When your back hurts in the lower back, discomfort arises that varies in strength and character.The cause may be muscle fatigue, but most often low back pain is the first sign of a serious illness.
Regardless of the duration and intensity of the symptom, the pathological condition is a reason to consult a doctor.A specialist doctor will carry out a complete diagnosis of the spine and abdominal organs, and then prescribe effective back treatment.
In the article we will tell you in detail about all the causes of low back pain, what each type of pain means (severe, sharp, etc.), when to see a doctor, how to treat it (pills, injections, ointments, patches), photos.I promise it will be interesting.
Reasons
According to statistics, more than 85% of the world's population has experienced low back pain.This fact is due to the great loads that the lumbar spine undergoes every day.In the standing position, the pressure on the intervertebral discs is about 100 kg;in a horizontal position, the load decreases to 50 kg, and if posture is impaired, it reaches 220 kg.
Sometimes the cause of lower back pain is excessive load or prolonged stay in an unusual position.The main characteristic of this pain is the absence of concomitant manifestations, such as deterioration in the general condition, hyperthermia, spread of the painful reaction to neighboring areas of the body.
In most cases, pain indicates a pathological process that can affect not only the spine, but also internal organs..The main causes of lower back pain include:
- osteochondrosis;
- old injuries;
- pancreatitis;
- radiculitis;
- infections (tuberculosis, brucellosis);
- malignant neoplasms and their metastases;
- curvature of the spine - scoliosis, increased lumbar lordosis or thoracic kyphosis;
- kidney pathologies – pyelonephritis, kidney stones;
- Reiter's syndrome;
- spondylolisthesis;
- abscess in the epidural area;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- intervertebral hernia.
Among the atypical factors that provoke a painful reaction are diseases of the intestine or genitourinary system.
In women
Due to physiological characteristics and hormonal fluctuations, back pain in the fairer sex has a number of specific causes:
- adnexitis (inflammation of the ovaries);
- ectopic pregnancy;
- proliferation of endometrial cells (endometriosis).
Many women experience pain in the lower back during menstruation, as well as during inflammatory processes of the pelvic organs.Hormonal changes during menopause lead to calcium leaching and disruption of the mineral composition of bone tissue, causing the development of osteoporosis.
Along with the femur and pelvic bones, the vertebrae are also affected by osteoporosis, which threatens a pathological fracture of the spine even with minor trauma.
In men
Due to the nature of their work, men more frequently perform intense physical activities, which leads to premature wear of the lumbar vertebrae.Excessive tension gradually causes morphological changes in cartilaginous discs, which explains the frequent formation of hernial protrusions in men.The main manifestation of hernias in the lower back is acute pain in the lower back in the form of low back pain.
The distinct causes of pain in men are:
- ankylosing spondylitis;
- spondylolisthesis – sliding of the vertebrae in relation to each other;
- compressed sciatic nerve;
- inflammatory process of the prostate.
The negative impact of stress and a sedentary lifestyle cannot be ruled out.Lack of sufficient physical activity leads to impaired nutrition and gas exchange of spinal tissues.As a result, metabolic processes are disrupted, which leads to irreversible changes that cause pain.
Pain classification
Based on the nature, intensity, duration and cause of occurrence, the painful symptom is divided into several types.
- If the discomfort bothers the patient for no more than a month and a half, the pain is considered acute.
- The syndrome lasts from 6 weeks to a year and is diagnosed as a subacute condition.
- The pain syndrome becomes chronic if its duration exceeds one year.
Depending on the location, there are 3 types of low back pain:
- Local - appear at the site of injury, most often after injuries to the back muscles, tendons or bones.
- Reflected - are a consequence of somatic pathologies, when in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, stomach ulcers) pain is felt in the lower back.
- Projected - a reaction of a neurogenic nature, when a pain impulse spreads to parts of the body along the nerve trunk.An example is pain when the sciatic nerve is compressed, which radiates throughout the leg.
The nature of the pain varies from painful and insignificant to sharp and impulsive.This characteristic depends on the disease that is causing the symptom.
Strong
Severe pain appears when pain receptors in the paravertebral tissues are irritated or when there is a squeezing effect on the large nerve trunks of the spinal cord.One of the main causes of severe pain is degenerative changes in stages 3-4 of osteochondrosis.
