Why does back pain in the lumbar region and how to treat low back pain?

Low back pain is a symptom that can be associated with various medical conditions. They can be permanent or periodic, local or generalized.

If a person has low back pain, he or she has been prescribed a comprehensive examination to identify its cause.

Possible causes of low back pain and its characteristics

Low back pain can be caused by a variety of reasons, depending on the severity of the discomfort. Pain syndrome reduces a person’s quality of life, restricts mobility, and makes it impossible to perform daily tasks.

There are many causes of back pain in the lumbar region. Some of them are quite serious and require immediate intervention of specialists.

Middle Shiatik

Lumbar sciatica is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, in which there is compression and inflammation of the spinal roots. This pathology is of secondary nature, as it develops against the background of degenerative processes of the musculoskeletal system.

Common symptoms in this case are:

• Pain syndrome, aggravated by sudden movements, weight lifting. The location of the pain depends on the degree of damage. The syndrome can affect the lumbar and gluteal regions, behind or in front of the thigh. If there is damage to the nerve endings that are below the first and second lumbar discs, then the patient has lumbago in the lumbar region and buttocks.
• Increased pain intensity when you cough, sneeze.
• Inability to stay in one position for a long time.
• Movement disorders: inability to tilt the luggage freely forward, backward or sideways, inability to bend the fingers of the lower extremities.

With lumbar spine radiculitis, the pain usually appears suddenly and stops spontaneously. Next time the pain becomes more acute, pronounced.

Osteoporosis

Spinal osteoporosis is a phenomenon in which the process of calcium leaching from the bones occurs and the activity of the cells responsible for bone growth is disrupted. Under such conditions, the bones are destroyed quickly and their density is constantly reduced. Osteoporosis is difficult to suspect in the early stages of development.

Most often, the patient feels a sharp pain in the lumbar spine at the time of strong tension - with a sharp twist of the body, falling, lifting weights.

In addition to severe back pain, osteoporosis has manifestations such as:

• chronic fatigue;
• bloating;
• impaired spinal movement.

In a compression fracture, provoked by osteoporosis of the lumbar spine, there is acute pain, which increases with touching the affected area, as well as muscle spasm.

Scoliosis

With lumbar spine scoliosis, its structures deviate to the right or left. These changes are reflected in the condition of the surrounding tissues: they are irritated, foci of inflammation appear in the musculo-ligamentous structures.

Scoliosis on the left is most often diagnosed. In people with the left hand, scoliosis develops on the right side.

In the initial stage, lumbar spine scoliosis may not appear in any way. Negative changes can only be detected by X-ray examination results.

The characteristic symptoms in this case, in addition to severe pain in the lower back, are:

• bend over;
• swelling in the lumbar region;
• chest pain;
• displacement of the pelvic girdle, due to which one lower limb becomes shorter compared to the other;
• blade divergence.

Characteristic features of pain in lumbar spine scoliosis: its appearance at the beginning of physical activity, decreased intensity of discomfort while walking. The pain is usually short-lived.

Injury

Lumbar contusions occur during falls, strokes. The lumbar region is more susceptible to trauma.

Contusions of the lumbar spine are closed tissue injuries and part of the spine, which does not cause anatomical abnormalities. Often this type of injury occurs in athletes as well as people working in the workplace.

When you get bruised, you notice the following additional symptoms:

• hematoma formation;
• skin rash;
• increased pain when pressing the injury site.

If the contusion is severe, the conduction of nerve impulses in certain areas of the lumbar spine may be disturbed, in some cases - a complete loss of sensation.

Lumbar injuries are more symptomatic and include the following:

• pain when probing the affected area;
• growing hematoma;
• pain when turning the body, inability to bend;
• swelling in the ankle area, which indicates poor circulation;
• paralysis and paresis of the lower limbs.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine is another possible cause of low back pain. In this case, the nodes located in this area are affected.

Rheumatoid arthritis pain occurs most often at night, usually near morning. In the initial stage, the syndrome can be suppressed with the help of special exercises, but at night the pain reappears.

Other symptoms: increase in local temperature over the affected area, accumulation of fluid in the cavities of the affected joint.

Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a pathological process in which the intervertebral discs lose their elasticity. As the disease progresses, cracks form in them, and hernias form.

In the initial stage of osteochondrosis, low back pain occurs rarely and does not change in intensity. In the future, they take on a pronounced chronic character. The patient feels stiffness in movement, constant fatigue. Difficulties arise in bending and lengthening the back.

Pain often radiates to the lower extremities. In parallel, there is a tingling sensation, numbness.

