Lower back pain is very common. From time to time, this occurs in 90% of the population and it is not always possible to identify the real causes. Most 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
Lower 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 shooting, accompanied by stiffness, numbness and tingling.
The intensity of pain in the lumbar region also varies: from mild, which does not interfere with everyday life, to unbearable, which requires taking painkillers and staying in bed. Sometimes the pain extends beyond the back, affecting the buttocks, thighs and even legs.
The pain may go away on its own, but in the worst cases it gets worse, causes discomfort and results in limited mobility. In order not to live with pain, you need to find out the reason why you have lower back pain. Most often, a preliminary diagnosis can be made based on the nature of the pain.
Shingles
This lower back pain is not limited to the lumbar region. They spread throughout the back, along the torso and can radiate to the lower abdomen, gluteal region and legs.
Osteochondrosis is the most common cause of lower back pain in the lower back. It is a chronic spinal disease that causes pinched nerve endings and pain. The symptoms are supplemented by sensory disturbances, numbness and disorders of internal organs.
The source of pain in the girdle may be located above the lumbar level and may 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 shingles pain in the lower back may be diseases of the internal organs, especially the heart, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. For example, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, gastric or duodenal ulcer, pleurisy, pneumonia, heart attack.
The pain is caused by irritation of the nerve fibers of the organs.
Pain below the lumbar level in the coccygeal region is a sign of diseases of the kidneys and reproductive organs.
While walking
The lumbar region is represented by 5 vertebrae, intervertebral discs and ligaments. Many nerve endings involved in walking originate from it. In any lower back disease, nerves can become pinched during movement, leading to lower back pain.
The intensity and nature of the pain depends on the extent of the lesion. If it hurts to move, this is a sign of osteochondrosis or intervertebral disc herniation. In the latter case, terrible pain occurs in the lower back when walking. This eases a bit when a person is in a sitting position.
The cause of lower back pain when walking may be excessive physical activity the day before. It only appears during movement and disappears at rest, without accompanying manifestations.
Acute pain
Acute lower back pain is also called lumbago or lumbago. It immobilizes and forces you to take a forced position. An attack of terrible lower back pain can last only a few minutes, and sometimes several days.
One of the common causes of back pain in the lumbar region is excessive physical activity, which leads to sprains, strains or muscle spasms. This can happen due to a sudden movement, heavy lifting, improper body rotation, or awkward posture. Muscle inflammation is caused by hypothermia or being in a draft.
If you sprain or strain while moving, your lower back hurts even more.
The cause of severe lower back pain may be lumbosacral radiculitis or a herniated disc. In this case, when you stand up, 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;
- osteoarthritis of the facet joints;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- osteoporosis;
- spondylosis;
- spondylolisthesis;
- spinal injuries;
- protrusion;
- infectious diseases of the spine (tuberculosis, epidural abscess, osteomyelitis);
- spinal canal stenosis;
- rachiocampsis;
- tumors;
- Bekhterev's disease.
The reason why the lower back and tailbone hurt may be diseases of the internal organs. Acute pain syndrome occurs in cholecystitis, pancreatitis, inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system, pyelonephritis, renal colic and abdominal artery aneurysm.
Constant pain
Constant lower back pain is often aching in nature. The intensity of pain may increase with hypothermia, physical activity, injury or unsuccessful movements. A common symptom that accompanies regular lower back pain is stiffness of movement. This is especially evident after rest.
The cause of constant pain in the lumbar region is vascular pathologies, which lead to poor circulation. For example, vascular atherosclerosis, phlebothrombosis, thrombophlebitis.
The lower back can also be painful due to inflammatory and degenerative processes in the musculoskeletal system.
It's a dull pain
Aching pain in the lower back often indicates diseases of the internal organs. If you have back pain, it 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 sit
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. On the contrary, dull, aching pain can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle.
The reason why the lower back hurts after sitting is the pinching of the intervertebral discs.
If the cause is radiculitis, hernia, tumor, protrusion, the lower back hurts even more when getting up.
Pain may occur in cases of diseases of the pelvic organs and kidneys.
When you're standing
If your lower back hurts a lot when standing, it may be radiculitis. To reduce pain, you need to change your position. The lumbar spine may be painful in an upright position due to a herniation.
Which doctor treats lower back pain?
If you have lower back pain, you should contact the following specialists for treatment:
- orthopedist;
- neurologist;
- vertebrologist
An osteopath, reflexologist or chiropractor can participate in the therapy. Sometimes the help of a surgeon, gastroenterologist, gynecologist, urologist, nephrologist and oncologist is required.
Hospitalization should be mandatory in the following cases:
- pain caused by injury;
- pain extends beyond the back, accompanied by other symptoms (numbness, urinary or fecal incontinence);
- lasts more than 3 days or reappears after a while.
Diagnostic
To understand why there may be pain in the lumbar region, the doctor conducts a visual examination and listens to the patient's complaints. Based on what he has seen and heard, he draws up a clinical picture and can make a diagnosis or prescribe an additional examination.
When examining, it is important to determine the cause and effect relationship.
Diagnosis of pain in the lumbar region may include the following examination methods:
- blood and urine tests;
- Spinal X-ray;
- CT or MRI;
- Ultrasound of abdominal organs;
- pulmonary radiography;
- ECG;
- fibrogastroduodenoscopy.
Treatment
If you have lower back pain, the treatment directly depends on its cause. Immediately after the onset of a painful attack, physical activity should be limited 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 the back is relieved.
In case of severe pain, you can take pain reliever. If the pain occurs as a result of an injury, you should apply cold to the sore spot.
For spinal stenosis, injection blockade with steroids and painkillers is used.
Remember that long-term use of painkillers is not an option. The tablets 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 often, the pain can be relieved within 4 to 6 weeks.
If conservative treatment proves ineffective (mainly in cases of 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 consult a doctor.
You cannot perform a set of exercises on your own. To prevent the pain from getting worse, the training program should be prescribed by a specialist. In case of exacerbation of spinal diseases, massage and physical exercise are usually contraindicated until relief occurs.
In case of injury, you cannot adjust the vertebrae yourself or warm 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 it every 40-50 minutes. warm-up break;
- doing exercises every day, hanging on the horizontal bar is useful;
- do not overcool;
- Healthy food;
- take vitamin complexes containing calcium.
To avoid lower back pain, you should not overload your back. It should be remembered that the functioning of internal organs depends on the health of the spine.
If you have back pain, do not hesitate, you must seek help from a doctor. They will determine the true cause and help avoid serious health problems.