Back pain, whether constant or recurring, can not only cause discomfort, but can also make a person's life truly unbearable.People suffering from severe back pain are not only unable to engage in sports, such as physical labor - they often find it difficult to simply walk, stand or sit, which means that the most ordinary daily activities become a real challenge for them.Therefore, if a person has back pain in the lower back, it is extremely important to understand the causes of this disease in time and start appropriate treatment in order to avoid more serious health problems.
The main causes of pain
Discomfort and unpleasant sensations in the lower back, which occur from time to time, are often not associated with specific diseases, but with the influence of negative factors on the human body.We are talking about:
- sedentary work, for example, staying behind the wheel or in front of a computer in the office for a long time;
- excessive physical activity;
- long-term stress;
- intensive training in a gym that does not match a person's capabilities;
- poor diet, which causes a lack of vitamins and trace elements;
- poor quality mattress etc.
Back problems in children are most often associated with incorrect posture, wrongly chosen chairs and desks, as well as backpacks and shoes.Being overweight can also cause pain in people of all ages, especially if the extra pounds appear over a short period of time.
The main thing is that by eliminating the effects of the factors listed above, you can quickly get rid of problems in the back area and return to your usual lifestyle.
However, if your back bothers you regularly and even increases the intensity of the sensations each time, there is a high probability that they are caused by much more serious reasons.All diseases that can cause back pain can be divided into 2 groups: the first involves problems related to the musculoskeletal system, and the second includes various pathologies of internal organs.
As the main symptom, back pain manifests itself in the following cases:
- lumbar osteochondrosis;
- osteoporosis;
- intervertebral disc protrusion;
- intervertebral hernia;
- spondylosis;
- curvature of the spine (scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis);
- arthritis;
- spinal tuberculosis;
- myositis;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- sciatica.
This group includes congenital anomalies of the structure of the spine, as well as previous injuries.
If the pain in the lumbar region has a reflected character, that is, if it is associated with disorders in the work of nearby internal organs, the patient can be diagnosed with:
- urolithiasis;
- pancreatitis;
- cholecystitis;
- hemorrhoids;
- chlamydia;
- colitis;
- liver diseases;
- kidney pathologies;
- benign or cancerous neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract.
Unpleasant sensations in the lumbar region can also be a residual phenomenon after a severe cold, flu or sore throat, and can also be the result of frequent and long-term constipation.
In women, the lower back often hurts for completely natural reasons related to the processes occurring in their body.We are talking about discomfort and pain during PMS and during menstruation, menopause or pregnancy.In the latter case, discomfort in the back often haunts the expectant mother for the entire 9 months, intensifying as the fetus grows and the load on the spine increases.
Pathological causes in women are most often associated with infectious processes in the vagina (candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis), inflammation of the appendages or the inner lining of the uterus (endometriosis), formation of polyps or ovarian tumors, as well as contraction of the uterus after abortion.In addition, severe pain in the lower back in pregnant women can indicate the danger of premature birth or miscarriage.
In men, pain and its causes, in addition to all the above diseases, can be associated with inflammation of the epididymis or prostate gland.For example, with epididymitis, pain localized mainly in the groin can spread to the lower back, and with prostatitis, in addition to pain in the anus, back pain on the right often spreads to the legs and hips.
Types of pain
Unpleasant sensations in the lumbar region differ in nature, intensity and duration.Pain can be sharp and sharp or nagging and painful, barely noticeable or painful, paroxysmal or constant.Only by understanding exactly what a person feels, you can understand what causes these feelings and how to eliminate their root cause.
For example, severe pain that follows a person for almost 24 hours can indicate osteochondrosis.A patient suffering from this disease not only has difficulty lifting weight or walking, but also sitting, coughing or sneezing.The severe pain that accompanies radiculitis affects not only the lower back, but also the hips, buttocks and legs.At the same time, anxiety and unpleasant feelings intensify, you just need to try to change your body position or walk.
In most cases, acute pain in the lower back indicates muscle tension, excessive sudden movements, excessive physical exertion, injuries, hypothermia or prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position.In this case, the patient suffers from a disease called "lumbago", which feels like an electric current.Aching pain is primarily characteristic of the inflammatory process in the muscles.Often they are accompanied by stiffness in movement, so the patient should refrain from any manifestations of activity and stay in bed for several days.
Periodic pains can occur due to abnormal physical activity, uncomfortable position of the body during work or sleep, as well as pathologies of some internal organs.They disappear completely as soon as their source is identified and eliminated.If the cause of poor health is not detected in time and the disease can gain momentum, the anxiety associated with it can become chronic.We are talking about inflammatory processes or degenerative changes in bone and cartilage structures, damage to nerve fibers, and disruption of blood circulation in the veins of the legs.
There is also a difference between localized and generalized pain.First, the discomfort is felt in a certain place in the lower back or spreads only to nearby areas such as the hips or thighs.In the second case, the pain syndrome covers the entire back, pelvis and legs, including the feet and toes.
When can you do without medical help?