An increase in the intensity of unpleasant sensations occurs with increasing physical exertion, making sudden movements, lifting weights.

Malignant tumors

If the back hurts in the lumbar region, it may be associated with such a dangerous pathology as cancer. In this case, a malignant tumor does not necessarily affect the bone structures of the spine. In this case, the pancreas, which is located behind the stomach, can be affected, so the pain can be given to the lower back. Severe pain indicates advanced stages of cancer.

Also, pain in the lumbar region may be associated with the fact that tumors of other organs have metastasized to the area shown.

In women, back pain can be a sign of developing ovarian cancer. In men, sharp and prolonged spasms signal a prostate tumor.

Gynecological diseases

Women often worry about low back pain. A similar symptom can occur under the influence of pathologies such as:

• rupture of ovarian tissue;
• pathological processes of the uterus;
• ovarian cysts;
• cervical cancer;
• inflammatory processes of the fallopian tubes;
• benign formations in the inner wall of the uterus.

Low back pain often occurs in women who have had abortions. Unpleasant sensations are caused by mechanical damage to the uterine tissue and the prolonged process of wound tightening.

In women with gynecological diseases, lower back pain, traction, pain. In addition, there is a violation of the menstrual cycle, loss of strength, irritability, increase in body temperature. Often, pain syndrome is supplemented by secretions of consistency and different colors from the vagina.

Pain syndrome in this case is caused by hormonal imbalance and inflammatory processes that spread to the tissues of the lumbar region.

Kidney disease

Low back pain is a sure sign of kidney disease.

A similar symptom accompanies pathologies such as:

• urolithiasis;
• pyelonephritis;
• glomerulonephritis;
• nephroptosis (kidney prolapse).

In the presence of calculi in the urinary tract, the pain in the lumbar region is not very pronounced, has a dull character. With inflammatory processes involving the kidneys, the pain is painful and persistent. The place of its localization in this case is left and right of the spine.

Acute pain is an indicator of abdominal pain in the kidneys. The pain radiates to the area of ​​the hips, inner thigh, anterior abdominal wall.

Additional manifestations that may indicate kidney disease include:

• raises blood pressure;
• swelling of the arms, legs, face that appears after waking up and disappears during the day;
• change of urination: the process can be rapid and painful or, conversely, infrequent, until complete cessation;
• lethargy;
• increased sweating;
• impaired appetite.

Discomfort and pain in the lower back are often associated with the fact that the fetus presses on the kidneys in pregnant women. In this case, the pain syndrome is not associated with any pathology, it is a completely natural phenomenon.

Diseases of the genitourinary system in men

In the stronger sex, low back pain often occurs in diseases of the genitourinary system. Most often, the concern is caused by prostatitis - an inflammatory process of the prostate gland. With this disease, the process of urination and sexual function are disrupted. In addition to low back pain, there is traction pain in the lower abdomen.

Another male disease that contributes to the appearance of pain in the lumbar region is epididymitis, an inflammation of the epididymis.

Middle myositis

Lumbar myositis is an inflammatory process of muscle tissue, manifested in pain and weakness in muscles, sometimes in their atrophy. The disease can be caused by infectious processes, trauma, hypothermia, metabolic disorders in the body.

This pathology is characterized by:

• pain in the lower back that worsens with movement;
• feeling of dull muscle weakness;
• swelling, redness of the skin.

Bone tuberculosis

With spinal tuberculosis, the back often hurts. The nature of the pain syndrome in this case depends on how many vertebrae are involved in the pathological process, as well as the degree of deformation of the structures.

The main signs of spinal tuberculosis are:

• Severe pain in the lumbar region. This localization is associated with the fact that the lumbar region is the largest part of the spine, which receives the maximum loads.
• Increased night sweats.
• Increase in the size of the lymph nodes.
• Temperature rise within 37, 1-37, 3 degrees.
• Constant fatigue.

With the progression of spinal tuberculosis, there is an angular curvature of this structure, the development of abscesses in the area of ​​the lumbar and thoracic regions.

Kulmi

Decreased sexual function in women is often associated with low back pain. A similar phenomenon is accompanied by a decrease in ovarian activity, which is reflected in the level of the hormone estrogen. In its absence, bone tissue becomes more fragile and prone to damage.

Against the background of hormonal changes, the musculoskeletal system as a whole becomes vulnerable: the intervertebral cartilage and discs become weaker, muscles and ligaments lose elasticity. As a result, the lumbar region, which always experiences the greatest stress, is at particular risk.

In addition to pulling lower back pain, menopausal women suffer from headaches, excessive sweating, hot flashes.

