Many people on the planet have experienced low back pain at least once.According to statistics, only 10% of the population does not know what lower back pain is.In recent years, low back pain in the lumbar region began to appear in patients at a young age, not only after intense physical activity, but also with various diseases.
Species
Isolated cases of low back pain are usually not a cause for concern.Frequent hypothermia, hard work and heavy lifting can provoke destructive changes in the spine.The occurrence of pain is a sign of the development of a pathological process that must be treated to maintain full motor capacity.
Discovering the nature and intensity will help you discover why unpleasant sensations appear.An accurate determination of the pathology will help prescribe effective treatment to eliminate pain.
Depending on the duration of action, low back pain can be:
- acute – occurs suddenly, is accompanied by high intensity, the duration of the symptom does not exceed thirty days and is often painful in nature;
- chronic – the patient has been worried for more than six months, the pain is constant, not intense, it signals old processes in the body;
- periodic – appears during the acute phase, disappears completely with the advent of the remission period;
- Constant pain accompanies many conditions that require immediate treatment, including pathologies of the spine, nervous system, vascular damage and oncological tumors.
A person may feel pain in one spot or in the back.Based on location, local pain can be distinguished, which does not go beyond the limits of the injury, or generalized pain, which covers the entire lumbar region.
Sometimes the pain spreads to the lower limb, causing a forced position during movement.This symptom occurs with severe spinal disorders.The reflected nature of pain occurs in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or in gynecological problems.
Reasons
Non-pathological etiology may include severe low back pain after prolonged physical activity.The accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles produces a painful effect that disappears spontaneously after a few days.
Main reasons:
- Dystrophic changes in the cartilaginous tissue of the lumbosacral vertebrae (osteochondrosis) are complicated by the proliferation of bone tissue and the loss of elasticity of the flattened cartilage.Low back pain worsens when the intervertebral disc is deformed, the complication of which is an intervertebral hernia.This condition causes increased pain that spreads to the hip and sometimes affects the ankle area.
- Traumatic injuries due to impact or fall.
- Shortening of a limb is observed in second- and third-degree coxarthrosis, after injury or surgery, individual characteristics at birth, and high-grade scoliosis.
- Hypothermia leads to myositis.Inflammatory phenomena in muscle fibers cause widespread and constant pain.
- Radiculitis is a neurological pathology based on inflammation of the root of one of the spinal nerves.A sudden, sharp pain pierces the patient, forcing him to bend over.
- Scoliotic curvature of the spine.
- Thrombophlebitis is an injury to the vessel wall with the formation of a blood clot;with this pathology, a painful effect on the lower limb is also observed.
- Advanced forms of atherosclerosis with circulatory disorders.
- Inflammatory kidney diseases.
- Gynecological pathologies, pain originates in the lower abdomen and spreads to the lower back.
- Hormonal disorders in the body in women during menopause.
- Inflammation of the prostate in men.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Infectious diseases: tuberculosis, brucellosis and some others.
- Pancreatitis and cholecystitis cause referred pain in the lower back.
- Malignant neoplasms in the lumbosacral region or abdominal cavity.
Diagnostic measures
Understanding why your lower back hurts is important for permanent pain relief.An experienced doctor must carry out the diagnosis.During the consultation, the medical history is collected, complaints are heard and the patient's heredity is clarified.
Visualization and palpation are performed to identify deformed areas in the spine and locate the most painful area in the lower back.
To confirm the assumption, the following procedures are carried out:
- laboratory analysis of blood and urine to determine possible inflammation in the body;
- biochemical blood test for indicators of a possible rheumatological factor;
- Radiographic examination of the spine will determine the presence of a hernia or protrusion;
- ultrasound examination of blood vessels and pelvic organs;
- computed tomography of the spine;
- If necessary, an examination by an infectious disease specialist, rheumatologist, phthisiatrician or gynecologist is scheduled.
Treatment
Taking painkillers will have a short-term effect, after which the lower back pain will return.Treatment measures should consist of a set of primary and auxiliary treatment procedures.
A sudden attack requires immediate help.Actions to help alleviate the condition:
- take a pain reliever;
- wrap the lower back tightly to create compression in the painful area;
- contact a specialist doctor for qualified help.
At the time of acute pain, if there is no accurate diagnosis, it is forbidden to try to heat the painful lower back so that the inflammation does not increase.It is not recommended to carry out a therapeutic massage and manual therapy session during an exacerbation.
Medicines
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories relieve lower back pain and eliminate inflammation by regulating body temperature.Only a doctor can prescribe medication.Uncontrolled use of non-hormonal analgesics leads to irritation of the gastric mucosa.Taking a medication that inhibits gastric acid secretion half an hour before NSAIDs will prevent the pathological condition.
- Glucocorticosteroids are prescribed for severe inflammatory reactions.
- Diuretics relieve swelling by removing excess fluid, which reduces pain.
- Muscle relaxants relieve spasms and relax skeletal muscles.
- Chondroprotectors to avoid destruction of the spine.
- Antibiotics for inflammation of internal organs.This pharmacological group disrupts the balance of intestinal microflora.Probiotics will help prevent the onset of dysbiosis.
- To strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
Local treatment
Medicines intended for local treatment help relieve pain.Ointments and creams for external use may contain active ingredients: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics, viper, snake, viper, scorpion venom.
Medicinal-based patches are convenient to use throughout the day.The pepper patch is applied directly to the lower back and within a few hours there is a uniform therapeutic effect on the painful area.
Kinesio tape is a type of pain relief.Recording gives an immediate effect;If done correctly, it can stay on the skin for up to 5 days, providing long-lasting pain relief.
Orthopedic products include the use of a rigid lumbosacral corset.The bandage is designed for static loads, provides support for the lower back and relieves compression pain.For radiculitis, warming corsets made of dog, camel or llama hair are prescribed.
Physiotherapy
Lidocaine phonophoresis provides rapid relief of symptoms by rapidly penetrating a strong anesthetic into the deep subcutaneous layers.The safe method does not have a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract, which is an additional advantage.
Massage is effective during the pain-free period.After the course, blood circulation improves, the muscular system becomes toned and mobility in the lower back improves.
Acupuncture allows you to apply acupuncture to certain points for the purpose of treatment and prevention.The Kuznetsov applicator is perfect for home use.Plastic needles increase blood flow and trigger natural pain relief processes.
Magnetic therapy is used to treat many diseases, including osteochondrosis, vascular pathologies and gynecological diseases.The pulsed current penetrates 7 cm under the skin, reaching damaged areas.The therapeutic effect is cumulative, achieved at the end of the first course and maintained until the next session.
Prevention
To keep your lower back healthy, you will need to follow well-known rules:
- lead an active lifestyle;
- avoid heavy loads during professional activities, during sports training and weight lifting;
- use a lumbosacral corset for dynamic loads when the spine is tense;
- use orthotics to provide shock absorption when walking;
- eat right and monitor your weight so that extra pounds do not contribute to the development of additional diseases;
- Seek advice from a medical professional if suspicious symptoms appear.