The human race pays for the ability to walk on two legs with back pain.If your back hurts from time to time in the lumbar region, it can be a sign of extreme fatigue or the result of staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time while working or sleeping.But the reasons can be more serious.
Causes of pain
The lower back is one of the most painful areas.There are reasons for this:
- Osteochondrosis;
- scoliosis;
- Disc herniation;
- 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 pain in the lower back.And the type of activity of the patient is not important here.
- The most common pain in the lumbar region is due to osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.The pain is of moderate intensity during sleep, and increases with physical stress.I feel tired all the time.The feeling of heaviness makes you want to lie down.But relief does not always come after this.
- If there is a herniated disc, severe pain occurs after sudden movements, lifting heavy objects or falling.
- If the hernia is compressed, acute pain occurs, characterized as lumbago.Movement in the lumbar region is noticeably limited.Damage to the nerve root also causes leg pain.
- In old age, stenosis of the intervertebral canal often occurs.A sign of this is limping, numbness in the legs, especially after a long walk.
- The stiffness of the spine that occurs in the morning indicates the beginning of the development of ankylosing spondylitis.At first, sharp pain sensations appear in the sacral region, and then spread to the lumbar region.The feeling after sleep is not rest, but fatigue, which disappears with the start of physical activity.Young men are most susceptible to the disease.The disease is hereditary.In the lying position, they mostly hurt the lower back.
- Acute pain in the lumbar region also occurs with pyelonephritis (an inflammatory process in the kidneys).They are accompanied by increased body temperature and swelling in the morning after sleep.
- Diseases such as abdominal aortic aneurysm often occur in older men.Aching pain and throbbing in the abdomen are the result of pressure of the aorta on nearby organs.
- Pain in the lower back, fever, burning along the nerve 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 widespread disease that many consider harmless is flat feet.A deformed foot increases the load on the spine when walking.During sleep, the pain subsides.
- If there are congenital changes on the vertebrae: irregular shape or changes in the cleft, then sooner or later it will be felt.
- Autoimmune pathologies, especially multiple sclerosis, are provocateurs of pain in different locations.Including lower back pain.
There are other reasons why there is severe pain in the lumbar region.It can be osteoporosis, infections of the genitourinary system, hemorrhoids, tumor diseases, complications after viral or bacterial infections.And even the physiological changes that affect women and occur during pregnancy and childbirth.
Pain caused by diseases of internal organs
When you wonder why your back hurts in the lumbar region, sometimes it's hard to believe that the reasons can be inside the organ.The fact is that in some cases the pain from the internal organs is "transmitted" to the lumbar part.
- Right-sided pleurisy, pneumonia are causes of pain in the lumbar region on the right side.Associated symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, fever.Left-sided pleurisy sends pain signals to the left side of the lower back, which intensifies when bending over or lying down while sleeping.
- Gallstones also localize sharp pains on the right, just above the lower back, accompanied by belching and nausea.They have a stinging character.
- Shingles pain in the lower back is caused by pancreatitis.Its companions are nausea and vomiting.
- Severe pain under the left shoulder blade is often the result of a myocardial infarction.
- In men, prostate pathology causes pain in the area below the lower back, with a transition to the sacrum.In women - cystitis.
- Diseases of the distal alimentary canal cause pain below the lower back.
Pain triggers
Factors such as:
- Hypothermia of the body.
- Intense physical activity.
- Certain sports (bodybuilding, bodybuilding, weightlifting, weightlifting).
- Muscle strain.
- Fracture.
- Menstrual cycle in women.
- Poor nutrition.
- Stress.
- Uncomfortable posture during sleep.
Back pain in the lumbar region in children
New technologies have brought our world not only benefits, but also harm.Why?Because love for the computer from an early age deprives children of full motor activity and creates improper posture.
Important: if you choose the right chair and table for your child's study, curvature of the spine can be avoided!
Scoliosis can develop from carrying a heavy backpack, flat feet or uncomfortable shoes.Be sure to treat him!Excessive physical activity and heavy lifting are contraindicated for children.When participating in the sports section, you must be especially sensitive to your child's complaints of 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 known to athletes and people whose specific professions involve stress on the back muscles.In the lying position, the pain decreases a little.The main location is the lower back.
- A spinal injury, or a fracture, is very dangerous.It can arise from an unsuccessful fall or become a consequence of osteoporosis, Paget's disease, hyperparathyroidism.
- Displacement of the intervertebral discs causes pain as a result of compression of the nerve roots.For this reason, the patient's mobility is limited, the sensitivity is disturbed, and the knee reflex is reduced.The danger of this disease is that healthy vertebrae start to hurt, and this leads to disturbances in the work 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, when bending sideways or backwards, or when standing for a long time.
- The 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 on time.
Treatment
Seeing a doctor right away when you have back pain is the key to successful 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 recommendations on how to treat yourself and how not to get sick.The treatment will be comprehensive, with the use of ointments, tablets, injections, massages and physical therapy.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are first in the treatment of lumbar pain:
- In the initial phase, literally in the first 3-5 days, the treatment is carried out with injections to relieve pain and inflammation.They work quickly, effectively relieving acute pain by directly injecting the drug into the blood or muscle.
- Then anti-inflammatory and analgesic tablets, chondroprotectors and irritant drugs are used (in each specific case separately).
- In addition, fat treatment is used.Properly selected ointment helps to relieve inflammation in the affected area and also warms (if necessary).
Reflex muscle tension is alleviated with the help of muscle relaxants.With their help, pain is treated and mobility is restored.Application from 3 to 7 days.
Group B vitamin preparations are a necessary addition to the main therapy.
In some cases, drug blockade is necessary.The anesthetic is administered epidurally or paravertebrally.It is 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 overall tone of the body, and only with the doctor's permission, massage is combined with a bath or sauna.You can't get warm during the infectious process!
Pain during pregnancy can be alleviated by wearing a special bandage.
Orthopedic insoles are mandatory for patients with flat feet.
Therapeutic exercise
Exercise is also a treatment.They strengthen the back muscles, improve posture, increase muscle tone and increase 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 overload.
- In a standing position, tilt your body alternately to the right, forward, back, left.
- In a standing position, with your feet shoulder-width apart, turn your body to the side.
- In a position on all fours, do a "cat": bend your back in the lower back.
- Lying on your back, bend your knees, arms by your body.Raise and lower your pelvis, gradually increasing the range of motion.
- Lying on your back, legs straight, arms along the body.Alternate bending your knees, then pull them toward your chest.
- Standing on all fours, swing your legs alternately.
Regardless of the reasons, 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 medicine can not only heal, but also harm if it is chosen incorrectly.