Pain in the lower back affects about a quarter of the country's population, occurs once, or becomes a common occurrence and follows a person almost all his life.Lower back pain often afflicts men and women over the age of 35-45.
In recent years, due to physical inactivity, poor nutrition, excess weight and constant stress, pain syndrome in the lower back is occurring more and more often in adolescents and children.Therefore, many people are increasingly concerned about the question of what to do if they have lower back pain.
Lower back pain
Spinal pain in the lower back can be dull, aching, shooting, and it can also be girdling pain in the lower back.They can appear on the left or right side of the body, disappear without a trace or keep coming back, worsening the person's quality of life and physical activity.Patients complain of severe lower back pain.It is important for the doctor to determine why the lower back hurts, and for 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, overexertion in the gym, carrying heavy loads and a sedentary lifestyle provoke the process when the lower back hurts.However, the pain usually goes away after a few days.But if there is no relief, you should definitely consult a doctor to find out the causes of lower back pain.
The usual reasons
Back pain in the lumbar region can have different causes.Pain can be caused by congenital diseases of the spine, malignant or benign tumors of the pelvic organs, infectious processes.Doctors have a sufficient number of facts that explain why the back hurts in the lumbar region.The following causes of pain are identified:
- Acute or chronic back muscle spasm.
- Protrusions (bulging of the intervertebral disc) and disc herniation.
- Osteochondrosis (dystrophic damage to joints or intervertebral discs), spondylosis (deformation, proliferation of vertebral bone tissue), arthrosis (joint damage caused by metabolic disorders).
- Ankylosing spondylitis (a chronic disease that leads to immobilization of the spinal column).
In men and women, the most common pathology is osteochondrosis, which causes curvature of the spinal column, compression of the spinal cord root, and severe pain in the lumbar spine.
One of the well-known syndromes is lumbago - lumbago, in which the lower back or sacrum hurts a lot.
In the lumbar region, the pain is often pulsating, tearing, lasts several minutes, and sometimes several hours or days, and suddenly disappears.
A dull, aching pain that spreads under the ribs, associated with stretching of the kidney capsule, is characteristic of kidney disease.It can be acute pyelonephritis (an inflammatory process affecting the tubular system of the kidneys) or blockage of the ureter with stones (stones).
Excruciating pain in the lower back develops with persistent allergic syndrome, hormonal imbalance and tuberculosis.In this case, the vertebrae are destroyed.
Pain in the lower back, radiating to the right, can be symptoms of diseases of the pancreas, duodenum, stomach ulcer, aneurysm (dilation) of the abdominal aorta.In 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 radiating to the right side of the lower back.
Shingles in the lumbar region can be caused by various types of herpes.Often the virus does not manifest itself as a rash, but as pain.To find out which drugs and how to treat the pain, you need to consult an infectious disease specialist who will advise you on taking antiviral drugs.Pain in the belt 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, disorders of the digestive system, osteochondrosis or spinal hernia.Such pain in the lower back not only causes discomfort, but can disrupt the monthly cycle and lead to infertility.
Excruciating pain in the lower back occurs with gynecological problems.These can be inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs, endometriosis (pathological growth of the uterine epithelium), ovarian cysts, polyps, fibroids or other formations in the uterine cavity.
Only a specialist can determine what can cause lower back pain in a woman.So you don't have to decide for yourself what to do if your lower back hurts.First of all, you need to visit a gynecologist.
Often women have lower back pain during menstruation.The reasons are a temporary change in hormone levels, an increase in the amount of estrogen that increases the sensitivity of the body, water retention, an increase in the load on the spine and physiological contractions of the uterine walls.
Pain in the lower back during pregnancy occurs in almost every woman, 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 weakening of the muscle-ligament system of the lower abdomen.
Sometimes women complain that their back hurts even after giving birth.Experts say that postpartum causes of pain in the lower back occur after microtrauma of the muscle-ligamentous apparatus and joints of the spine.
Spinal instability is another problem for women of any age, even those with mild obesity.Other common causes are damage to intervertebral discs or joints.
