It turns out that back pain in the lumbar region is very common.
According to biologists, such symptoms are a result of our upright posture, where the load mainly falls on the lumbar region, and is not evenly distributed throughout the spine. Pain in the lower back can signal a very serious problem not only in the spine, but also with internal organs.
If the pain is acute and accompanied by fever, call an ambulance.
If such symptoms are not observed, then for an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to contact a therapist. Let’s see why these symptoms occur, how they can be treated and prevented.
The leading cause of lower back pain
First, let’s find out the causes of these unpleasant symptoms. Pain can be primary with spinal pathology or secondary with disease of internal organs.
Along with the reasons, it is important to identify the factors that exacerbate pain syndrome.
Here they are:
- Characteristics of the profession: heavy physical activity for builders and loaders and weight lifting for athletes.
- Prolonged sitting.
- An overweight and inactive lifestyle.
- Improper nutrition and lack of protein, calcium and phosphorus in the body.
- Bad habits: alcohol and alcoholic beverages.
Even by reducing the impact of these factors, you will be able to reduce the condition and health of your spine.
Main factor
The main factor is associated with degenerative-dystrophic processes in the spine.
This includes:
- Osteochondrosis is a change in the cartilage and intervertebral disc that leads to a herniated disc or disc deformity.
- Spondylosis is characterized by the formation of bone growths on the vertebrae. With this growth, muscle spasms around the spine occur, which limit its movement. Appearance of injuries in the lower back.
- Spondyloarthrosis is the degeneration of the articular surfaces in the vertebrae, as well as their involvement in pathological processes of ligaments, joints and muscles. In this case, deformation of the intervertebral disc occurs, and spinal movement is also limited.
- Spondylolisthesis is manifested by displacement of the vertebrae, as a result of which the lumen of the spinal canal changes.
- Herniated Disc.
- Radiculopathy is an injury to the nerve root.
Secondary factor
The secondary ones arise with the corresponding pathology:
- Metabolic problems.
- The curvature of the spinal space.
- When located near the spine malignant formations.
- Infectious diseases: osteomyelitis of the spine, tuberculous spondylitis, epidural abscess of the spine.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Painful symptoms of a psychogenic nature.
- Diseases of the digestive system.
- Diseases of the pelvic organs.
- Menstrual pain.
Also, problems with the spine can be affected by flat feet, which is flattening the arch of the foot.
Pregnancy can also cause pain. In the early stages, they appear when progesterone hits the ligaments and muscles, also with the threat of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
After giving birth, pain can appear as a result of stretching the pelvic muscles, or with increased pressure on the spine, by regularly carrying the baby in your arms.
What disease is indicated by such pain?
Localization of pain is also important.
So let's look at each case:
- pain in the right side and above the lower back may indicate lung pathology. These symptoms are accompanied by shortness of breath, cough, and fever. Also about gallbladder or liver problems. In this case, the nature of the pain is piercing;
- if discomfort is felt on the lower back on the left side, then this may be a sign of pancreatitis, myocardial infarction, pericarditis, or left -sided pleurisy;
- symptoms of pain in the lumbar region signal osteochondrosis in this area, intervertebral hernias, and even compression fractures;
- symptoms of pain in the lower back, which radiate to the lower abdomen, are a sign of disease of the pelvic organs. Such diseases include fibroids, endometriosis, prostate pathology, colon disease and infectious gynecological diseases. It may also indicate that the kidneys are not functioning.
Which doctor will help?
Often, back pain occurs temporarily. Only in rare cases, such symptoms indicate a complex disease.
In any case, it is good to know which doctor can help in a situation like this. Often, sharp pain occurs with physical improvement.
In other cases, you can enlist the help of a surgeon, urologist, or chiropractor who will make a more accurate diagnosis and prescribe than treat a similar problem.
In addition, with such pain, you may need to see a traumatologist, orthopedist, gastroenterologist, infectious disease specialist, proctologist or gynecologist.
Treatment features
Depending on the cause of back pain, the doctor prescribes the following therapy options:
- drug treatment with analgesics and hormones;
- blockade, which is an injection into the intervertebral joint;
- manual techniques;
- physiotherapy procedures;
- physiotherapy;
- acupuncture.
