Lower back pain is very common. It occurs from time to time in 90% of the population and it is not always possible to identify the true causes. More often, lumbar pain occurs after intense physical activity and may indicate back problems or diseases of internal organs. The diagnosis determines what the treatment will be - conservative or operative.
Causes and nature of pain
Pain in the lower back can be sharp, sudden, appear after physical exertion and lead to a forced position of the body. Pain in the lower part of the spine is constant, painful or pulling, accompanied by stiffness, numbness and tingling.
The intensity of pain in the lumbar region also varies: from mild, which does not interfere with daily life, to unbearable, which forces you to take painkillers and lie in bed. Sometimes the pain spreads beyond the back, affecting the buttocks, thighs and even legs.
The pain may go away on its own, but at worst it gets worse, causes discomfort and leads to limited mobility. In order not to live with pain, you need to understand the reason why your lower back hurts. Most often, a preliminary diagnosis can be made based on the nature of the pain.
Herpes zoster
Such lower back pain is not limited to the lumbar region. They spread all over the back, the torso and can radiate to the lower abdomen, gluteal area and legs.
The most common cause of lumbar pain in the lower back is osteochondrosis. It is a chronic disease of the spine that causes pinching of nerve endings and pain. The symptoms are complemented by sensory disorders, numbness and disorders of the internal organs.
The source of pain in the girdle can be located above the lumbar level and is not related to diseases of the spine. In this case, the patient simply feels pain in the lower back, but the pain itself is localized in the chest area.
The cause of shingles pain in the lower back can be a disease of the internal organs, especially the heart, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. For example, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, stomach or duodenal ulcer, pleurisy, pneumonia, heart attack.
The pain is caused by irritation of the nerve fibers of the organs.
Pain below the lumbar level in the coccygeal region is a sign of diseases of the kidneys and reproductive organs.
When walking
The lumbar region is represented by 5 vertebrae, intervertebral discs and ligaments. Many nerve endings that are involved during walking depart from it. With any lower back disease, nerves can become pinched during movement, resulting in lower back pain.
The intensity and nature of the pain depends on the scale of the lesion. If it hurts when moving, this is a sign of osteochondrosis or herniation of the intervertebral discs. In the latter case, a terrible pain occurs in the lower back while walking. It subsides a little when a person is in a sitting position.
The cause of pain in the lower back when walking can be excessive physical activity the previous day. Appears only at the moment of movement and disappears at rest, there are no accompanying manifestations.
Sharp pain
Sharp pain in the lower back is also called lumbago or lumbago. Immobilizes and forces you into a forced pose. An attack of terrible pain in the lower back can last only a few minutes, and sometimes a few days.
One of the common causes of back pain in the lumbar region is excessive physical activity that leads to sprains, strains or muscle spasms. This can happen due to sudden movement, heavy lifting, poor body rotation or awkward posture. Muscle inflammation is provoked by hypothermia or staying in a current.
If you sprain or strain while moving, your lower back hurts even more.
The cause of severe pain in the lower back can be lumbosacral radiculitis or a herniated disc. In this case, when you stand up, bend down or walk, your lower back hurts even more.
The cause of acute lumbar pain can be other diseases of the musculoskeletal system:
- osteochondrosis;
- arthrosis of the facet joints;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- osteoporosis;
- spondylosis;
- spondylolisthesis;
- spine injuries;
- protrusion;
- infectious diseases of the spine (tuberculosis, epidural abscess, osteomyelitis);
- spinal canal stenosis;
- rachiocampsis;
- tumors;
- Bekhterev's disease.
The cause of pain in the lower back and tailbone can be a disease of the internal organs. Acute pain syndrome occurs in cholecystitis, pancreatitis, inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system, pyelonephritis, renal colic and abdominal artery aneurysm.
Constant pain
Constant pain in the lower back is often painful in nature. The intensity of pain can increase with hypothermia, physical activity, injury or failed movements. A common accompanying symptom of regular lower back pain is stiffness of movements. It is especially evident after rest.
The cause of constant pain in the lumbar region is vascular pathologies that lead to poor blood circulation. For example, vascular atherosclerosis, phlebothrombosis, thrombophlebitis.
The lower back can also hurt due to inflammatory and degenerative processes of the musculoskeletal system.
