Pain in the lower back accompanies about a quarter of the country's population, it appears once or becomes common and accompanies a person almost all his life.Lower back pain often bothers men and women over the age of 35 to 45.
In recent years, due to physical inactivity, poor diet, excess weight and constant stress, lower back pain syndrome increasingly occurs in adolescents and children.Therefore, many people are increasingly worried about the question of what to do if their lower back hurts.
Lower back pain
Spinal pain in the lower back can be dull, aching, shooting, and there may also be a girdling pain in the lower back.They can appear on the left or right side of the body, disappear without a trace or constantly reappear, worsening the quality of life and physical activity of a person.Patients complain that their lower back hurts a lot.It is important for the doctor to determine why the lower back hurts and the patient to receive quality treatment.
Causes of lower back pain
Sometimes severe lower back pain can be caused by excessive physical activity.Working in the countryside, overwork in the gym, carrying heavy loads and a sedentary lifestyle provoke the process when the lower back hurts.However, the pain usually goes away within a few days.But if no relief occurs, you should definitely consult a doctor to find out the causes of lower back pain.
Common reasons
Back pain in the lumbar region can have various causes.Pain can be caused by congenital diseases of the spine, malignant or benign tumors of the pelvic organs and infectious processes.Doctors have a sufficient number of facts explaining why the back hurts in the lumbar region.The following causes of pain are identified:
- Acute or chronic spasm of the back muscles.
- Protuberances (bulge of the intervertebral disc) and herniated discs.
- Osteochondrosis (dystrophic lesions of the joints or intervertebral discs), spondylosis (deformation, proliferation of bone tissue of the vertebrae), osteoarthritis (joint damage caused by metabolic disorders).
- Ankylosing spondylitis (chronic disease causing immobilization of the spine).
In men and women, the most common pathology is osteochondrosis, which causes curvature of the spine, compression of the roots of the spinal cord and severe pain in the lumbar spine.
One of the well-known syndromes is lumbago - lumbago in which the lower back or sacrum hurts very much.
At the lumbar level, the pain is often throbbing, tearing, lasts several minutes, but sometimes several hours or days, and disappears suddenly.
Dull, aching pain radiating below the ribs, combined with stretching of the renal capsule, is characteristic of kidney disease.This may be acute pyelonephritis (an inflammatory process that affects the tubular system of the kidneys) or blockage of the ureter by stones (stones).
Shooting pain in the lower back develops with persistent allergic syndrome, hormonal imbalance and tuberculosis.In this case, the destruction of the vertebrae occurs.
Pain in the lower back, radiating to the right, can be symptoms of diseases of the pancreas, duodenum, stomach ulcers, aneurysm (dilatation) of the abdominal aorta.With phlebitis (inflammation of the walls of venous vessels), proctitis (inflammation of the rectum), the lower back also hurts.Appendicitis or cholecystitis is characterized by pain that radiates to the right side of the lower back.
Shingles in the lumbar region can be caused by different types of herpes.Often, the virus does not manifest itself as a rash, but rather as pain.To find out what medications and how to treat pain, you should contact an infectious disease specialist who will advise you on taking antiviral medications.Girdle pain in the lower back also accompanies inflammation of the peritoneum, osteochondrosis, radiculitis and myositis.
In women
Lower back pain in women is caused by various reasons.The main ones are pregnancy, menopause, kidney disease, digestive system disorders, osteochondrosis and even spinal hernia.Such pain in the lower back not only causes discomfort, but can also disrupt the monthly cycle and lead to infertility.
Shooting pain in the lower back occurs in cases of gynecological problems.These can be inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs, endometriosis (pathological growth of the uterine epithelium), cysts on the ovaries, polyps, fibroids or other formations in the uterine cavity.
Only a specialist can determine the cause of lower back pain in a woman.Therefore, you do not need to decide for yourself what to do if your lower back hurts.First of all, you need to consult a gynecologist.
Women often experience lower back pain during their periods.The reasons for this are a temporary change in hormonal levels, an increase in the amount of estrogens that increase the body's sensitivity, fluid retention, an increase in the load on the spine and physiological contractions of the uterine walls.
Low back pain during pregnancy occurs in almost all women, but often does not require treatment.Pain in the lumbar region is associated with an increase in the pregnant woman's body weight and pressure on the spine, hormonal changes in the body, a slight shift in the center of gravity and a weakening of the musculo-ligament system of the lower abdomen.
