Lower back pain is very common. It happens to 90% of the population from time to time, and it is not always possible to identify the real causes. Lumbar pain occurs more often after intense physical activity and may indicate back problems or diseases of the internal organs. The diagnosis determines what treatment will be - conservative or surgical.
Causes and nature of pain
Lumbar pain can be acute, sudden, appear after physical exertion, and lead to a forced posture. Pain in the lower part of the spine is constant, aching or pulling, 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 forces you to take painkillers and lie in bed. Sometimes the pain spreads beyond the back, affecting the buttocks, thighs and even legs.
The pain goes away on its own, but in the worst case it worsens, causes discomfort and leads to limited movement. In order not to live with the pain, you need to find the reason why the lower back hurts. Most often, a preliminary diagnosis can be made based on the nature of the pain.
Shingles
Such low back pain is not limited to the lumbar region. They spread over the back, along the trunk, and may radiate to the lower abdomen, gluteal region, and legs.
The most common cause of lower back pain is osteochondrosis. It is a chronic disease of the spine that leads to pinching of nerve endings and pain. The symptoms are supplemented by sensory disorders, numbness, and disorders of internal organs.
The source of belt pain can be above the lumbar level and cannot be accompanied by diseases of the spinal column. 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 can be diseases of the internal organs, especially the heart, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. For example, pancreatitis, gallbladder inflammation, stomach or duodenal ulcer, pleurisy, pneumonia, heart attack.
The pain is caused by the irritation of the nerve fibers of the organs.
Pain in the coccyx below the lumbar level is a sign of diseases of the kidneys and genitals.
While walking
The lumbar region is represented by 5 vertebrae, intervertebral discs and ligaments. Many nerve endings that are affected during walking move away from it. With any lower back condition, the 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, then this is a sign of osteochondrosis or intervertebral disc herniation. In the latter case, terrible pain occurs in the lower back while walking. It subsides a little when the person is in a sitting position.
Lower back pain while walking can be caused by excessive physical activity the previous day. It appears only at the moment of movement and disappears at rest, there are no accompanying manifestations.
Acute pain
Acute back pain is also called lumbago or lumbago. It immobilizes you and forces you to assume a forced position. An attack of terrible lower back pain can last only a few minutes, and sometimes it can last for several days.
One of the common causes of back pain in the lumbar region is excessive physical activity that leads to sprains, strains or muscle spasms. This can happen due to sudden movement, heavy lifting, poor body rotation or uncomfortable posture. Myositis is caused by hypothermia or drafts.
If you sprain or strain while moving, your lower back hurts even more.
Severe low back pain can be caused by lumbosacral radiculitis or a herniated disc. In this case, standing up, bending down or walking hurts your back even more.
The cause of acute lumbar pain may be other diseases of the skeletal and muscular system:
- osteochondrosis;
- arthrosis of facet joints;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- osteoporosis;
- spondylosis;
- spondylolisthesis;
- spinal injuries;
- protrusion;
- infectious diseases of the spinal column (tuberculosis, epidural abscess, osteomyelitis);
- spinal canal stenosis;
- rachiocampsis;
- tumors;
- Bekhterev's disease.
The reason why the lower back and tailbone hurt can be diseases of the internal organs. Acute pain syndrome occurs in cases of 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 may increase in case of hypothermia, physical activity, injury or unsuccessful movement. A common accompanying symptom of regular lower back pain is stiffness in movement. It manifests itself especially after rest.
The cause of constant pain in the lumbar region is vascular pathologies that 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 ache
Pain in the lower back often indicates diseases of the internal organs. If your back hurts in your back, it can 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 appears against the background of a general deterioration of well-being.
If it hurts in the middle of the spine, it indicates pancreatitis or cholecystitis.
When you sit
If the lower back hurts while sitting, this indicates excessive physical activity or serious pathologies of the spine. In this case, the pain in the lower back is sharp or burning. On the contrary, a dull aching pain can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle.
The reason why the lower back hurts after sitting is pinching of the intervertebral discs.
If the cause is radiculitis, hernia, tumor, protrusion, then the lower back hurts even more when standing up.
Pain may occur in diseases of the pelvic organs and kidneys.
When you stand
If your lower back hurts a lot when you stand, it could be radiculitis. To reduce the pain, you need to change your position. The lumbar spine may ache in an upright position due to the hernia.
Which doctor treats back pain?
If you have back pain, you should see the following specialists for treatment:
- orthopedic doctor;
- neurologist;
- vertebrologist
An osteopath, reflexologist or chiropractor can take part in the therapy. Sometimes the help of a surgeon, gastroenterologist, gynecologist, urologist, nephrologist and oncologist is needed.
You must go to the hospital 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 a while.
Diagnostics
To understand why there may be pain in the lumbar region, the doctor performs a visual examination and listens to the patient's complaints. Based on what he sees and hears, he creates a clinical picture and can establish a diagnosis or prescribe further examination.
During the investigation, it is important to establish the cause-and-effect relationship.
The diagnosis of pain in the lumbar region may include the following examination methods:
- blood and urine tests;
- X-ray of the spine;
- CT or MRI;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
- Chest X-ray;
- EKG;
- fibrogastroduodenoscopy.
Treatment
If lower back pain occurs, the treatment depends directly on what caused it. Immediately after the onset of a painful attack, it is advisable to limit physical activity for 2-3 days, but bed rest is also not recommended. It is better to sleep in the fetal position with a pillow between your knees. Thus, the rear part is unburdened.
In case of severe pain, you can take painkillers. If pain occurs as a result of an injury, cold should be applied to the painful area.
In case of narrowing of the spinal canal, an injection blockade with steroid drugs and painkillers is used.
Do not forget that long-term use of painkillers is not possible. Pills only mask the problem and do not get rid of it.
Pain is most often treated with drugs (NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants, vitamin complexes), massage, manual therapy, exercise therapy (Bubnovsky complex) and physiotherapy procedures. Acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular for relieving muscle tension.
Most often, the pain will subside within 4-6 weeks.
If conservative therapy is ineffective (especially in the case of a hernia), surgical intervention is performed. During surgery, the hernia is removed. The patient immediately feels significant relief.
What can't you do?
You should not self-medicate for a long time or use painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs. If the pain does not subside within 3 days, you should consult a doctor.
You cannot do a series of exercises alone. In order to prevent aggravation of pain, the exercise program must be prescribed by a specialist. In case of exacerbation of diseases of the spinal column, massage and exercise are usually contraindicated until relief occurs.
In case of injury, you cannot adjust the vertebrae yourself 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 the rest regime;
- live an active lifestyle, walk at least 1 hour a day;
- for sedentary work, do it every 40-50 minutes. warm-up break;
- do exercises every day, it is useful to hang on the horizontal bar;
- do not overcool;
- Healthy food;
- take vitamin complexes containing calcium.
To prevent lower back pain, do not overload your back. We must not forget that the functioning of the internal organs depends on the health of the spine.
If your back hurts, don't hesitate, you need to see a doctor. They will determine the real cause and help to avoid serious health problems.