Many people on the planet at least once experienced pain in the lower back.According to statistics, only 10% of the population does not know what pain in the lower back is.In recent years, lumbago in the lumbar region began to appear in patients at an early age, not only after intense physical exertion, but also in various diseases.
species
Isolated cases of lower back pain are usually not a cause for concern.Frequent hypothermia, heavy work and heavy lifting can provoke destructive changes in the spine.The appearance of pain is a sign of the development of a pathological process that must be treated in order to preserve full motor ability.
Determining the nature and intensity will help you understand why the unpleasant sensations appear.Accurately determining the pathology will help prescribe effective treatment to eliminate pain.
Depending on the duration of action, lower back pain can be:
- acute - occurs suddenly, is accompanied by high intensity, the duration of the symptom does not exceed thirty days and is often painful in nature;
- chronic - the patient is worried for more than six months, the pain is constant, not strong, signals old processes in the body;
- intermittent - appears in the acute stage, disappears completely with the onset of the remission period;
- Constant pain accompanies many conditions that require immediate treatment, these can be pathologies of the spine, nervous system, vascular damage and oncological tumors.
A person can feel pain in one point or in the whole back.Based on the location, local pain that does not exceed the boundaries of the lesion or generalized pain that covers the entire lower back can be distinguished.
Sometimes the pain spreads to the lower limb, causing a forced position when moving.This symptom is manifested in serious disorders in the spine.The reflected nature of pain occurs in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or gynecological problems.
Reasons
A non-pathological etiology may include severe lower back pain after prolonged physical activity.The accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles causes a painful effect that disappears by itself after a few days.
Main reasons:
- Dystrophic changes in the cartilage tissue of the lumbosacral vertebrae (osteochondrosis) are complicated by the proliferation of bone tissue and the loss of elasticity of the flattened cartilage.Lower back pain worsens when the intervertebral disc is deformed, a complication of which is intervertebral hernia.This condition causes increased pain that spreads to the thigh and sometimes affects the ankle area.
- Traumatic injuries due to impact or fall.
- Shortening of one limb is observed in coxarthrosis of the second and third degree, after injury or surgery, individual peculiarities at birth and a high degree of scoliosis.
- Hypothermia leads to myositis.Inflammatory phenomena in the muscle fibers cause widespread, constant pain.
- Radiculitis is a neurological pathology that is based on inflammation of the root of one of the spinal nerves.A sudden sharp pain pierces the patient, forcing him to bend over.
- Scoliotic curvature of the spine.
- Thrombophlebitis is damage to the vessel wall with the formation of a blood clot;with this pathology, a pain effect in the lower limb is also observed.
- Advanced forms of atherosclerosis with impaired blood circulation.
- Inflammatory kidney diseases.
- Gynecological pathologies, pain arises in the lower abdomen and spreads to the lower back.
- Hormonal disorders in the body in women during menopause.
- Inflammation of the prostate gland in men.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Infectious diseases: tuberculosis, brucellosis and some others.
- Pancreatitis and cholecystitis provoke pain in the lower back.
- Malignant neoplasms in the lumbosacral region or abdominal cavity.
Diagnostic measures
Understanding why your lower back hurts is important for permanent pain relief.The diagnosis should be made by an experienced doctor.During the appointment, an anamnesis is collected, complaints are heard and the patient's heredity is clarified.
Visualization and palpation are performed to identify the deformed areas of the spine and locate the most painful place in the lower back.
To confirm the assumption, the following procedures are performed:
- laboratory analysis of blood and urine to determine possible inflammation in the body;
- biochemical blood test for indicators of a possible rheumatological factor;
- X-ray examination of the spine will determine the presence of a hernia or protrusion;
- ultrasound examination of blood vessels and pelvic organs;
- computed tomography of the spine;
- If necessary, an examination by an infectious disease specialist, rheumatologist, phthisiologist or gynecologist is scheduled.
Treatment
Taking painkillers will have a short-term effect, after which the pain in the lower back will return again.Treatment measures should consist of a set of basic and auxiliary treatment procedures.
A sudden attack requires immediate help.Actions to relieve the condition:
- take a pain reliever;
- tightly wrap the lumbar region to create compression on the sore spot;
- contact a medical professional for qualified assistance.
At the moment of acute pain, if there is no accurate diagnosis, it is forbidden to try to warm the inflamed lower back so that the inflammation does not increase.It is not recommended to conduct a session of therapeutic massage and manual therapy during an exacerbation.
medicines
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will relieve lower back pain and eliminate inflammation by regulating body temperature.Only a doctor can prescribe medication.Uncontrolled use of non-hormonal painkillers leads to irritation of the gastric mucosa.Taking a drug that suppresses the secretion of gastric acid half an hour before the NSAID will prevent the pathological condition.
- Glucocorticosteroids are prescribed for severe inflammatory reactions.
- Diuretics will relieve swelling by removing excess fluid, which will reduce pain.
- Muscle relaxants will relieve spasms and relax skeletal muscles.
- Chondroprotectors to prevent destruction in the spine.
- Antibiotics for inflammation of the internal organs.This pharmacological group disrupts the balance of intestinal microflora.Probiotics will help prevent the occurrence of dysbiosis.
- To strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
Local treatment
Medicines intended for local treatment will help relieve pain.Ointments and creams for external use may contain active ingredients: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers, viper, cobra, viper, scorpion venom.
Patches with medicinal base are convenient to use during the day.The pepper patch is placed directly on the lower back and within a few hours has a uniform therapeutic effect on the affected area.
Kinesio tape is a type of pain reliever.Taping gives an immediate effect;if done correctly, it can stay on the skin for up to 5 days, providing lasting pain relief.
Orthopedic products include wearing a rigid lumbosacral corset.The bandage is designed for static loads, provides support for the lumbar region and relieves pain due to compression.For sciatica, warming corsets with dog, camel or llama hair are prescribed.
Physiotherapy
Phonophoresis with lidocaine provides rapid relief of symptoms by rapid penetration of a strong anesthetic into the deep subcutaneous layers.The safe method does not have a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract, which is an additional advantage.
Massage is effective during the pain-free period.After the course, blood circulation is improved, the muscular system is toned and mobility in the lumbar area is improved.
Acupuncture allows you to apply acupuncture points at specific points for the purpose of treatment and prevention.The Kuznetsov applicator is ideal for home use.Plastic needles increase blood flow and trigger natural pain relief processes.
Magnetic therapy is used to treat many diseases, including osteochondrosis, vascular pathologies and gynecological diseases.The impulse current penetrates up to 7 cm under the skin, reaching the damaged areas.The therapeutic effect is cumulative, achieved at the end of the first course and maintained until the next session.
Prevention
To keep your lower back healthy, you will need to follow the well-known rules:
- lead an active lifestyle;
- avoid heavy loads during professional activities, during sports training and weight lifting;
- wear a lumbosacral corset for dynamic loads when the spine is tense;
- wear orthotics to provide shock absorption while walking;
- eat right and monitor your weight so that extra pounds do not contribute to the development of additional diseases;
- Seek medical advice if suspicious symptoms occur.