It's a dull pain
Pain in the lower back often indicates diseases of the internal organs. If your back hurts, it may be a symptom of the following diseases:
- pyelonephritis;
- kidney stone disease;
- endometriosis;
- inflammation of the uterus or appendages;
- ectopic pregnancy.
The peculiarity of all these diseases is that pain in the lower back appears against the background of a general deterioration of well-being.
If the spine hurts in the middle, then this indicates pancreatitis or cholecystitis.
When you sit
If the lower back hurts when sitting, this indicates excessive physical activity or serious pathologies of the spine. In this case, the pain in the lower back is sharp or burning. An aching dull ache, on the other hand, can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle.
The reason why the lower back hurts after sitting is pinched intervertebral discs.
If the cause is radiculitis, hernia, tumor, protrusion, then when standing up, the lower back hurts even more.
The pain can occur with diseases of the pelvic organs and kidneys.
When you stand
If your lower back hurts a lot when you stand, it could be sciatica. To reduce the pain, you need to change your position. The lumbar spine may hurt when standing due to a hernia.
Which doctor treats low back pain?
If your lower back hurts, you should contact the following specialists for treatment:
- orthopedist;
- neurologist;
- vertebrologist
An osteopath, reflexologist or chiropractor may be involved in the therapy. Sometimes the help of a surgeon, gastroenterologist, gynecologist, urologist, nephrologist and oncologist is required.
Going to the hospital should be mandatory in the following cases:
- pain caused by injury;
- the pain extends beyond the back, accompanied by other symptoms (numbness, urinary or fecal incontinence);
- lasts more than 3 days or reappears after some time.
Diagnosis
To find out why there may be pain in the lumbar region, the doctor conducts a visual examination and listens to the patient's complaints. Based on what he saw and heard, he compiles a clinical picture and can make a diagnosis or appoint an additional examination.
During the examination, it is important to establish the cause and effect relationship.
Diagnosis of pain in the lumbar region may include the following research methods:
- blood and urine tests;
- X-ray of the spine;
- CT or MRI;
- Ultrasound of abdominal organs;
- chest x-ray;
- EKG;
- fibrogastroduodenoscopy.
Treatment
If lower back pain occurs, the treatment depends directly on what caused it. Immediately after the onset of a painful attack, it is worth limiting physical activity for 2-3 days, but bed rest is also not recommended. It is better to sleep in the fetal position with a pillow between the knees. This relieves the back.
In case of severe pain, you can take a pain reliever. If the pain appears as a result of an injury, you should apply cold to the sore spot.
For stenosis of the spinal canal, injection blockade with steroid drugs and analgesics is used.
Remember that long-term use of painkillers is not an option. Tablets only mask the problem, not eliminate it.
Pain is most often treated with drugs (NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants, vitamin complexes), massage, manual therapy, exercise therapy (Bubnovsky complex) and physical therapy procedures. Acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular for relieving muscle tension.
Most often, the pain can be relieved within 4-6 weeks.
If conservative therapy is ineffective (mainly in the case of hernia), surgical intervention is performed. During the operation, the hernia is removed. The patient immediately feels significant relief.
what can't you do
You should not self-medicate or use painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs for a long time. If the pain does not subside within 3 days, you should see a doctor.
You cannot perform a set of exercises on your own. In order not to worsen the pain, the training program must be prescribed by a specialist. In case of exacerbation of spine diseases, massage and physical exercises are contraindicated until relief occurs.
In case of injury, you cannot adjust the vertebrae yourself or heat the affected area.
Prevention
Precautions:
- do not lift weights;
- do not make sudden movements, avoid excessive physical exertion;
- sleep on a firm mattress;
- observe a rest regime;
- lead an active lifestyle, walk at least 1 hour a day;
- for sedentary work, do it every 40-50 minutes. warm-up break;
- do exercises every day, hanging on the horizontal bar is useful;
- do not overcool;
- Healthy food;
- take vitamin complexes containing calcium.
To prevent lower back pain, you should not overload your back. We must not forget that the functioning of the internal organs depends on the health of the spine.
If your back hurts, you should not hesitate, you should seek help from a doctor. They will determine the real cause and help to avoid serious health problems.