Lower back pain

Back pain is a symptom characteristic of many diseases.Why does discomfort occur and what health problems may it indicate?Types of back pain, methods of diagnosis and treatment.Is it possible to do without surgery?

Lumbodynia, or lower back pain, is a symptom that worries people of all ages.Moreover, it is observed even among the younger generation, which is often associated with prolonged work at the computer or gadgets in an uncomfortable position.If you experience frequent or recurrent lower back pain, you should consult a doctor for diagnosis.Such a symptom can indicate both problems with the musculoskeletal system and many other pathologies of internal organs.

Pay attention!Back pain in the lumbar region can be disguised as pathologies of the kidneys and genitourinary organs, which makes diagnosis difficult.This happens due to improper distribution of load and compression of nerve endings.

Discomfort in the lower back is a symptom of many diseases

Low back pain can be caused by many reasons.In this case, the symptom can have a different character - pulling, aching, stabbing, shooting.All this is important to consider when making a diagnosis.

Why do patients have lower back pain?The reasons may be hidden in pathologies affecting the spine and the musculoskeletal system as a whole, injuries, and degenerative changes.If there is a pathology of internal organs or the influence of unfavorable factors on the body, the back may also hurt.Let's look at the most common causes of lumbodynia.

It's all because of problems with the spine

If the patient complains of periodic pain in the lumbar spine, first of all exclude this cause.The symptom is characteristic of the following diseases:

• osteochondrosis;
• curvature of the spine - complaints of constant or recurrent pain in the spine may indicate kyphosis, scoliosis, lordosis;
• spondylolisthesis;
• abscesses;
• Reiter's syndrome;
• intervertebral hernia;
• osteomyelitis;
• spondylosis;
• osteoporosis.

When the spinal cord is damaged, pain in the spine in the lumbar region or another segment also appears.They are typical for the following ailments:

• multiple sclerosis;
• impaired blood supply and innervation of the spinal cord due to spinal curvature;
• tumors;
• myelitis;
• radiculitis.

Also, complaints of frequent back pain may be present due to a lack of B vitamins and copper, which are necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous system.

Pay attention!Pain in the lumbar region may be a secondary sign of infectious processes in the body.It is characteristic of syphilis, brucellosis, tuberculosis, and HIV infection.

Muscle diseases

If it hurts in the lumbar region, the problem may be hidden in diseases of the muscular system:

• polymyositis (muscle inflammation);
• fibromyalgia;
• rhabdomyolysis;
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease;
• abscess;
• polymyalgia rheumatica;
• myofascial syndrome.

Diseases of internal organs

Frequent causes of back pain are pathologies of internal organs.In this case, accurate diagnosis of the underlying disease and its elimination is important.This is the only way to get rid of lumbodynia.

Why does the lower back, back, spine hurt?The symptom is characteristic of a number of diseases of internal organs:

• cardiovascular system (pain in the spine is characteristic of an aortic aneurysm);
• oncological diseases of different localization;
• pathologies of the genitourinary organs - if lower back pain appears on the right or left side of the back, it is worth excluding adnexitis, prostatitis, endometriosis, urolithiasis, kidney stones, pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis;
• diseases of the digestive tract - pain in the spine and lower back is characteristic of peptic ulcers and cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, colitis;
• often back pain appears due to psychological disorders (stress, depression, neurasthenia, neurosis);
• obesity - in this case, the back hurts in the lumbar region or under the shoulder blades due to excessive stress on the musculoskeletal system when walking.

Back pain often develops after hypothermia.The symptom occurs due to cold nerves.

Other causes of lumbodynia

Why does the back hurt (sometimes it radiates under the shoulder blade, into the arm or leg) in people who have excluded the above pathologies?This happens as a result of exposure to unfavorable factors on the body.Common causes of back pain:

• incorrectly selected mattress and pillow for sleeping;
• heavy physical activity (back pain often occurs after intense work);
• lack of activity, which leads to weakening of the muscle corset;
• pregnancy (pain in the spine appears in the last months of pregnancy due to excessive stress on it);
• injuries – lower back pain can be the result of a fall, bruise, or fracture.

Can my back hurt badly with cystitis?Yes, this is one of the most common symptoms of inflammation of the bladder mucosa, which appears in combination with other symptoms.

If you are experiencing moderate to severe back pain, do not hesitate to see a doctor.At an early stage, it is easier to treat the pathology and prevent complications.The specialist will conduct a diagnosis, find out why your back hurts and select the optimal treatment regimen.

Low back pain varies

Depending on why the back pain appeared, the symptom differs in nature.This is an important diagnostic criterion that helps a specialist suspect a particular pathology already at the stage of treatment.

