Back pain in the lumbar region: 30 reasons for treatment

When your back hurts in the lumbar region, there is discomfort that varies in strength and character.The cause can be muscle fatigue, but most often pain in the lower back is the first signal of a serious illness.

Regardless of the duration and intensity of symptoms, a pathological condition is a reason to consult a doctor.The specialist will perform a detailed 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 pain in the lower back, what each type of pain means (severe, acute, etc.), when to consult a doctor, how it is treated (tablets, injections, ointments, plasters), photos.I promise it will be interesting.

Reasons

According to statistics, more than 85% of the world's population has lower back pain.This fact is due to the heavy loads that the lumbar part of the spine experiences on a daily basis.In a standing position, the pressure on the intervertebral discs is about 100 kg;in a horizontal position, the load is reduced to 50 kg, and if it is disturbed, it reaches 220 kg.

Sometimes the cause of pain in the lower back is excessive load or prolonged stay in an unusual position.The main characteristic of such pain is the absence of accompanying manifestations, such as worsening of the general condition, hyperthermia, spreading of the pain reaction to neighboring parts 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 pathologies - pyelonephritis, kidney stones;
• Reiter's syndrome;
• spondylolisthesis;
• abscess in the epidural area;
• rheumatoid arthritis;
• intervertebral hernia.

Among the atypical factors that cause a reaction to pain are diseases of the intestines or the genitourinary system.

In women

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

• adnexitis (ovarian inflammation);
• ectopic pregnancy;
• proliferation of endometrial cells (endometriosis).

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

In addition to the femur and pelvic bones, osteoporosis also affects the vertebrae, which threatens with a pathological fracture of the spine and with minor trauma.

In men

Due to the nature of the work, men more often experience heavy physical activities, which leads to premature wear of the lumbar vertebrae.Excessive tension gradually causes morphological changes in the cartilage discs, which explains the frequent formation of a herniated protrusion in men.The key manifestation of a hernia in the lower back is acute pain in the lumbar region in the form of lumbago.

Recognizable causes of pain in men are:

• ankylosing spondylitis;

• spondylolisthesis - slipping of the vertebrae in relation to each other;
• pinched sciatic nerve;
• inflammatory process of the prostate.

The negative impact of stress and a sedentary lifestyle cannot be ruled out.Lack of sufficient physical activity leads to disturbed nutrition and gas exchange of the spinal tissue.As a result, metabolic processes are disrupted, which leads to irreversible changes that cause pain.

Classification of pain

Based on the nature, intensity, duration and cause of occurrence, the painful symptom is divided into several types.

• If discomfort bothers the patient for no more than a month and a half, the pain is considered acute.

• The duration of the syndrome from 6 weeks to one year is diagnosed as a subacute condition.
• Pain syndrome becomes chronic if it lasts longer than a year.

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

1. Local - appear at the site of the lesion, most often after an injury to back muscles, tendons or bones.
2. They are reflected - they are the result of somatic pathologies, when in the case of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, stomach ulcer) pain is felt in the lower back.
3. Projected - a reaction of a neurogenic nature, when the pain impulse spreads to parts of the body along the nerve tree.An example is pain when the sciatic nerve is pinched, which radiates along the entire leg.

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

Strong

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

Morphological changes affect cartilage tissue and bone structures.The gradual softening of the intervertebral disc leads to the formation of a spinal hernia.A protrusion that is directed into the region of the spinal canal or at the exit from the nerve root leads to pain, combined with impaired sensitivity along the innervation of the affected area.

If the load on the vertebrae is unevenly distributed due to degeneration of the cartilage disc, marginal osteophytes appear on the vertebral body.When the distance between the vertebral bodies is critically reduced, the growths create compression on the soft tissue structures.

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

A common cause of severe pain is sciatica of the lumbosacral region.The pain syndrome is caused by inflammation of the roots of the spinal cord of the lumbar spine.The symptom is characterized by radiation to the buttocks and lower extremities.

Constantly

Chronic pain is muted.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, which forces a person to assume a forced position, occurs with sciatica or lumbago.Usually the patient stands in a bent position, holding the lower back with one hand.Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed.A sharp impulse of pain spreads along the back of the thigh, lower leg to the toes.

The cause of lumbago is most often the development of an intervertebral hernia, when pressure is exerted on the spinal roots.Lumbago is "lumbago" in the lower back, which in most cases is caused by heavy physical activity.In this case, the pain is concentrated not only in the back, but spreads to the right or left lower limb.

Muscular

Muscle fiber spasms in the lumbosacral region are the result of:

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

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

In addition, myofascial pain may occur after performing sports exercises.This pain is caused by the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscle fibers.

Aching

Unpleasant, painful sensations occur in myositis, when the back muscles become inflamed.Pancreatitis manifests as pain in the belt in the lumbar region.The pulling sensation accompanies diseases of the pelvic organs in men (inflammation of the prostate) and in women (damage to the internal genital organs)..

Pregnant women complain of painful pains in the second half of pregnancy.These manifestations are the result of an increase in body and abdominal weight with the growth of the fetus.In this case, muscle tension occurs in the lower back, which causes a moderate painful reaction.

