According to medical statistics, about 80% of people will experience periodic low back pain.It has different characteristics: painful, sharp, radiating to the lower limbs.Most commonly people between the ages of 30 and 55 complain of pain.
There are many causes of lower back pain, not all of which are related to pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.If discomfort occurs frequently and reduces your quality of life, you should see a doctor to help determine its cause.It will go away on its own with proper treatment.Usually, you can eliminate the pain using conservative methods, but surgery may be needed in advanced cases.Preventative measures will help keep your back healthy and prevent pain.
Causes of low back pain
The question of why lower back pain is very relevant.The human spine is a complex structure composed of vertebrae, intervertebral discs between vertebrae, spinal cord, nerve roots, and surrounding tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons).When there is a problem with any of these components, back pain can occur.Although in some cases, lower back discomfort occurs due to damage to other organs.
Sprains are one of the most common causes of lower spine pain.Discomfort occurs when muscles, ligaments, or muscle spasms are damaged.Sprains can be caused by the following human behaviors:
- Lifting objects incorrectly.
- weightlifting.
- Sudden movements.
Disruption of spinal structures is another common cause of lower back pain.Low back pain related to structural problems is often caused by:
- Disc rupture.When the integrity of the intervertebral disc is violated, compression on the nerve bundles increases, manifesting as pain.
- Herniation (herniation of the disc between the vertebrae without rupture of the annulus fibrosus) or intervertebral hernia.Then the pressure on the nerve bundles in the lower spine increases, causing severe pain in the lower back.
- Sciatica (pressure or inflammation of the sciatic nerve) usually occurs due to a herniated or herniated disc.The pain then spreads from the lower back to the back of the thigh.
- Arthritis of the lower back.
- Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine.
- Compression fractures in the lower back (damage to the vertebrae due to compression) can also cause severe pain.
- Osteoporosis is a pathology in which bone density decreases and the vertebrae become porous.This disease increases the risk of compression fractures.
In addition, lower back pain may also be caused by:
- Cauda equina syndrome is damage to the nerve tracts at the end of the spinal cord.Then there is a dull pain in the lower back and upper buttocks, the sensitivity of the pelvis is impaired, and the control of urination and defecation disappears.
- Spinal tumors can compress nerves and cause pain.
- Spinal infections (osteomyelitis, discitis, spinal tuberculosis) can cause lower back pain, fever, and hyperthermia.
- Infectious diseases such as cystitis or inflammation of the kidneys (glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, urolithiasis) can also cause pain.
- Shingles is a viral disease that damages nerve bundles in the lower back.
Additionally, upper back pain may occur during the course of atypical pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).Discomfort is often caused by sleep disorders or by lying on a poor-quality mattress that does not support the spine well.
Daily activities can also cause lower back pain:
- Sitting in an uncomfortable position for long periods of time.
- The person often pushes or pulls something.
- Lift or carry objects.
- Your back can also get sore when you stand for long periods of time.
- Bending for long periods of time or turning frequently.
- The lower back muscles are overly tight or overstretched.
Prolonged tension in the neck can cause severe discomfort in the lower back, such as when a person sits in front of a computer or drives a car.
refer to.Low back pain is acute pain that occurs when the back is too cold or dynamically loaded.Low back pain is a painful sensation caused by prolonged static loading.Lumbar pain is a syndrome of pain that spreads from the lower back to the legs due to an intervertebral hernia.
risk groups
Most commonly, spinal pain is caused by:
- often under stress;
- Pregnancy, which is associated with an enlarged uterus and tight ligaments;
- long periods of sitting related to work characteristics;
- Aging and related spinal changes;
- mental disorder;
- being overweight;
- smoking;
- Hard physical labor.
refer to.Statistically, women are more likely to suffer from lower back discomfort than men.
The likelihood of low back pain increases with long-term steroid use, drug addiction, and in patients between the ages of 30 and 55 years.
symptom
If you have lower back pain, pay attention to the nature of the pain; it can be sharp, dull, aching, or burning.Sometimes unpleasant sensations such as tingling and numbness may occur.Pain in the lower back area may spread to the buttocks, down the back of the legs, and into the feet.Pain syndromes also vary in severity: from mild to excruciating, resulting in immobility.