This is what pain in the spine in the lumbar region is like:

1. Shooting (lumbago).This is severe back pain that occurs due to an awkward movement or a sharp turn of the body, less often - against the background of complete calm.It has a burning, cutting character, does not allow the patient to straighten up, becomes stronger with the slightest movements, sneezing, coughing.It can last from a few minutes to 2-3 hours, sometimes days.
2. Sciatica.It has a shooting character and spreads along the sciatic nerve (to the buttock, leg).This is a very sharp back pain that leaves a person unable to sit, stand, or move around.
3. Gradually increasing.Characteristic of osteochondrosis and other degenerative disorders.When moving, sneezing, coughing, the symptom intensifies; additionally, there is a disturbance in sensitivity in the lower part of the body (numbness, tingling sensation, crawling).
4. Dull, aching.In this case, the symptom may indicate diseases of the internal organs (intestines, urinary tract, genital structures).Sometimes there is severe back pain and the patient needs urgent medical attention.
5. Spasms.They arise due to prolonged incorrect body position, which leads to impaired mobility of the spine.

Are there any additional symptoms?

Back pain in the lumbar region or under the shoulder blades often appears in combination with other pathological signs.Patients may be concerned about:

• visual disturbances (floaters before the eyes), fainting;
• headaches;
• dizziness, especially with a sudden change in body position;
• general weakness, weakness, decreased energy level;
• rapid onset of fatigue;
• numbness of the fingertips on the arms and legs, in the thighs, buttocks;
• pain in the back, as well as under the shoulder blades, behind the sternum, in the abdomen;
• disturbance is sensitive when emptying the intestines, bladder;
• burning in the limbs;
• change in gait, poor posture;
• feeling of stiffness, heaviness throughout the body;
• changes in blood pressure.

Moderate pain in the spine may be accompanied by periodic lumbago, which impairs motor activity.If even minimal manifestations of the listed symptoms appear, it is worth making an appointment with a neurologist.The doctor will conduct an examination and tell you how to get rid of the discomfort.

What to do for back pain?

Patients ask themselves: what to do if their back hurts in the lumbar region?Tactics depend on the possible origin of the symptom, its nature and severity.In any case, it is important to seek medical help.Before being examined by a specialist, you can take the following measures:

1. If pain in the spine is caused by an injury, it is better to avoid any movement until the ambulance arrives.
2. In case of a dislocation, bruise, fracture, or sprain, apply cold to the injury site.
3. If you have back discomfort caused by heavy lifting, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, internal organs and other factors, you should take a comfortable position (you can place your legs above head level).

If the cause of the symptom is unknown, you should not use warm compresses or ointments, as in some pathologies they can be harmful.If your back hurts badly, the only thing you can do before the doctor arrives is to take a pain reliever.

How to recognize the origin of pain?

It is possible to determine exactly why the patient has back pain and choose effective treatment tactics only after a complete examination.Initially, the doctor collects the patient’s anamnesis and complaints, studies the medical history.Additionally, the following diagnostic procedures may be prescribed:

• CT (computed tomography);
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging);
• radiography;
• laboratory tests;
• electromyography.

Instrumental examinations of the kidneys, urinary and gallbladder, genital organs, etc. may also be prescribed. The list of methods depends on the preliminary diagnosis and is selected individually in each case.

How to get rid of discomfort?

Lumbodynia is a symptom of multiple diseases, therefore the treatment of back pain is different for each patient.After all, it is important not just to eliminate discomfort, but to remove the cause that provokes its appearance.

It is possible to effectively treat back pain with a properly selected treatment package.It may include different methods:

• drug therapy;
• physiotherapeutic procedures;
• exercise therapy;
• massage;
• surgical methods.

The combination of methods is selected for each patient individually, taking into account the diagnosis, the stage of advanced pathology, and the presence of concomitant diseases of the internal organs.

Drug treatment of lumbodynia

To relieve discomfort of varying intensity, medications from the following pharmacological groups are used:

• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (remove signs of inflammation and discomfort);
• narcotic analgesics (prescribed exclusively by a specialist if the patient has unbearably severe back pain);
• muscle relaxants – relieve muscle spasms and stiffness;
• B vitamins (necessary for the correct functioning of the nervous system, in combination with other drugs they help get rid of pain, muscle tension, spasms).

Blockade injections based on NSAIDs and glucocorticosteroids may also be prescribed.Such injections provide interception of the pain impulse, which is directed from the pathological area to the brain.As a result, the patient does not experience discomfort.

