Unfortunately, there are no absolutely healthy people in the world. Each of us periodically worries about something in the state of our body. This is probably why we most often wish each other health, well-being, filled with good spirits.
Low back pain is one of the most common complaints. And, if in childhood it seemed to us that it has to do only with the elderly, then, after we have matured, came the realization of the wrong thought. We are not insured against back pain by age, social status or type of activity. And this is due, first of all, to the variety of causes of low back pain, as well as its various manifestations.
Diseases that cause back pain
Often, lower back pain is caused by a specific disease and is a consequence - a symptom, the nature of which makes it possible to make a targeted diagnosis, establish an accurate diagnosis and show the ways, methods, methods and, in general, disease treatment tactics.
Pain in the lumbar region is either primary or secondary.
Primary has a direct link to spinal diseases:
- osteochondrosis or degenerative disorders of the articular cartilage (one third of the total number of patient visits);
- "swelling" of the intervertebral disc outside the boundaries of the spine (extension), displacement of the disc nucleus, in which the fibrosus ring breaks (intervertebral hernia);
- displacement of one or more vertebrae: forward, backward;
- accelerate the aging and destruction of cartilage of intervertebral joints (spondyloarthritis);
- growth of bone tissue along the edges of the spine in the form of spines (spondylosis).
Secondary pain is provoked by diseases of other organs:
- vertebral fractures due to trauma or osteoporosis (increased bone fragility);
- the appearance of a tumor in one of the parts (lumen) of the spinal canal;
- muscle strain; Insufficient congenital width of the spinal canal;
- all types of spinal curvatures and their combination, including deformity leading to the appearance of a "lump" in the thoracic spine;
- different types of arthritis / joint diseases (psoriatic, rheumatic and others);
- vertebral tuberculosis and other inflammatory processes affecting the intervertebral discs;
- kidney stones / urinary tract, pyelonephritis (kidney damage);
- ovarian cysts, including cancers;
- back pain is also possible as a complication of pregnancy in women.
What can the character of low back pain indicate?
Of course, it is impossible to independently diagnose the degree, level, type of back pain. However, when the back hurts, some specific symptoms tell us about this or that disease.
Severe pain
When the pain in the lumbar spine is severe, it is very likely that the patient has osteochondrosis or lumbar sciatica. Moreover, in the first case, it manifests itself in the process of walking, when a person sits for a long time, lifts weights, and also when coughing or sneezing. In some cases, there may be complaints that the back hurts and this pain radiates to the legs.
If we are talking about radiculitis, the patient describes the pain as acute or dull, painful, often - it is one-sided and "responds" to the thighs, lower leg, buttocks. It can increase with walking, with a change in the position of the human body, with a cough.
What can acute low back pain indicate?
In cases where the pain is acute, you should talk about:
- muscle extension;
- long-term work in an uncomfortable position for luggage;
- back pain after sleep due to, again, an uncomfortable body position and staying in it for a considerable period of time;
- pain that arises in the process of lifting or holding weights, in case of sudden fall, shock or movement;
- hypothermia or prolonged exposure to a draft;
- also has the likelihood of lumbago (so-called lumbago), which suffers from patients involved in heavy physical work. In this case, the back pain may disappear for a few days, but it also happens to crawl and accompany a person for two or more weeks;
- dislocations of the intervertebral discs that occur in the lumbar region - often occur in connection with a fracture of the spine, with osteochondrosis, interaction with heavy objects (in particular, their lifting), in the process of performing heavy actionsphysical, or as a result of spinal surgery
The nature of pain pain: what is he talking about?
Pain pain (the patient may formulate its description as "lumbar pain", or "pulls the lower back") - very often appears in the inflammatory process of the lumbar muscles.
This disease occurs as a result of hypothermia, or sudden muscle tension / overload. In this case, the patient defines the pain as one that brings the fetus to the waist and is accompanied by sharp pain during movement.
Chronic, persistent lower back pain
If the lower back hurts and even the patient himself can describe it as chronic, then it is very likely that the diagnosis is:
- spondylosis deformans - an increase in the amount of bone tissue in the spine due to the appearance of spine-like growths along the edge of the vertebrae (manifested in severe back pain, especially in the lumbar region, whichmay combine numbness and / or weakness in the legs);
- spinal joint disease - most often has a chronic systemic character;
- diseases from an oncological number;
- metabolic disorder.
Pain without constant localization, moving
One of the most difficult cases of identifying the underlying disease is the occasional moving pain. At the same time, a person can be sure that his back hurts, even though the body actually "cheats" him, and the disease has penetrated other organs.
These pains are often caused by diseases of the pelvic organs. Inflammatory process in the kidneys, diseases of the pancreas, colon can contribute to the appearance of pain in the lumbar spine, and this can also occur due to painful changes in bone tissue and tumors of a different nature.
