80% of people in the world have experienced lumbar pain at least once. Their causes can range from so-called psychosomatic disorders (when lower back pain is caused by stress) to more frightening and difficult-to-treat cancer diagnoses.
How to understand when discomfort and back pain indicate spondylopathy and when other organs are unhealthy? And how not to miss the right time to see a doctor for lumbar pain?
Causes of low back pain
Multiple organs and systems exist simultaneously in the lumbar region—these are the digestive, urinary, reproductive, and musculoskeletal systems, as well as many glands that affect human health. Fortunately, most conditions that make you feel lower and lower back pain are treatable and not life-threatening. Only every 20 cases of low back pain required surgical intervention or complex treatment measures.
Consider the causes of spinal pain in the lumbar region in more detail. These include:
- Excessive strain on the back muscles, especially in the lumbosacral region;
- muscle and visceral spasms;
- Inflammation or abscess is present;
- hormone imbalance;
- heart disease;
- Stomach or intestinal disease (gastritis, peptic ulcer, etc. );
- Postural disturbance;
- neuralgia, incl. psychological characteristics;
- Osteochondrosis, spinal stenosis, vertebral hernia and other spinal disorders;
- kidney or internal reproductive organ disease;
- obesity;
- pregnant;
- tumor metastasis.
The nature of lumbar osteochondrosis pain
It is necessary to distinguish between primary pain in the lumbar spine (associated with degenerative dystrophy, inflammatory processes and spinal injury) and secondary "reflex" pain due to muscular and visceral dysfunction. Primary pain in the lower back appears to be isolated and rarely accompanied by other symptoms (often already in later stages, such as a herniated disc). Secondary pain is almost always accompanied by bloating, changes in urination and defecation (which are rare, frequent, painful, or have other atypical features), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever. The type of lower back pain can also say a lot:
- Paroxysmal ("grab the inside") - diseases of the kidneys and pelvic organs;
- increasing every day - inflammatory processes (for example, in the epithelial coccygeal passage), abscesses, cysts;
- Sharp stab wounds (especially after injury) - rupture of internal organs (liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder, etc. ) or blood vessels, internal bleeding, ulcers in the stomach or intestines, dislodged blood clots blocking blood vessels (immediately seek medical attention for such pain! );
- Periodic firing - characteristic of squeezing the spinal roots (radicular syndrome), possibly with spasms;
- dull persistence - indicates a disease of the liver, kidneys, spleen, some endocrine glands;
- Pulling, aggravated by exercise - Injury to the spine and adjacent tissues.
location of low back pain
- Pain in the lumbar region and above the sacrum can be due to trauma, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disorders, as well as injury, oncology, or simple overexertion. This area usually manifests after unsuccessful physical activity, especially after poor hitting, falls, and non-compliance with exercise techniques.
- Below the waist (above the tailbone) is often painful from heavy lifting, standing for long periods of time, or overexertion while walking, with bruising on ice and other hard surfaces. Sometimes, lower back pain can be caused by an infection or hypothermia. The most common pain is due to working or resting in an uncomfortable, non-physiological position—for example, from spending time in front of a computer or driving in a half-bent "banana" position. Pain is less common due to intestinal and genitourinary dysfunction (constipation, cystitis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis, dysmenorrhea). A "low" localization of pain may also indicate a problem with the hip joint, especially in older adults or athletes.
- If it hurts the left side of the spine, that doesn't rule out a problem with it - eg, scoliosis and/or osteochondrosis, impaired circulation, or even a spinal canal infection.
- Infections and osteochondrosis are particularly characterized by persistent pain that intensifies with the slightest physical exertion.
- If the pain syndrome periodically resolves and the patient is still resting, it may be a displaced disc, a compressed nerve root, or sciatica. Also, lower back pain can lead to diabetes or hypothermia.
- If the patient often feels like he is "staying up" and has pain after several hours of sedentary activity, the pain may indicate an incorrect lifestyle that has not yet progressed to a pathological condition but requires urgent changes - not just the lumbar vertebral cartilageThe pain of the disease is relieved, but the treatment is complicated.
Note that severe lesions in the heart and digestive organs may cause lower back pain. If there is pain under and to the side of the left shoulder blade, it is important to rule out a heart attack urgently. However, if bouts of severe pain are afflicted - "as if being cut open" - stomach or intestinal ulcers.
Low Back Pain - Diagnosis
Doctors have identified more than 120 causes of acute and chronic back pain. The most common of these is.
- Diseases caused by degenerative dystrophy and other lesions of the vertebral bodies and hip joints. For example, osteochondrosis, osteoarthritis, spondylosis, vertebral hernia, spinal stenosis, kyphosis, scoliosis, herniation, facet joint syndrome, sciatica, low back pain, neurogenic claudication, hormonal spondylosis.
- Autoimmune disease. Rheumatoid arthritis, Bechterew disease.
- Inflammatory disease. Spondyloarthropathy, incl. Psoriasis and reactive arthritis.
- Traumatic failure. Spondylolisthesis, muscle and ligament injuries, bruises, dislocations, subluxations and vertebral fractures.
Less commonly, conditions such as spinal tumors and metastases, osteomyelitis, angina, cholecystitis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, myocardial infarction, duodenal ulcers, etc. can all be the cause of low back pain.
female lumbar pain
In women, acute and subacute (periodic or lasting up to 12 weeks) back pain may indicate a mild hormonal imbalance or a natural physiological process - during menstruation, pregnancy or menopause. But more often, he declares himself like this:
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine - women who wear high-heeled shoes for a long time, often carry loads of more than 5 kg, and are forced to hold their head down for long periods of time while doing professional or domestic work;
- Arthritis is an inflammatory disease susceptible to young women. It can be caused by lower back injuries, genitourinary infections, hypothermia due to insufficiently warm but stylish clothing, and genetics (for example, the presence of rheumatoid arthritis in a relative);
- Arthropathy is a primarily age-related disorder that usually occurs after age 40 and is a response to hormonal changes in the body;
- Inflammation of the appendages (appendixitis);
- cervical or ovarian cancer;
- ovarian cyst torsion;
- Endometriosis.
Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms of low back pain occur:
- appear after injury;
- Occurs in the patient's history of tumors and precancerous lesions (eg, cervical dysplasia);
- with an increase in temperature;
- with unexplained weight loss;
- Difficulty urinating and defecation;
- accompany discovery;
- Associated with numbness or stiffness in the legs and changes in gait.
lumbar spine pain in men
Men suffer from lower back pain less frequently than women. Most often, as in women, they are due to osteochondrosis or kidney disease. Among the sex-specific diseases that cause lumbar spine pain, we can name:
- Epididymitis (inflammation of the spermatic appendages);
- prostatitis;
- orchitis (swollen testicles);
- Testicular and other neoplastic diseases of the reproductive organs;
- Prostate cancer.
Often, low back pain in the strong half occurs due to a vertebral or inguinal hernia. These disorders are especially likely to occur in men over the age of 40 who actively engage in physical labor or work in uncomfortable positions. In women, this pathology is less common.
treat back pain
Treating back pain (lumbar spine) requires treatment of the vertebrae and discs, nerve fibers and muscles. In addition to relieving lumbar pain, it is necessary to slow down the degenerative process of the spine (if any), relieve inflammation, restore blood microcirculation and conduction of nerve impulses. Treatment is prescribed exclusively by a physician or immediately by a group of specialists - neurologists, traumatologists, gynecologists, orthopedists, rheumatologists and other physicians, depending on the primary and accompanying diagnoses.
In more than 98% of cases associated with spinal disease, treatment is conservative - surgery can be omitted even in the case of a hernia.
medical method
With the help of medication, the pain can be completely eliminated within a few months (eg, spinal pain in the lumbar region treated by root compression for 3-4 months, hernia). Then, depending on the diagnosis, it is done or treated regularly during the course - to maintain remission.
Helps in treating back pain (lumbar spine):
- NSAIDs in the form of tablets, ointments, injections.
- Hormonal preparations (in the form of blockers and droppers).
- Analgesics are used to relieve pain.
- chondroprotective agent.
- Warming preparations, for example, ointments based on bee and snake venom, mustard ointments.
- Venotonics and Vasoprotectants.
- Anticonvulsants, anxiolytics, and antidepressants.
Physical Therapy for Back Pain
For the treatment of low back pain:
- Massage (classic, cupping, hydromassage);
- Acoustic swimming;
- electrophoresis;
- magnetic therapy;
- Laser Treatment;
- dual dynamic therapy;
- electrical neuromuscular stimulation;
- manual therapy;
- acupuncture;
- balneotherapy and mud therapy;
- Exercise therapy.
Exercise therapy for lumbar pain
Do one set of exercises for your lower back pain every day, and only when relief is achieved! Any load will only make things worse as the disease progresses. You should consult with a sports therapy coach before practicing.
- Kneel down and extend your right leg forward (foot on floor, knee bent at right angle). Keeping balance, use your left hand to pull your left foot to your hip, feeling the tension in your muscles. 10 times on each side.
- Get on all fours and look straight ahead. Bend and arch your back - exercise "cat".
- Lie on your back, keeping your legs under your knees, pull your knees to your chest and lock the position for a few seconds. 10 times.
- The starting position is the same. Cross your legs (with weights) and stretch your muscles nicely, supporting your calves just below your knees with your hands.
- Standing on all fours, lift your left arm and right leg perpendicular to the floor. Repeat for the other side. 10 times.
A set of lower back pain exercises with a massage roller is also recommended. For example: place the roller under the sacrum and pull the knee toward the chest while the other leg is on the floor. Repeat 10 times with each leg. If the tension isn't enough, place your hands behind your head and/or move your bent knee slightly to the side.
How to take care of your back - doctor's advice
We recommend 10 simple tips to protect your lower back.
- To keep your back healthy, it's important to avoid severe physical (as well as mental and emotional) overwork and hypothermia. If you're forced to work long hours in a room that's cold or with sudden temperature changes, buy good thermal underwear.
- Prompt treatment of spinal pain in the lumbar region.
- If you've been diagnosed with the initial stages of osteochondrosis, with congenital or acquired deformities of the musculoskeletal system, use orthoses - special bandages and corsets that help ease the back. If you're carrying a heavy pack, choose one that's designed to protect your back from symptoms of low back pain.
- Also, don't forget to take chondroprotectants for at least 3-6 months per year for both therapeutic and preventive purposes.
- Balance your diet so your body gets enough vitamins and minerals, as well as protein.
- Properly equip a sleeping place. The mattress should not be too soft or too firm, and the length of the bed should be slightly larger than your height. The height of the pillow is also important for pain relief from lumbar osteochondrosis - it's best to buy an orthopedic one. If your pet forces you into an uncomfortable sleeping position, don't put them on the bed.
- When seated to work, make sure your elbows are resting on the tabletop at a comfortable height with a chair seat that allows your calves to remain perpendicular to the floor.
- If you have been diagnosed with spinal disease, please pay attention to reasonable employment, which will reduce the occupational pressure on the lower back.
- Try not to abuse alcohol, coffee, and cigarettes.
- Maintain a normal level of physical activity (at least in the form of 15-minute low back pain exercises 3-4 times a day).
Healthy!