Low back pain is very common. From time to time it occurs in 90% of the population and it is not always possible to identify the true causes. More often, lower back pain occurs after intense physical activity and may indicate back problems or diseases of internal organs. The diagnosis determines what the treatment will be - conservative or surgical.
Causes and nature of pain
Low back pain can be acute, sudden, occur after physical exertion and lead to a forced body position. Pain in the lower spine is constant, aching or pulling, accompanied by stiffness, numbness and tingling.
The intensity of pain in the lower back also varies: from mild, which does not interfere with daily life, to unbearable, which requires taking painkillers and lying in bed. Sometimes the pain spreads beyond the back, affecting the buttocks, thighs and even legs.
The pain may disappear on its own, but in the worst case scenario it worsens, causes discomfort and leads to limited mobility. In order not to live with pain, you need to find out the reason for the pain in the lower back. Most of the time, a preliminary diagnosis can be made based on the nature of the pain.
Copper
This lower back pain is not limited to the lower back. They spread across the back, along the trunk, and can radiate to the lower part of the abdomen, gluteal region and legs.
The most common cause of lower back pain in the lower back is osteochondrosis. This is a chronic spinal disease that causes compression of nerve endings and pain. Symptoms are complemented by sensory disturbances, numbness and disorders of internal organs.
The source of waist pain may be located above the lumbar level and not be associated with spinal diseases. In this case, the patient simply feels pain in the lower back, but the pain itself is localized in the chest area.
The cause of pain in the lower back can be diseases of the internal organs, especially the heart, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. For example, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, stomach or duodenal ulcer, pleurisy, pneumonia, heart attack.
The pain is caused by irritation of the nerve fibers in the organs.
Pain below the lumbar level in the coccygeal region is a sign of kidney and reproductive organ disease.
When walking
The lumbar region is represented by 5 vertebrae, intervertebral discs and ligaments. Many nerve endings involved during walking depart from it. With any lower back disease, nerves can become compressed during movement, which causes lower back pain.
The intensity and nature of the pain depend on the extent of the injury. If it hurts when moving, this is a sign of osteochondrosis or a herniated intervertebral disc. In the latter case, there is terrible pain in the lower back while walking. It decreases a little when the person is sitting.
The cause of lower back pain when walking may be excessive physical activity the day before. It appears only at the moment of movement and disappears at rest, there are no concomitant manifestations.
Acute pain
Acute pain in the lower back is also called low back pain or low back pain. It immobilizes and forces you into a forced position. An attack of excruciating lower back pain can last just a few minutes and sometimes several days.
One of the common causes of back pain in the lower back is excessive physical activity, which leads to muscle sprains, strains or spasms. This can happen due to sudden movements, heavy lifting, poor body rotation or poor posture. Muscle inflammation is caused by hypothermia or draft.
If you twist or strain it while moving, your lower back will hurt even more.
The cause of severe lower back pain may be lumbosacral radiculitis or a herniated disc. In this case, when you stand, bend over or walk, your lower back hurts even more.
The cause of acute lower back pain may be other diseases of the musculoskeletal system:
- osteochondrosis;
- arthrosis of the facet joints;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- osteoporosis;
- spondylosis;
- spondylolisthesis;
- Spine injuries;
- boss;
- infectious diseases of the spine (tuberculosis, epidural abscess, osteomyelitis);
- spinal canal stenosis;
- rachiocampsis;
- tumors;
- Bekhterev's disease.
The reason why the lower back and coccyx hurt may be diseases of the internal organs. Acute pain syndrome occurs with cholecystitis, pancreatitis, inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system, pyelonephritis, renal colic and abdominal artery aneurysm.
Constant pain
Constant pain in the lower back is often aching in nature. The intensity of pain can increase with hypothermia, physical activity, injuries or unsuccessful movements. A common symptom that accompanies regular lower back pain is stiffness of movement. It manifests itself especially after rest.
The cause of constant pain in the lower back is vascular pathologies, which lead to poor circulation. For example, vascular atherosclerosis, phlebothrombosis, thrombophlebitis.
The lower back can also hurt due to inflammatory and degenerative processes in the musculoskeletal system.