Sometimes the painful condition of the lower back is confused with the pain that occurs in the area of the shoulder blades. However, these are still different types of pain, and are mainly related to different diseases. So shoulder pain, for example, indicates a stomach ulcer, myocardial infarction, intercostal neuralgia, and even a person's psychological problems.
If you find it difficult to independently determine the area in which the pain occurs, and at the same time they are regular or acute, then you should immediately consult a doctor!
Injuries leading to low back pain
Surprisingly enough, but very often the cause of pain in the lumbar region is an injury received by a person - for example, with a bruising of the back muscles, or a sprain. A timely visit to a doctor is a guarantee of accurate diagnosis and treatment effectiveness.
In advanced cases, there is a high probability of a complication, not ruling out a serious curvature of the back.
Features of back pain in women
"What are the specific causes of low back pain in women? " - you ask. And we will answer that there are not so few of them. And men, in general, can thank the Creator for the fact that they simply cannot have these reasons.
Among the "provocateurs" of low back pain in women are:
- menstruation / periods;
- pregnancy; kulmi
- .
In each of these cases, the pain may be of a different nature. Depending on the immediate cause, the characteristics of the female body, the degree of stress in the lower back during pregnancy, the age of the woman, her employment, the type of professional activity - the pain manifests itself in different ways.
What about men?
In men, painful back syndrome, unfortunately, is quite common.
And there are plenty of reasons for not seeing the female ingredient:
- stretch (muscle, accompanied by sharp pain);
- a fracture of the spine (after a person fell on their feet, or when a man was hit in the lower back), very often men receive such injuries in car accidents;
- protrusion / swelling of the intervertebral disc or displacement of some intervertebral discs, when it begins to put pressure on the nerve roots, usually this pathology arises and is diagnosed through an excessive degree of physical activity;
- increase in genital cancer metastases in men, most often occurs after the age of 50; at the same time, the pain develops with a change in the degree of damage to the bone tissue, and is so strong that it can be stopped only by taking special narcotic, analgesic drugs;
- spondyloarthrosis (when a nerve root or several roots are damaged in the area of the intervertebral canal);
- in case the painful manifestations radiate, then they indicate the presence and development of prostate gland diseases, liver or kidney problems.
Risk factors: what can cause back pain?
Unfortunately, we can not insure ourselves against this or that disease. But in our power to study risk factors - the most common causes of disease, and to take measures to eliminate them (if possible) or at least partially neutralize their effect on the body.
The most common, pronounced risk factors for low back pain include:
- performing intensive training with great physical exertion (fitness), especially in her back and lumbar spine;
- sudden awkward movement;
- staying for a considerable period of time in the same position (for example, people whose activities are related to driving, computer work and even work in which a person is forced to stay for along time - consultants in stores, pharmacists) in pharmacies, in charge of machinery in factories, etc. );
- In the morning, you may also have pain in your lower back, which "speaks" that the mattress or pillow is not suitable for you, but they do not exclude the inflammatory process, which thus manifests itself symptomatically;
- work, which is based on great physical or psychological stress, stress can also manifest in low back pain;
- As mentioned earlier, pregnancy and childbirth also increase the likelihood of low back pain;
- Heavy weight and lower back pain are also closely related, as the force of pressure on a person's internal organs and back depends on the total body weight.
When do you need medical attention?
Just as we hate to get sick, we hate to go to the doctors for help. There are many ways to independently identify the causes of diseases and their treatment. Of course, there are reasons for this belief.
But in the case of back pain, you still want to differentiate yourself somewhat: here you can lie down, get medical treatment yourself, but here - without the help of a doctor, sometimes urgently! - just not enough.
We can say without a doubt that if the pain is once in nature, or the cause of the pain is one of the reasons for the female line, then, in principle, you can not panic, but wait, observe the body, t 'give him the opportunity to be on vacation, do not overload.
If the pain does not last and does not recur, then you have correctly identified the cause and can do it without medical intervention.
For low back pain:
- are repeated systematically;
- switch and restart;
- amplify;
- the pain lasts for more than three days;
- repeated in the morning;
- you are injured and you associate the appearance of lower back pain with it;
- feel pain in the lower back and leg (legs and lower legs) immediately;
- or - pain in the lower back is combined and together with the buttocks and legs (thighs, lower legs, feet) and even the numb hip area - this is a serious reason for an urgent visit todoctor!
In any of the above cases, you do not need to think, look for the causes of the pain yourself, wondering why your back hurts, but you should immediately contact a medical institution. Without medical help, the situation can worsen and treatment will take much more time and effort.
Remember that back pain, back pain is not a case of joking or hoping "randomly" (deformities or dislocations of the intervertebral discs, for example, have never been corrected on their own).
Failure to diagnose pain in a person in time, as well as proper treatment, can lead to serious, complicated illness, surgery and even to lower body paralysis and disability.