Back problems are very common. According to statistics, more than 30% of the population is facing suffering. Approximately 80% of adults suffer from varying degrees of pain during their lifetime.
Pain in the lumbar region is more common than pain in other parts of the spine. This is due to the fact that the lower back has the greatest burden and the risk of pathological processes in this area is higher. Pain in the waist area is not only related to spinal diseases, but also to the pathology of internal organs. Before treating low back pain, it is important to find out its origin.
Causes of pain syndrome
90% of lumbar spine pain is related to congenital and acquired vertebral disease.
The most common reasons are:
- Osteochondrosis of waist s;
- protrusion and intervertebral hernia;
- Spondylopathy;
- Spondyloarthropathy.
Congenital abnormalities cause pain:
- Irregularly shaped protrusions of vertebrae;
- Split vertebrae;
- Congenital curvature of the spine.
Nervous system causes of low back pain:
- Compression of nerve root;
- Low back pain (occurs when the sciatic nerve is damaged);
- Multiple sclerosis.
Low back pain may be a reflection and symptom of non-spine diseases:
- Urinary tract and genital infections;
- Kidney disease;
- Nephrolithiasis and urinary calculi (kidney and bladder stones);
- The formation of gastrointestinal tumors;
- Hemorrhoids;
- tumors in women’s uterus;
- radiculitis;
- As a complication after a previous virus infection.
Sometimes, under the background of physiological changes, severe back pain may occur in the lumbar region:
- During menstruation
- ;
- After giving birth;
- During pregnancy;
- is the result of rapid weight gain.
The predisposing factors for low back pain may be:
- Hypothermia;
- Weakness of the immune system and body in the context of infectious disease;
- Irregular sports activities;
- Work related to sitting for long periods of time (office employees, vehicle drivers);
- Excessive pressure leads to spinal compression fractures, cracks, and back muscle extension;
- Strength sports (bodybuilding, bodybuilding, shot put);
- Malnutrition-deficiency of vitamins and essential elements (phosphorus, calcium, fluoride) of bone tissue, excessive consumption of high-calorie food;
- Spine curvature (curved, kyphotic, scoliosis);
- Tension-Prolonged nervousness can exacerbate many chronic diseases and weaken the body.
Determination of the nature of pain
The nature of lumbar back pain may be different:
- Acute pain (lasting up to one and a half months);
- Subacute (one and a half months to three months);
- Chronic (more than three months).
Type of pain:
- Non-specific-Pain and its cause are not clearly located.
- Specific-is a symptom of certain diseases (tumor, hernia, osteoporosis).
Acute low back pain is usually sudden and occurs in the form of "lumbago" (lumbago) in the waist. The pain can spread to the buttocks, lower limbs and other parts of the body, thereby mimicking certain diseases.
Depending on the cause of lumbar spine pain, their nature may be different (stab wound, cut, crush, break, pain).
At the beginning of the pathological process, pain is usually not obvious. The patient may feel discomfort in the affected area and feel a "chicken skin bump" on the skin. Gradually, symptoms begin to increase and become more pronounced.
Attention!It is very important not to delay visiting experts. If left untreated, the pain will increase, and signs of interruption of the work of other organs and systems may appear in the future (sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence, paresis, restricted movement).
Effective treatment methods
Before starting treatment for low back pain, you need to consult a chiropractor or neurologist. He will try to find out the cause of the pain and conduct the necessary research. If necessary, he will send consultations to other experts (Gastroenterology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Urology).
In addition to interviewing patients and conducting visual inspections, it is recommended to use instrumental methods for diagnosis:
- CT;
- MRI;
- Electromyography.
In addition, routine blood and urine tests and material sampling for histological examination may also be required.
The following conditions require immediate medical attention:
- Appears for the first time, and suddenly has severe pain in the lower back;
- Irradiation on calf and foot pain, accompanied by thigh, leg numbness and pain;
- History of trauma;
- Urinary incontinence and stool incontinence;
- Pain lasts for more than 3 days;
- The existence of tumor diseases;
- Loss of appetite and rapid weight loss;
- Chills and fever;
- There is a bacterial infection;
- Unable to help himself due to pain.
In most cases, lumbar spine pain is caused by damage to the vertebral structure, and it is necessary to eliminate the cause. The treatment must be comprehensive.
Medicines
For any back pain, first use medication to relieve the pain. The doctor prescribes several types of drugs, including injections, tablets, and ointments.
Prescribing certain medications (such as NSAIDs or analgesics) without finding the cause of the pain will only make the situation worse.
For spinal diseases, it is recommended to use NSAIDs and analgesics to relieve pain and relieve inflammation.
Short-term (up to 5 days) muscle relaxants or oral muscle relaxants to relieve muscle cramps.
Using ointment to treat low back pain can effectively assist in the treatment of lower back problems. They help reduce pain, relieve inflammation and have a warmth retention effect. The ointment has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, combined, irritating, and cartilage protective effects. External therapy should be prescribed by a doctor according to the required treatment effect.
Corticosteroid injections are sometimes used to quickly relieve very severe pain. The drug is injected directly into the lesion. The course of such treatment should not exceed 2-3 injections.
Drug-free therapy
In order to restore the waist and enhance the effect of medication, the following measures are recommended:
- Massage;
- Manual therapy;
- Exercise therapy;
- Reflexology;
- Yoga;
- Physical therapy and other influence methods.
These methods can improve blood supply to problem areas, strengthen muscle tissue and ligaments, make them more elastic, and reduce pain. Without expert supervision, no medical procedure can be performed independently. Certain load patterns must be observed.
Useful tips
Tip:
- If back pain occurs, you should significantly reduce your physical activity. It is best to keep your body calm 2 days before the attack.
- It is not recommended to stay in bed for a long time unless there is a fracture, high fever or other aggravating symptoms. Moderate activity always benefits the spine.
- If the pain is unbearable, it is better to take painkillers. It is best to protect the gastrointestinal tract from the effects of drugs as much as possible.
- It is best to sleep in a fetal position to reduce the burden on your lower back. You can put a pillow between your legs.
- If you have problems with your lower back, it is recommended to walk as much as possible during work to warm up, which requires a long time to sit down.
Prevent back pain
Pain is a symptom of physical malfunction. In order to avoid lower back problems, it is necessary to avoid provocative factors as much as possible.
Preventive measures include:
- Regularly exercise moderately. At least half an hour of physical exercise every day. Yoga, swimming, and morning exercises are very useful.
- Follow the drinking regime. You need to drink up to 2 liters of liquid a day. Most of the time should be in the first half of the day. It is best not to drink any liquids after 8 pm.
- Let's eat. Significantly reduce the intake of fat and high-calorie foods. It is best to use boiled and steamed dishes.
- Regular inspections should be carried out at least once a year.
- Twice a year, a course of massage.
Lumbar spine pain indicates a physical problem. There may be many causes of pain. You cannot stop taking anesthetics immediately, you need to seek expert help and check. After all, problems can be hidden not only in the spine, but also in the work of other organs and systems. The earlier the cause of pain is identified and treated, the higher the chance of recovery.