If you feel discomfort and pain in your back, the first thing you should do is get some rest.It is quite possible that the cause of these feelings is ordinary fatigue, endless stress and worries, or a generally uncomfortable office chair at work.However, if the pain does not subside or returns after a period of absence, there is simply no point in postponing consultation with a specialist.Moreover, if it spreads to the back, hips, legs and feet at the same time, or if it is accompanied by a loss of sensation in these areas.Trauma is also a good reason to see a doctor—not just serious car accidents, but minor falls on your back in icy conditions.In any case, if severe back pain does not subside for 2-3 days in a row, it is dangerous for your health to postpone going to the doctor.
In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to other disturbing symptoms that indicate secondary causes of back pain associated with pathologies of internal organs:
- Lose weight quickly and without reason without dieting or intense exercise.A sharp decrease in body weight, often accompanied by back pain, raises suspicions that the patient has a malignant tumor.
- Recent infectious diseases of the bladder and kidneys.In such patients, discomfort in the lumbar region may indicate the development of pyelonephritis.
- Increased pain after rest or in the morning.It is considered one of the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis.
- Increased body temperature, fever.
- Decreased skin sensitivity, as well as problems with urination and defecation, which can be a result of spinal cord injury.
Since the risk of developing osteoporosis is high at this age, especially in women during menopause and under the age of 20, it is mandatory for patients over the age of 50 to consult a doctor for back pain and discomfort.In addition, no matter how long ago it happened, if there are serious changes in the blood test, and if the conventional treatment used in such cases proves to be ineffective, any discomfort in the back after the injury cannot be considered.
Who can help?
There are so many reasons that can cause a person to feel discomfort and pain in the lower back that it can be quite difficult to understand which specialist is best to turn to for help.First of all, it is necessary to visit a therapist, but if the pain occurs before a fall or after a blow, the patient should also consult a traumatologist.After conducting an initial examination and collecting anamnesis, the therapist usually refers the patient to a neurologist or rheumatologist to prescribe additional tests and examinations to establish a diagnosis.
If there are accompanying symptoms, the patient can be referred to specialists for further consultation.For example, a man with pain spreading not only to the lower back, but also to the groin should undergo a urologist's examination for a final diagnosis, and a woman who suspects a vaginal infection should definitely consult a gynecologist.
Diagnostics and treatment methods
Only a qualified specialist can determine exactly how to treat back pain by making a final diagnosis after tests and examinations.In this case, the most commonly used diagnostic methods are radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.Using an X-ray, you can detect damage to the structures of the spine, see signs of inflammation and pinched nerve endings.CT gives a more detailed picture that allows you to practically see the depth of the spine and study existing pathologies in detail, and with the help of MRI, you can evaluate the condition of the spinal cord, blood vessels, muscles and identify possible intervertebral tears.
In addition, the patient can be sent to a general blood test, which allows to determine the level of leukocytes, inflammation or infection, and based on severe anemia, it can be hypothesized that the patient has benign or cancerous tumors.Also, for back pain, a urine test is often needed to rule out possible kidney disease.
After receiving all the necessary results, the doctor chooses the optimal treatment option, which can be conservative or surgical.Surgical intervention is used only as a last resort, so the treatment, as a rule, uses drug therapy, special gymnastics, massage, physiotherapy and, if desired, traditional medical prescriptions to improve the patient's condition without the risk of serious side effects.
First of all, attention is paid to pain relief in order to alleviate the patient's condition and move on to exercise therapy and physiotherapeutic procedures.In most cases, back pain is effectively treated with traditional analgesics, but if necessary, narcotic drugs are also prescribed to patients to cope with acute attacks.
In addition to tablets, injections and local preparations are also used to relieve pain and discomfort in the back - gels and ointments, which not only relieve discomfort, but also relieve inflammation, improve blood circulation in the affected area.In severe cases, the patient may be prescribed blockades - injections of painkillers injected directly into deep tissues.
The next stage of treatment is to reduce inflammation, for which non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.If necessary, muscle relaxants are prescribed in parallel, they relieve both pain and muscle spasms, chondroprotectors, restore damaged cartilage tissue and B vitamins, strengthen the protective functions of the body.In addition, if the back pain is not related to pathologies of the spine, but is caused by infections, for example, if it affects the kidneys or genitals, antibiotics are needed.
Specially designed sets of physical exercises are another mandatory component of back pain treatment.When performed regularly, you can not only relieve discomfort and muscle tension in the back, but also slow down the inflammatory process by improving blood supply to the affected area.
A professional massage course prescribed to patients after pain relief helps to warm the muscles and relieve spasms, activate blood circulation and improve the patient's condition as a whole.In addition, physical procedures effectively combat pain: electrophoresis, UHF therapy, ultrasound therapy, laser therapy, mud baths, acupuncture.In parallel, you can also use remedies based on traditional medical prescriptions - they serve as an excellent supplement to drug treatment, effectively relieve pain, muscle tension and swelling without the risk of negative consequences.
Prevention of back pain also plays an important role, it allows you to avoid many health problems.Regular physical exercises, even in the form of regular morning exercises that tone and strengthen the muscles, following a drinking regime, a balanced diet that provides the body with all the necessary vitamins, minerals and trace elements and, of course, regular examinations by specialists that will help identify and eliminate possible problems without waiting until they start to pose a serious threat to a person.