Humankind pays for the ability to walk on two legs with back pain.If your back periodically hurts in the lumbar region, it may be a sign of extreme tiredness or the result of being in an uncomfortable position for a long time while working or sleeping.But the reasons could be more serious.
Causes of pain
The lower back is one of the most painful areas.There are reasons for this:
- Osteochondrosis;
- Scoliosis;
- Herniated disc;
- Tumors;
- Infectious tissue lesions.
The nature and intensity of the pain depends on the disease.And it bothers you in different ways: after sleep, exercise, overwork.For example, renal colic is constantly accompanied by back pain.And here the type of activity of the patient does not matter.
- Most often it hurts in the lumbar region due to osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.The pain is of moderate intensity during sleep and intensifies with physical stress.Feeling tired all the time.The feeling of heaviness makes you want to lie down.But relief doesn't always come later.
- If a herniated disc is present, severe pain occurs after sudden movements, lifting heavy objects, or falling.
- If the hernia is compressed, a sharp pain appears, characterized as low back pain.Movement in the lumbar region is significantly limited.Nerve root damage also causes leg pain.
- In old age, stenosis of the intervertebral canal occurs quite often.A sign of this is limping, numbness in the legs, especially after a long walk.
- Stiffness of the spine that occurs in the morning indicates the beginning of the development of ankylosing spondylitis.Initially, acute pain sensations appear in the sacral region, and then spread to the lumbar region.The feeling after sleep is not of rest, but of tiredness, which disappears with the start of physical activity.Young people are most susceptible to the disease.The disease is hereditary.Mostly the lower back hurts when lying down.
- Acute pain in the lumbar region also occurs with pyelonephritis (inflammatory process in the kidneys).They are accompanied by increased body temperature and swelling in the morning after sleep.
- Older men often develop a disease such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm.Aching pain and throbbing in the abdomen are the result of pressure from the aorta on nearby organs.
- Lower back pain, fever, burning along the nerves are signs of herpes zoster.This viral disease affects the cells of the spinal cord.A pink rash appears on the body, and later blisters appear.
- Another common disease that many consider harmless is flat foot.A deformed foot increases the load on the spine when walking.During sleep the pain decreases.
- If there are congenital changes in the vertebrae: irregular shape or changes in the crack, sooner or later they will make themselves felt.
- Autoimmune pathologies, in particular multiple sclerosis, cause pain of various localizations.Including back pain.
There are other reasons why there is severe pain in the lumbar region.This may be osteoporosis, infections of the genitourinary system, hemorrhoids, tumor diseases, complications after viral or bacterial infections.And also the physiological changes that affect women and that occur during pregnancy and childbirth.
Pain caused by diseases of internal organs
When you wonder why your back hurts in the lumbar region, it is sometimes difficult to believe that the reasons can also be inside the organs.The fact is that in some cases the pain of the internal organs is "referred" to the lumbar region.
- Right-sided pleurisy, pneumonia are the causes of pain in the lumbar region on the right.Associated symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, fever.Left-sided pleurisy sends pain signals to the left side of the lower back, which intensify when bending or lying down during sleep.
- Gallstone disease also localizes sharp pains on the right, just above the lower back, accompanied by belching and nausea.They have an excruciating character.
- Shingles pain in the lower back occurs due to pancreatitis.Its companions are nausea and vomiting.
- Severe pain under the left shoulder blade is often the result of a myocardial infarction.
- In men, pathology of the prostate gland causes pain in the area under the lower back, with transition to the sacrum.In women - cystitis.
- Diseases of the distal digestive tract cause pain under the lower back.
Pain instigators
Factors such as:
- Hypothermia of the body.
- Intense physical activity.
- Some sports (bodybuilding, bodybuilding, weightlifting, weightlifting).
- Muscle effort.
- Fracture.
- Menstrual cycle in women.
- Bad nutrition.
- Stress.
- Awkward posture while sleeping.
Back pain in the lumbar region in children
New technologies have brought not only benefits to our world, but also harm.Why?Because love for the computer from an early age deprives children of full motor activity and creates incorrect postures.
Important: If you choose the right chair and table for your child to study, you can avoid spinal curvature!
