The lower back is called the loin. This zone is the most loaded part of the spine. Here are the important organs of the human body - the kidneys. Backache in this area is not uncommon, but how to determine what it means if the lower back hurts, and how to treat the disease. The correct diagnosis, made on time, can not only change the quality of life, but also save it.
Why does the lower back hurt: physiological causes
Statistics say that every second inhabitant of the world suffered from back pain. In reality, everyone must have experienced slight discomfort. This area of increased mobility in a person is involved in tilting, lifting, turning.
The load on the lumbar spine does not stop even in sleep, so its 5 vertebrae are the largest in size. The causes of pain in the lower back can be of a different nature and degree of risk. Pain is provoked by both rather innocent factors and serious diseases, including those with a risk of death.
Lower back pain as a symptom of diseases in women and men
The back hurts in the lumbar region - how to treat the body correctly in this situation, and what is contraindicated - will determine the diagnosis. What is typical for pain in this area, the definition of the name of the disease depends, among other things, on the gender of the patient.
For women, the cause of pain can be:
- Periodic female ailments.
- Inflammation of the ovaries.
- Third trimester of pregnancy.
- Climax.
For the stronger sex, it is important to exclude diseases associated with problems of the prostate gland and seminiferous tubules:
- Prostatitis.
- Epididymitis.
The greatest proportion of anxiety in the lower back are diseases "unisex",which can take place in a couple of days, but more often they come to visit seriously and for a long time:
- Myositis.
- Radiculitis.
- Inflammatory processes in the kidneys, stones.
- Cystitis.
- Osteochondrosis.
- Arthritis.
- Scoliosis.
- Lumbago.
- Hernia.
- Spinal tumors.
- Phlebothrombosis.
- Atherosclerosis.
- Appendicitis.
- Cholecystitis.
- Obesity.
Obesity is one of the most important factors in spinal diseases.Excess weight has long been not a cosmetic disadvantage. According to the World Health Organization, there are about 700 thousand people in the world with a body mass index over 30.
From diseases caused by obesity, 2. 5 million people die. every year, and extra pounds is the main reason for the rapid early wear of the tissues of the musculoskeletal system, primarily the lumbar vertebrae.
Classification of pain and their meaning
The back hurts in the lumbar region (which may not be obvious before an accurate diagnosis is made) more often in inactive people. The nature of the pain will help to find out its cause at home before visiting the doctor. If the case is obvious, treatment may be dispensed with without consulting a specialist.
What pain sensations in the lower back exist and how to call them correctly:
| Types of pain | Description |
|---|---|
| severe pain | Unbearable pain, which causes bed rest, does not allow you to fully work and deal with domestic issues. |
| Acute pain | Flashes of severe pain that occur when trying to move, change position. |
| Aching pains | Prolonged pulling, dull pains, moderate as far as possible. |
| chronic pain | Feelings that do not completely disappear in a period of more than 90 days can be classified as permanent, chronic. |
| Displaced pains | A pain syndrome that feels like pain in the lower back, caused by a problem in another organ of the pelvis or digestive or genitourinary system. A specialist will help determine the localization of pain. |
severe pain
Severe pain is not always a sign of a serious illness. Very often, unbearable suffering and a sick leave are associated with backache, an uncomfortable bed, or myositis. Such ailments with a moderate regime eventually disappear. Pain can be caused by an injury that has disturbed the normal state of the muscles and ligaments, causing muscle spasm.
There are more serious problems of the spine,causing severe pain:
- Lumbosacral sciatica.
- Rupture of the spinal disc.
- Disc herniation.
- Arthritis.
With severe pain, it is initially worth visiting a surgeon, orthopedist and neurologist.
Separately, it should be said that severe pain can be caused by a malignant formation on the spine, shingles, an infectious process in the vertebrae.
Acute pain
Acute pain in the lower back, limiting movement, not allowing you to calmly stand up and straighten up - this is lumbago or, as they say in everyday life, backache. It occurs when an unsuccessful attempt to lift a weight, a sharp extension, stretching of the muscles. To get out of the situation, you need to lie on your back, on a bed with sufficient rigidity.
Perhaps after most of the load is removed from the vertebrae of the lower back, the spasm will go away and the pain will subside.After such an event, rest is needed, movements must be carried out carefully for at least a week. In a difficult case, you need to use painkillers and visit a surgeon, an orthopedist.
Aching pains
The main primary cause of aching back pain is osteochondrosis. Destructive processes in the tissues of the spine lead to flattening of the intervertebral discs, which lose fluid and cease to create an airbag between the vertebrae. The friction of the vertebrae against each other leads to their damage.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis are also:
- loss of sensation;
- numbness of hands and feet;
- noise in ears;
- decrease in potency in men;
- loss of balance.
Also, hernias of the intervertebral discs - protruding cartilaginous tissue, spondylosis - spike-shaped growths on the vertebrae that block their movement, lead to aching pains.