Vascular pathology

Violation of blood circulation, provoked by pathological vascular processes, can also cause pain in the lumbar region. Thrombophlebitis, atherosclerosis, phlebothrombosis contribute to the onset of pain syndrome.

The occurrence of blood clots in the veins, inflammation of the walls of blood vessels, narrowing of the vascular lumen - all this impedes the full flow of blood and thus restricts the oxygen supply to the tissues and structures of the body, whichnegatively affects their condition.

Additional symptoms that accompany vascular disease are swelling of the veins, heaviness in the extremities, and bluish skin color.

Intestinal diseases

With intestinal diseases, the pain may radiate to the lower back. This is due to the fact that the intestinal tract occupies considerable space in the abdominal cavity. If any part of it undergoes pathological changes, then it grows, putting pressure on other organs. The back is also at risk.

Pain spreads to the lumbar area in ulcerative colitis, worsening of appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome.

In case of spread of pathological processes in the stomach, the pain is localized in the upper part of the lower back. They appear after eating, with the appearance of a feeling of hunger, in case of abuse of harmful products.

The following symptoms are observed in parallel:

• gazra;
• bowel disorders;
• abdominal pain.

Mbipesha

Overweight puts extra stress on the spine, especially the lumbar spine. Constant pressure creates a risk of developing pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, provokes damage to the intervertebral discs, curvature of the spine, the development of osteochondrosis.

In addition to the above pathological reasons, low back pain can occur due to prolonged driving time or a computer, excessive workload in the gym, hobby for summer cottage work and a sedentary lifestyle.

Which doctor should I go to?

The onset of low back pain is often caused by serious disorders in the body, so it is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner to diagnose the true cause and treat it.

it is also necessary to consult a specialist if the patient has pain in the lumbar region:

• is ​​regular;
• appears constantly after physical exertion;
• does not disappear when you lie down;
• is ​​associated with numbness of the limbs and increase in body temperature.

The main specialists you should contact if you have back pain in the lumbar region are:

• vertebrologist (treats osteochondrosis and other neurological diseases);
• neurologist;
• nephrologist (urologist): this specialist diagnoses and treats if low back pain is associated with pathological processes in the genitourinary system.

If necessary, other specialists are involved in the diagnosis and treatment process: an orthopedist, surgeon, gynecologist, oncologist and gastroenterologist.

Diagnosis

For low back pain, the following diagnostic measures are prescribed:

• general examination, identification of anamnesis;
• testing to determine the nerve endings contained;
• blood test to assess hemoglobin level;
• myelography;
• X-ray examination of the spine;
• MRI;
• CT;
• ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
• endoscopy of uterus, stomach, intestines;
• bone scintigraphy.

The listed activities allow you to compile a complete picture of the patient's condition, identify the disease that causes back pain and also determine an adequate course of treatment.

Approaches to treating low back pain

The main course of treatment for low back pain depends on what caused the symptom. Therapy aims to eliminate the existing disease.

General principles

Treatment is based on the following:

• use of drugs to suppress inflammatory processes;
• performing physiotherapy procedures aimed at accelerating the recovery of affected structures;
• physiotherapy exercises.

In the treatment process, the patient should avoid active sports activities, as well as any physical activity, in order not to worsen the course of the pathological process. During the rehabilitation period, the patient may be advised to practice yoga, swimming, and walking in the fresh air.

Therapy also includes dietary adjustments. The patient should refuse heavy food, all fatty and fried. It is important to give up bad habits - this will significantly speed up the healing process.

Medications

For pain in the lumbar region, medications are usually prescribed in the form of injections, which include vitamin B. The tasks of these drugs are:

• accelerate the repair of damaged nerve fibers;
• increase the functional activity of the central and peripheral nervous system;
• acceleration of metabolic processes.

For severe, severe back pain, powerful pain relievers are prescribed.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that control inflammation are also given by injection.

After a course of injections of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs of this group are prescribed in the form of tablets for oral administration.

For muscle spasm that provokes low back pain, medications such as muscle relaxants are prescribed.

Patients are also prescribed external medicine. They usually have a warming effect and help suppress pain. They are described only as part of a comprehensive treatment.

For pain in the lumbar region, special oils are recommended.

Healing gymnastics

A set of therapeutic exercises is prescribed only after the pain syndrome has subsided. During the period of deterioration, therapeutic exercises are contraindicated.

