Pain in the lower back is a companion of about a quarter of the country's population, manifests itself once, or becomes a habitual phenomenon and accompanies a person for almost the entire life. Often, lower back pain worries men and women over 35-45 years old.
In recent years, due to physical inactivity, malnutrition, excess weight, constant stress, lower back pain syndrome is increasingly common in adolescents and children. Therefore, many people are increasingly concerned about the question of what to do if the lower back hurts.
Back pain
Back pain in the lower back can be dull, aching, shooting, and girdle pain in the lower back may also appear. They can appear on the left or right side of the body, disappear without a trace, or constantly return, impairing the quality of life and physical activity of a person. Patients complain that they have severe pain in the lower back. It is important for the doctor to establish why the lower back hurts, and for the patient to receive quality treatment.
Causes of lower back pain
Sometimes severe lower back pain can be caused by excessive physical exertion. Working in the country, overstraining in the gym, carrying heavy weights, a sedentary lifestyle provoke the process when the lower back hurts. However, the pain usually disappears after a few days. But if relief does not come, be sure to see a doctor to find out the causes of lower back pain.
Common Causes
Back pain in the lumbar region can have various causes. Pain can be caused by congenital diseases of the spinal column, malignant or benign tumors of the pelvic organs, infectious processes. Doctors have a sufficient number of facts explaining why the back hurts in the lumbar region. There are the following causes of pain:
- Acute or chronic spasm of the back muscles.
- Protrusion (protrusion of the intervertebral disc) and herniated intervertebral discs.
- Osteochondrosis (degenerative damage to the joints or intervertebral discs), spondylosis (deformation, proliferation of bone tissue of the vertebrae), arthrosis (joint damage caused by metabolic disorders).
- Ankylosing spondylitis (a chronic disease that immobilizes the spinal column).
In men and women, the most common pathology is osteochondrosis, in which there is a curvature of the spinal column, compression of the roots of the spinal cord and severe pain in the lumbar spine.
One of the well-known syndromes is lumbago - lumbago, in which the lower back or sacrum is very painful.
In the lumbar region, pains are often pulsating, tearing in nature, they last for several minutes, but sometimes for several hours or days, and disappear suddenly.
Dull, aching, radiating under the ribs, associated with stretching of the renal capsule, pain is characteristic of kidney disease. This can be acute pyelonephritis (an inflammatory process that affects the tubular system of the kidneys) or blockage of the ureter by calculi (stones).
Pulling back pain develops with constant allergic syndrome, hormonal imbalance, tuberculosis. In this case, the destruction of the vertebrae occurs.
Pain in the lower back, radiating to the right, can be symptoms of diseases of the pancreas, duodenum, stomach ulcers, aneurysm (expansion) of the abdominal aorta. With phlebitis (inflammation of the walls of venous vessels), proctitis (inflammation of the rectum), it also hurts in the lower back. Appendicitis or cholecystitis is characterized by pain that radiates to the right side of the lower back.
Girdle pain in the lower back can be caused by various types of herpes. Often the virus manifests itself not in a rash, but in aches, severe pain. To find out what medications and how to treat soreness, you need to contact an infectious disease specialist to advise on taking antiviral drugs. Girdle pain in the lower back also accompanies inflammation of the peritoneum, osteochondrosis, sciatica and myositis.
Among women
Low back pain in women is caused by various reasons. The main ones are pregnancy, menopause, renal diseases, disorders of the digestive system, osteochondrosis or hernia of the spinal column. Such pain in the lower back not only causes discomfort, but can also disrupt the monthly cycle and lead to infertility.
Pulling back pain occurs with gynecological problems. These can be inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs, endometriosis (abnormal proliferation of the uterine epithelium), cysts on the ovaries, polyps, fibroids or other formations in the uterine cavity.
Only a specialist is able to determine from what a woman's lower back may hurt. Therefore, you do not need to decide on your own what to do if your lower back hurts. First of all, you need to visit a gynecologist.
Often women have lower back pain during critical days. The reasons are a temporary change in the hormonal background, an increase in the amount of estrogens that increase the sensitivity of the body, water retention, an increase in the load on the spinal column, physiological contractions of the walls of the uterus.