Secondary aching pain in the lumbar region can be caused by:
- menstruation, the state of pregnancy in women;
- prostatitis in men;
- diseases of the urinary system, the formation of urinary stones;
- tumors;
- digestive system disorders.
Aching pains in the lower back accompany ankylosing spondylitis, which, if not treated in time, can lead to a fixed stoop. To exclude this disease and its differentiation from the symptoms of sciatica, it is important to undergo appropriate examinations.
chronic pain
Pain that does not go away for more than 3 months is considered chronic.
The lion's share (about 80%) of this problem is caused by a combination of degenerative processesin the spine with injuries of muscles and ligaments of a different nature, most often the pain is associated with pressure on the nerve roots.
However, until a complete examination, it is impossible to say unequivocally what is the cause of the ailment. Constant pain can be caused by an infectious lesion of the vertebrae, oncological processes, and sluggish cystitis.
Sometimes persistent back pain has a psychosomatic origin, specialists cannot establish a clear cause. At the same time, the patient could experience stress, depression, and strong anger during their onset.
Displaced pains
With diseases of key internal organs, a person may feel pain in the lumbar region. In fact, the focus of the disease may be in the pancreas, colon, kidneys.
If the cause of the pain is not obvious, in order to exclude inflammatory processes in other areas, as well as dangerous oncological formations and ankylosing spondylitis, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination with the initial appearance of back pain.
What does it mean when lower back pain radiates to the leg?
If lower back pain radiates to the leg, right or left, this will not allow an accurate diagnosis to be made quickly, since the symptom is not unique.
The situation may indicate the manifestation of the following diseases:
- Pinched nerves (most often we are talking about the sciatic nerve).
- Kidney inflammation.
- Gynecological diseases in women, such as inflammation of the appendages, cysts.
Compression of the nerve roots occurs most often as a result of osteochondrosis.This disease is caused by back injuries or herniated discs of the spine.
Also, similar pressure is caused by sciatica, lumbago: disorders of the tissues of the spine, often complicated by hypothermia. Specific pains shooting in the leg are often found in the last months of pregnancy. However, you should not attribute the symptoms only to this condition if the syndrome has not gone away a month after the birth.
In what cases should you see a doctor?
Lower back pain, which is accompanied by bloody discharge from the urinary tract, genital organs, is a reason to immediately seek medical help. Also, do not postpone a visit to the doctor if the pain increases, there is an increase in body temperature, chills.
Professional advice is also needed for less urgent conditions if:
- primary back pain does not subside for more than 2-3 days;
- accompanied by acute outbreaks;
- there is insensitivity of individual zones, limbs;
- have additional abdominal pain;
- other warning signs.
How to cure back pain?
About 20% of disability cases on the planet are associated with pain in the lumbar region. The variety of reasons why the back hurts does not give a universal answer on how and how to cure it.
Patients at home abuse non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opiates, removing only the symptoms of the disease. This can lead to severe side effects, damage to the kidneys, liver, and even death.
It is easier to prevent back diseases with preventive measures, regular warm-ups, proper posture and an orthopedic hard mattress. An important factor in the health of the musculoskeletal system is a balanced diet.
With manifested musculoskeletal diseases of the back, general recommendations:
- physical activity without heavy lifting and sudden movements;
- increased blood flow in the area of pain in the absence of swelling and inflammation;
- "correct" bed.
- straight posture.
Medication treatment
The back hurts in the lumbar region (only a professional can decide how to treat it without harm to health) often after hypothermia. At the moment, pharmacies offer a wide range of drugs for external application, oral administration, intramuscular injection and even in the spine.
For self-treatment of a completely new disease, only a single dose of anesthetics is suitable for the patient, allowing them to "live" until a visit to the doctor’s office. A recurrence of a previously known disease allows the use of proven methods of treatment, but requires caution and does not tolerate arrogance.
Ointments and gels: names of medicines, instructions
For the treatment of back pain, in particular in the lower back, after the exclusion of inflammatorydiseases of internal organs and tumors apply complexes for external use:
- Irritant drugs.Improve blood circulation, warm the lumbar region, relieve inflammation. It is used for lumbago, myositis, muscle strain, injuries, excessive physical exertion.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They remove the pain syndrome well, give a good effect with periodic pain in women, hypothermia, radiculitis, compression of the nerve roots.
The use of funds is possible only after studying the leaflet. It is necessary to carefully analyze the sections of contraindications and side effects. For example, any ointment based on a substance from the group of phenylacetic acid derivatives is forbidden to be used during lactation and pregnancy.
Preparations for injections
To prescribe drugs in ampoules, it is necessary to undergo a complete examination, including basic blood and urine tests. This will allow you to correctly diagnose the cause of pain and identify possible contraindications.
