Many people on the planet have experienced lower back pain at least once.According to statistics, only 10% of the population does not know what pain in the lower back is.In recent years, lumbago in the lumbar region began to appear in patients at an early age, not only after intense physical activity, but also in various diseases.
Species
Isolated cases of lower back pain are usually not a cause for concern.Frequent hypothermia, hard work and heavy lifting can cause destructive changes in the spine.The appearance of pain is a sign of the development of a pathological process that must be treated in order to maintain full motor ability.
Discovering the nature and intensity will help you understand why unpleasant sensations appear.Accurate determination of pathology will help in prescribing effective treatment to eliminate pain.
Depending on the duration of action, lower back pain can be:
- acute - occurs suddenly, is accompanied by high intensity, the duration of symptoms does not exceed thirty days and is often painful;
- chronic - the patient worries for more than six months, the pain is constant, not severe, signals old processes in the body;
- periodic - appears in the acute phase, disappears completely with the arrival of the remission period;
- Constant pain accompanies many conditions that require urgent treatment, which can be pathologies of the spine, nervous system, vascular damage, oncological tumors.
A person can feel pain in one point or in the whole back.Based on localization, there is a difference between local pain, which does not exceed the borders of the lesion, or generalized pain that covers the entire lower back.
Sometimes the pain spreads to the lower extremity, causing a forced position when moving.This symptom occurs with serious disorders in the spine.The reflected nature of pain occurs in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or gynecological problems.
Reasons
Non-pathological etiology may include severe lower back pain after prolonged physical activity.Accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles produces a painful effect that disappears on its own after a few days.
Main reasons:
- Dystrophic changes in the cartilage tissue of the lumbosacral vertebrae (osteochondrosis) are complicated by the proliferation of bone tissue and the loss of elasticity of the flattened cartilage.Pain in the lower back worsens when the intervertebral disc is deformed, the complication of which is an intervertebral hernia.This condition causes increased pain that spreads to the hip and is sometimes reflected in the ankle area.
- Traumatic injuries due to impact or fall.
- Shortening of one limb is observed in coxarthrosis of the second and third degree, after injury or surgery, individual characteristics at birth and high degree scoliosis.
- Hypothermia leads to myositis.Inflammatory phenomena in muscle fibers cause widespread, constant pain.
- Radiculitis is a neurological pathology based on inflammation of the roots of one of the spinal nerves.A sudden sharp pain pierces the patient, forcing him to bend over.
- Scoliotic curvature of the spine.
- Thrombophlebitis is damage to the wall of blood vessels with the formation of a blood clot;in this pathology, the effect of pain is also observed in the lower extremity.
- Advanced forms of atherosclerosis with circulatory disorders.
- Inflammatory diseases of the kidneys.
- Gynecological pathologies, pain arises in the lower abdomen and spreads to the lower back.
- Hormonal disorders in the body in women during menopause.
- Inflammation of the prostate in men.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Infectious diseases: tuberculosis, brucellosis and some others.
- Pancreatitis and cholecystitis cause pain in the lower back.
- Malignant neoplasms in the lumbosacral region or abdominal cavity.
Diagnostic measures
Understanding why your lower back hurts is important for lasting pain relief.The diagnosis should be made by an experienced doctor.During the examination, anamnesis is collected, complaints are heard and the patient's inheritance is clarified.
Visualization and palpation are carried out to identify deformed areas on the spine and to localize the most painful place in the lower back.
To confirm the assumption, the following procedures are carried out:
- laboratory analyzes of blood and urine to determine possible inflammation in the body;
- biochemical blood test for indicators of a possible rheumatological factor;
- X-ray examination of the spine will determine the presence of a hernia or protrusion;
- ultrasound examination of blood vessels and pelvic organs;
- computed tomography of the spinal column;
- If necessary, an examination with an infectious disease specialist, rheumatologist, phtisiatrist or gynecologist is scheduled.
Treatment
Taking painkillers will have a short-term effect, after which the lower back pain will return.Treatment measures should consist of a set of primary and auxiliary treatment procedures.
A sudden attack requires emergency care.Actions to help alleviate the condition:
- take painkillers;
- tightly wrap the lumbar part to create compression in the painful area;
- contact a medical specialist for qualified help.
At the moment of acute pain, if there is no accurate diagnosis, it is forbidden to try to warm the pain in the lower back so that the inflammation does not increase.It is not recommended to conduct a session of therapeutic massage and manual therapy during an exacerbation.
Medicines
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will relieve pain in the lower back and eliminate inflammation by regulating body temperature.Only a doctor can prescribe medication.Uncontrolled use of non-hormonal painkillers leads to irritation of the gastric mucosa.Taking a drug that inhibits the secretion of gastric acid half an hour before the NSAID will prevent the pathological condition.
- Glucocorticosteroids are prescribed for severe inflammatory reactions.
- Diuretics will relieve swelling by removing excess fluid, which will reduce pain.
- Muscle relaxants will relieve spasms and relax skeletal muscles.
- Chondroprotectors to prevent destruction in the spine.
- Antibiotics for inflammation of internal organs.This pharmacological group disrupts the balance of intestinal microflora.Probiotics will help prevent dysbiosis.
- To strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
Local treatment
Medications intended for local treatment will help relieve pain.Ointments and creams for external use may contain active ingredients: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers, viper, cobra, viper, scorpion venom.
Patches with medicinal base are suitable for use during the day.The pepper patch is applied directly to the lower back and within a few hours a uniform therapeutic effect occurs on the painful area.
Kinesio tape is a type of pain relief.Taping gives an immediate effect;if done correctly, it can stay on the skin for up to 5 days, providing lasting pain relief.
Orthopedic products include wearing a rigid lumbosacral corset.The bandage is designed for static loads, provides support to the lumbar area and relieves pain due to compression.For radiculitis, heating corsets with dog, camel or llama hair are prescribed.
Physiotherapy
Phonophoresis with lidocaine enables rapid relief of symptoms by rapid penetration of strong anesthetic into deep subcutaneous layers.The safe method does not have a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract, which is an additional advantage.
Massage is effective during the pain-free period.After the course, blood circulation improves, the muscular system is toned, and mobility in the lumbar region improves.
Acupuncture allows the application of acupuncture to certain points for the purpose of treatment and prevention.Kuznets' applicator is perfect for home use.Plastic needles increase blood flow and trigger natural pain relief processes.
Magnetic therapy is used to treat many diseases, including osteochondrosis, vascular pathologies and gynecological diseases.Impulse current penetrates 7 cm under the skin, reaching the damaged areas.The therapeutic effect is cumulative, it is achieved by the end of the first course and is maintained until the next session.
Prevention
To keep your lower back healthy, you will have to follow the well-known rules:
- lead an active lifestyle;
- avoid heavy loads during professional activities, during sports training and weight lifting;
- wear a lumbosacral corset for dynamic loads when the spine is tense;
- wear orthotics to ensure shock absorption while walking;
- eat right and monitor your weight so that excess weight does not contribute to the development of additional diseases;
- Seek advice from a medical professional if suspicious symptoms occur.