Blockades are performed at trigger points.Administration of drugs is possible intramuscularly, intradermally or subcutaneously, intravenously.In addition, NSAIDs may contain anesthetic agents.Only a doctor can select a medicinal cocktail after determining the cause of the syndrome.

Physiotherapeutic treatment

Physiotherapy methods are often prescribed in combination with medication.If there is pain in the spine, this approach can speed up recovery.Used:

1. Magnetotherapy.A low-frequency magnetic field allows you to remove discomfort and a feeling of stiffness, relieve inflammation, and improve the mobility of the vertebrae and muscles.
2. CHANCE.Transcutaneous stimulation of sensory nerves with electrical impulses is performed.
3. Laser therapy.The use of ultraviolet, infrared and red rays provides effective pain relief.Prescribed for almost any disease.
4. Electrophoresis.Involves administering drugs using electrical impulses.
5. Phonophoresis(administration of drugs via ultrasound).

Therapeutic exercise

Helps get rid of chronic pain caused by physical inactivity, prolonged use of the computer, and intense physical activity.If your back hurts due to pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, exercise therapy is used as an additional treatment method in combination with other methods.

Therapeutic exercise provides:

• strengthening the muscle corset;
• increased muscle tone;
• correct distribution of the load on the spinal column;
• increased blood flow and lymph circulation;
• reducing pain, eliminating the feeling of stiffness;
• increased vertebral mobility.

All exercises are selected individually for patients, and it is important to strictly follow the technique of performing them in order to achieve the desired effect.

Massage is an effective way to combat lumbodynia

The procedure brings quick results, but to maintain it it is important to adjust your lifestyle.Otherwise, soon the pain will make itself felt again.Massage allows you to achieve muscle relaxation, increase tone, increase blood circulation and metabolism.

Massage techniques and their intensity in each clinical case are selected individually depending on why the pain appeared, the degree of neglect of the disease and the general health of the patient.The required number of sessions is 8-12.

Surgical treatment

Radical methods of combating pain are indicated for pathologies that cannot be eliminated conservatively.Surgical treatment is used in the following cases:

• intervertebral hernia;
• compression of nerve roots, spinal cord;
• spinal injuries;
• pronounced curvature of the spinal column.

Only a specialist can determine the need for surgery.After the intervention, patients are recommended to wear a bandage or a special corset for a speedy recovery and maintenance of the achieved result.

Pay attention!If you have pain in the lower back or chest from the back, you should not self-medicate and try folk recipes on yourself.At best, this approach will not produce results, and at worst, it will harm your health even more.

It will take a long time to completely get rid of discomfort and achieve recovery.Therefore, patients are often sent to specialized rehabilitation centers, resorts or sanatoriums.It is here that the treatment focuses on physical therapy, physiotherapeutic procedures, and massage.If necessary, therapeutic nutrition is selected in accordance with the established diagnosis.

If you complain of lower back pain, it is better to immediately seek qualified medical help.Only a doctor can select the necessary medications and additional treatment methods.

Who should I turn to for help?

If you have complaints of any pain in the spine, seek help from a neurologist.He will conduct a thorough examination, determine the cause of the symptom and prescribe effective treatment for back pain.

Do not delay seeking medical help if you experience the following conditions:

• frequent occurrence of symptoms during physical activity;
• discomfort appears periodically for unclear reasons and forces you to change your lifestyle;
• the symptom persists for several days and does not disappear (or gets worse);
• the pain is aching in nature and is constantly localized in one place, occurring even at rest;
• additionally there is lethargy, weakness in the limbs, numbness, increased body temperature, etc.

All these signs can indicate serious illnesses, so it is important to consult a specialist for a thorough diagnosis and selection of treatment.

All therapeutic programs are tailored individually, taking into account the diagnosis, stage of progression of the disease, the patient’s age and general health.For treatment, he uses only methods with proven effectiveness and certified drugs.

You can get help from a neurologist at home at an affordable price at any time of the day.Tell your doctor about your problem, and he will explain how to act specifically in your situation.

Prevention

To avoid the appearance of lumbodynia, follow a few simple rules:

• optimal level of physical activity, avoidance of intense physical activity;
• maintaining body weight within normal limits;
• watch your posture;
• timely treatment of any pathologies;
• balanced diet, sufficient intake of vitamins and minerals;
• women should minimize the use of high-heeled shoes;
• giving up alcohol and smoking.

And most importantly, at the first painful sensation, you should make an appointment with a doctor.

Don't tolerate back pain, seek help from a professional.He will determine the cause of the discomfort and tell you how to get rid of it for a long time.