The back is a complex structure based on the spine. The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae, starting with the 20th from the top. They are the largest among the rest of the vertebrae and downward, from the first to the fifth lumbar vertebra, gradually increase in size, since this area has the greatest load. The back in the region of these vertebrae is called the lower back.
Changes in this part of the back lead to pain, and it is worth treating such problems carefully. Pain can be caused by both congenital anomalies and acquired diseases. These can be the consequences of injuries during intense physical exertion, infections, tumors, hernias, etc.
Causes of back pain
In most cases, low back pain is caused by osteochondrosis. But he is not the only cause of lumbar pain. Some people don't even know why their back is troublesome. Many diseases of the internal organs, injuries and physiological conditions are reflected by back pain, and this list includes:
- disease of the kidneys and pelvic organs;
- physiological pain during menstruation in women;
- spinal injury;
- injuries (sprains) of the back muscles;
- diseases of the digestive system;
- scoliosis;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- infections that destroy the spine and discs (tuberculosis, epidural abscess);
- tumor processes;
- Reiter's syndrome.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
In 90% of cases, back pain is caused by problems with the spine and the back muscle. The lumbar vertebrae are affected more often than other parts of the spine. They undergo enormous loads when walking, being the center of gravity in upright people. Also, there is a lot of pressure on the lower back when a person is sitting.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be asymptomatic for a long time, and back pain is often the first sign of the disease. It can be of varying intensity and duration - periodic aching pain in the lower back or acute pain syndrome when the nerve roots are pinched.
Pathologies for which back hurts include:
- osteochondrosis;
- intervertebral horizontal protrusions, vertical hernia (Schmorl) and disc protrusion;
- primary and secondary (metastatic) malignant tumors in the bones and soft tissues of the back;
- myositis of the muscles of the lower back;
- osteomyelitis (an infectious purulent process caused by pathogenic microflora, for example, tuberculosis bacillus or the causative agent of brucellosis);
- ankylosing spondylitis;
- radiculitis;
- sciatica (damage or irritation of the sciatic nerve);
- deforming spondylosis;
- rheumatoid arthritis and Reiter's syndrome;
- diseases of the sacroiliac and hip joints;
- epiduritis (inflammation of the dura mater of the spinal cord);
- rachiocampsis;
- injuries to bone structures, muscles and ligaments of the back;
- metabolic changes in bone tissue (osteoporosis, osteomalacia).
Acute lower back pain is often referred to as lumbago (backache). Its main causes are the displacement of the vertebrae, intervertebral hernias and congenital anomalies of the spinal column. Back pain can last from several hours to several days and stop abruptly if the "vertebra is in place. "
Pain with kidney disease
Often, aching lower back pain accompanies renal pathology. It does not change with the position of the body and increases if a person stands on their feet for a long time. More often it is one-sided and indicates chronic ailments. You need to see a doctor if your back hurts and you have the following symptoms:
- signs of intoxication and general malaise (chills, fatigue, etc. );
- swelling of the eyelids and face in the morning;
- violation of the process of urination (frequent, painful, etc. );
- increase or sharp drops in blood pressure;
- nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting;
- changing the parameters of urine (too dark, cloudy, with an unpleasant odor, etc. ).
The appearance of blood in the urine and severe pain in the lower back are characteristic of an attack of urolithiasis. In this case, painful sensations can be given from the back along the ureter, into the groin area, genitals and the inner surface of the thigh.
Hematuria can also indicate kidney cancer. But unlike urolithiasis, in most cases, tumors grow asymptomatically for a long time and back only hurts at the last stage of the process.
Low back pain and pregnancy
During gestation and childbirth, a woman's lower back experiences tremendous stress. If the expectant mother has a backache, then this may be a physiological phenomenon, or signal the development or exacerbation of the disease.
Increased load
Any physical activity can provoke back pain. It can appear after summer work, lifting weights, intense strength training, etc.
