According to statistics, lower back pain is quite common.This is confirmed by the fact that about 80% of the population have experienced discomfort in the belt area at least once in their lives.It is also known that one of the leading symptoms of a wide range of ailments is lumbar pain.Some experts believe that 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 not inclined to attach importance to it and go to the doctor.As a result, the discomfort usually increases and becomes chronic.At an appointment with a specialist, it turns out that the cause of the discomfort is a serious illness that requires surgical therapy.
As a rule, acute lumbar pain turns into constant pain over time.According to neurologists, within the next year after recovery, a relapse occurs in 40% of patients, while in the long term, discomfort returns in 85% of patients.
Types of lumbar pain
For some people, lower back problems become so commonplace that they stop noticing them.In general, unpleasant sensations in the lower back can be observed in a person once, and then never occur again.
Or they can constantly return, causing incredible suffering.But before visiting a doctor, you can determine by the symptoms of the painful syndrome and its localization what ailment it is caused by.
There are five types of low back pain:
- local;
- reflected;
- reflected spondylogenic (pathological);
- radicular;
- caused by muscle spasm.
Local and referred lower back pain
Local localization of pain occurs as a result of irritation or compression of sensitive nerve endings.It is provoked by fractures, ruptures or tension of sensitive fibers.Unpleasant sensations of a local nature that do not change in strength when changing the position of the body suggest the presence of a spinal tumor or infection.
The source of referred pain, which is felt in the lower back, may be problems with the abdominal or pelvic organs.Very often, but not always, pain is localized in addition to the lower back, also in the abdomen and pelvis.When the spine moves, the unpleasant sensations do not increase, but no particular relief is felt either.
Spondylogenic referred pain in the case of damage to the upper lumbar spine is felt in the lower back, groin area or on the front surface of the thighs.When the pathology affects the lower lumbar region, discomfort usually occurs in the buttocks, on the back of the thighs, and in rare cases in the calves or feet.
Sharp and cramping pain
Classic discomfort in the lower spine of radicular origin is usually characterized by severity and spread to the leg.
Often lower back pain when coughing is provoked by coughing, sneezing or other tension in the abdominal muscle tissue.This occurs due to the tension of the affected root or nerve during a certain position or movement of the body.
Thus, pain in the lower back when sitting occurs due to tension in the sciatic nerve (the L5 and S1 roots react) 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 occurs with various ailments of the spine.During a spasm, the spine bends, the deep back muscles tense, and a dull pain occurs.
Often discomfort in the lower back appears due to spinal pathology.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 Low Back Pain
Doctors recommend paying attention to the unpleasant sensation in the lower back, primarily because it can be one of the symptoms of a number of serious illnesses.The nature of the manifestation of lumbar syndrome depends purely on the reasons that caused it.Only a specialist can determine the “source” of pain, as well as what ailment 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;
- stomach and duodenal ulcers;
- aortic aneurysm;
- kidney stones or urinary tract infections.
Causes of pain associated with the spine and back muscles
In medicine, there are a number of quite rare pathologies of the spine that can cause lumbar syndrome.Ankylosing spondylitis, when the joints of the spine become inflamed, stands out especially among such diseases.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 spinal column (osteochondrosis, spondylosis deformans, progressive osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc herniation);
- severe strain of the lumbar muscles;
- complex fractures of the spine - traumatic or compression.
Separately in this list of reasons is psychosomatics - lower back pain, according to this direction in medicine, is caused by psychological problems.For example, the inability to find one’s true purpose, too heavy a burden (caring for a sick relative, a small child, problems in the family, etc.).In this case, working on yourself will help.
Provoking factors
In the case of a significant number of spinal ailments and damage to the nerve roots, discomfort in the lower back may be observed.
However, these diseases can occur for quite a long time without manifestations.Only under the influence of certain factors do they make themselves felt.Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate not only the unpleasant sensations, but also the underlying ailment.
Factors contributing to low back pain:
- ignorance of the rules of 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 of intervertebral discs) can also cause pain in the tailbone and lower back.
Lower back pain: symptoms
Any ailment has its own symptoms, but with lumbar syndrome, the symptoms appear depending on the reasons that caused the discomfort in the lower back.For example, sharp discomfort may be a consequence of renal colic.In this case, a person will not be able to find a body position that would 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 area, but also in the hips and legs.
It is difficult for a person to move, as the syndrome only intensifies 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 spinal column and discomfort along it.Such symptoms are characteristic of fibrositis.When the disease is advanced, pain in the lower back when moving becomes quite severe, since the fibrous connective tissue, when inflamed, reacts very sensitively to the movement of the human body.
Lumbar syndrome deserves special consideration, taking into account the sides of the body:
- pain in the right region 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, intestines 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 lower back pain during a cold, as well as due to other reasons, is so severe that it is impossible to do without therapy.Regardless of what caused the attack, it is recommended to stay in bed in the first days.If discomfort in the lower part of the 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 carry out local heating of the lumbar area in the area of greatest pain.
Wrapping yourself in a warm woolen scarf, applying an electric heating pad, a bag of heated sand, and leeches will provide relief.Hot compresses help with myositis.
Depending on what parallel symptoms are observed, lower back pain can be relieved through electrical procedures: diadynamic currents, transcutaneous electroanalgesia, sinusoidally modulated currents, electrophoresis with novocaine and others.Reflexology (acupuncture, moxibustion, electroacupuncture, laser therapy), including novocaine blockades, will also help relieve discomfort.
For radiculitis caused by displacement of intervertebral discs, traction therapy is prescribed - stretching the torso on the bed or under water.Similar procedures are carried out in a hospital setting.Balneotherapy is also recognized as effective.These are radon, sulfide, chloride, sodium, turpentine, iodine-bromine baths, low-temperature mud applications, naphthalan.
Rubbing with anti-inflammatory and painkillers is quite effective for lumbar syndrome.You can relieve pain and irrigate the affected area with ethyl chloride.
Prevention
Of no small importance in eliminating lumbar syndrome and preventing its attacks is the wearing of external support systems - orthoses.
At the discretion of the doctor, this can be a corset, a half-corset, a posture corrector, or a reclinator (a special corset that eliminates tilt), or a bandage.Sometimes belts are recommended: corset, anti-radiculitis, elastic and others.
Only one universal remedy will help relieve lower back pain after sitting and prevent the development of lumbar syndrome - physical therapy (or yoga - a health-improving set of exercises).It is also important to monitor your posture when sitting, and when the lumbar area of your back becomes stiff, do light exercises.Massage will greatly help.It will relieve muscle spasms and bring the muscles into proper tone.
In general, lower back pain can have a variety of causes.It is important not to neglect the symptoms and go to the clinic on time.Prophylaxis will prolong the achieved effect of treatment.Therefore, you should subsequently not carry heavy objects and fully adhere to the doctor’s recommendations.Then, perhaps, pain in the lumbar region will never manifest itself again.