Often, patients may experience lower back pain due to kidney disease.To determine if this feeling is caused by kidney problems, pay close attention to your symptoms.When suffering from kidney disease, pain is not related to physical activity, fever (above 37.5°), urination disorder, and urine becoming cloudy occur.Severe pain occurs when you tap the kidney area.
As mentioned earlier, atypical pancreatitis may also be accompanied by severe pain in the lower back.
Osteochondrosis causes soreness that radiates to the legs, worsens when walking, and sometimes causes "low back pain."Over time, sensitivity in the lower body (buttocks, groin, legs) can become impaired.The lower limbs quickly freeze and the ability to sweat is compromised.Osteochondrosis does not cause fever.
With neuralgia, pain travels along the affected nerve.The pain is sharp, burning, appears quickly, and then subsides suddenly.The skin color changes in the affected area, and the attack involves increased sweating and muscle tremors.
If you have back pain and experience at least one of the following symptoms, you should seek medical help:
- lose weight;
- Temperature increases (from 37.5°);
- Swelling in the waist;
- The pain does not subside even when the patient lies down;
- pain radiating into the legs;
- You have recently suffered a lumbar spine injury;
- Impaired control of urination and bowel movements;
- Impaired sensitivity in the groin area, buttocks, or legs.
To find out what exactly is wrong and what's causing your discomfort, get a physical exam.
diagnostic measures
If you have lower back pain, you need to see a therapist or orthopedic surgeon.If you suspect a neurological disorder, see a neurologist.A physical examination and medical history often aid in diagnosis.
If injury, spinal or other organ disease, or nerve pain is suspected, doctors will perform instrumental studies:
- X-rays will help identify lower back injuries, vertebrae inflammation, and imbalances in spinal elements.
- An MRI or computed tomography scan will reveal intervertebral hernias, spinal structural disorders, and problems with surrounding tissues (nerves, muscles, blood vessels).
- Bone scintigraphy is used to detect bone tumors and compression fractures.During the study, radioactive drugs were used, which were injected into veins and then accumulated in areas with increased metabolism.
- Neuroelectromyography is effective in identifying nerve bundle compression that occurs in the context of intervertebral hernia or spinal stenosis.This diagnostic method allows you to identify any damage to the neuromuscular system.
If an infectious disease is suspected, laboratory blood tests will be performed on the patient.
If your doctor suspects that your lower back pain is caused by problems with your kidneys, pelvic organs, or pancreas, a series of appropriate tests will be performed.
Conservative treatment
If you don't know how to get rid of lower back pain, talk to your doctor first.With timely diagnosis, treatment can be given at home.Over-the-counter analgesics are used to relieve pain.
If pain comes suddenly, patients should know how to relieve it.If the discomfort is caused by osteochondrosis, then you need to follow the following plan:
- Warm your lower back with a wool scarf or belt;
- lie on a hard surface;
- taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Treat your back with anti-inflammatory ointment.
careful.Do not take NSAIDs if you have digestive problems as they can damage mucous membranes.
NSAIDs and antispasmodics will help relieve pain caused by nerve pain.In addition, you must pay attention to getting enough rest.If the pain is severe, the patient will need to be hospitalized.
If you have lower back pain due to kidney disease, call an ambulance urgently.The patient should lie flat and take antipyretics (antipyretics) and antispasmodics to normalize body temperature.It is necessary to control blood pressure and body temperature as much as possible.Further action is left to the doctor.
careful.If you have kidney inflammation, it is strictly forbidden to use hot compresses or take hot baths!
Lower back pain due to inflammation of the pancreas (atypical form) is very intense.During an attack, you need to call your doctor.You will not be allowed to eat until the doctor arrives; you will need to get into a comfortable position and drink sips of water.It is recommended that someone stay close to the patient.Knee-elbow or fetal position will help reduce discomfort.
Regardless of the cause of the pain, patients should rest for 1 to 2 days.Longer periods of rest may weaken the muscles, and then attacks may repeat more frequently.
