Low back pain - causes, treatment and prevention

If your lower back hurts, it may be the result of a large list of reasons. One of the most harmless options is physical fatigue. In more serious situations, hernias, protrusions or damage to the bone apparatus can occur.To find out what causes lower back pain, you need a medical examination. After the diagnosis is made, appropriate treatment is prescribed to alleviate the symptoms and eliminate the underlying cause of the pain.

Why lower back pain: classification of painful sensations

If there is severe pain in the lower back in any part of the spine, it may indicate certain pathological changes. The doctor assesses not only the nature and severity of the pain, but also other accompanying signs of problems in the lumbar region. A complete collection of history is required.

The pain syndrome is classified as follows:

1. Nonspecific pains of benign nature. In most situations, benign chronic or acute pain does not impose a difficult diagnosis. These unpleasant symptoms are in most cases reversible. Such unpleasant sensations are used to diagnose dorsopathy. Earlier, the diagnosis sounded different - osteochondrosis. This is not a dangerous disease that occurs in every person with age, characterized by sagging of the intervertebral discs due to the action of gravity and muscle weakness.
2. Radiculopathy (radicular syndrome). The condition is associated with pinching or irritation of the nerve roots in the space between the discs. Such pain may indicate an inflammatory process, compression of the vertebrae of the intervertebral disc, the appearance of bulges and hernias. They greatly worsen the quality of life of the patient, especially during the acute period with any physical activity.
3. Specific or alarming back pain. Only the symptoms of such discomfort are difficult to diagnose, so an additional examination is often prescribed, which may include the exclusion of cancer, tuberculosis, kidney disease or fractures, injuries. Examples are pyelonephritis with fever, in pregnant women, pain in the lower back, pain in the lower abdomen with diseases of the female reproductive system. In men, urological symptoms should be ruled out.

The general classification of pain is divided into:

• strong;
• spicy;
• painful;
• chronic;
• has been moved.

Lower back pain - reasons

Lower back hurts a lotwith manifestations of osteochondrosis. Unpleasant sensations torment the patient almost all the time - while walking, sitting and even lying down. The lower back hurts more intensely during the day due to movement. It is aggravated by coughing, sneezing, carrying weights. Less often, in the lower back, the pain radiates to the leg, which is manifested by paresthesias - a feeling of numbness and running creepy feet.

If the patient has sciatica, then the pain radiates to the lower body - buttocks, pelvis, thighs or lower leg. Discomfort is increased by active body movements, as in the case of dorsopathy. When such symptoms occur, it is necessary to consult a neurologist as soon as possible.

Pain in the lower back and lower abdomenindicates a bacterial lesion that is often accompanied by painful urination. In women, lower back pain is often seen during pregnancy or during menstruation. Below the lower back pain is the result of painful spasm or fetal pressure on the internal organs. In the lower back, pain on the right or left side indicates kidney disease. The diagnosis needs to be clarified with a doctor. The most reliable diagnostic methods are X-ray and MRI.

Often the causes of lower back pain in women are related to their menstruation. Lower back pain in women due to uterine cramps. To combat painful periods, you need to take NSAIDs or use hormone therapy. The condition of ovulation syndrome is observed less frequently. In addition to discomfort in the lower back, the woman notices alternating pain in the middle of the cycle on the right or left side. Why this condition occurs is not yet fully known.

During pregnancy, the lower back hurts due to shifting center of gravity and muscle weakness. The condition normalizes after childbirth. Unpleasant sensations are noticed at any time. It is important to be able to distinguish when the back hurts from the load, and when the pathology. If at any stage of pregnancy, in addition to back and lower abdominal pain, there are also discharges like menstruation, you need to see a doctor immediately.

In men, painful sensations in the lower back and below the waist, radiating to the perineum, indicate the development of prostate inflammation. If a man has a fever and worsening of well-being in addition to these symptoms, you should contact a therapist or urologist. Treat the inflammation with antibiotics.

