It turns out that back pain in the lumbar region is very common.
According to biologists, such a symptom is a consequence of our upright posture, in which the load falls mainly on the lumbar region and is not distributed evenly throughout the spine. Pain in the lower back can signal very serious problems not only with the spine, but also with the internal organs.
If the pain is severe and accompanied by fever, call an ambulance.
If such symptoms are not observed, it is worth contacting a therapist for an accurate diagnosis. Let's see why these symptoms occur, how they can be treated and avoided.
The main causes of low back pain
First of all, let's find out the reasons for these unpleasant symptoms. Pain can be primary with pathologies of the spine or secondary with diseases of internal organs.
Along with the reasons, it is important to identify the factors that increase the pain syndrome.
Here they are:
- Particularities of the job: intense physical activity for builders and loaders and weight lifting for athletes.
- Prolonged sitting.
- Overweight and sedentary lifestyle.
- Poor nutrition and lack of protein, calcium and phosphorus in the body.
- Bad habits: alcohol and alcoholic drinks.
Even by reducing the impact of these factors, you will significantly alleviate your condition and the health of your spine.
Primary factors
Primary factors are associated with degenerative-dystrophic processes in the spine.
These include:
- Osteochondrosis is a change in cartilage and intervertebral discs that results in herniated or deformed discs.
- Spondylosis is characterized by the formation of bony growths on the vertebrae. With this growth, a spasm of the muscles around the spine occurs, which limits its mobility. The appearance of injuries in the lower back.
- Spondylarthrosis is a degeneration of the articular surfaces of the vertebrae, as well as their involvement in the pathological process of ligaments, joints and muscles. In this case, deformation of the intervertebral discs occurs, and the mobility of the spine is also limited.
- Spondylolisthesis is manifested by the displacement of the vertebrae, as a result of which the lumen of the spinal canal changes.
- Herniated discs.
- Radiculopathy is damage to the nerve roots.
Secondary factors
The secondaries occur with concomitant pathologies:
- Metabolic problems.
- Curvature of the spine.
- When located near the spine of malignant formations.
- Infectious diseases: spinal osteomyelitis, tuberculous spondylitis, spinal epidural abscess.
- Injury to the spine.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Painful symptoms of a psychogenic nature.
- Diseases of the digestive system.
- Diseases of the pelvic organs.
- Menstrual pain.
In addition, spinal problems can be affected by flat feet, which is the flattening of the arch of the foot.
Pregnancy can also cause pain. In the early stages, they appear when progesterone is exposed to ligaments and muscles, also with the threat of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
After childbirth, pain may appear as a result of stretching the pelvic muscles, or increased stress on the spine, with frequent carrying of the baby in the arms.
What diseases does this pain signal?
The location of the pain is also important.
So, let's look at each case:
- aching pain on the right and above the lower back may indicate pathology of the lungs. These symptoms are accompanied by shortness of breath, cough, and fever. Also on gallbladder or liver problems. In this case, the nature of the pain is throbbing;
- if discomfort is felt above the lower back on the left, it may be a sign of pancreatitis, myocardial infarction, pericarditis or left pleurisy;
- painful symptoms in the lumbar region signal osteochondrosis in this area, intervertebral hernias, as well as compression fractures;
- a symptom of pain under the lower back, which radiates to the lower abdomen, is a sign of diseases of the pelvic organs. These diseases include fibroids, endometriosis, prostate pathology, colon diseases, and infectious gynecological diseases. It can also indicate that the kidneys are broken down.
Which doctor will help you?
Most often, back pain occurs temporarily. It is only in rare cases that such symptoms signal complex diseases.
In any case, it is worth knowing which doctor can help you in such a situation. Often, sharp pain occurs with increased physical exertion.
In other cases, you can seek help from a surgeon, urologist, or even a chiropractor who will make a more accurate diagnosis and prescribe rather than treat a similar problem.
In addition, with such pain, you may need to consult a traumatologist, orthopedist, gastroenterologist, specialist in infectious diseases, proctologist or gynecologist.
Processing characteristics
Depending on the causes of the back pain, the doctor prescribes the following treatment options:
- drug treatment with pain relievers and hormones;
- blockages, which are injections into the intervertebral joints;
- manual techniques;
- physiotherapy procedures;
- physiotherapy;
- acupuncture.
