The back is a complex structure based on the spine. The lumbar spine is made up of five vertebrae, starting with the 20th from the top. They are the largest of the rest of the vertebrae and gradually increase in size from the first to the fifth lumbar vertebrae, as this is the area that has the greatest stress. The back in the area of these vertebrae is called the lower back.
Changes in this part of the back lead to pain, and it is worth carefully treating such problems. Pain can be caused by both congenital abnormalities 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's not the only cause of loin pain. Some people don't even know why their back is so bothersome. Many diseases of the internal organs, injuries, and physiological conditions are reflected in back pain, and this list includes:
- disease of the kidneys and pelvic organs;
- physiological pain during menstruation in women;
- Spinal injury;
- Injuries (sprains) to the back muscles;
- Digestive system diseases;
- Scoliosis;
- Rheumatoid arthritis;
- Infections that destroy the spine and intervertebral discs (tuberculosis, epidural abscess);
- Tumor processes;
- Reiter syndrome.
Musculoskeletal disorders
In 90% of cases, back pain is caused by problems with the spine and back muscles. The lumbar vertebrae are more often affected than other parts of the spine. They are exposed to tremendous stress when walking because they are the focus of upright people. Also, when a person is seated, there is a lot of strain on the lower back.
Musculoskeletal disorders can be asymptomatic for a long time, and back pain is often the first sign of the disease. It can be of varying intensity and duration - periodic lower back pain or acute pain syndrome with pinched nerve roots.
Pathologies in which back pain occurs are:
- Osteochondrosis;
- intervertebral horizontal protrusions, vertical hernias (Schmorl) and intervertebral disc protrusions;
- primary and secondary (metastatic) malignant tumors in the bones and soft tissues of the back;
- Myositis of the muscles of the lower back;
- Osteomyelitis (an infectious purulent process caused by pathogenic microflora, for example, tubercle bacillus or the causative agent of brucellosis);
- Ankylosing spondylitis;
- Radiculitis;
- Sciatica (damage or irritation to 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 back pain is often referred to as lumbago (back pain). Its main causes are vertebral dislocation, intervertebral hernias and congenital anomalies of the spine. Back pain can last from hours to days and stop abruptly when the "vortex is in place".
Kidney disease pain
Lower back pain often accompanies kidney pathology. It does not change with posture and increases when a person stands on their feet for long periods of time. More often it is one-sided and indicates chronic complaints. You need to see a doctor if your back is sore and you have the following symptoms:
- Signs of intoxication and general malaise (chills, tiredness, etc. );
- Swelling of the eyelids and face in the morning;
- violation of urination (frequent, painful, etc. );
- Rise or fall in blood pressure;
- Nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting;
- Change in urine parameters (too dark, cloudy, with an unpleasant smell, 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 to the groin, genitals and inner thigh.
Hematuria can also indicate kidney cancer. However, unlike urolithiasis, in most cases, tumors grow asymptomatically for a long time, and the back hurts only in the last stage of the process.
Back pain and pregnancy
During pregnancy and childbirth, a woman's lower back is exposed to tremendous stress. If the expectant mother has back pain, it may be a physiological phenomenon or it may signal the development or exacerbation of the disease.
Increased exposure
Any physical activity can cause back pain. It can appear after summer work, weight lifting, intense strength training, etc.
Obesity
Obesity has a negative effect on the condition of the spine. Every additional kilogram puts additional strain on the lower back.
In obese people, the risk of developing osteochondrosis and herniated discs increases dramatically. Obese people are also prone to developing kidney stones, early onset of osteoporosis, and other conditions that cause back pain.
Different reasons
Sometimes the back hurts for other reasons:
- Pathological. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (colitis, intestinal tumors, gallstones, etc. ); pathology of the pelvic organs (prostatitis, endometriosis, neoplasms, infections and inflammation); spinal circulatory disorders; Atherosclerosis or aneurysm of the abdominal aorta.
- Physiological. Prolonged static load on the back, prolonged work on the computer, many driving lessons, etc.
Lumbodynia can radiate into the lower back in an ectopic pregnancy and "acute abdomen".
Types of pain and their causes
When the back hurts in the lumbar area, sometimes a person cannot even move. The type of pain can change within a day: first a dull pain is felt in the lower back, then an acute pain, and then it subsides. It can also be constant and it doesn't let up. Everything is more easily tolerated at a young age than in old age, when the lower back is constantly aching.
In general, pain is a mechanism for recognizing problems caused by illness. Pain reveals a hidden problem and therefore plays a major role. But of course you cannot tolerate them. You need to immediately contact a specialist 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 cancer patients with metastases to the vertebrae or their primary tumor lesion.
Sharp pain
Acute lower back pain can indicate a serious problem that requires proactive tactics. They address the following pathologies:
- Spinal fractures and other acute back injuries;
- exacerbation of inflammatory processes in the joints;
- spinal epiduritis;
- Intervertebral hernia;
- aggravation of osteochondrosis;
- acute abdomen (intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, ovarian apoplexy, etc. );
- Movement of stones with ICD or gallstone disease;
- pinched nerves;
- acute circulatory disorders in the vessels of the back;
- Pyelonephritis in the acute stage.
If a pregnant woman experiences severe back pain, she should see a doctor immediately. If there is severe pain in the child's lower back, the parents are obliged to show the baby to the pediatrician.