Morphological changes affect cartilaginous tissue and bone structures.The gradual softening of the intervertebral disc leads to the formation of a spinal hernia.A protrusion directed towards the spinal canal area or nerve root exit causes pain, combined with impaired sensitivity along the innervation of the affected area.
If the load on the vertebrae is incorrectly distributed due to degeneration of the cartilaginous disc, marginal osteophytes appear on the vertebral body.When the gap between the vertebral bodies is critically reduced, the growths create compression on the soft tissue structures.
Intense pain in the initial stage of the disease forces the patient to see a doctor for diagnosis, which facilitates treatment and guarantees a favorable outcome.
A common cause of severe pain is sciatica of the lumbosacral region.The pain syndrome is caused by inflammation of the spinal cord root of the lumbar spine.The symptom is characterized by irradiation in the buttocks and lower extremities.
Constant
Chronic pain is silenced.This pain does not depend on physical activity and remains calm.The symptom appears in spondylosis and is usually accompanied by atony of the leg muscles, paresis and loss of skin sensitivity.Ankylosing spondylitis, metabolic disorders and neoplasms of various types are also accompanied by constant debilitating pain.
Sharp
Sudden pain, forcing a person to take a forced position, occurs with sciatica or low back pain.Generally, the patient is in a bent position, holding the lower back with one hand.Sciatica develops when the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed.A strong pulse of pain spreads along the back of the thigh, down the leg to the toes.
The cause of low back pain is most often the development of an intervertebral hernia when pressure is placed on the spinal roots.Lumbago is a “lumbago” in the lower back, which in most cases is caused by intense physical activity.In this case, the pain is concentrated not only in the back, but spreads to the right or left lower limb.
Muscular
Spasms of muscle fibers in the lumbosacral region are the result of:
- unusual physical activity;
- sudden movements that cause muscle tension;
- static tension in unusual position;
- curvature of the spine - scoliosis;
- muscular imbalance in neurological diseases.
Additionally, myofascial pain may occur after performing sports exercises.This pain is caused by the accumulation of lactic acid in muscle fibers.
Sore
Unpleasant and painful sensations occur with myositis, when the back muscles become inflamed.Pancreatitis manifests itself as girdle pain in the lower back.Pulling sensations accompany diseases of the pelvic organs in men (inflammation of the prostate) and in women (damage to the internal genital organs).
Pregnant women complain of severe pain in the second half of pregnancy.These manifestations are due to the increase in body and abdominal weight with fetal growth.In this case, muscle tension appears in the lower back, causing a moderate pain reaction.
Acute
Acute pain syndrome is a consequence of pathological conditions:
- injuries – bruises, vertebral subluxations, compression fracture;
- hypothermia;
- lift heavy objects;
- steep slopes.
Acute pain may be caused by renal colic.To clarify the etiology and effectively eliminate the pain syndrome, a detailed diagnosis and a visit to a specialist doctor will be required.
When to see a doctor?
A visit to the doctor should not be postponed if the painful symptom does not stop for more than 3 days.A warning sign would be a fall on your back, which could cause serious injuries.The propagation of the pain impulse to the buttocks, thighs and legs should not be ignored.
If there is a burning and tingling sensation on the skin, loss of sensitivity in the legs, groin area, large nerves are involved in the pathological process.Severe cases lead to cessation of urination and bowel movements.All of the above signs indicate a serious pathology that must be immediately diagnosed and treated.
Which doctor treats you?
Therapy for low back pain is a complex task, the implementation of which will require consultation with highly specialized doctors.The initial diagnosis is made by a therapist, who refers the patient for consultation with other specialists:
- to a traumatologist - if a back injury is suspected;
- orthopedist - to examine the joints and the entire musculoskeletal system;
- a vertebrologist who treats the spine;
- neurologist – to get rid of neurological symptoms;
- to a neurosurgeon if surgical intervention cannot be avoided;
- rheumatologist – for autoimmune diseases.
If the functioning of the pelvic organs is disturbed, an additional examination is carried out by a urologist and a gynecologist for women.Therapeutic tactics for low back pain are based on a set of diagnostic results.
What to do if it hurts a lot: first aid
Pre-medical actions are carried out with the aim of alleviating the condition and maximizing pain relief before seeking medical help.The first aid algorithm includes the following measures:
- Rest and bed rest, excluding stress on the lower back.To do this, the patient is placed on a hard surface.If a back injury is suspected, the victim will not be able to move.