It's a dull pain
Pain in the lower back often indicates diseases of the internal organs. If your back hurts, this may be a symptom of the following diseases:
- pyelonephritis;
- kidney stone disease;
- endometriosis;
- inflammation of the uterus or appendages;
- Ectopic pregnancy.
The peculiarity of all these diseases is that lower back pain occurs against the background of a general deterioration in well-being.
If the spine hurts in the middle, this indicates pancreatitis or cholecystitis.
When you are sitting
If the lower back hurts when sitting, this indicates excessive physical activity or serious spinal pathologies. In this case, the pain in the lower back is sharp or burning. Dull pain, on the contrary, can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle.
The reason why the lower back hurts after sitting is compression of the intervertebral discs.
If the cause is radiculitis, hernia, tumor, protrusion, then when standing, the lower back hurts even more.
Pain can occur with diseases of the pelvic organs and kidneys.
When you're standing
If your lower back hurts a lot when you stand, it could be radiculitis. To reduce pain, you must change position. The lumbar spine may hurt in an upright position due to a hernia.
Which doctor treats low back pain?
If your lower back hurts, contact the following specialists for treatment:
- orthopedist;
- neurologist;
- vertebrologist
An osteopath, reflexologist or chiropractor may participate in the therapy. Sometimes the help of a surgeon, gastroenterologist, gynecologist, urologist, nephrologist and oncologist is required.
Going to the hospital must be mandatory in the following cases:
- pain caused by injury;
- the pain extends beyond the back, accompanied by other symptoms (numbness, urinary or fecal incontinence);
- lasts more than 3 days or reappears after some time.
Diagnosis
To understand why there may be pain in the lower back, the doctor performs a visual examination and listens to the patient's complaints. Based on what he saw and heard, he draws up a clinical picture and can make a diagnosis or prescribe additional tests.
During the examination, it is important to determine the cause and effect relationship.
Diagnosis of lower back pain may include the following examination methods:
- blood and urine tests;
- Spine x-ray;
- computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging;
- Ultrasound of abdominal organs;
- Chest X-ray;
- ECG;
- fibrogastroduodenoscopy.
Treatment
If low back pain occurs, treatment depends directly on what caused it. Immediately after the onset of a painful attack, it is worth limiting physical activity for 2-3 days, but bed rest is also not recommended. It is best to sleep in the fetal position with a pillow between your knees. This way, your back is unloaded.
In case of severe pain, you can take a pain reliever. If pain occurs as a result of an injury, you should apply cold to the painful area.
For spinal canal stenosis, injection block with steroids and analgesics is used.
Don't forget that prolonged use of painkillers is not an option. Pills only mask the problem and do not eliminate it.
Pain is most often treated with medications (NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants, vitamin complexes), massage, manual therapy, exercise therapy (Bubnovsky complex) and physiotherapeutic procedures. Acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular for relieving muscle tension.
Most of the time, the pain can be relieved within 4 to 6 weeks.
If conservative therapy is ineffective (especially in the case of a hernia), surgical intervention is performed. During the operation, the hernia is removed. The patient immediately feels significant relief.
What can't you do?
You should not self-medicate or use painkillers or anti-inflammatories for a long time. If the pain does not subside within 3 days, you should see a doctor.
You cannot perform a series of exercises alone. To avoid worsening the pain, the training program must be prescribed by a specialist. In case of worsening of spinal diseases, massages and physical exercises are generally contraindicated until relief occurs.
In case of injury, you cannot adjust the vertebrae or heat the affected area.
Prevention
Preventive measures:
- do not lift weights;
- do not make sudden movements, avoid excessive physical exertion;
- sleep on a hard mattress;
- observe a rest regime;
- lead an active lifestyle, walk at least 1 hour a day;
- for sedentary work, do this every 40-50 minutes. warm-up break;
- do exercises every day, hanging from the horizontal bar is useful;
- do not overcool;
- Healthy food;
- take vitamin complexes containing calcium.
To prevent lower back pain, you should not overload your back. We must not forget that the functioning of internal organs depends on the health of the spine.
If your back hurts, you shouldn't hesitate; you need to seek help from a doctor. They will determine the true cause and help avoid serious health problems.