Excess weight
Excess weight negatively affects the condition of the spine. Each extra kilogram is an additional load on the lower back.
In obese individuals, the risk of developing osteochondrosis and intervertebral hernias increases dramatically. Obese people are also prone to the formation of kidney stones, early onset of osteoporosis and other pathologies that cause back pain.
Other reasons
Sometimes the back hurts due to other reasons:
- Pathological. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (colitis, intestinal tumors, gallstones, etc. ); pathology of the pelvic organs (prostatitis, endometriosis, neoplasms, infections and inflammation); spinal circulation disorders; atherosclerosis or aneurysm of the abdominal aorta.
- Physiological. Prolonged static load on the back, prolonged work at the computer, many hours of driving, etc.
Lumbodynia can radiate to the lower back in case of ectopic pregnancy and "acute abdomen".
Types of pain and their causes
When the back aches in the lumbar region, a person is sometimes unable to even move. The nature of the pain can change during one day: first, a dull pain in the lower back is felt, and then an acute one, and then again subside. Also, it can be constant and does not subside. At a young age, everything is tolerated easier than in the elderly, when the lower back constantly hurts.
Generally, pain is a mechanism for recognizing problems caused by an illness. Pain reveals a hidden problem, so it plays a huge role. But, of course, you cannot tolerate her. You must immediately contact a specialist who will determine the cause and prescribe treatment.
Chronic pain
Chronic back pain is a frequent companion of diseases of the spine and internal organs. It is pronounced and constant in cancer patients with metastases to the vertebrae or their primary tumor lesion.
Sharp pains
Acute lower back pain can signal a serious problem that requires proactive tactics. The following pathologies appeal to her:
- spinal fracture and other acute back injuries;
- exacerbation of inflammatory processes in the joints;
- spinal epiduritis;
- intervertebral hernia;
- exacerbation of osteochondrosis;
- acute abdomen (intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, ovarian apoplexy, etc. );
- movement of stones with ICD or gallstone disease;
- pinched nerves;
- acute circulatory disorders in the vessels of the back;
- pyelonephritis in the acute stage.
If a pregnant woman feels that her back is very sore, she should immediately seek medical help. With severe pain in the lower back of a child, parents are obliged to show the baby to a pediatrician.
Severe pain
If you are worried about severe back pain and taking analgesics does not help, you should consult a doctor.
Aching pains
Often, aching lower back pain is thought to be the result of muscle fatigue. This is a misconception. Sometimes the back hurts with severe pathologies of the small pelvis (prostate cancer in men and uterine cancer in women).
Also, painful sensations of a similar nature are typical for sluggish infectious processes, growing benign formations and hernias. Over time, they intensify, complemented by other signs of the disease.
Displaced pain
When the back hurts, and lumbodynia is different in intensity and duration, the cause may be not one pathology, but several. You should make an appointment with a specialist and undergo a comprehensive examination.
Which doctor should I go to?
If your lower back hurts, first of all you need to visit a therapist. The doctor will take a history, describe in detail the back pain, conduct an examination and draw up a plan of diagnostic measures. Depending on their results, he will prescribe treatment, or send for a consultation to a narrow specialist:
- neurologist;
- vertebroneurologist;
- gastroenterologist;
- neurosurgeon.
Diagnostics
When the lower back hurts, diagnostic measures are prescribed in the complex. Laboratory tests, ultrasound examinations, X-ray methods, instrumental examinations and others are mandatory.
X-ray
Bone X-ray is a simple and affordable diagnostic method. With pathology of the spine, all existing defects are visible in the images. Based on the data obtained, the doctor makes a diagnosis and is determined with the further tactics of managing a patient who has a backache.
CT scan
Computed tomography is prescribed to clarify the diagnosis and strictly according to indications. On the tomograms, bone defects are clearly visible, which provoked pain in the lower back.
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging is a modern highly informative diagnostic method. It allows you to explore any area of the body. With its help, the state of blood vessels, nervous structures, spinal cord and internal organs is assessed.