- Cold is applied to the affected area.To do this, use a heating pad with ice, chilled food, which is pre-wrapped in cloth to avoid hypothermia.The cold compress should be kept for a maximum of 15 minutes and reused after 3-4 hours.
- Severe pain is a direct indication to see a doctor, so the patient should be taken to a medical facility as soon as possible.
General and local analgesics must be taken as prescribed by a doctor.Self-medication is dangerous to your health and can lead to serious complications.
The uncontrolled use of analgesics eases the pain, which makes diagnosis difficult.Furthermore, with the development of inflammatory processes or acute conditions that affect the functioning of internal organs, the course of the disease worsens.
The best drugs
The most effective method of treating back pain is drug therapy.The medications prescribed by the doctor not only relieve the painful symptom, but also eliminate the etiological factor.
Sharp, stabbing pains are blocked with local blocks performed by a neurologist or surgeon.At home, medicines are used in the form of tablets, ointments or injections.
Pills
For symptomatic treatment, the following medications are prescribed:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that effectively relieve pain and inflammation.
- Glucocorticosteroids when NSAIDs are ineffective.
- Muscle relaxants for pain caused by back spasms.
- B vitamins to improve the nutrition of muscle tissue and nerve cells.
- Chondroprotectors to inhibit degeneration in the joints and spine.
Injections
Injection of drugs is prescribed for severe forms of the disease to obtain a quick therapeutic effect.Basic criteria for using injections:
- the time before the onset of the therapeutic effect of the drug is reduced;
- the drug is not subject to decomposition by gastric juice;
- used for patients who have contraindications to taking analgesics.
Manipulation must be carried out by a qualified specialist;self-administration of injections is not recommended.The choice of the medication and the prescription of its dosage are the responsibility of the attending physician, taking into account the degree of the disease and the presence of concomitant diseases.
Ointments
Topical treatments can help improve the condition at home.Depending on the active ingredient, the ointment eliminates pain, relieves swelling and inflammation:
- Anti-inflammatories with analgesic effect.
- Combined with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-edema effects.
- Ointments and creams with an irritating effect have a warming effect.
- Cooling medicines for pain relief.
When using warming agents for local treatment, it is important to remember that during inflammation and in the first two days after injury, their use is strictly prohibited.
Plasters
This is the most convenient form of local remedies.The advantage of stickers is that you just need to stick them on the painful area and wait for the effect.The entire time the product is on the skin, it is effective.List of the most effective patches:
- A patch containing an anesthetic that works well against inflammation and mild pain.Cannot be used for more than 5 days.The patch is valid for 12 hours.
- NSAID patch.It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.Use for a maximum of 10 days.The effect of a patch lasts 24 hours.
How to treat at home
Therapeutic measures at home consist in strict adherence to medical prescriptions.After the acute period ends, massage sessions are recommended to normalize muscle tone and improve blood circulation in the lower back.
Therapeutic exercises help reduce pain, strengthen the back muscle corset and restore mobility to the spine.A set of exercises is selected individually by the physiotherapist, taking into account the general functional state and age of the patient.
Traditional medicine is used as a complement to the main treatment.Cabbage with honey has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.To do this, wash a white cabbage leaf and grease it with liquid honey and apply it to the wound.Fix the compress on top with cling film and cover with a warm blanket.The duration of the procedure can be up to 12 hours.
Vacuum massage cupping is an effective treatment method that can be used at home.Thanks to the vacuum that appears when cupping is used, blood circulation increases, toxins are removed and congestion disappears.This leads to faster recovery for the patient.
If you are seriously considering treating your lower back on your own, physiotherapeutic devices can help you a lot with this.With their help, many diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be cured in a short period of time.
Prevention
To avoid the appearance of lower back pain, it is important to follow simple recommendations:
- eat well and lead an active lifestyle;
- practice vigorous physical exercise;
- avoid heavy loads;
- carry out routine treatment of chronic diseases;
- wear quality shoes;
- correct deformities of the spine and feet.
- If pain syndrome appears, take preventive massage and exercise therapy courses annually.
Whatever the cause, low back pain cannot be ignored at any age.Most often, a pain symptom is a consequence of spinal pathology, chronic injury or somatic disease.
When your back hurts in the lower back, early consultation with a doctor will help prescribe effective treatment that will speed up recovery and restore back mobility.