Acute lower back pain occurs in the following situations:

• sprain or inflammation of the back muscles;
• long stay in an analgesic position;
• if you suddenly lift a lot of weight;
• sharp side or body turns, injuries;
• draft or hypothermia.

What to do if your lower back hurts: When the condition indicates physical damage, you must visit a traumatologist. The specialist will prescribe drug therapy in the acute period to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms. Initially, NSAIDs of systemic action are used, and then they switch to external forms of release. It is useful to take vitamin preparations, inject neurotropic drugs. During the recovery period, physiotherapy, massage and gymnastics are indicated.

Why unpleasant symptoms appear - pain in the lower back occurs due to inflammation of muscle fibers or myositis. The condition is not comfortable, because the patient feels stiffness below the waist, and normal body movements are difficult. To temporarily alleviate the condition, you need to take a warm shower and then wrap yourself in warm clothes. Often the back hurts in the lumbar region after injuries, falls. The use of warming ointments is also recommended. If after a few days the condition does not improve, it is better to see a doctor.

Pulls and pains in the lower back during spondylosis. The patient is constantly pulling pains in the lower back, and over time there are problems with the legs. Loss of sensitivity and weakness are observed. Deformity of spondylosis is dangerous if the symptoms are ignored, because the disease develops for a long time. Other causes of back pain are ankylosing spondylitis, other diseases, pain from the spine or cancer. You can not withdraw with such symptoms, you must immediately seek professional help.

Sometimes the patient suffers from "displaced pains", the nature of which he does not know. The patient has unpleasant sensations in the back, but this condition is not related to the pathology of the developing spine. Radiation pain is associated with problems in the pelvis, stomach or duodenum, kidneys.

In which situations do you need to contact an expert urgently:

1. The pain syndrome is intense and the discomfort does not go away after 2-3 days, or even intensifies.
2. Unpleasant sensations occurred after an injury or as a result of an accident. There were falls on his back or blows.
3. With the simultaneous appearance of pain in the lower back, lower legs, hips, pelvis.
4. The sensation in the limbs, pelvis, buttocks, thighs, legs, feet and groin is lost due to uncomfortable sensations.

Only a doctor will find out the exact cause of back pain.

Treatments and Ways to Relieve Low Back Pain

After diagnosis, therapy is selected according to the individual characteristics of the patient. Treatment is aimed at relieving unpleasant symptoms and preventing recurrence. Conservative therapies are usually combined with the principles of physiotherapy and rehabilitation. In advanced situations, surgery may be required.

Drug Therapy

Drug use is the most extensive branch of treatment. NSAIDs or analgesics, antispasmodics, neurotropic vitamins and muscle relaxants may be prescribed for spine medications. Each group of drugs will be discussed separately. These funds are intended for symptomatic treatment - pain relief during exacerbations. They have no effect on the underlying cause of the disease.

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are performed with several tasks at once during the symptomatic treatment of back pain. The agents effectively alleviate and eliminate the inflammatory process due to the reversible inhibition of the synthesis of inflammatory mediators. Systemic forms of release, in the form of tablets and injections, are used in the acute period for a short time to alleviate the severe pain syndrome.

Diclofenac and Movalis are the gold standard in the treatment of back pain. Indomethacin or Ketorolac are less commonly prescribed. After a few days of therapy, the patient switches to external forms of release, which can be used for much longer. Diclofenac gel, Naproxen, Ketorolac trometamol, Piroxicam perfectly anesthetize.

Antispasmodics can be used to treat a patient if the patient does not tolerate muscle relaxants. The classic antispasmodics are drotaverine hydrochloride or papaverine hydrochloride. They are prescribed to relieve smooth muscle cramps, which can cause radiating pain in the spine. Such agents are more easily tolerated than NSAIDs, but also have a weaker effect.

