Low back pain of an episodic or permanent nature often indicates that an inflammatory or degenerative-dystrophic disease is gradually developing in the body. Early diagnosis of this disease can increase the chance of complete recovery. Pain in the lumbosacral region of the spine may indicate osteochondrosis, hernias, bumps, infections, or problems with internal organs.
Why does my lower back hurt?
If a person complains of painful manifestations in the lumbar spine, the doctor initially expresses suspicion regarding the patient's problems with the musculoskeletal system. And only after such diseases are ruled out, a thorough examination is carried out to assess the condition of the internal organs.
This is because there is general innervation of the lumbar vertebrae and intervertebral discs with nerve tissue logs. For this reason, the appearance of pain, for example, in the digestive organs, can be given only in the lumbar region. Let’s take a closer look at some of the causes of lower back pain.
Excessive loads
It is a relatively natural source of back pain. With heavy physical work or active sports training, muscle tissue is exposed to excessive stress. It accumulates lactic acid which irritates skeletal muscle tissues. As a result, in addition to pain, the person notices the appearance of a strong enough tingling. Any discomfort disappears after a short break as lactic acid is excreted from the muscles.
In case of lower back pain each time during exercise, if their intensity remains unchanged for several hours, you should consult a doctor. Excessive training, lifting heavy objects often provoke the appearance of microtrauma in the discs and vertebrae, the formation of diseases of degenerative-dystrophic nature.
Osteochondrosis and intervertebral hernia
Lumbar osteochondrosis in stages I, II and III is the main cause of back pain. In the early phase, the patient is worried about minor discomfort, which indicates a slight destruction of the intervertebral discs.
In the case when the patient turned to a neurologist for help during that period, it is possible to completely cure the disease, as well as to partially restore the destroyed tissues. Sharp, severe pains that increase when the torso is bent or twisted indicate severe damage to the structure of the spine.
Against the background of II or III radiological stage of osteochondrosis, the formation of hernias or protrusions is often observed. Due to that, penetrating pains appear, and it is also possible to develop serious complications - radicular syndrome, discogenic myelopathy.
Gynecological diseases
Discomfort in the lumbar spine often plagues women who have been diagnosed with adnexitis, an inflammation that simultaneously affects the ovaries and fallopian tubes (uterine appendages). In addition to the pain syndrome, patients report the appearance of discharge from the genitals, the appearance of problems with conception and irregularities in the menstrual cycle.
Similar symptoms are observed in inflammation of the uterine appendages, the formation of cysts in the ovaries and the formation of polyps in the uterus.
Kidney disease
Because the kidneys are located next to the lumbar region, when their functionality is reduced, a person may feel pain in the lower back. The fact that these paired organs are in the form of beans indicates a violation of the function of urine, the appearance of purulent or bloody impurities in the urine and a worsening of well-being in general.
Lumbar spine pain is often a concern in the presence of such diseases: cystitis (including hemorrhagic), glomerunonephritis, pyelonephritis, acute and chronic renal failure.
Carrying a baby
This is one of the natural factors that leads to unpleasant manifestations in the lumbar spine. When a woman gives birth to a future baby, the uterus and fetus enlarge, causing the nerve receptors located below to be disrupted.
During the last trimester, the future mother's body begins to produce a special hormone - relaxin. This leads to the relaxation of the ligaments, the tendons, in order to facilitate the passage of the fetus through the birth canal. As a result, the intensity of the pain can increase dramatically.
Endometriosis
This is a common gynecological disease, against the background of which the inner tissue of the uterus grows beyond its limits. Endometrioid tissue has an increased sensitivity to hormones that the body synthesizes, so endometriosis manifests as monthly bleeding. Due to that, inflammation develops, one of the signs of which is a painful syndrome that radiates to the lumbosacral region of the spine.
Menstruation
Painful manifestations of a withdrawn nature of moderate severity appear in half of women before menstruation or during bleeding. This pain is completely natural and disappears immediately after the end of menstruation. Discomfort can also be felt in the lower back.
The pathological etiology of lower back pain during menstruation is indicated by the presence of dyspeptic disorders, diarrhea or constipation, frequent headaches and dizziness. In a similar situation, a woman may be diagnosed with algomenorrhea or menstrual dysfunction.