If conservative treatment does not help, then surgery is used.
In the treatment of disc herniation with a background of osteochondrosis, physiotherapeutic methods are used in addition to the main treatment.
Healing remedies are used when other methods do not give the desired effect. Often, an anesthetic is injected into the lumen of the affected joint for this.
Acupuncture is recommended for disc protrusion, osteochondrosis, or hernias. If the pain radiates to the feet, then physical therapy is also used.
Wearing a special corset allows you to restrict movement in the lumbar region. This helps reduce pain in the area of arthritis.
For back pain, doctors can give the following recommendations:
- Sleep on a hard surface for 2-5 days.
- Wear a special bandage.
- Use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
- To relieve muscle cramps, muscle relaxants are prescribed. Special medications are also used to relax the muscles.
- To improve blood circulation and reduce edema, vascular drugs and diuretics are used.
- All types of gels and ointments are used as local therapy.
- To incorporate positive results, physiotherapy procedures were prescribed. These can be electrophoresis, phonophoresis and magnetotherapy.
Special physical therapy and massage help improve blood circulation, relieve muscle tension, and eliminate inflammation.
If pain in the lumbar region is not associated with a complex disease, then yoga will help alleviate the condition.
You can do these exercises at home, and they do not require much time.
Hypothermic pain
Did you know that hypothermia is a common cause of back pain. In this case, you do not even have to freeze, but just sweat and go under the air conditioner.
In this case, the hot body surface will be in contact with the cold air flow. And the next day it will be hard to straighten or go up.
In such a situation, the pain becomes constant and painful.
First of all, you need to warm up the buttocks. Heating type ointment is suitable for this. In the absence of medication, regular alcohol will also be useful. After rubbing, the lower back should be wrapped with something warm.
A similar procedure is performed daily. If there is severe pain, it is a good idea to seek medical help. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain.
If you often suffer from hypothermia, then get a belt made of dog or sheep fur.
What to do with the lumbar lumbago?
Such pain occurs with vigorous physical exercise. A sharp pain entering the foot appears when wearing any weight.
Similar symptoms are characteristic of lumbosacral radiculitis, called lumbago or lumbago. In such a situation, you must lie on a hard surface.
Take painkillers to relieve the pain.
Remember that with such a sign, you cannot take a hot shower or a steam bath. In this case, dry heat will help even more.
For example, a special ointment. It is also necessary to limit salt and fluid intake for a few days.
What will help with a hernia?
With a hernia, there is a sharp, persistent pain that increases with any movement. Relief only comes in the supine position.
Numbness in the lower back can also be felt. To relieve pain, bed rest and painkillers should be taken. Then you need to call a doctor.
In the acute period, serious and qualified treatment is required.
What needs to be done for prevention?
Don’t wait for severe pain to appear, but start taking preventative measures.
Here they are:
- Identification and treatment of concomitant diseases that can trigger back pain.
- Proper nutrition with adequate amounts of phosphorus, calcium and other vitamins.
- Heavy physical exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided. In this case, the load should be evenly distributed. Do not make sudden movements.
- Live an active lifestyle. Take a walk, swim, or do yoga.
- Take a massage therapy course from time to time.
- While inactive, rest every hour and do a little exercise.
- The bed must be comfortable, for example with an orthopedic mattress.
For prevention, you can wear a special elastic belt, posture correction or bandage.
Such devices are recommended for pregnancy and strenuous physical activity.
It is important to control your weight, because a large weight increases the load on the spine. Get rid of bad habits, and also do regular checkups every year.
Physiotherapy
Exercise at home to strengthen the back muscles and prevent pain. Exercise should be done regularly.
A well -designed set of exercises will help improve posture, improve muscle tone, and also activate blood circulation.
In such a complex, you can use the following movements:
- the body is inclined in different directions. First left and right, and then back and forth;
- body turn to the side;
- at the knees - in the elbow position, you need to bend the buttocks up and down;
- lying on back with legs bent at the knees, pelvis raised;
- from a prone position, the straightened leg should be bent at the knee and pulled to the chest.
Do each exercise 8-10 times.
Do not ignore the symptoms of pain in the lumbar region, see a doctor and take preventive measures that will help normalize your well -being and strengthen your health.