Back pain in the lumbar region: 30 reasons for treatment

When the back hurts in the lumbar region, discomfort appears that varies in intensity and character.The cause could be muscle fatigue, but very often lower 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 thorough diagnosis of the spine and abdominal organs and then prescribe an effective treatment for the back.

In the article we will tell you in detail about all the causes of back pain, what each type of pain means (severe, acute, etc.), when to consult a doctor, how to treat it (tablets, injections, ointments, plasters), photos.I promise it will be interesting.

Reasons

According to statistics, more than 85% of the world's population suffers from back pain.This is due to the heavy loads that the lumbar spine experiences every day.In an upright position the pressure on the intervertebral discs is approximately 100 kg;in a horizontal position the load drops to 50 kg, and if the posture is compromised it reaches 220 kg.

Sometimes the cause of back pain is excessive load or prolonged stay in an unusual position.The main feature of such pain is the absence of concomitant manifestations, such as deterioration of the general condition, hyperthermia, spread of the painful reaction to nearby 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 pain in the lower back include:

• osteochondrosis;
• old wounds;
• pancreatitis;
• radiculitis;
• infections (tuberculosis, brucellosis);
• malignant neoplasms and their metastases;
• curvature of the spine - scoliosis, increased lumbar lordosis or thoracic kyphosis;

• kidney diseases – 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 fair 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 the leaching of calcium and destruction of the mineral composition of bone tissue, causing the development of osteoporosis.

Together 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 are often subjected to intense physical activity, which leads to premature wear of the lumbar vertebrae.Excessive tension gradually causes morphological changes in the cartilaginous discs, which explains the frequent formation of hernial protrusions in men.The main manifestation of hernia in the lower back is acute pain in the lumbar region in the form of lumbago.

Distinctive causes of pain in men are:

• ankylosing spondylitis;

• spondylolisthesis – slipping of the vertebrae relative to each other;
• pinched sciatic nerve;
• inflammatory process of the prostate gland.

The negative impact of stress and a sedentary lifestyle cannot be ruled out.Lack of sufficient physical activity leads to impaired nutrition and spinal tissue gas exchange.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 its occurrence, the painful symptom is divided into different types.

• If the discomfort bothers the patient for no more than a month and a half, the pain is considered acute.

• The duration of the syndrome from 6 weeks to a year is diagnosed as a subacute condition.
• The pain syndrome becomes chronic if its duration exceeds one year.

Depending on the location, 3 types of low back pain are distinguished:

1. Local: They appear at the site of the injury, most often after an injury to the back muscles, tendons or bones.
2. Reflex - are a consequence of somatic pathologies, when in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, gastric ulcers) pain is felt in the lower back.
3. Projected - a reaction of a neurogenic nature, when a painful impulse spreads to parts of the body along the nervous trunk.An example is pain when the sciatic nerve is pinched, which radiates down the entire leg.

The nature of the pain varies from aching and insignificant to sharp and impulsive.This characteristic depends on the disease that is the main cause of the symptom.

Strong

Severe pain appears when pain receptors in the paravertebral tissues are irritated or when a compressive effect occurs 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 direct protrusion in the area of the spinal canal or at the exit of the nerve root causes pain, combined with reduced 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 space between the vertebral bodies is critically reduced, the growths create compression on the soft tissue structures.

Severe pain in the initial stage of the disease forces the patient to turn to the doctor for diagnosis, which facilitates treatment and ensures a favorable outcome.

A common cause of severe pain is sciatica of the lumbosacral region.The pain syndrome is caused by inflammation of the root of the spinal cord of the lumbar spine.The symptom is characterized by irradiation to the buttocks and lower limbs.

Constant

Chronic pain is relieved.Such pain does not depend on physical activity and remains in a calm state.The symptom manifests itself with spondylosis and is often accompanied by atony of the leg muscles, paresis and loss of skin sensitivity.Ankylosing spondylitis, metabolic disorders and tumors of various types are also accompanied by constant and debilitating pain.

Sharp

Sudden pain, forcing a person to take a forced position, occurs with sciatica or low back pain.Usually the patient stands in a bent position, holding the lower back with one hand.Sciatica develops when the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed.A strong painful impulse spreads along the back of the thigh, from the lower leg to the toes.

The cause of low back pain is most often the development of an intervertebral hernia, when pressure is exerted on the spinal roots.Low back pain is “low back pain” in the lower back, which in most cases is caused by strenuous physical activity.In this case the pain is not concentrated 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 fatigue;
• static tension while in an unusual position;

• curvature of the spine - scoliosis;
• muscle imbalance in neurological diseases.

Additionally, myofascial pain may occur after performing sports exercises.This pain is caused by the buildup of lactic acid in the muscle fibers.