Breast sizes
The spinal column in women with large breasts is heavily loaded. If the mammary glands are not properly distributed, the risk of degenerative-destructive processes increases. Women with large breasts often stoop, which contributes to the worsening of the spine.
Uncomfortable shoes
Painful sensations in the lumbar spine that occur at the end of the working day are a common condition of women who walk in tight shoes with high heels. This leads to a violation of blood vessels, disruption of blood circulation in the lower extremities and pelvic organs. As a result, the nutrition of the intervertebral discs in the lumbar region deteriorates, causing them to be destroyed. The situation is getting worse due to the increased stress on the spine.
Menopause
During the menopause in the female body there is a decrease in the production of estrogen involved in the regulation of the recovery process in the musculoskeletal system. The bone structure loses the ability to completely assimilate the trace elements needed for its regeneration. It becomes brittle, which can lead to frequent fractures. Painful manifestations in the lumbar spine during menopause may indicate bone resorption, the formation of osteoporosis.
Overweight
Being overweight is one of the causes of lumbosacral osteochondrosis. Being overweight increases the load on the intervertebral discs, which leads to an increased risk of microtrauma with further destruction of the spinal tissues.
Being overweight usually does not eat well. His diet is rich in high-calorie foods, and fresh vegetables and fruits that contain essential trace elements and vitamins are not consumed in sufficient quantities. With increased loads combined with a lack of beneficial substances, there is a tendency to create osteochondrosis of the lumbar region.
Oncology
Changes in the genetic structure of cells lead to a violation of the regulation of their growth and reproduction. As a result, there is pathological tissue proliferation, the formation of tumors of benign or malignant nature.
Pain in the lumbar spine can be manifested on the background of tumor damage to sensitive nerve receptors, spine, soft tissue and vascular system. The neoplasm absorbs calcium in large quantities, which is why a deficiency of this substance develops in the bone tissue, leading to thinning of the bones.
Hypothermia
Skeletal muscles in the lumbosacral area are often inflamed due to the effects of low temperatures. This becomes the cause of myositis - a disease that manifests as a local pain syndrome in damaged muscles. Its intensity increases significantly during movement and palpation. In the background of the inflammatory process, there is an increase in muscle tone, which makes the lower back less mobile.
Different pains
The initial diagnosis can be made on the basis of a detailed description of disturbing symptoms. In each disease, the pain is manifested by different severity, frequency and condition that precedes the onset.
Strong pain
This pain syndrome is typical of stage II and III lumbar osteochondrosis. At this stage, there was significant destruction of the intervertebral discs and their amortization characteristics were lost. They are not able to soften the load during movement, which makes the spinal structure unstable.
This leads to soft tissue compression. Severe pain begins to bother even in an immobile state, growing on the background of bandages, loud laughter, coughing and sneezing. In addition, there is a feeling of "shivering" and muscle weakness.
Sharp pain
The reason for the appearance of the acute pain syndrome is the compression of the receptors in the spinal canal by osteophytes or discs. This is typical for lumbago attack, which is often manifested in rheumatic diseases, lumbosacral osteochondrosis, radiculopathy.
Painful feelings are so pronounced, penetrating, burning that the patient cannot move. Often a person cannot straighten their back for fear that pain will occur.
It's a dull pain
Pain in the lumbar spine dull, aching and pressing is characterized by diseases of internal systems, including genitourinary and reproductive organs. Such discomfort may indicate the development of osteochondrosis, spondyloarthritis, spondyloarthritis.
The pain is not localized, but can radiate to the hips, buttocks, and ankles. Painful pain is often evidence of a destructive process in the spine or inflammation in the internal system.
Chronic pain
Pain of a constant nature in the lower part of the back indicates the transformation of the disease into a chronic one. It is sharp, strong during relapses, radiating to nearby parts of the body. During the period of remission there is a slight discomfort during hypothermia, physical exertion, exacerbation of other diseases, acute respiratory viral infections.
The pain syndrome increases in the background of bending, turning the torso, walking on the steps and long walks.
