When a person has acute or constant back pain in the lumbar region, it is very difficult to do anything. It is an exhausting and debilitating feeling that leads to irritability and anger. And there can be many reasons for the pain. They are far from always being associated with joint or bone pathologies, but they can indicate abnormalities in internal organs. Particularly attentive to such sensations should be women whose low back pain is often associated with dangerous gynecological pathologies.
Causes and nature of pain.
Although there are main reasons for each type of pain, the nature of the sensations may not always indicate 100% of a particular disease. Violations in the human body can be masked by different signs.
Low back pain is characterized by the following characteristics:
- Acute malaise. The patient has difficulty moving, the symptoms appear abruptly, radiate to the lower extremities. Acute pain is typical of injuries, compression of the vertebrae, diseases of the bones, for example, with tumors, Cushing's syndromes, and multiple myeloma. Displacement of the vertebrae is also accompanied by sharp pain.
- It's a dull pain. It mainly develops with muscle spasms, spinal hernia, radiculitis, and osteochondrosis. But it can occur with pathologies of the genitourinary system, kidneys, intestines and other organs. Radiculitis is divided into 2 diseases: lumbago with displacement of the vertebrae and sciatica, in which the nerve endings are affected and lumbago occurs. Very often painful pains appear with kidney pathologies.
- Periodic pains of a different nature. They arise mainly in the context of excessive physical exertion, especially with prolonged inactivity and the absence of warming up before playing sports. At the same time, periodic pain can be reflected and radiated if associated with organs.
- Constant painThey are mainly associated with varicose veins and other vascular pathologies, muscular dystrophy, degenerative diseases of bones and cartilage, as well as inflammation of these elements. Getting rid of persistent symptoms is extremely difficult.
- Shooting painsSharp, sudden and very strong sensations, which are accompanied by prolonged and unpleasant pain after low back pain. They develop against the background of careless movements, excessive stress, as well as under the influence of factors such as hypothermia.
- Radiating pain. Mainly associated with diseases of the kidneys, pelvic organs, genitourinary system. It can be colic, stones, as well as pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, including diseases of the gallbladder, ulcers, tumors and pathologies of the pancreas. In men, diseases of the testicles and prostate are usually the cause, and in women - ectopic pregnancy, diseases of the uterus and ovaries, cysts.
With the pain position predominantly to the right, abnormalities in the liver can be suspected.
Other reasons why your lower back hurts
Among the pathologies that lead to low back pain, diseases in which the symptoms are ambiguous, can be weak or acute, rare or permanent can also be distinguished:
- osteochondrosis - refers to degenerative forms of the disorder, in which the intervertebral disc becomes inflamed, loosens the bone surface and damages nerve endings;
- protrusion and intervertebral hernia are diseases that develop into 2-3 stages of osteochondrosis;
- scoliosis - a curvature of the spine to the left or right can cause very unpleasant sensations against the background of a decrease in the functions of the muscles and skeleton;
- ankylosing spondylitis - a chronic autoimmune change in the joints of the spine that leads to loss of mobility;
- rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the large and small joints, which has many reasons;
- bone infections, including bone tuberculosis, as well as infectious processes within organs;
- pancreatitis, adhesions in the digestive tract after surgery, appendicitis, cholecystitis;
- pyelonephritis, kidney stones and colic;
- Benign and malignant tumors of organs, tissues and bones, which compress the nerve endings of the lumbar region.
Painful sensations can cause muscle spasms, leading to symptoms of chills, as well as sprains caused by injuries or sudden movements.
Characteristics of the causes in women and men.
In women, sharp pulling and sometimes painful sensations can develop during ovulation in the middle of the cycle. These symptoms disappear quickly and do not cause serious discomfort. For some women, pain occurs after an abortion, which is considered very stressful on a woman's health. Low back pain can persist for a long time and is often associated with inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs. This happens against the background of an inaccurate procedure and severe trauma to the walls of the uterus.
In women, low back pain can be caused by inflammation of the appendages and ovaries, intensively growing uterine fibroids, large cysts, as well as ovarian bleeding, endometritis, and endometriosis. Sometimes such discomfort occurs during menopause, which is associated with a sharp change in hormonal balance.
In men, in addition to prostate cancer and prostatitis, back pain can appear with epididymitis - inflammation in the epididymis, but the main symptoms are localized in the groin area.
Diagnostic methods
Before undergoing a diagnosis and prescribing treatment for lumbodynia of the lumbar spine, you should visit an experienced specialist - a vertebrologist or orthopedist. But it is the vertebrologist who deals with diseases of the spine and knows everything about the effective therapy of these disorders.
After examination, palpation, gathering information about the patient, the doctor will prescribe several diagnostic methods:
- Bone scan. With the help of an X-ray, doctors identify the stage of osteochondrosis and other degenerative processes in the spine. The x-ray clearly shows the growth of osteophytes and allows you to measure the distance between the vertebrae.
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine. It reveals pathological changes in discs, vertebrae and joints, as well as in the surrounding soft tissues. MRI easily shows osteochondrosis and spondyloarthrosis even in the early stages.
- MyelographyA technique that uses a contrast medium, which helps detect vascular pathologies, tumors, as well as narrowing of the spinal canal, abscesses, and other similar changes.
To exclude diseases of internal organs and identify inflammatory processes, urine and blood are also prescribed. Sometimes a diagnosis of the gastrointestinal tract is required, including enzymes from the liver, pancreas, and stomach juice.
