Back pain in the lumbar region: 30 reasons for treatment

If your back hurts in the lumbar region, you will experience discomfort of varying severity and nature.The cause can be muscle fatigue, but most 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 see a doctor.A specialist 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 you should see a doctor, how to treat them (tablets, injections, ointments, patches) and 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 is exposed to every day.When standing, the pressure on the intervertebral discs is around 100 kg;in a horizontal position the load drops to 50 kg, with a restricted posture it reaches 220 kg.

Sometimes the cause of lower back pain is excessive strain or prolonged stay in an unusual position.The main feature of such pain is the absence of accompanying manifestations such as deterioration in the 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 diseases – pyelonephritis, kidney stones;
• Reiter's syndrome;
• spondylolisthesis;
• abscess in the epidural area;
• rheumatoid arthritis;
• Intervertebral hernia.

The atypical factors that cause a pain reaction include diseases of the intestines or the urogenital system.

In women

Due to physiological characteristics and hormonal fluctuations, back pain in the fairer sex has a number of specific causes:

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

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

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

In men

Due to the nature of their work, men are more often exposed to vigorous physical activity, which leads to premature wear of the lumbar vertebrae.Excessive tension gradually leads to morphological changes in the cartilage discs, which explains the frequent formation of hernia protrusions in men.The main manifestation of hernias in the lower back is acute pain in the lumbar region in the form of lumbago.

Typical causes of pain in men are:

• Bechterew's disease;

• Spondylolisthesis – sliding of the vertebrae relative to one another;
• pinched sciatic nerve;
• inflammatory process of the prostate.

The negative effects of stress and a sedentary lifestyle cannot be ruled out.Lack of physical activity leads to impaired nutrition and gas exchange in spinal tissue.As a result, metabolic processes are disrupted, leading to irreversible changes that cause pain.

Classification of pain

Depending on the type, intensity, duration and cause of occurrence, the pain symptom is divided into several types.

• If the symptoms do not bother the patient for more than a month and a half, the pain is considered acute.

• If the syndrome lasts from 6 weeks to a year, a subacute condition is diagnosed.
• The pain syndrome becomes chronic if its duration is more than a year.

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

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

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

Strong

Severe pain occurs when pain receptors in the paravertebral tissue are irritated or when large nerve trunks in the spinal cord are compressed.One of the main causes of severe pain is degenerative changes in stage 3-4 of osteochondrosis.

Morphological changes affect cartilage tissue and bone structures.Gradual softening of the intervertebral disc leads to the formation of a herniated disc.A protrusion directed into the area of the spinal canal or at the exit of the nerve root leads to pain, associated with a loss of sensitivity along the innervation of the affected area.

If the load on the vertebrae is incorrectly distributed due to degeneration of the cartilage disc, marginal osteophytes develop on the vertebral body.When the gap between the vertebral bodies is critically reduced, the growths create pressure on the soft tissue structures.

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

A common cause of severe pain is sciatica in the lumbosacral area.The pain syndrome is caused by inflammation of the spinal cord root of the lumbar spine.The symptom is characterized by irradiation of the buttocks and lower extremities.

Constant

Chronic pain is reduced.Such pain does not depend on physical activity and remains in a calm state.The symptom occurs in 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 that forces a person to assume a forced position occurs with sciatica or lumbago.Typically, the patient stands in a bent position, holding the lower back with one hand.Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed.A sharp pain impulse spreads over the back of the thigh, down the lower leg to the toes.

The cause of lumbago is usually the development of an intervertebral hernia, which puts pressure on the spinal roots.Lumbago is a “lumbago” in the lower back area that is most often caused by vigorous physical activity.In this case, the pain is not only concentrated in the back, but also spreads to the right or left lower extremity.

Muscular

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

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

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

In addition, myofascial pain can occur after exercise.This pain is caused by the buildup of lactic acid in the muscle fibers.

Pains

Unpleasant, painful sensations occur with myositis when the back muscles become inflamed.Pancreatitis manifests itself as belt pain in the lumbar region.Pulling sensations 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 aching pain in the second half of pregnancy.These manifestations are due to an increase in body and abdominal weight as the fetus grows.In this case, muscle tension occurs in the lower back, which causes a moderate pain reaction.

Acute

Acute pain syndrome is a consequence of pathological conditions:

• Injuries – Bruises, vertebral subluxations, compression fractures;
• hypothermia;

• lifting heavy objects;
• sharp 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 are required.