Diagnostic measures
The disease is diagnosed on the basis of the patient's complaints, his visual examination, anamnestic data, the results of instrumental and laboratory diagnostics. The most informative in identifying problems with the musculoskeletal system is an X-ray examination. In the resulting image you can see altered vertebrae, formed osteophytes (bone formations).
If the doctor suspects the development of a hernia, bumps, diseases of the internal systems, ultrasound, MRI and CT are prescribed. Thanks to these diagnostic methods it is possible to detect where the disease is localized, to assess the degree of progression of inflammation.
A clinical study of blood and urine is mandatory. If systemic disease (gout, rheumatoid arthritis) is suspected, a biochemical, serological study is performed.
Which doctor to go to
Often, back pain occurs after an injury - subluxation of the spine, severe bruising, spinal canal lesions. In such a situation you will need the help of a traumatologist.
You can also visit a therapist. Such a doctor can diagnose diseases of the spine, internal systems. After reviewing the diagnostic results, they will determine what close consultation with a specialist (rheumatologist, neuropathologist or orthopedist) is needed to prescribe further treatment.
First aid
If there is severe acute pain, the victim should be placed on a hard surface in a position where the discomfort becomes less pronounced. You can lie on your knees slightly bent and put a rolled-up blanket under them. To quickly relieve the pain, you can take any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
Therapeutic actions
Analgesics can help you get rid of back pain. Their effect will not last long if you do not treat the underlying disease properly. Some pathologies of internal systems are well treated, including oncology. But complete restoration of destroyed intervertebral discs and deformed vertebrae on the background of osteochondrosis is impossible. The goal of therapy is to achieve stable remission, during which pain in the lumbar spine does not bother.
Drug therapy
First of all, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the form of tablets or capsules are prescribed for back pain.
In the case of oncological diseases, they resort to narcotic analgesics. If pain occurs due to skeletal muscle spasms, muscle relaxants are indicated.
In the treatment of diseases of the internal systems, analgesics are also prescribed.
Treatment with ointments and gels
Ointments and gels are used to relieve mild to moderate discomfort in the lumbar region. Drugs for external use are also included in therapeutic regimens to reduce the dose of injections and tablets, to reduce the pharmacological load on the body.
In case of back pain, the use of external means from the following groups can be prescribed:
- NSAIDs - have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and decongestant effects.
- Warming gels and ointments - have analgesic, local irritant and disruptive effects.
- Chondroprotectors in the background of osteochondrosis - have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, stimulate disc recovery.
Injections
By choosing painkillers, the doctor is based on the type of disease, its course, the severity of the pain syndrome. To eliminate acute pain, they often resort to the help of drug blockades with the use of glucocorticosteroids and anesthetics. The use of hormonal agents is quite harmful to the body, so such procedures can be performed no more than 1 time in 1-3 months.
To eliminate severe pain, NSAIDs are prescribed in the form of injections into the muscle.
Physiotherapy
If the disease has already been diagnosed or to prevent its development, experts advise patients to perform therapeutic gymnastic exercises daily. This will help:
- improve blood circulation in the lumbar region;
- strengthen the muscular framework of the back;
- reduce the intensity of pain.
The gymnastic complex is developed by the doctor based on the type of disease, the present complications and the physical condition of the patient.
Massage treatment
To improve the supply of tissues with blood and nutrients, normalize the tone of skeletal and smooth muscles, strengthen muscles, massage is recommended:
- classic;
- point;
- segmental;
- canned.
Massage is prescribed both for therapeutic purposes and to prevent the development of worsening in the chronic course of pathology.
Heat and cold treatment
The effect on the lumbar spine with heat helps to relieve pain, but only after stopping the acute inflammatory process. For these purposes, a heating pad, heating ointment or gel, bath is suitable.
Under the influence of cryotherapy (cold treatment), adaptation systems are activated. At the heart of this physiotherapy procedure, the body’s response is not hypothermia of the outer layers of the skin.
Preventive actions
It is possible to prevent the appearance of pain in the lumbar spine by excluding factors that can cause problems. It is necessary to stop walking in shoes with high heels, in order to reduce the consumption of very high-calorie food. Regular sports, swimming and yoga are good prophylaxis.