The diagnosis of back pain helps to distinguish some diseases from others and allows you to choose the appropriate treatment tactics. At home, just from the symptoms, it is impossible to understand what disease causes pain.
How to relieve lower back pain
Regardless of the cause of pain, the patient will be prescribed drugs from the following groups to relieve unpleasant symptoms (at the doctor's choice):
- Analgesics. They do not help all patients and act mainly on weak sources of pain.
- NSAIDs. Powerful painkillers, which are taken in courses. They also have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Hormonal agentsApplied in 6-10 days, includes.
- Injections and blockages. Combination drugs are often used in combination with glucocorticosteroids and anesthetics.
- Muscle relaxants. They help with muscle spasms, as well as osteochondrosis and other disorders when there is pain in the muscles.
- Topical products. Pain relievers, heat creams, gels, and patches should also be used only when indicated.
In some cases, especially in severe stages of joint or bone pathologies, several groups of drugs are used.
The doctor must prescribe medications, especially complexes such as glucocorticosteroids or hormonal blockers. Only strict adherence to instructions and recommendations, systematic and strict administration of drugs in the prescribed dosage will help to eliminate unpleasant sensations.
Treatment characteristics according to the type of pain.
For the treatment of low back pain to be effective, it is important to consider its nature. For each disorder and disease, pain can be of one nature or another.
Treatment of myofascial pain.
This is the name of the pain associated with stretching or muscle spasms. They develop against the background of excessive loading, improper weight lifting, and an incorrect approach to exercise. Myofascial pain can appear due to prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, when carrying bags in one of the hands or over the shoulder. Sometimes this symptom occurs against the background of poor posture.
With spasms, the infringement of the spinal roots occurs, so the symptoms are similar to sciatica: burning pain in the thighs, lower legs, numbness of the extremities.
You can treat these pains with pain relievers and NSAIDs in the form of ointments, injections, tablets, patches. Among the ointments it is better to choose warming and irritating agents.
Sometimes myositis, which causes pain, is caused by infections or toxins from worms. Then you need to drink antibiotics or anthelmintic drugs to defeat the cause of the pain. Hot compresses and ointments in this case are prohibited.
Crest diseases that involve nerve endings.
This category of diseases includes all disorders associated with dystrophic changes and injuries, be it osteochondrosis or spondylolisthesis. It requires the following treatments:
- bed rest during seizures - you need to lie on a hard surface, placing a small roller under the knees;
- drug treatment - most often NSAIDs are used in the form of injections;
- irritating and distracting ointments, as well as pepper plasters, mustard plasters, and iodine nets;
- sludge treatment and heating, as well as ozokerite, are used during remission;
- spasms are relieved with vacuum massage and acupuncture.
With radicular syndrome, which is expressed by severe pain, novocaine or weak opioid blockade, bed rest, dry or underwater traction of the lumbar spine, electrophoresis stimulation, and microcurrents should be used.
Treatment of degenerative inflammatory disorders.
To get rid of back and lumbar pain in degenerative diseases (spondyloatrosis), bed rest with flexion of the legs in the frog position is prescribed. In addition, non-steroidal drugs are used, with severe pain they are injected. Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle tension. Most often, patients suffer from chronic fatigue and depression caused by pain and require antidepressant medication.
Treatment of tumor diseases.
Benign and malignant tumors can be of very different nature: fatty lipomas, neuromas that affect the nerves, spinal hemangiomas, gliomas, osteosarcomas and chondrosarcomas. Tumor diseases require complex, long and complex treatment.
Prescription anticancer devices are mandatory, sometimes strong opioid patients are prescribed. They also carry out therapies for the causes of tumors, for which hormonal drugs, chemotherapy toxins, and targeted drugs can be used.
Therapy for tumor diseases is one of the most difficult and requires responsibility on the part of the patient and the doctors. The use of chemotherapy and radiation therapy drugs can make the patient's condition worse for a long time. The main thing is not to give up at this point and remember that detecting tumors up to stage 2 gives a very high chance of recovery. Even with stage 3 oncology, you can count on a successful fight against the disease.
Dangers and consequences of pain.
If low back pain is left untreated, ignored, or attempted to suppress with NSAIDs and other pain relievers, this can have dire consequences for the patient. Injuries are especially dangerous in this regard, as damage to the vertebrae can lead to displacement, cracks, and compression fractures. Other complications can also cause severe pain:
- the formation of chronic painful sensations, which it is impossible to get rid of even when taking strong painkillers;
- diseases of the spinal cord and brain, extensive damage to the nervous system and paralysis;
- decreased sensitivity of the upper and lower extremities;
- a strong limitation of mobility;
- complication from internal organs to paresis, fecal and urinary incontinence.
When the first symptoms of low back pain appear, it is important to undergo a diagnosis to identify the causes of the discomfort.
Back pain prevention.
The following prevention rules will help avoid certain diseases and discomfort:
- moderate physical activity, daily gymnastics to strengthen the muscle corset and improve blood circulation;
- the use of hard surfaces for sitting, the exclusion of constant stay on upholstered furniture;
- if a person works in a sitting position for a long time, he should use the furniture recommended for this;
- Preventing many diseases requires a correct diet and the rejection of bad habits;
- You must correctly transfer the weights, distribute the weight on both hands, and carefully, without jerking, lift a lot of weight.
Not a single person is immune to back pain. If the disease and pathological changes in the spine are detected in time, you can quickly and correctly get rid of them.