If conservative treatment does not help, then surgery is used.
In the treatment of herniated disc against the background of osteochondrosis, physiotherapeutic methods are used in addition to the main treatment.
Healing blocks are used when other methods do not give the desired effect. Most often, anesthetics are injected into the lumen of the affected joint for this.
Acupuncture is recommended for disc protrusions, osteochondrosis or hernias. If the pain radiates to the leg, physical therapy is also used.
Wearing a special corset allows you to restrict movement in the lumbar region. This helps reduce pain in the area of inflammation of the joints.
For back pain, the doctor may give the following recommendations:
- Rest in bed on a hard surface for 2 to 5 days.
- Wear a special bandage.
- The use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
- To get rid of muscle spasms, muscle relaxers are prescribed. Special drugs are also used to help relax muscles.
- To improve blood circulation and reduce edema, vascular and diuretic drugs are used.
- All kinds of gels and ointments are used as local therapy.
- To consolidate the positive result, physiotherapy procedures are prescribed. It can be electrophoresis, phonophoresis and magnetotherapy.
Physiotherapy and special massages help improve blood circulation, relieve muscle tension and eliminate inflammation.
If the pain in the lumbar region is not associated with complex diseases, yoga will help alleviate the disease.
You can do these exercises at home and they don't take much time.
Hypothermic pain
Did you know that hypothermia is a common cause of back pain. In this case, you do not even need to freeze, but to sweat and go under the air conditioner.
In this case, the hot surface of the body will come into contact with a stream of cold air. And the next day, it will be difficult to get up or get up.
In such a situation, the pain becomes constant and painful.
First of all, you need to warm up your back. A heating-type ointment is suitable for this. If there is no cure, regular alcohol will also help. After rubbing, the lower back should be wrapped in something warm.
A similar procedure is carried out every day. With severe pain, it is worth seeking help from a doctor. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain.
If you often suffer from hypothermia, get a dog or sheep's wool belt.
What to do with lumbar lumbago?
Such pain occurs with heavy physical exertion. A sharp pain passing through the leg appears when you are carrying weights.
A similar symptom is characteristic of lumbosacral radiculitis, called lumbago or lumbago. In such a situation, you have to lie down on a hard surface.
Take a pain reliever for pain relief.
Remember that with such signs you cannot take a hot bath or take a steam bath. In this case, the dry heat will help more.
For example, a special ointment. It is also worth limiting the intake of salt and fluids for several days.
What will help with a hernia?
With a hernia there is a sharp, constant pain that increases with any movement. Relief only comes from lying down.
Numbness in the lower back may also be felt. To relieve the pain, bed rest and a pain reliever should be taken. Then you need to call a doctor.
In the acute period, serious and qualified treatment is required.
What to do in prevention?
Do not wait for the onset of severe pain, but start taking preventive measures.
Here they are:
- Identification and treatment of concomitant diseases that can cause low back pain.
- Good nutrition with sufficient amounts of phosphorus, calcium and other vitamins.
- Heavy physical exertion and heavy lifting should be avoided. In this case, the load must be distributed evenly. Do not make sudden movements.
- Lead an active lifestyle. Go for a walk, swim or do yoga.
- Take therapeutic massage classes from time to time.
- When you're sedentary, take a break every hour and get some exercise.
- The bed should be comfortable, for example with an orthopedic mattress.
For prevention, you can wear special elastic belts, posture correctors or bandages.
Such devices are recommended for pregnancy and intense physical exertion.
It is important to control your weight, as a heavy body weight increases the load on the spine. Get rid of bad habits and also have a routine check-up every year.
Physiotherapy
Exercise at home to strengthen your back muscles and prevent pain. Exercise should be done regularly.
A well-designed set of exercises will help improve posture, increase muscle tone, and activate blood circulation.
In such a complex, you can use the following movements:
- the body tilts in different directions. First left and right, then front to back;
- body turns to the sides;
- at the knee - in the elbow position you need to bend your back up and down;
- lying on the back, legs bent at the knees, the pelvis is raised;
- From a lying position, the straightened legs should be bent at the knees and pulled towards the chest.
Do each exercise 8-10 times.
Do not ignore the symptoms of pain in the lumbar region, go to the doctor and take preventive measures that will help normalize your well-being and strengthen your health.