For lower back pain, the following exercises are recommended:

• Raises the pelvic region. You should lie on your back and bend your legs at right angles. The pelvis should be gently raised and returned to its original position. Repeat 10-15 times.
• Maintaining balance.The exercise is performed in the standing position. You should stay on your toes and try to keep balance in this position for about 10-15 seconds. Repeat 3-5 times.
• Raise your legs from a prone position.Lie on your back, alternately raise your lower limbs as high as possible. Perform 5-10 lifts for each leg.
• Movement in the buttocks.You have to sit on the floor, straighten your back. Using your pelvis and buttocks, move forward, then backward. You should walk this way about 2 m forward and the same amount back. The number of approaches is 2-3.

You should not do gymnastics in case of spinal cord injuries, tumors and hernias, as well as in the presence of diseases that occur in an acute form.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy procedures are performed provided that the back pain was not caused by an acute inflammatory process. Acute pain syndrome is alleviated first by conservative methods and only after physiotherapy is prescribed.

For lower back pain, the following procedures are prescribed:

• Magnetotherapy.This method improves blood circulation to the affected area.
• Electrophoresis.This method is necessary if you want to speed up the delivery of drugs to the lesion (analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors).
• Laser therapy.The technique allows you to normalize metabolism and improve blood circulation to the affected areas.

Nutrition

To strengthen bone elements, you should include cottage cheese, dairy and whole milk, fatty seafood, black bread in your diet.

If the patient is overweight, which creates an additional burden on the back, it is necessary to exclude flour, sweets and sugary fizzy drinks from the diet.

Folk remedies

Traditional methods of treatment should by no means become the mainstay of therapy for low back pain. They are used exclusively as an adjunct method and are used only with the approval of the attending physician.

For low back pain, you can use the following prescriptions of traditional medicine:

• Honey based ointment.To prepare a medicinal composition, you need to take 3 tablespoons of natural bee honey and melt it with a water bath. Invite the makeup. Add 2 tablespoons of pharmacy alcohol to honey, add 100 g of Vaseline and rub into the areas where the pain is localized. For greater effectiveness, you can apply a compress with this oil. In this case, it is not rubbed into the skin, but spread over it in a thin layer and placed on the film, and wrapped in a warm scarf on top. Leave the compress on for 3-4 hours, then wash the composition with warm water.
• Salt compress.It is necessary to dissolve table salt in hot water (proportions - 1: 10), stir. In the finished solution, moisten a gauze cloth folded in several layers, cover the bottom of the back with a compress, wrap it with a towel and warm with a scarf. Leave overnight, remove the rest of the compress in the morning.
• Garlic compress.You need to take 3 heads of garlic, peel, chop. Pour the resulting mass with warm water (2 cups), leave for 3 hours. In the infusion, moisten a cotton cloth and sprinkle with freshly squeezed lemon juice all over the surface. Apply cold compress. Leave for 20 minutes for a wet towel to reach body temperature. After that, repeat the procedure for applying the compress. This can be repeated until the patient feels relieved.

• Compress with a body.You need to mix bodyagi powder with olive oil in a ratio of 1: 30. Lubricate the bottom of the pain with the resulting composition, leaving the product on the skin for 40 minutes. After the expiration of the specified period, the product should be washed with warm water.
• Compress dried burdock leaves.You need to soak the raw material in boiling water, attach it to the back, wrap it in a warm scarf on top. Leave the compress on for at least an hour.
• Bathrooms with additives.Taking a bath can reduce the severity of the pain. As additives, 200 g of mustard powder, 600 ml of broth in mint leaves can act. Take a bath within 20 minutes. The water should be warm.

All of these treatments are intended to relieve back pain, ie they are symptomatic.

Treatment of a specific diagnosed disease should be performed according to a specific scheme.

Prevention

To reduce the risk of low back pain, you should:

• monitor your behavior;
• stand and walk with only one straight back;
• perform special exercises to strengthen the muscles of the spine and back;
• do not expose the spine to excessive loads, perform moderate exercises that use the back muscles;
• avoid hypothermia;
• as far as possible, engage in a sport that does not adversely affect the back: swimming, yoga, walking are especially beneficial;
• do not make sudden movements when lifting loads;
• sleeps on a mattress of medium firmness, best of all - orthopedic, the pillow should also be orthopedic and of medium size;
• keep track of weight, if necessary, follow a diet and engage in special exercises to fight excess pounds;
• take vitamin and mineral complexes, especially during periods of hormonal changes in the body.

Low back pain can be associated not only with diseases of the spine, but also with dysfunctions of internal organs. A specialist can determine the true cause of pain syndrome during diagnostic measures. Both the symptoms and the cause must be treated.