- With hernias, drug blockade is most often prescribed. This allows not only to remove pain, but also to relax the pinched nerve roots. Manipulations for the introduction of the drug into the spinal zone have a high degree of complexity and risks, they are performed exclusively by a specialist. An off-target injection may limit the patient's ability to move.
- Severe pain gives rise to prescribe an injection of the so-called "troychatka". The combination of opium alkaloid, diphenhydramine and metamizole sodium effectively relieves pain, spasm, and has a sedative effect.
- Inflammation in the problem area is relieved by injections of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Effectively provide pain relief injections of vitamins of group B. These drugs restore damaged nerves, increase metabolism, but with constant long-standing pain they have a moderate result.
Physical exercise and exercises
The ideal activity for a person with back problems is swimming. Muscles are strengthened, experiencing mild loads, while the spinal column is freed from the burden of body weight. The pool is accessible to obese people with limited mobility.
In general, sudden movements are not recommended for back pain, but there are goals: to strengthen the muscles of the back, lose weight, improve blood circulation in tissues. Recommended yoga, Pilates, visiting the gym under the supervision of a trainer.
Massage
The appointment of a massage usually occurs along with the recommendation of physical therapy.
Massage treatments will help in case of:
- lumbago;
- osteochondrosis;
- arthrosis;
- radiculitis;
- sciatica;
- myositis.
Massage is unacceptable for suspected appendicitis, inflammation of the appendages and tumors.
Recommendations for performing massage procedures are as follows:
- When performing manipulations, it is necessary to use oil or cream for sliding.
- Usually the movements are performed from the buttocks towards the neck.
- You can not exert pressure directly on the spine, on the fallen vertebra.
- After the massage, it is important to put on warm clothes, sit quietly, and not immediately go out into the cold.
Massage procedures are indicated for krepatura, sports sprains. However, ineptly performed massage can worsen the patient's condition, so it is advisable to consult a specialist.
Heating and cryotherapy
To eliminate back pain, two types of procedures that are opposite in meaning are used, which, oddly enough, lead to the same effect.
Cryotherapy can be done at home using ice cubes. Vasoconstriction, spasm relief, pain relief to numbness are the strengths of this technique.
It should be borne in mind that cryotherapy with ice or liquid nitrogen is contraindicated in:
- previous strokes;
- myocardial infarctions;
- increased pressure.
Warming procedures must be agreed with the doctor. It is unacceptable to heat edematous, swollen, reddened tissues of the back. Also, heat is contraindicated in the acute stages of osteoarthritis, with diseases of the internal organs. For warming visit a sauna, a bath, use paraffin applications, pepper patches.
Folk remedies
Back pain in the lumbar region? Traditional medicine will tell you how to treat your back. But its methods can be applied only after a diagnosis and consultation with a doctor. For inflammation of the kidneys, appendicitis and other conditions requiring emergency care, warming with a dog hair belt will not only not bring any effect, but can seriously harm.
So, if there is confidence that the pain is caused by sciatica, myositis, lumbago, the following popular procedures will provide excellent results and relief:
- Mustard plasters.Perfectly relieve pain, increase blood circulation. For use, the product is moistened in warm water and applied to the problem area. The time of use is individual, depending on the tolerance of burning. After removing the mustard plaster, the skin is lubricated with a soothing cream, the lumbar region is warmed with a natural wool belt.
- Compresses.To create a rush of blood to the problem area, grated horseradish, radish, garlic are usually used. This allows you to soothe pain and relieve inflammation. A thin fabric is wound on top of the active substances, then a woolen one, and the top is tightly covered with polyethylene.
- Rubbing.For rubbing, alcohol tinctures of useful plants are used: eucalyptus, burdock, burdock. Rub vigorously, warming the surface, increasing blood flow.
The presence of tumors and the state of pregnancy categorically do not allow the above manipulations. As well as serious gynecological problems in women. Despite the use of the forces of nature, not all folk methods can be applied with carelessness.
Prevention of age-related lumbar pain
It is much easier to prevent a disease than to treat the consequences. For the health of the lower back, it is important to eat a balanced diet, daily exercise a little physical activity.
- Charging should be with preliminary stretching and moderate loads, avoid sudden movements.
- The rejection of bad habits will also be on the scales from the side of the health of the lower back. Smoking worsens the health of blood vessels, reduces the quality of blood circulation and the supply of tissues with useful substances.
- It is necessary to spend time in the fresh air, strong bones and cartilage are vital for "sunshine" vitamin D.
- Back health requires an even and beautiful posture, while slouching and scoliosis displace and increase pressure on the vertebrae.
- The mattress for sleeping should be even and hard, and the optimal position for a night's rest is lying on your back.
- Wearing high-heeled shoes by women increases tension in the lumbar region. The ideal heel height for the back should not exceed 5 cm.
Before you treat your back yourself, if it hurts in the lumbar region for the first time, try to get an in-person consultation with a specialist. It is difficult to overestimate the real examination of the doctor, the study of the patient's history, even if the condition does not require immediate medical attention.