Acutely

Acute pain syndrome is a consequence of pathological conditions:

• injuries - bruises, vertebral subluxations, compression fracture;
• hypothermia;

• lifting heavy objects;
• sharp slopes.

Acute pain can be caused by renal colic.In order to clarify the etiology and effectively eliminate the pain syndrome, a detailed diagnosis and a visit to a specialist doctor will be required.

When to see a doctor?

A visit to the doctor should not be postponed if the pain does not stop for more than 3 days.A warning sign would be falling on your back, which could cause serious injury.The spread of pain impulses to the buttocks, thighs and lower legs should not be ignored.

If burning and tingling appear on the skin, loss of sensation in the legs, groin, large nerves are involved in the pathological process.Severe cases lead to urinary and bowel disorders.All the above signs indicate a serious pathology that must be diagnosed and treated immediately.

Which doctor treats you?

Treatment of pain in the lower back is a complex task, the implementation of which will require consultation with highly specialized doctors.The initial diagnosis is carried out by a therapist, who refers the patient to consultations with other specialists:

• to a traumatologist - if a back injury is suspected;
• orthopedist - for examination of joints and the entire musculoskeletal system;
• vertebrologist who treats the spine;
• neurologist – to eliminate neurological symptoms;
• a neurosurgeon, if surgical intervention cannot be avoided;
• rheumatologist – for autoimmune disorders.

If the functioning of the pelvic organs is disturbed, an additional examination is performed by a urologist and a gynecologist for women.Therapeutic tactics for lumbar pain are based on a series of diagnostic results.

What to do if it hurts a lot: first aid

Pre-medical actions are carried out with the aim of alleviating the condition and maximal pain relief before seeking medical help.The first aid algorithm includes the following measures:

• Rest and bed rest, excluding stress on the lower back.To do this, the patient is placed on a hard surface.If a back injury is suspected, the victim is not allowed to move.

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

General and local pain relievers should be taken as recommended by the doctor.Self-medication is dangerous to health and can lead to serious complications.

Uncontrolled use of analgesics dulls pain, which makes diagnosis difficult.In addition, with the development of inflammatory processes or acute conditions that affect the functioning of internal organs, the course of the disease worsens.

The best drugs

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

Acute sharp pains are blocked by local blocks performed by a neurologist or surgeon.Medicines are used at home 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 when NSAIDs are ineffective.
• Muscle relaxants against pain caused by back spasms.
• B vitamins to improve the nutrition of muscle tissue and nerve cells.
• Chondroprotectors for inhibiting degeneration in the joints and spine.

Injections

Injection of drugs is prescribed for severe forms of the disease in order to achieve a rapid therapeutic effect.Basic criteria for the use of injections:

• the time before the onset of the therapeutic effect of the drug decreases;
• the drug is not subject to degradation by gastric juice;
• it is used for patients who have contraindications to taking painkillers.

Manipulation must be performed by a qualified specialist;self-injection is not recommended.The choice of medicine and prescription of its dose is the responsibility of the doctor, taking into account the degree of the disease and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Fats

Topical treatments can help improve the condition at home.Depending on the active ingredient, the ointment removes pain, relieves swelling and inflammation:

1. Anti-inflammatory drugs with analgesic effect.
2. In combination with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-edema effects.
3. Ointments and creams with an irritating effect have a warming effect.
4. Cooling medicines to relieve pain.

When using heating agents for local treatment, it is important to remember that their use is strictly prohibited during inflammation and in the first two days after an injury.

Patches

This is the most convenient form of topical medication.The advantage of plasters is that you just need to stick them on the painful area and wait for the effect.As long as the product is on the skin, it is effective.List of the most effective patches:

1. A patch that contains an anesthetic that works well against inflammation and mild pain.It cannot be used for more than 5 days.The patch is valid for 12 hours.
2. NSAID patch.It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.Use for no longer than 10 days.The effect of one patch is 24 hours.

How to treat at home

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

Therapeutic exercise helps to reduce pain, strengthens the muscular corset of the back and restores the mobility of the spine.The set of exercises is chosen individually by the physiotherapist, taking into account the general functional condition and age of the patient.

Traditional medicine is used as an adjunct to the main treatment.Cabbage with honey has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.To do this, wash a white cabbage leaf and smear it with liquid honey, then apply it to the painful area.Attach the lining with transparent foil from above and cover with a warm blanket.The duration of the procedure can be up to 12 hours.

Vacuum massage cups are an effective treatment method that can be used at home.Thanks to the vacuum created when using the cup, blood circulation increases, toxins are removed, and congestion disappears.This leads to a faster recovery of the patient.

If you are seriously thinking about self-treatment of the lower back, then physiotherapy devices can greatly help you in this.With their help, many diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be cured in a short period of time.

Prevention

In order to prevent lower back pain, it is important to follow simple recommendations:

• eat properly and lead an active lifestyle;
• engage in vigorous physical exercises;
• avoid heavy loads;
• carry out routine treatment of chronic diseases;
• wear quality footwear;
• correct deformities of the spine and feet.
• If a pain syndrome appears, conduct preventive courses of massage and exercise therapy every year.

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

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