According to statistics, pain in the lower back 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 one of the leading symptoms of a wide range of diseases is lumbar pain.Some experts believe that the discomfort in this area of the spine is a kind of retribution for a person for walking upright.
For the most part, as long as the pain in the lumbar region is not severe or constant, but appears periodically, people are reluctant to attach importance to it and go to a doctor.As a result, the discomfort usually increases and becomes chronic.When meeting with a specialist, it turns out that the cause of the discomfort is a serious disease that requires surgical therapy.
As a rule, acute lumbar pain becomes constant pain over time.According to neurologists, within the next year after recovery, 40% of patients relapse, while in the long term, discomfort returns in 85% of patients.
Types of lumbar 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 never appear again.
Or they can keep coming back, causing incredible suffering.But before visiting a doctor, you can determine by the symptoms of the painful syndrome and its localization what disease is caused by it.
There are five types of low back pain:
- local;
- reflected;
- reflected spondylogenic (pathological);
- radicular;
- caused by muscle spasm.
Local and directed pain in the lower back
The local localization of pain occurs as a result of irritation or compression of sensitive nerve endings.It is provoked by fractures, tears or tension of sensitive fibers.Unpleasant sensations of a local nature that do not change in strength with a change in body position suggest the presence of a spinal tumor or infection.
The source of the indicated pain felt 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 back, but also in the abdomen and pelvis.When moving the spine, the unpleasant sensations do not increase, but neither is there much relief.
Spondylogenic pain in the case of damage to the upper lumbar spine is felt in the lower back, in the groin area or on the front surface of the thighs.When the pathology affects the lower lumbar region, the discomfort usually appears in the buttock, the back of the thighs and in rare cases in the calves or legs.
Sharp and spasmodic pain
Classic discomfort in the lower part of the spine of radicular origin is usually characterized by heaviness and spread to the leg.
Often, pain in the lower back when coughing is provoked 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.
Thus, lower back pain when sitting occurs due to tension in the sciatic nerve (roots L5 and S1 respond) running along the back of the thigh.The nature of the sensations themselves usually does not make it possible to distinguish radicular pain from non-radicular pain.What causes the discomfort of muscle spasms is usually not clear.Pain appears in various diseases of the spine.In a spasm, the spine twists, the deep back muscles tighten and a dull ache occurs.
Often discomfort in the lower back occurs due to pathology of the spine.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 orthopedist are involved.
Common causes of lower back pain
Doctors recommend paying attention to the unpleasant feeling in the lower back, mainly because it can be one of the symptoms of a number of serious diseases.The nature of the manifestation of the lumbar syndrome depends entirely on the causes that caused it.Only a specialist can determine the "source" of the pain, as well as what disease 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;
- gastric 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 rather rare pathologies of the spine that can cause lumbar syndrome.Among these diseases, ankylosing spondylitis especially stands out, when the joints of the spine become inflamed.Also, pain in the spine in the lumbar region can be caused by a bacterial infection, osteomyelitis.
In 90% of cases, lumbar syndrome is caused by various problems with the spine and back muscle tissue.In this regard, the most common causes of pain are:
- degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis, deforming spondylosis, progressive osteoarthritis, herniation of intervertebral discs);
- severe tension of the lumbar muscles;
- complex fractures of the spine - traumatic or compression.
Separately in this list of causes is psychosomatics - pain in the lower back, according to this branch of medicine, is caused by psychological problems.For example, the inability to find the true goal, too heavy a burden (taking care of a sick relative, a small child, problems in the family, etc.).In this case, working on yourself will help you.
Precipitating factors
With a significant number of spinal diseases and damage to the nerve roots, discomfort in the lower back can be observed.
However, these diseases can go on for a long time without symptoms.Only under the influence of certain factors are they felt.Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate not only the unpleasant sensations, but also the underlying disease.
Factors contributing to low back pain:
- ignorance of the rules for lifting weights;
- 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 provoke pain in the lower back.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 intervertebral 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 appear depending on the reasons that cause discomfort in the lower back.For example, acute discomfort can be a consequence of renal colic.In this case, a person will not be able to find a position of the body that will allow him to endure discomfort.
Pain in the lower back and groin is sometimes a reflection of the movement of a stone from the renal pelvis into the ureter.When the fifth vertebra is displaced, pain with severe weakness can be 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 increases and becomes unbearable.The disease itself is called spondylolisthesis.
Middle-aged women often experience lower back pain after sleep, as well as morning weakness.In addition, there is inactivity of the spine and discomfort along it.Such symptoms are characteristic of fibrositis.When the disease is advanced, the pain in the lower back when moving becomes quite strong, because the fibrous connective tissue, when inflamed, reacts very sensitively to the movement of the human body.
Lumbar syndrome deserves special attention, taking into account the sides of the body:
- pain in the right area of the lumbar region is a sign of problems in the sexual sphere, as well as a signal of pathology of the right kidney, abdominal wall, intestine 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, abdominal wall.
Treatment of lower back pain
It happens that the pain in the lower back during a cold, as well as for other reasons, is so strong that it is impossible to do without therapy.Regardless of what caused the attack, it is recommended to stay in bed for the first few days.If the discomfort in the lower spine is caused by a sprain, then a heating pad or a warm bath will help improve your well-being.If the injury is serious, consult a doctor immediately.
Conservative therapy
Irritating ointments, as well as mustard plasters or pepper plaster will help to perform local heating of the lumbar region in the area of greatest pain.
Wrapping in a warm woolen scarf, applying an electric heating pad, a bag of heated sand and leeches will provide relief.Warm compresses help with myositis.
Depending on what parallel symptoms are observed, low back pain can be relieved by electroprocedures: diadynamic currents, transcutaneous electroanalgesia, sinusoidally modulated currents, electrophoresis with novocaine, etc.Reflexology (acupuncture, moxibustion, electroacupuncture, laser therapy), including novocaine blocks, will also help relieve discomfort.
For radiculitis caused by displacement of the intervertebral discs, traction therapy is prescribed - stretching the torso on the bed or under water.Similar procedures are performed in hospital settings.Balneotherapy is also recognized as effective.These are radon, sulfide, chloride, sodium, turpentine, iodobromine baths, low-temperature mud applications, naphthalene.
Rubbing with anti-inflammatory and pain relievers is quite effective in lumbar syndrome.You can relieve the pain and soak the affected area with ethyl chloride.
Prevention
Wearing external support systems - orthoses - is of no small importance for the elimination of lumbar syndrome and the prevention of its attacks.
At the doctor's discretion, this can be a corset, semi-corset, posture corrector or recliner (a special corset that eliminates tilting) or a bandage.Sometimes belts are recommended: corset, anti-sciatica, elastic and others.
Only one universal medicine will help relieve pain in the lower back after sitting and prevent the development of lumbar syndrome - physical therapy (or yoga - a set of exercises to improve health).It is also important to watch your posture when sitting, and when the lumbar region of your back becomes stiff, do light exercises.Massage will help a lot.It will relieve muscle spasms and bring the muscles into proper tone.
In general, lower back pain can have various causes.It is important not to ignore the symptoms and go to the clinic on time.Prevention will prolong the achieved effect of the treatment.That is why you should not carry heavy objects afterwards and fully adhere to the doctor's recommendations.Then maybe the pain in the lumbar region will never appear again.