Scoliosis can develop from wearing a heavy backpack, flat feet, or uncomfortable shoes.Make sure you treat it!Excessive physical activity and heavy lifting are contraindicated for children.When participating in a sports section, you need to be especially sensitive to your child's complaints about back discomfort after training.It could be a herniated disc.Timely treatment will allow the child to live a full life.
Types of pain
The nature of pain is divided into the following types:
- Spasms in the long muscles of the back cause severe pain.This happens due to stretching.The problem is familiar to athletes and people whose specific professions involve stress on the back muscles.When lying down, the pain decreases slightly.The main position is the lower back.
- Spinal injury, i.e. a fracture, is very dangerous.It can occur due to an unsuccessful fall or become a consequence of osteoporosis, Paget's disease, hyperparathyroidism.
- Displacement of the intervertebral discs causes pain due to compression of the nerve roots.For this reason the patient's mobility is limited, sensitivity is impaired and the knee reflex is reduced.The danger of this disease is also that healthy vertebrae begin to hurt, and this leads to disturbances in the functioning of internal organs and causes restless sleep.
- Facet joint syndrome causes back pain in 31% of cases.This degenerative process affects the capsule of the intervertebral joints and causes pain not only in the lower back, but also in the legs.The lower back hurts when sitting, bending sideways or backwards, or standing for a long time.
- An inflammatory process of an infectious nature in the epidural space is a very serious and dangerous disease.It can be fatal if treatment is not started promptly.
Treatment
Seeing a doctor immediately when suffering from back pain is the key to effective treatment.Even if the pain only bothers you at night or after sleeping, there is a reason to visit a specialist.
After analyzing the reasons, the doctor will give advice on how to treat and not get sick.The treatment will be comprehensive, using ointments, compresses, injections, massage and physical therapy.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are in the first place in the treatment of lower back pain:
- At the initial stage, literally in the first 3-5 days, treatment is carried out by injections to relieve pain and inflammation.They act quickly, effectively relieving acute pain by directly injecting the drug into the blood or muscle.
- Then anti-inflammatory and analgesic tablets, chondroprotectors and irritating drugs are used (in each specific case separately).
- Additionally, ointment treatment is used.A properly selected ointment helps to relieve inflammation in the affected area and also warms (if necessary).
Reflex muscle tension is relieved with the help of muscle relaxants.With their help, pain is treated and mobility is restored.Apply for 3 to 7 days.
B vitamin preparations are a necessary addition to the main therapy.
In some cases, drug blocking is necessary.The anesthetic is administered epidurally or paravertebrally.Used for degenerative changes in the spine.
Physiotherapy treatment:
- UHF;
- Electrophoresis;
- Magnetotherapy.
Massage relieves acute pain by improving blood circulation.Kneading the muscles has a beneficial effect on the elasticity and flexibility of the ligaments.To increase the general tone of the body, and only with the permission of the attending physician, massage is combined with a bath or sauna.You cannot warm yourself during an infectious process!
Pain during pregnancy can be relieved by wearing a special bandage.
For patients with flat feet it is mandatory to wear orthopedic insoles.
Therapeutic exercise
Exercise is also a treatment.They strengthen the back muscles, improving posture, increasing muscle tone and increasing blood circulation.They are used not only in the complex of therapeutic therapy, but also for the prevention of pain in the lumbar region.As in the case of drug therapy, therapeutic exercises are prescribed in each case individually, analyzing the main causes of the disease.But you can highlight several general exercises, each of which is performed 5-10 times, preferably in the morning, avoiding overwork.
- In a standing position, tilt your body alternately to the right, forward, backward, left.
- Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, turn your body sideways.
- In an all-fours position, do a "cat": arching your back at the lower back.
- Lying on your back, bend your knees, arms along your body.Raise and lower your pelvis, gradually increasing the range of motion.
- Lying on your back, legs straight, arms along your body.Alternately bend your knees and then pull them towards your chest.
- Standing on all fours, swing your legs alternately.
Whatever the reason, only a specialist can determine why the back hurts, identify the “culprit” of the disease and prescribe the correct and effective treatment.As with any other disease, you should not self-medicate!Any drug can not only treat, but also harm if chosen incorrectly.