Sore

Unpleasant and painful sensations occur with myositis, when the back muscles become inflamed.Pancreatitis manifests itself as girdle pain in the lumbar region.Tearing sensations accompany diseases of the pelvic organs in men (inflammation of the prostate) and women (damage to the internal genital organs).

Pregnant women complain of excruciating pain in the second half of pregnancy.These manifestations are due to an increase in body and abdominal weight with the growth of the fetus.In this case, muscle tension appears in the lower back, causing a moderate painful reaction.

Acute

Acute pain syndrome is a consequence of pathological conditions:

• injuries – contusions, vertebral subluxations, compression fractures;
• 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 will be required.

When to see a doctor?

The visit to the doctor should not be postponed if the painful symptom does not disappear for more than 3 days.A warning sign would be a fall on your back, which could cause serious injury.The spread of painful impulse to the buttocks, thighs and lower legs should not be ignored.

If there is a burning and tingling sensation on the skin, loss of sensitivity in the legs, inguinal area, large nerves are involved in the pathological process.Severe cases lead to interruption 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 the consultation of highly specialized doctors.The initial diagnosis is made by a therapist, who refers the patient for consultation to other specialists:

• to a traumatologist - if a back injury is suspected;
• orthopedic: to examine the joints and the entire musculoskeletal system;
• a vertebrologist who treats the spine;
• neurologist – to eliminate neurological symptoms;
• to a neurosurgeon, if surgery cannot be avoided;
• rheumatologist – for autoimmune diseases.

If the functioning of the pelvic organs is disrupted, a urologist and a gynecologist carry out an additional examination for women.Treatment tactics for lower back pain are based on a number of diagnostic findings.

What to do if it hurts a lot: first aid

Pre-medical actions are performed 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 is not allowed to move.

• Cold is applied to the affected area.To do this, use a heating pad with ice, chilled foods, which are pre-wrapped in cloth to prevent hypothermia.The cold compress should be kept for no longer than 15 minutes and reused after 3-4 hours.
• Severe pain is a direct indication to contact a doctor, so the patient should be taken to a medical facility as soon as possible.

General and local painkillers should be taken as prescribed by your doctor.Self-medication is dangerous for your health and can lead to serious complications.

Uncontrolled use of analgesics dulls pain, which complicates the diagnosis.In addition, 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 for treating back pain is drug therapy.Medicines prescribed by a doctor not only relieve the pain symptom, but also eliminate the etiological factor.

Sharp, sharp pains are blocked by local blocks performed by a neurologist or surgeon.At home, remedies are used in the form of tablets, ointments or injections.

Tablets

For symptomatic treatment the following drugs 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 joint and spinal degeneration.

Injections

Drug injection is prescribed for severe forms of the disease to achieve a rapid therapeutic effect.Basic criteria for the use of injections:

• the time before the onset of the therapeutic effect of the drug is shortened;
• the drug is not subject to decomposition by gastric juice;
• used for patients who have contraindications to taking painkillers.

The manipulation must be carried out by a qualified specialist;self-administration of injections is not recommended.The choice of the drug and the prescription of its dosage is up to 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:

1. Anti-inflammatory drugs with analgesic effect.
2. Combined with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-edema effects.
3. Ointments and creams with an irritating effect have a warming effect.
4. Cooling drugs to relieve pain.

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 patches is that you just need to apply them to the painful area and wait for the effect.As long as the product remains on the skin, it is effective.List of the most effective patches:

1. 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.
2. NSAID patch.It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.Use no more than 10 days.The effect of a patch is 24 hours.

How to treat at home

Therapeutic measures at home consist of strict compliance with the doctor's prescriptions.Once the acute period is over, massage sessions are recommended to normalize muscle tone and improve blood circulation in the lumbar region.

Therapeutic exercise helps reduce pain, strengthens the muscular corset of the back and restores mobility of the spine.A set of exercises is selected individually by a physiotherapist, taking into account the general functional state and age of the patient.

Traditional medicine is used as an addition 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, then apply it to the sore spot.Secure 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 cups are an effective treatment method that can be used at home.Thanks to the vacuum that is created when using cupping, blood circulation increases, toxins are eliminated and congestion disappears.This leads to a faster recovery of the patient.

If you are seriously thinking about treating your lower back yourself, physiotherapy 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 prevent the appearance of back pain, it is important to follow simple advice:

• eat well and lead an active lifestyle;
• engage in strenuous 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, annually conduct preventive courses of massage and physical therapy.

Whatever the cause, back pain cannot be ignored at any age.Most often, a painful symptom is a consequence of a spinal pathology, chronic injury or somatic disease.

When your back hurts in the lumbar region, a timely consultation with a doctor will help you prescribe an effective treatment that will speed up recovery and restore mobility in your back.