Low back pain during pregnancy occurs in almost every woman, but often does not require treatment. Pain in the lumbar spine is associated with an increase in the body weight of a pregnant woman 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 aches after childbirth. Experts say that postpartum causes of back pain appear after microtraumas of the musculo-ligamentous apparatus and the joints of the spine.
Spinal instability is another problem for women of any age, even with a slight degree of obesity. Another common cause is damage to the intervertebral discs or joints.
Physical activity, prolonged standing in an upright position cause pain in the spine, pain in the lower back, difficult extension of the body, a desire to lie down and rest as soon as possible. In the postmenopausal period, osteoporosis can develop.
In men
Occupational activities associated with excessive physical exertion, uncomfortable body postures, and work in the cold can lead to the appearance of periodic back pain in men. The culprit for 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 worried about dull pain in the left side of the back.
Lower back pain in men over 40 is often caused by herniated discs. It is characterized by back pain when coughing, sneezing, difficulty bending and extending the back. Lower back pain worsens with an upright position, so these patients tend to lie down faster. A neglected hernia and pain in the lower back sometimes require surgery.
The listed specific male diseases and other pathologies, in which the lower back constantly hurts, should not be treated without the supervision of a doctor. Self-medication can lead to aggravation and complication of the pathological process and result in disability. Treatment of the lumbar spine can only be performed by certified specialists.
Diagnosis of diseases
If the exact cause of the pain is still unknown, then diagnostic measures should begin with a visit to a therapist. Treatment of low back pain should be started after an accurate diagnosis is made, which is carried out after a complete examination. The survey includes:
- study of the anamnesis (questioning the patient about the disease);
- visual inspection of painful points;
- blood and urine tests (general and biochemical);
- ultrasound examination (ultrasound);
- X-ray 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 reasons, the patient should be examined by a neurologist, vertebrologist, therapist, and nephrologist. For women, if they have pain in the lower back, it is imperative to be examined by a gynecologist, and men should visit a urologist.
Low back pain treatment
After the correct diagnosis of low back pain, the specialist prescribes a specific treatment for this pathology, which is aimed at eliminating the causes of the disease.
If your back hurts, you should not look for an answer to the question of how to relieve lower back pain from neighbors, acquaintances, on the Internet. Low back pain has different causes, therefore, the treatment of each disease is individual. Only a doctor knows how to cure a patient and how to remove pain.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve low back pain. These drugs have a negative effect on the stomach lining, so they must be taken along with drugs that reduce acidity and protect the stomach wall from damage. For pain, as directed by a doctor, you can use the appropriate ointments or gels.
Since pain in the spine and lower back is caused by different causes, only specialists can prescribe appropriate treatment for the lower back. Therefore, as soon as possible, you need to see a doctor, and not self-medicate. Only a doctor can determine why the lower back hurts and how to get rid of lower back pain.
At home, treatment of back pain can only be carried out after examination and medical examination, otherwise incurable complications may occur.
If the lower back hurts, then the treatment can be complex, that is, you can use both traditional and folk methods.
Prevention
It is better to prevent back pain, then you do not have to look for an answer to the question of how to treat lower back pain. Prevention rules are simple but effective. The main thing is not to forget to perform them.
According to statistics, more than 25-30% of people have experienced this condition when their back hurts. Preventive planned monitoring of the state of health, timely access to a doctor allows you to identify an incipient pathology, diagnose why the spine hurts in the lumbar region, why the lumbar pulls.
Morning exercises, jogging, walking at a brisk pace, exercising in the gym, swimming are the main physical activities necessary for the muscles of the spine and back. At least 20-30 minutes a day, without strong stress, overload, will help strengthen muscle tissue.
To reduce the stress on the spinal column, you need to adjust the body weight. Overweight, physical inactivity are enemies of the spinal column.
To properly reduce body weight, you can not get carried away with diets found on the Internet. It is better to consult a dietitian or doctor for advice on nutrition and maintenance of water-salt balance.
Routine medical examinations are important to prevent back pain in the lumbar region. Women must visit a gynecologist every year, men - a urologist. Many diseases of the spine begin in childhood.
Parents need to closely monitor the child's health, teach him to exercise, active children's games, and correct posture. School-age children annually, before the start of the school year, must undergo a routine medical examination.
If the lower back hurts, a positive attitude, belief in success, compliance with all the prescriptions of specialists makes it possible to reduce or completely get rid of pain, lead a full life.