Pain in the lower back is a companion of about a quarter of the country's population, appears once or becomes a common occurrence and accompanies a person almost throughout his life.Low back pain often bothers men and women over the age of 35-45.
In recent years, due to physical inactivity, poor nutrition, excess weight and constant stress, low back pain syndrome is increasingly manifested in adolescents and children.Therefore, many people are increasingly concerned about the question of what to do if the lower back hurts.
Lower back pain
Spinal pain in the lower back can be dull, aching, stabbing and there can also be severe pain in the lower back.They can appear on the left or right side of the body, disappear without a trace or constantly return, worsening a person's quality of life and physical activity.Patients complain that the lower back hurts a lot.It is important for the doctor to determine why the lower back hurts and for the patient to receive quality treatment.
Causes of back pain
Sometimes severe lower back pain can be caused by excessive physical activity.Work in the country, excessive effort 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 relief does not occur, you should definitely consult a doctor to find out the causes of 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.
- Protrusions (bulging of the intervertebral disc) and herniated discs.
- Osteochondrosis (dystrophic damage to the joints or intervertebral discs), spondylosis (deformation, proliferation of the bone tissue of the vertebrae), arthrosis (joint damage caused by metabolic disorders).
- Ankylosing spondylitis (a chronic disease that leads to 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 best-known syndromes is lumbago, a lumbago in which the lower back or sacrum hurts a lot.
In the lumbar region, the pain is often throbbing, stabbing, lasts several minutes, but sometimes several hours or days and disappears suddenly.
Dull, aching pain radiating under the ribs, associated with stretching of the renal capsule, is characteristic of kidney disease.This may be acute pyelonephritis (an inflammatory process affecting the tubular system of the kidneys) or blockage of the ureter with stones (stones).
Nagging pain in the lower back develops with persistent allergic syndrome, hormonal imbalance and tuberculosis.In this case, destruction of the vertebrae occurs.
Pain in the lower back, radiating to the right, can be a symptom of diseases of the pancreas, duodenum, gastric ulcers, aneurysm (dilatation) of the abdominal aorta.With phlebitis (inflammation of the walls of the 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 lower back can be caused by various types of herpes.Often the virus does not manifest itself as a rash, but rather as aches and pains.To find out which drugs and how to treat pain, you need to contact an infectious disease specialist who will advise you on taking antiviral drugs.Belt pain in the lower back also accompanies inflammation of the peritoneum, osteochondrosis, radiculitis and myositis.
In women
Back pain in women is caused by various reasons.The main ones are pregnancy, menopause, kidney disease, digestive system disorders, osteochondrosis or hernia of the spine.Such pain in the lower back not only causes discomfort, but can also interrupt the monthly cycle and lead to infertility.
Nagging 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), cysts on the ovaries, polyps, fibroids or other formations in the uterine cavity.
Only a specialist can determine what can cause a woman's back pain.Therefore, you do not need to decide for yourself what to do if your lower back hurts.First of all, you need to visit a gynecologist.
Women often suffer from back pain during the menstrual period.The reasons are a temporary change in hormone levels, an increase in the amount of estrogens that increase the sensitivity of the body, water retention, an increased 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-ligamentous system of the lower abdomen.
Sometimes women complain that their back hurts even after giving birth.Experts say that the causes of postpartum low back pain appear after microtraumas of the musculo-ligament system 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 the discs or intervertebral joints.
Physical activity and prolonged standing cause spinal pain, lower back pain, difficulty straightening the body, and a desire to lie down and rest.Osteoporosis can develop during the postmenopausal period.
In men
The appearance of periodic back pain in men can be caused by professional activities associated with excessive physical activity, uncomfortable body postures and work 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 a dull pain on the left side of his back.
Low back pain in men over the age of 40 is often caused by herniated intervertebral discs.Characterized by back pain when coughing, sneezing, difficulty bending and straightening the back.Pain in the lower back intensifies when standing, so these patients tend to lie down more quickly.Advanced hernia and lower back pain sometimes require surgery.
The listed male-specific diseases and other pathologies in which the lower back hurts constantly and severely should not be treated without the supervision of a doctor.Self-medication can lead to aggravation and complication of the pathological process and cause disability.Treatment of the lumbar spine can only be performed by certified specialists.
Disease diagnosis
If the exact cause of the pain is not yet known, diagnostic measures should begin with a visit to the therapist.Treatment of low back pain should begin after an accurate diagnosis has been established, which is carried out after a comprehensive examination.The exam includes:
- study of the anamnesis (question the patient about the disease);
- visual inspection of painful points;
- blood and urine tests (general and biochemical);
- ultrasound examination (ultrasound);
- Radiographic 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 somatic causes, the patient should be examined by a neurologist, vertebrologist, therapist and nephrologist.Women, if they have pain in the lower back, should definitely be examined by a gynecologist, and men should visit a urologist.
Treatment of lower back pain
After making a correct diagnosis of low back pain, the specialist prescribes a specific treatment for this pathology, which aims to eliminate the causes of the disease.
If your back hurts, you should not look for the answer to the question of how to relieve back pain from your neighbors, acquaintances or on the Internet.Low back pain has different causes, so the treatment for each disease is individual.Only a doctor knows how to treat a patient and how to 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 must 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 proper treatment for the lower back.Therefore, at the first opportunity you need to consult a doctor and not self-medicate.Only a doctor can determine why the lower back hurts and how to get rid of back pain.
At home, treatment for low back pain can be carried out only after examination and medical consultation, otherwise incurable complications may arise.
If your lower back hurts, 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 the answer to the question of how to treat back pain.The prevention rules are simple but effective.The main thing is not to forget to please them.
According to statistics, more than 25-30% of people have experienced this condition when they have back pain.Preventive, planned monitoring of the state of health and timely consultation with a doctor allow you to identify incipient pathology, diagnose why the spine hurts in the lumbar region, why the lower back is pulled.
Morning exercises, jogging, brisk walking, gymnastics 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 muscle tissue.
To reduce the load on the spine, you need to adjust your body weight.Overweight and physical inactivity are the enemies of the spine.
To adequately reduce body weight, you should not get carried away by diets found on the Internet.It is best to consult a nutritionist or your doctor for competent advice on nutrition and maintaining salt balance.
Routine medical exams are important to prevent back pain in the lumbar region.Women must visit a gynecologist annually, men - a urologist.Many spinal diseases begin in childhood.
Parents need to closely monitor the child's health, teach him physical exercise, active children's games and correct posture.School-age children must have a routine medical examination every year before the start of the school year.
If your lower back hurts, a positive attitude, confidence in success, compliance with all instructions of specialists allow you to reduce or completely eliminate pain and lead a full life.