndrome and the prevention of its attacks is the wearing of external support systems - orthoses.
At the discretion of the doctor, it can be a corset, a semi-corset, a posture corrector or reclinator (a special corset that prevents leaning), or a bandage.Sometimes belts are recommended: corset, anti-radiculitis, elastic band and others.
Only one panacea will help relieve pain in the lower back after sitting and prevent the development of lumbar syndrome - physiotherapy (or yoga - a set of health-improving exercises).It is also important to pay attention to your posture when sitting and to do light exercises if there is tension in the lumbar area of the back.A massage will help a lot.It relieves muscle spasms and brings the muscles into the correct tone.
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 prolongs the achieved treatment effect.You should therefore no longer carry heavy objects and be sure to follow the doctor's recommendations.Then the pain in the lumbar region may never be noticeable again.