According to statistics, low back pain is quite common.This is confirmed by the fact that about 80% of the population has felt discomfort in the waist area at least once in their lives.It is also known that one of the main symptoms of a wide range of diseases is low back pain.Some experts believe that discomfort in this region of the spine is a kind of retribution to the person for walking upright.
Most of the time, as long as the pain in the lower back is not intense or constant, but appears periodically, people do not tend to give it importance and seek medical attention.As a result, the discomfort often increases and becomes chronic.During consultation with a specialist, it is discovered that the cause of the discomfort is a serious illness that requires surgical therapy.
As a rule, acute lower back pain turns into constant pain over time.According to neurologists, in 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 low back pain
For some people, lower back problems become so common that they no longer notice them.In general, unpleasant sensations in the lower back can be observed in a person once and never occur again.
Or they may return constantly, causing incredible suffering.But before visiting a doctor, you can determine by the symptoms of pain syndrome and its localization what disease it is caused by.
There are five types of low back pain:
- locations;
- reflected;
- reflected spondylogenic (pathological);
- root;
- caused by muscle spasm.
Local and referred low back pain
Local localization of pain occurs as a result of irritation or compression of sensitive nerve endings.It is caused by fractures, ruptures or tension in sensitive fibers.Unpleasant sensations of a local nature that do not change in strength with a change in the position of the body suggest the presence of a tumor or infection in the spine.
The source of referred pain, felt in the lower back, may be problems with the abdominal or pelvic organs.Often, but not always, the pain is located beyond the lower back, also in the abdomen and pelvis.When the spine moves, the discomfort does not increase, but there is no special relief either.
Spondylogenic referred pain in case of injury to the upper part of the lumbar spine is felt in the lower back, in the groin area or on the front surface of the thighs.When the pathology affects the lower lumbar region, discomfort usually occurs in the buttocks, the back of the thighs and, in rare cases, the calves or feet.
Sharp, cramping pain
Classic discomfort in the lower spine of radicular origin is generally characterized by severity and spread to the leg.
Often, low back pain when coughing is caused by coughing, sneezing, or other tension in the abdominal muscle tissue.This occurs due to tension on 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) that runs along the back of the thigh.The nature of the sensations themselves usually does not allow distinguishing radicular pain from non-radicular pain.What causes the discomfort of muscle spasms is often unclear.Pain occurs with various diseases of the spine.During a spasm, the spine curves, 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 lower back muscle tissue.The cause of the pain is usually determined by a neurologist.If necessary, a therapist and an orthopedist are involved.
Common causes of lower back pain
Doctors recommend paying attention to the unpleasant sensation in the lower back, especially since it can be one of the symptoms of a number of serious diseases.The nature of the manifestation of lumbar syndrome depends purely on the reasons that caused it.Only a specialist can determine the “source” of the pain, as well as which illness may have caused the discomfort in the lower back.
Causes of persistent low 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 several rather rare pathologies of the spine that can cause lumbar syndrome.Ankylosing spondylitis, when the spinal joints become inflamed, stands out mainly among these diseases.Additionally, back pain in the lower back 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 spine (osteochondrosis, spondylosis deformans, progressive osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc herniation);
- severe tension of the lumbar muscles;
- complex spinal fractures - traumatic or compression.
Separately in this list of reasons is psychosomatic - lower back pain, according to this direction of medicine, is caused by psychological problems.For example, the inability to find your true purpose, a very heavy burden (taking care of a sick family member, a small child, family problems, etc.).In this case, working on yourself will help.
Provoking factors
In the case of a significant number of diseases of the spine and damage to the nerve roots, discomfort in the lower back may be observed.
However, these diseases can occur for 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 discomfort, but also the underlying illness.
Factors that contribute to low back pain:
- lack of knowledge of weightlifting rules;
- 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 cause pain in the lower back.In any case, the sensitive nerve roots of the spinal cord become irritated.It can also be observed due to pathological deposits of calcium salts.Spinal hernias and protrusions (bulges of the intervertebral discs) can also cause pain in the coccyx and lower back.
Low back pain: symptoms
Any illness has its own symptoms, but in lumbar syndrome the symptoms appear depending on the reasons that caused the discomfort in the lower back.For example, acute discomfort may be a consequence of renal colic.In this case, the person will not be able to find a body position that allows them to withstand 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 lower back, 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 sleeping, as well as morning weakness.Additionally, there is inactivity of the spine and discomfort along it.Such symptoms are characteristic of fibrositis.When the disease is advanced, the pain in the lower back when moving becomes quite intense, as 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 lower back is a sign of problems in the sexual sphere, as well as a sign of pathology of the right kidney, abdominal wall, intestine or appendage of the cecum;
- Discomfort on the left side of the lower back is a sign of diseases of the reproductive system, problems with the ureter, left kidney, hernia, intestine, abdominal wall.
Low back pain treatment
It happens that lower back pain during a cold, as well as for other reasons, is so intense that it is impossible to do without therapy.Regardless of what caused the attack, it is recommended to remain in bed for the first few days.If discomfort in the lower spine is caused by a sprain, a heating pad or a hot bath will help improve your well-being.If the injury is serious, consult a doctor immediately.
Conservative therapy
Irritant ointments, as well as mustard or pepper plasters, help to locally heat the lower back 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 treat myositis.
Depending on the parallel symptoms observed, low 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 trunk in bed or under water.Similar procedures are performed in a hospital setting.Balneotherapy is also recognized as effective.These are radon, sulfide, chloride, sodium, turpentine, iodine-bromine baths, low temperature mud applications and naphthalane.
Rubbing with anti-inflammatories and analgesics is quite effective for lumbar syndrome.You can ease the pain and irrigate the affected area with ethyl chloride.
Prevention
Of great importance in eliminating lumbar syndrome and preventing its attacks is the use of external support systems - orthoses.
At the doctor's discretion, this may be a corset, a half-corset, a posture corrector or a recliner (special corset that eliminates drooping) or a bandage.Belts are sometimes 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 - physiotherapy (or yoga - a set of health-improving exercises).It is also important to monitor your posture when sitting, and when your lower back becomes stiff, do light exercises.Massage will help a lot.This will relieve muscle spasms and bring your muscles into proper tone.
In general, low back pain can have several causes.It is important not to neglect the symptoms and go to the clinic on time.Prophylaxis will prolong the achieved effect of the treatment.Therefore, you should not carry heavy objects afterwards and fully follow the doctor's recommendations.Then, perhaps, the pain in the lower back will never appear again.