When to see a doctor?

A visit to the doctor should not be postponed if the pain symptoms do not last longer than 3 days.A warning sign would be a fall on your back, which could result in serious injury.The spread of the pain impulse to the buttocks, thighs and lower legs should not be neglected.

With burning and tingling on the skin, loss of sensation in the legs, in the groin, large nerves are involved in the pathological process.In severe cases, problems with urination and bowel movements occur.All of the above signs indicate a serious pathology that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment.

Which doctor is treating you?

Therapy for lower back pain is a complex task, the implementation of which requires consultation with highly specialized doctors.The initial diagnosis is made by a therapist who refers the patient to other specialists for consultation:

• to a traumatologist – if a back injury is suspected;
• Orthopedist – to examine the joints and the entire musculoskeletal system;
• a vertebral doctor who treats the spine;
• Neurologist – to get rid of neurological symptoms;
• to a neurosurgeon if surgery cannot be avoided;
• Rheumatologist – for autoimmune diseases.

If there are dysfunctions in the pelvic organs, women undergo an additional examination by a urologist and a gynecologist.Therapeutic tactics for lumbar pain are based on a number of diagnostic results.

What to do if it hurts a lot: first aid

Before seeking medical attention, premedical measures are carried out with the aim of alleviating the condition and maximizing pain relief.The first aid algorithm includes the following measures:

• Rest and bed rest, without straining the lower back.To do this, the patient is placed on a hard surface.If a back injury is suspected, the victim should not move.

• Cold is applied to the affected area.To do this, use a heating pad with ice and chilled food wrapped in cloth to prevent hypothermia.The cold compress should be kept for no longer than 15 minutes and reused after 3-4 hours.
• Severe pain is a direct indication to see a doctor, so the patient must be taken to a medical facility as soon as possible.

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

The uncontrolled use of analgesics reduces pain, which complicates the diagnosis.In addition, the course of the disease worsens with the development of inflammatory processes or acute conditions that affect the functioning of internal organs.

The best medicines

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

Acute stabbing pain is blocked using local blocks performed by a neurologist or surgeon.At home, remedies are used in the form of tablets, ointments or injections.

Tablets

The following drugs are prescribed for symptomatic treatment:

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

Injections

In severe forms of the disease, injection of drugs is prescribed to achieve a quick therapeutic effect.Basic criteria for the use of injections:

• the time until the onset of the therapeutic effect of the drug is shortened;
• the drug is not subject to decomposition by gastric juice;
• Used in patients who have contraindications to taking painkillers.

The manipulation must be carried out by a qualified professional;Self-administration of injections is not recommended.The choice of medication and the prescription of its dosage is the responsibility of the attending physician, taking into account the severity of the disease and the presence of concomitant illnesses.

Anoint

Local 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 irritating effects have a warming effect.
4. Cooling medications for pain relief.

When using warming agents for local treatment, it should be borne in mind that their use is strictly prohibited during inflammation and in the first two days after the injury.

Pavement

This is the most convenient form of local remedies.The advantage of plasters is that you simply stick them on the painful area and wait for the effect.It is effective as long as the product is on the skin.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 patches.Has a pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effect.Do not use for more than 10 days.The effect of a patch lasts 24 hours.

How to treat at home

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

Therapeutic exercises help to relieve pain, strengthen the muscular corset of the back and restore mobility to the spine.A set of exercises is selected by a physiotherapist individually, 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 a pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effect.To do this, wash a leaf of white cabbage, grease it with liquid honey, and then apply it to the sore spot.Secure the compress on top with cling film and cover with a warm blanket.The duration of the procedure can be up to 12 hours.

Vacuum massage bowls are an effective treatment method that can be used at home.Thanks to the vacuum created during cupping, blood circulation is increased, toxins are removed and constipation disappears.This leads to a faster recovery of the patient.

If you are seriously thinking about treating your lower back yourself, physical therapy equipment can help you a lot.With their help, many diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be cured in a short time.

Prevention

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

• eat right and lead an active lifestyle;
• engage in intensive physical activity;
• Avoid heavy loads.
• provide routine treatment of chronic diseases;
• Wear quality shoes;
• Correction of deformities of the spine and feet.
• If pain syndrome occurs, conduct annual preventive massage and exercise therapy courses.

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

If your back hurts in the lumbar region, an early consultation with a doctor will help you prescribe effective treatment that will speed up recovery and restore mobility to the back.