Acute pain in the lower back appears suddenly and lasts for up to 12 weeks.Persistent pain in a chronic process develops slowly and lasts for 3 months or longer.Many patients present with both acute and chronic pain, making diagnosis very difficult.
If home treatments for low back pain don't work, your doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Narcotic pain relievers, such as codeine or hydrocodone, can relieve severe pain.However, these drugs are only used in extreme cases and doctors must monitor the patient's condition.To relieve symptoms, your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant such as amitriptyline.
Treatment may be supplemented with physical therapy procedures.Electrophoresis, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, magnetic therapy, etc. all have excellent therapeutic effects.These procedures help speed up metabolic processes, blood circulation, improve tissue nutrition, accelerate healing of damaged areas and relax spastic muscles.
Therapeutic exercises can help strengthen muscles and ligaments, make them more elastic, and correct posture.Each patient's symptom complex is developed by a physician based on age, symptoms, cause of pain, and general condition.Training should be performed during the remission phase when pain symptoms subside.By exercising regularly, patients will be able to prevent recurrence.
If the above methods don't work, cortisone injections (a synthetic corticosteroid) will help relieve pain.After surgery, inflammation is reduced and discomfort disappears.Treatment effects last for 6 weeks.
The following methods can help relieve pain and improve your overall condition:
- Osteopathy helps restore the structure of the musculoskeletal system using only the hands of a doctor.
- Chiropractic is a manual technique for correcting defects in the spine.
- Shiatsu – Use expert fingers and elbows to strike energy points to relieve discomfort and relax muscles.
- Reflexology involves the introduction of special needles into biologically active points on the body.After surgery, endorphin production is stimulated and pain is reduced.
- Yoga.When certain postures and movements are performed, muscle bundles are strengthened and posture is improved.But the exercises must be performed under the guidance of a specialist, otherwise the pain syndrome may worsen.
How to treat low back pain is a decision made by your doctor after a thorough diagnosis and identification of the cause of the discomfort.
surgical intervention
The question of what to do if you have persistent pain in your lower back for a long time (more than 6 months) is very relevant.In this case, the doctor may perform surgery.Usually, intervertebral hernia requires surgical intervention, especially if the disease is accompanied by neurological disorders (numbness in the groin, legs, involuntary urination, defecation).
The following surgical techniques will help treat serious disorders of the lumbar spine that are accompanied by pain:
- Spinal fusion is a procedure to fuse two or more adjacent vertebrae, with implants inserted between the vertebrae.Unstable parts of the spine are fixed with special fastening materials (metal plates, screws).
- Disc replacement surgery.During this procedure, the damaged disc is removed and an artificial disc is installed in its place.
- Discectomy is the removal of the portion of the disc that is pressing on the nerve bundles or spinal cord.
- Laminectomy is the removal of the vertebral arch that is compressing the nerve roots of the spinal cord.
There are many more surgical techniques that can help stabilize displaced vertebrae, release compression from nerve bundles and other tissues, and restore function to the spine.
Prevent low back pain
To prevent lower back pain, you need to follow these rules:
- Perform exercises to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility.
- Stop smoking, as people with this bad habit are more likely to suffer from back pain than non-smokers.
- Control your weight and eat right.
- When you stand or sit, pay attention to your posture.
- If you sit for a long time at work, stand up and do some back exercises every two hours.
- To set up your workplace correctly, invest in a chair with an orthopedic backrest.
- Sleep on an orthopedic mattress.
- When lifting heavy objects, shift your weight from your back to your hips and legs.
- Wear orthopedic shoes.
These rules will help keep your lower back healthy in the long term.
the most important thing
As you can see, low back pain can occur for a variety of reasons: sprains, structural disorders, cancer, infectious diseases of the spine, daily activities, poor posture, and more.High-risk groups include patients who live a sedentary lifestyle, engage in strenuous physical labor, are overweight, frequently stressed, or have unhealthy habits.If the pain syndrome is accompanied by fever, back swelling, or neurological disease, then you need to seek medical help urgently.Treatment strategies depend on the cause of the discomfort.The conservative approach is most commonly used.Surgery may be necessary if the pain does not go away for a long time or if neurological disease is present.Remember, it’s easier to prevent lower back pain than to treat it.