Sometimes women complain of back pain even after giving birth.Experts say that postpartum causes of lower back pain appear after microtrauma of the musculo-ligamentous apparatus and joints of the spine.
Spinal instability is another problem for women of all ages, even those with mild obesity.Other common causes are damage to the intervertebral discs or joints.
Physical activity and prolonged standing in an upright position cause pain in the spine, pain in the lower back, difficulty straightening the body and a desire to lie down and rest.Osteoporosis can develop during the postmenopausal period.
In men
The occurrence of periodic back pain in men can be caused by professional activities associated with excessive physical activity, uncomfortable body postures and working in the cold.The culprit of pain radiating to the lumbar region or groin may be epididymitis - inflammation of the testicles, manifested by swelling of the scrotum and fever.With prostatitis, inflammation of the bladder, a man is bothered by dull pain on the left side of the back.
Lower back pain in men over 40 is often caused by a herniated intervertebral disc.Characterized by back pain when coughing, sneezing, difficulty bending and straightening the back.Lower back pain intensifies when standing, so these patients tend to lie down more quickly.An advanced hernia and lower back pain sometimes require surgery.
The listed specific male diseases and other pathologies in which the lower back constantly and seriously hurts should not be treated without the supervision of a doctor.Self-medication can lead to aggravation and complication of the pathological process and lead to disability.Treatment of the lumbar spine can only be carried out by certified specialists.
Diagnosis of diseases
If the exact cause of the pain is not yet known, diagnostic measures should begin with a visit to the therapist.Treatment of lower back pain should begin after an accurate diagnosis has been established, carried out after a comprehensive examination.The exam includes:
- study of the anamnesis (ask the patient about the disease);
- visual inspection of painful points;
- blood and urine tests (general and biochemical);
- ultrasound examination (ultrasound);
- Radiological examination of the spine;
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
- computed tomography (CT).
Since pain in the lumbar region is caused not only by neurological, but also by somatic causes, the patient should be examined by a neurologist, vertebrologist, therapist and nephrologist.Women, if they have lower back pain, should definitely be examined by a gynecologist, and men should consult a urologist.
Treatment of lower back pain
After making a correct diagnosis of low back pain, the specialist prescribes treatment specific to this pathology, aimed at eliminating the causes of the disease.
If you have back pain, you should not look for the answer to the question of how to relieve lower back pain from your neighbors, acquaintances or on the Internet.Lower back pain has different causes, so the treatment of each disease is individual.Only a doctor knows how to cure a patient and relieve pain.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve lower back pain.These drugs have a negative effect on the gastric mucosa, so they should be taken simultaneously with drugs that reduce acidity and protect the stomach walls from damage.For pain, you can use suitable ointments or gels prescribed by your doctor.
Since pain in the spine and lower back is caused by various reasons, only specialists can prescribe appropriate treatment for the lower back.Therefore, at the first opportunity you should consult a doctor and not self-medicate.Only a doctor can determine why the lower back hurts and how to get rid of lower back pain.
At home, treatment of lower back pain can be carried out only after examination and medical examination, otherwise incurable complications may arise.
If you have lower back pain, treatment can be complex, that is, you can use both traditional and folk methods.
Prevention
It is better to prevent pain in the spine, then you will not have to search for the answer to the question of how to treat lower back pain.The prevention rules are simple but effective.The main thing is not to forget to fill them out.
According to statistics, more than 25-30% of people have suffered from this condition when they have back pain.Planned preventive monitoring of health status and a timely consultation with a doctor allow you to identify an emerging pathology, diagnose why the spine hurts in the lumbar region, why the lower back is pulled.
Morning exercises, jogging, brisk walks, gym classes, swimming are the main physical activities necessary for the spinal and back muscles.At least 20-30 minutes a day, without strong tension and overload, will help strengthen muscle tissue.
To reduce the load on the spine, you need to adjust your body weight.Overweight and a sedentary lifestyle are the enemies of the spine.
To properly reduce body weight, you should not get carried away with diets found on the Internet.It is better to consult a nutritionist or your doctor to receive competent recommendations on nutrition and maintaining water-salt balance.
Routine medical checkups are important to prevent back pain in the lumbar region.Women need to visit a gynecologist every year, men - a urologist.Many spinal diseases begin in childhood.
Parents should closely monitor the child's health, teach him to exercise, play active children's games and correct posture.School-aged children must undergo a routine medical examination each year before the start of the school year.
If you have lower back pain, a positive attitude, faith in success, compliance with all instructions of specialists make it possible to reduce or completely get rid of pain and lead a full life.