Medications for central muscle relaxation include tizanidine, tolperisone hydrochloride, or baclofen. The most commonly prescribed treatment for muscle spasticity is tolperisone hydrochloride, although tizanidine is more potent and has fewer side effects. Balofen is a prescription drug that is prescribed for really advanced cases. It is not a first-line drug because it shows a multitude of side effects. The average duration of therapy when taking muscle relaxants is 1–1. 5 months. If the spasticity has not disappeared during this period, then the medication is removed.

Physiotherapeutic methods of rehabilitation

The following recovery methods are commonly used in this branch of medicine:

1. Electrophoresis. The drugs are injected through the skin under the action of a galvanic current. B vitamins for injections, nicotinic acid, chondroprotectors are usually used. This is a long-standing method of treating back pain, but it is effective and helps well during the rehabilitation period. The galvanic current has good conductivity and delivers drugs locally where blood flow is disrupted. The drugs are active for 15 hours.
2. Laser therapy aimed at reducing pain. With the help of precisely adjusted infrared radiation, the method is aimed at relieving pain, eliminating cramps, stimulating regenerative processes, improving microcirculation in tissues, relaxing and strengthening immunity. Laser therapy is especially effective in the treatment of osteochondrosis, hernias, bulges.
3. Acupuncture is an ancient therapeutic method officially approved by the WHO. Contraindications for the procedure are the period of pregnancy, age up to 1 year and after 75 years. With the help of acupuncture, the pain syndrome of various degrees is removed. The essence of the method is the effect of the needle on the nerve ending of the affected area. The average course of therapy is 10 to 12 sessions. Effectively and quickly removes pain in any part of the back - to the side, left or right of the spine.
4. Physiotherapy is one of the most popular methods of rehabilitating back pain. If there are no contraindications for the procedure, then the rehabilitation therapist selects special exercises aimed at restoring the mobility of the spine, eliminating muscle pain, strengthening hypotonic muscle structures. By strengthening the muscular corset, the pain disappears.

Traditional medicine methods are also used, but research has not proven their beneficial effect on health. Any self-medication methods should be discussed with a neurologist.

Prevention of low back pain

Maintaining a healthy spine is important from an early age. In the early period of body maturation, the body is intensively formed - limbs grow, the position of organs changes, the skeleton lengthens. If you teach your child proper posture and regular exercise at an early age, you will be able to avoid many back problems in the future.

The child is taught to exercise at home several times a week to achieve a lasting effect. To avoid mistakes in execution, you need to consult a good rehabilitator. The specialist will tell you how to properly do back exercises at home, choose an individual exercise system. At a young age, it is important not to overdo it and to alternate the principles of moderate exercise with stretching and thorough warm-up.

Good Habits for Preventing Cross Disease in Childhood and Adulthood:

1. Prolonged and irregular sitting in the workplace is burdened by scoliosis by moving to the left or right. You should get up every 15-20 minutes and do stretching - tilting the neck and lower back forward will laterally tone tired muscles, improve blood flow.
2. It is important to avoid prolonged exposure to an antalgic attitude. Static overload of the ridge is filled with pain.
3. Do not make sharp turns of the neck or back. If you do this several times, there is a high probability of injury. Back injuries are most often caused by sudden and unusual stress on the body.
4. Sit upright while working from home. When bending to the right or left side in a sitting position, there is an incorrect load on the muscles. The result is uneven muscle tension with alternating hypertension or hypotension in any part of the back.
5. It is necessary to exclude carrying the bag on the left or right on one shoulder. An alternative is a backpack that loads your shoulders evenly without distorting to the right or left.
6. At home, it is recommended to perform a stretching complex for tired muscles. After a long working day, the muscles lose elasticity. Warming stretching is also beneficial for ligaments and joints. Bending the door to the side and forward, light static loads are useful.

One of the best ways to prevent lower back discomfort is to go to the pool. It is enough to swim 1-2 times a week to feel relief in your back. If you have existing problems, experts recommend visiting the pool at least 3 times a week.