Lower back pain is one of the most common health problems.The causes of pain vary: from simple overexertion after uncomfortable body postures to serious diseases of the human body.
Type of pain sensation
The lower back is the lower part of the back, starting from the ribs and ending at the tailbone.Lower back pain can manifest itself in different ways: it can be severe or constant, painful or burning, and can be concentrated in one place or spread throughout the back.
Depending on the duration, low back pain is divided into:
- Periodic, associated with physical activity, overexertion, physical characteristics, or medical illness;
- Permanent or chronic, caused by irreversible pathology of diseases of the musculoskeletal system or vascular diseases of the legs.
The latter type is usually accompanied by inflammatory or degenerative processes in bone or cartilage tissue, which cannot be completely cured but can only be reduced or stopped for a short period of time.
Why does discomfort occur?
Low back pain is the result of people walking upright, in which a large load falls on the lumbar spine.The foundation of the spine is made up of bone tissue, surrounded by nerve roots that send pain signals.
If a person sits in one position for a long time, he will suffer from "low back pain" when he stands up, making it impossible for him to stand upright.It can be caused by compression of nerve endings near the spine, swelling of muscles, discs, or ligaments.
Diagnosing the problem requires an external examination and other tests of the spine by a doctor:
- X-ray examination;
- Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
main reason
Low back pain is divided into two categories based on its origin:
- Primary, caused by spinal regional lesions, functional changes in muscles, joints, discs, ligaments and tendons;
- Secondly, it is associated with spinal injuries and various infections and diseases of the internal organs located in the pelvic area.
The most common causes of lower back pain include the following conditions:
- Low back pain.It presents with sudden onset of acute pain in the lower back due to vertebral lesions.
- Osteochondrosis.Includes many diseases of an inflammatory or dystrophic nature, characterized by impaired elasticity and strength of the intervertebral discs, loosening of the bone and cartilage tissue surfaces, and nerve damage.Disc herniation refers to one of the stages of osteochondrosis in which a protrusion of cartilage occurs.
- Sciatica.Occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed or compressed; pain starts in the lower back and radiates to the back of one leg.
- Lumbar radiculitis.It can occur when bending, sneezing, or laughing, and is caused by inflammation of nerve endings and can lead to impaired sensitivity and loss of movement.
- Scoliosis is the curvature of the spine to one side, which is characterized by asymmetrical shoulder height, poor posture, and a hunchback.The cause of the disease is a decrease in the muscular and skeletal function of the bones.
- Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic disease that causes loss of joint mobility due to the growth of connective tissue in the lower back and elsewhere.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the joints, including the hip.
People who spend long periods of time in uncomfortable body positions (sitting in front of a computer or hunched over a garden bed), which can lead to muscle tension and muscle spasms, are prone to spinal disorders.
Internal organ diseases can also cause low back pain:
- The most common pain occurs in the kidneys (pyelonephritis, renal failure, stones, colic);
- Digestive and gastrointestinal diseases (cholecystitis, pancreatitis, appendicitis, postoperative adhesions) - usually manifested by persistent pain in the waist;
- If the lungs are affected (pneumonia), you may feel pain in your lower back, especially when you cough;
- bone tuberculosis and other infections;
- A growing benign or malignant tumor that follows the direction of nerve fibers in the back.
among men
Men may experience periodic lower back pain when engaging in strenuous physical activity, working in the cold or in strong winds.
In addition, pain is characteristic of some male disorders:
- With prostatitis, they occasionally appear and radiate to the back, accompanied by general weakness and fever;
- Epididymitis (inflammatory process in the epididymis) is localized in the groin and returns to the lower back.
among women
Lower back pain in women may occur against the background of gynecological diseases or in conjunction with certain physiological processes of the body:
- Inflammation of the appendages (adnexitis), starting in the lower abdomen and radiating to the back;
- During pregnancy, under the pressure of fetal growth (starting from the 5th month of pregnancy), pain will occur in the waist and radiate to the spine. If there is a risk of miscarriage, it will manifest in the form of uterine contractions;
- During menopause, the location of the pain changes, moving from the head to the chest or lower back; they are caused by fluctuations in estrogen levels in the blood and poor circulation to the pelvic organs.
Women may experience back pain and increased suspicion.Those related to nervous stress receive psychotropic treatment.
Ways to relieve pain
For low back pain, after determining the cause and diagnosing the underlying disease, a neurologist will prescribe painkillers in the form of ointments, tablets, or injections.Their use allows patients to feel better, thereby relieving negative emotions and leading a normal life.
Main categories of painkillers:
- analgesics;
- Anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs in tablet form;
- steroid hormone drugs;
- Injections to relieve spasms and inflammation;
- Muscle relaxants that help reduce skeletal muscle tone;
- Chondroprotectants are used to treat spinal hernias;
- ointments, gels, and suppositories;
- Medicinal patches and stickers.
Medications not only help relieve pain but also normalize blood circulation and restore nerve tissue.
All drugs have side effects and contraindications and should be used only after consulting a doctor.
In particularly severe cases, narcotic drugs are used to reduce pain by acting on the nervous system.However, they can be addictive if taken long-term.
treat
Once the cause of low back pain is determined, comprehensive treatment can be directed toward the underlying condition.
Alternative methods may be used with the approval of the attending physician:
- Therapeutic massage sessions;
- Manual therapy should be performed exclusively by highly qualified experts to avoid complications;
- Acupuncture (helps relieve muscle tension and pain);
- Physical therapy and yoga.
In order to get rid of low back pain, folk remedies are also used:
- Tea made from birch leaves and bilberries.Stir the dry mixture with boiling water and drink in small amounts throughout the day.
- An ointment made from butter with the addition of chopped garlic cloves and ginger root.It should be applied to the painful area.
prevention
To avoid unpleasant lower back pain, you should observe basic preventive rules:
- Sleep on a semi-hard mattress and adopt the correct physiological position;
- Don't stand up suddenly when you've been sitting in one position for a long time; you need to rest, warm up, or exercise;
- Avoid sudden movements and bending;
- Perform a special set of gymnastic exercises every day to train various parts of the spine (only with your doctor's permission).