Physical activity and prolonged standing in an upright position cause pain in the spine, pain in the lower back, difficulty in straightening the body and the desire to lie down and rest.Osteoporosis can develop during the postmenopausal period.
In men
Occurrence of periodic back pain in men can be caused by professional activities associated with excessive physical activity, uncomfortable body positions and working in the cold.The culprit of pain radiating to the lumbar region or groin can be epididymitis - inflammation of the testicles, which is manifested by swelling of the scrotum and increased temperature.With prostatitis, inflammation of the bladder, a man suffers from dull pain on the left side of his back.
Lower back pain in men over 40 is often caused by herniated intervertebral discs.It is characterized by back pain when coughing, sneezing, difficulty bending and straightening the back.The pain in the lower back increases when standing upright, so such patients tend to lie down more quickly.Advanced hernias and lower back pain sometimes require surgery.
Mentioned specific male diseases and other pathologies in which the lower part of the back constantly and strongly hurts should not be treated without the supervision of a doctor.Self-medication can lead to worsening and complications of the pathological process and lead to disability.Treatment of the lumbar spine can only be performed by authorized specialists.
Disease diagnosis
If the exact cause of the pain is not yet known, diagnostic measures should begin with a visit to a therapist.Treatment of pain in the lower back should be started after an accurate diagnosis is made, which is carried out after a complete examination.The exam includes:
- studying the anamnesis (asking the patient about the disease);
- visual examination of painful points;
- blood and urine tests (general and biochemical);
- ultrasound examination (ultrasound);
- x-ray examination of the spine;
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
- computed tomography (CT).
Since pain in the lumbar region arises not only from neurological, but also from 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 by a urologist.
Treatment of lower back pain
After the correct diagnosis of pain in the lower back is made, the specialist prescribes treatment specific to this pathology, the goal of which is to eliminate the cause of the disease.
If you have back pain, you should not look for the answer to the question of how to relieve pain in the lower back from your neighbors, acquaintances or on the Internet.Pain in the lower back has different causes, so the treatment of each disease is individual.Only the doctor knows how to cure the patient and how to relieve the pain.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain in the lower back.These drugs have a negative effect on the stomach lining, so they must be taken simultaneously with drugs that reduce acidity and protect the stomach walls from damage.For pain, you can use appropriate ointments or gels prescribed by your doctor.
Since pain in the spine and lower back occurs for different reasons, only specialists can prescribe the appropriate treatment for the lower back.Therefore, you should consult a doctor at the first opportunity, and not self-medicate.Only a doctor can determine why lower back pain and how to get rid of lower back pain.
At home, treatment of pain in the lower back can be carried out only after examination and medical examination, otherwise incurable complications may arise.
If your lower back hurts, then the 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 look for an answer to the question of how to treat pain in the lower back.The rules of prevention are simple, but effective.The main thing is not to forget to fill them.
According to statistics, more than 25-30% of people have experienced this condition when their back hurts.Preventive planned monitoring of the health condition and timely consultation with a doctor allow you to identify the initial pathology, diagnose why the spine hurts in the lumbar region, why the lower back is pulling.
Morning exercises, running, brisk walks, gym classes, swimming are the main physical activities necessary for the muscles of the spine and back.At least 20-30 minutes a day, without strong tension or overload, will help strengthen the muscle tissue.
To reduce the load on the spine, you need to adjust your body weight.Excess weight and physical inactivity are enemies of the spine.
In order to properly reduce body weight, you should not get carried away by diets found on the Internet.It is better to consult a nutritionist or doctor in order to get competent recommendations on nutrition and maintenance of water and salt balance.
Routine medical examinations are important for the prevention of back pain in the lumbar region.Women must see a gynecologist every year, men - a urologist.Many spinal diseases begin in childhood.
Parents must closely monitor the child's health, teach him exercise, active children's games and proper posture.School-aged children must undergo a routine medical examination each year before the start of the school year.
If you have pain in the lower back, a positive attitude, faith in success, following all the instructions of experts allows you to reduce or completely eliminate pain and lead a full life.