Strong pain
If you have severe back pain and taking pain relievers doesn't help, you should see a doctor.
Aching pain
Lower back pain is often viewed as a result of muscle fatigue. This is a misunderstanding. Sometimes the back hurts in severe pelvic diseases (prostate cancer in men and uterine cancer in women).
Painful sensations of a similar nature are also typical of sluggish infectious processes, growing benign formations and hernias. Over time, they intensify, supplemented by other signs of the disease.
Displaced pain
If the back hurts and the lumbodynia is different in intensity and duration, the cause may not be 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, the first thing you need to do is see a therapist. The doctor will take a medical history, describe the back pain in detail, conduct an examination, and create a diagnostic action plan. Depending on their results, he will prescribe treatment or send to a close specialist for a consultation:
- Neurologist;
- Vertebroneurologist;
- Gastroenterologist;
- Neurosurgeon.
diagnosis
If the lower back hurts, then diagnostic measures are prescribed in the complex. Laboratory examinations, ultrasound examinations, X-ray methods, instrumental examinations and others are mandatory.
roentgen
Bone x-ray is a simple and inexpensive diagnostic method. With a pathology of the spine, all the defects present are visible in the images. Based on the data obtained, the doctor makes a diagnosis and determines the further tactics for treating a patient with back pain.
CT scan
Computed tomography is prescribed to clarify the diagnosis and strictly according to indications. The tomograms clearly show bone defects that have caused pain in the lower back.
MRI
Magnetic resonance tomography is a modern, highly informative diagnostic method. It enables you to explore every area of the body. With its help, the condition of blood vessels, nerve structures, spinal cord and internal organs is assessed.
Despite its relative safety, it cannot be assigned to "everyone in a row" with back pain. The investigation has a number of contraindications.
Possible complications and consequences of pain
If you don't see a doctor and don't determine the cause of the back pain, the consequences can be serious. A symptom cannot be neglected.
If there is severe back pain, spinal injuries or acute processes in the abdomen are possible. Ignoring lumbodynia with pinched nerves can result in persistent loss of sensitivity and motor activity. Lower back pain is associated with serious consequences such as rupture of internal organs, bleeding, abscess, sepsis, etc.
First aid for acute pain
Call a doctor or an ambulance in the event of acute back pain. Before the arrival of the doctor, the patient needs:
- adopt a "lumbar-friendly" posture;
- drink an anesthetic, and if it does not show any effect, repeat taking the pill after half an hour (intramuscular injection);
- Relieve spasms with medication;
- eliminate possible puffiness by drinking a diuretic or herbal tea;
- Improvement of tissue nutrition by taking a complex vitamin and mineral preparation;
- lubricate the lower back with ointment or gel.
Sometimes they use folk methods (tincture of horseradish, pepper or nettle). If your back hurts, you should follow a "relief diet" to rule out irritating factors.
How do you recover from low back pain?
There are several treatments available for back pain and low back pain. But they all relate to either traditional (medical methods) or alternative ones.
Traditional methods include:
- Bed rest;
- medication;
- Physical therapy;
- surgical treatment;
Alternative methods are:
- Massage;
- Acupuncture;
- Yoga classes.
The main goal of these methods is the relief of suffering and the golden rule: "Do no harm".
If the back hurts, the first thing to do is to consult a doctor and carry out treatment at home, based on the established diagnosis and the recommendations received. Injections, electrical procedures must be performed in a medical facility, and back massages, applying warming compresses and ointments to the lower back, and taking pills can be taken not only in the clinic, but at home. Self-medication and improperly following the recommendations will only hurt.
Medication
Depending on the cause of the back pain, medical treatment should be prescribed by a doctor. Self-administration of drugs is not acceptable.
Ointments and gels
Back lubrication is recommended for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. A distinction is made between the following types of ointment:
- combined, with multiple effects (relieve inflammation, relieve pain, heal);
- anti-inflammatory analgesics (contain menthol, lavender, and similar ingredients);
- Irritants (vegetable, animal or synthetic);
- Chondroprotectors (to restore and protect the cartilage tissue).
If the lower back is painful, but the diagnosis is not clarified, then you should not use external means.
Injections
Sometimes back pain is treated with injections. The doctor will inject an analgesic into the affected area. In some situations, anesthetic blockade is used.
physical therapy
Exercise therapy is almost always recommended for back pain. Exercise helps strengthen the muscle frame of the lower back, improve tissue trophy, and stretch the ligaments. The exercise set is selected individually.
Massotherapy
Back pain can be effectively eliminated through massage therapy. You can contact professionals or do the manipulations yourself. With pathology of the internal organs and neoplasms, it is impossible to massage the back.
physical therapy
If your back is sore, physical therapy is prescribed for a number of diseases. Physiotherapy is particularly effective for osteochondrosis of the lower back. They use magnetic therapy, laser treatment, electrophoresis, pulse currents, hirudotherapy, and other techniques.
Back pain prevention
If a person has a chronic condition that can cause back pain, prevention is to prevent exacerbations. In order not to face this symptom, in principle, it is necessary to first monitor the health of the spine. If your back hurts, preventative measures include:
- active lifestyle;
- daily gymnastics;
- 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 check-ups are of great importance in order to identify existing health problems in good time and to prevent back pain.