Despite its relative safety, it cannot be assigned to "everyone in a row" who has back pain. The examination has a number of contraindications.
Possible complications and consequences of pain
If you do not see a doctor and determine the cause of the back pain, the consequences can be serious. A symptom cannot be neglected.
When the back hurts intensely, spinal injuries or acute processes in the abdomen are possible. Ignoring lumbodynia with pinched nerves can lead to a persistent loss of sensitivity and motor activity. Lower back pain is fraught with serious consequences, such as rupture of internal organs, bleeding, abscess, sepsis, etc.
First aid for acute pain
If there is acute back pain, call a doctor or ambulance. Before the arrival of the doctor, the patient needs:
- take a "comfortable for the lower back" posture;
- drink an anesthetic, and if there is no effect, repeat taking the pill after half an hour (put an intramuscular injection);
- relieve spasm with medication;
- eliminate possible swelling by drinking a diuretic or herbal tea;
- improve tissue nutrition by taking a complex vitamin and mineral preparation;
- lubricate the lower back with ointment or gel.
Sometimes they use folk methods (tincture of horseradish, pepper or nettle). When your back hurts, you should adhere to a "unloading" diet, exclude any irritating factors.
How to recover from low back pain?
There are several treatments for back and lower back pain. But they all relate to either traditional (medical methods) or alternative.
Traditional methods include:
- bed rest;
- drug treatment;
- physiotherapy;
- surgical treatment;
Alternative methods include:
- massage;
- acupuncture;
- yoga classes.
The main goal of these methods is to alleviate suffering and the golden rule: "Do no harm. "
When your back hurts, first of all, you need to see a doctor, and on the basis of the established diagnosis and the recommendations received, perform treatment at home. Injections, electrical procedures must be obtained at a medical institution, and back massage, applying warming compresses and ointments on the lower back, taking pills can be taken not only in the clinic, but also at home. Self-medication and improper adherence to recommendations will only harm.
Medication treatment
Medical treatment should be prescribed by a doctor depending on the cause of the back pain. Self-administration of pharmaceuticals is unacceptable.
Ointments and gels
Lubrication of the back is recommended for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The following types of ointments are distinguished:
- combined, having several effects (relieve inflammation, relieve pain, heal);
- anti-inflammatory analgesics (contain menthol, lavender and similar ingredients);
- irritants (vegetable, animal or synthetic);
- chondroprotectors (to restore and protect cartilage tissue).
If the lower back hurts, but the diagnosis has not been clarified, you should not use external agents.
Injections
Sometimes back pain is treated with injections. The doctor injects an analgesic into the affected area. In some situations, blockade with anesthetics is used.
Physiotherapy
When back hurts, exercise therapy is almost always recommended. Gymnastics helps to strengthen the muscular frame of the lower back, improve tissue trophism and stretch the ligaments. The set of exercises is selected individually.
Massotherapy
Back pain is effectively eliminated by massage therapy. You can turn to professionals, or perform the manipulations yourself. In case of pathology of internal organs and neoplasms, it is impossible to massage the back.
Physiotherapy
If your back hurts, physiotherapy is prescribed for a number of diseases. Physiotherapy is especially effective for low back osteochondrosis. They use magnetotherapy, laser treatment, electrophoresis, pulse currents, hirudotherapy and other techniques.
Prevention of back pain
If a person has a chronic condition that can cause back pain, prevention will be to prevent exacerbations. In order, in principle, not to encounter this symptom, one must first of all monitor the health of the spinal column. If your back hurts, preventive measures are:
- active lifestyle;
- daily gymnastics;
- balanced nutrition rich in vitamins and minerals;
- adequate physical activity for the back;
- exclusion of lower back injuries;
- lack of stress;
- treatment of foci of infection.
Annual preventive examinations are of great importance in order to timely identify existing health problems and prevent back pain.