Lower back pain is very common. It occurs from time to time in 90% of the population and it is not always possible to determine the true causes. More often, lumbar pain occurs after intense physical activity and may indicate back problems or diseases of internal organs. The diagnosis determines which treatment will be conservative or surgical.
Causes and nature of pain
Pain in the lower back can be acute, sudden, occur after physical exertion and lead to a forced position of the body. 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 daily 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 may go away on its own, but in the worst case it worsens, causes discomfort and leads to limited mobility. In order not to live with pain, you need to find out the reason why your lower back hurts. Most often, a preliminary diagnosis can be made based on the nature of the pain.
Shingles
Such lower back pain is not limited to the lumbar region. They spread over the back, along the trunk and can radiate to the lower abdomen, gluteal region and legs.
The most common cause of lumbar pain in the lower back is osteochondrosis. This is a chronic disease of the spine that leads to pinching of nerve endings and pain. Symptoms are complemented by sensory disorders, numbness and disorders of internal organs.
The source of pain in the belt can be located above the lumbar level and is not related to 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 pain in the lower back can be diseases of internal organs, especially the heart, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. For example, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, stomach or duodenal ulcer, pleurisy, pneumonia, heart attack.
Pain is caused by irritation of the nerve fibers of the organ.
Pain below the lumbar level in the coccygeal region is a sign of diseases of the kidneys and reproductive organs.
When walking
The lumbar region is represented by 5 vertebrae, intervertebral discs and ligaments. Many nerve endings that are affected during walking depart from it. With any lower back disease, the nerves can be 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 it is a sign of osteochondrosis or herniated intervertebral discs. 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.
The cause of pain in the lower back when walking can be 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 pain in the lower back is also called lumbago or lumbago. It immobilizes and forces you into a forced position. An attack of terrible pain in the lower back can last only a few minutes, and sometimes several days.
One of the common causes of back pain in the lumbar region is excessive physical activity that leads to muscle sprains, strains or spasms. This can happen due to sudden movement, heavy lifting, poor body rotation or awkward posture. Muscle inflammation is caused by hypothermia or staying in a draft.
If they are sprained or strained while moving, the lower back hurts even more.
The cause of severe pain in the lower back can be lumbosacral radiculitis or disc herniation. In this case, when you stand up, bend down or walk, your lower back hurts even more.
The cause of acute lumbar pain can be other diseases of the musculoskeletal 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;
- Bekhter's disease.
The reason why the lower back and tailbone hurt can be diseases of internal organs. Acute pain syndrome occurs in 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 painful in nature. The intensity of pain can increase with hypothermia, physical activity, injury or unsuccessful movements. A common accompanying symptom of regular lower back pain is stiffness of movement. It is especially manifested after rest.
The cause of constant pain in the lumbar region is vascular pathologies, which lead to poor circulation. For example, vascular atherosclerosis, phlebothrombosis, thrombophlebitis.
The lower back can also hurt due to inflammatory and degenerative processes of the musculoskeletal system.
It's a dull ache
Pain in the lower back often indicates diseases of internal organs. If your back hurts, 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 pain in the lower back occurs against the background of a general deterioration of well-being.
If the spine hurts in the middle, then it indicates pancreatitis or cholecystitis.
When you are sitting
If the lower back hurts while sitting, it indicates excessive physical activity or serious pathologies of the spine. In this case, the pain in the lower back is sharp or burning. An aching dull ache, on the contrary, can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle.
The reason why the lower back hurts after sitting is the pinched intervertebral discs.
If the cause is radiculitis, hernia, tumor, protrusion, then when standing up, the lower back hurts even more.
Pain can 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 sciatica. To reduce the pain, you should change your position. The lumbar spine may hurt in an upright position due to a hernia.
Which doctor treats lower back pain?
If you have lower back pain, see the following treatment specialists:
- orthopedist;
- neurologist;
- vertebrologist
An osteopath, reflexologist or chiropractor can participate in the therapy. Sometimes the help of surgeons, gastroenterologists, gynecologists, urologists, nephrologists and oncologists is needed.
Going to the hospital should be mandatory in the following cases:
- pain caused by an injury;
- pain extends beyond the back, accompanied by other symptoms (stiffness, 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 conducts a visual examination and listens to the patient's complaints. Based on what he saw and heard, he compiles a clinical picture and can make a diagnosis or prescribe an additional examination.
During the examination, it is important to determine the cause-and-effect relationship.
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 abdominal organs;
- chest x-ray;
- EKG;
- fibrogastroduodenoscopy.
Treatment
If lower back pain occurs, the treatment directly depends on what caused it. Immediately after the onset of a painful attack, it is worth limiting 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 the knees. In this way, the back is relieved.
In case of severe pain, you can take a pain reliever. If the pain occurs as a result of an injury, it is necessary to apply cold to the painful area.
For stenosis of the spinal canal, injection blockade with steroid drugs and analgesics is used.
Remember that long-term use of painkillers is not an option. Pills only mask the problem, they don't solve it.
Pain is most often treated with drugs (NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants, vitamin complexes), massage, manual therapy, exercise therapy (Bubnovsky complex) and physiotherapeutic procedures. Acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular for relieving muscle tension.
Most often, the pain can be relieved within 4-6 weeks.
If conservative therapy is ineffective (mainly in the case of a hernia), surgical intervention is performed. During the operation, the hernia is removed. The patient immediately feels significant relief.
What can't you do?
You should not self-medicate or use painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs for a long time. If the pain does not subside within 3 days, you should see a doctor.
You cannot perform a set of exercises on your own. In order to prevent pain from worsening, a training program should be prescribed by a specialist. In case of exacerbation of spinal disease, massage and physical exercises are generally 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;
- adhere to the rest regime;
- lead 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, hanging on a horizontal bar is useful;
- do not catch a cold;
- Healthy food;
- take vitamin complexes that contain calcium.
In order to prevent lower back pain, you should 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 seek the help of a doctor. They will determine the real cause and help avoid serious health problems.