The back is a complex structure based on the spine. The middle back consists of five beads, starting with the 20th from above. They are the largest among the rest of the vertebrae and descending, from the first vertebra to the fifth lumbar, gradually increase in size, as this area has the greatest load. The back in the region of these vertebrae is called the lower back.
Changes in this part of the back lead to pain and it is worth treating such problems with care. Pain can be caused by both congenital anomalies and acquired diseases. These can be the consequences of injuries during intense physical exertion, infections, tumors, hernias, etc.
Causes of back pain
In most cases, low back pain is caused by osteochondrosis. But he is not the only cause of back pain. Some people do not even know why their backs are strained. Many diseases of the internal organs, injuries and physiological conditions are reflected by back pain and this list includes:
- diseases of the kidneys and pelvic organs;
- physiological pain during menstruation in women;
- spinal cord injury;
- back muscle injuries (spasms);
- diseases of the digestive system;
- scoliosis;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- infections that destroy the spine and discs (tuberculosis, epidural abscess);
- tumor processes;
- Reiter syndrome.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
In 90% of cases, back pain is caused by problems with the spine and back muscle. The lumbar vertebrae are affected more often than other parts of the spine. They are subjected to heavy loads when walking, being the center of gravity in upright people. Also, there is a lot of pressure on the lower back when a person is sitting.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be asymptomatic for a long time and back pain is often the first sign of the disease. It can be of varying intensity and duration - periodic lower back pain or acute pain syndrome with tight nerve roots.
Pathologies for which back pain includes:
- osteochondrosis;
- horizontal intervertebral extensions, vertical hernia (Schmorl) and disc elongation;
- Primary and secondary (metastatic) malignant tumors in the bones and soft tissues of the spine;
- myositis of the muscles of the lower back;
- osteomyelitis (an purulent infectious process caused by pathogenic microflora, for example, the tubercle bacillus or the causative agent of brucellosis);
- ankylosing spondylitis;
- radiculitis;
- sciatica (damage or irritation of the sciatic nerve);
- deforming spondylosis;
- rheumatoid arthritis and Reiter syndrome;
- diseases of the sacroiliac and hip joints;
- epiduritis (inflammation of the dura mater of the spinal cord);
- rachiocampsis;
- injuries to bone structures, muscles and ligaments of the spine;
- metabolic changes in bone tissue (osteoporosis, osteomalacia).
Acute back pain is often called lumbago (back pain). Its main causes are vertebral displacement, intervertebral hernias and congenital spinal abnormalities. Back pain can last from a few hours to a few days and stop suddenly if "the vertebra is in place".
Pain with kidney disease
Often, pain in the lower back accompanies renal pathology. It does not change with body position and increases if a person stands for a long time. It is most often biased and indicates a chronic illness. You should see a doctor if your back hurts and you have the following symptoms:
- signs of intoxication and general malaise (chills, fatigue, etc. );
- swelling of the eyelids and face in the morning;
- violation of the urinary process (frequent, painful, etc. );
- sharp rise or fall in blood pressure;
- nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting;
- change of urine parameters (very dark, turbid, unpleasant smell, etc. ).
The appearance of blood in the urine and severe back pain are characteristic of an attack of urolithiasis. In this case, painful sensations may be given from the back along the ureter, to the groin area, genitals and the inner surface of the thigh.
Hematuria can also indicate kidney cancer. But unlike urolithiasis, in most cases, tumors grow asymptomatically for a long time and the back hurts only in the last stage of the process.
Low back pain and pregnancy
During pregnancy and childbirth, a woman's lower back experiences tremendous stress. If the expectant mother has back pain, then this may be a physiological phenomenon, or signal the development or worsening of the disease.
Increased load
Any physical activity can provoke back pain. It can appear after summer work, lifting weights, intensive strength training, etc.
Excess weight
Excess weight negatively affects the condition of the spine. Every extra pound is an extra load on the lower back.
In obese individuals, the risk of developing osteochondrosis and intervertebral hernias increases dramatically. Obese people are also prone to kidney stone formation, early onset of osteoporosis and other pathologies that cause back pain.
Other reasons
Sometimes the back hurts for other reasons:
- Pathological. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (colitis, intestinal tumors, gallstones, etc. ); pathology of the pelvic organs (prostatitis, endometriosis, neoplasms, infections and inflammations); spinal circulation disorders; atherosclerosis or aneurysm of the abdominal aorta.
- Physiological. Prolonged static load on the back, prolonged computer work, many hours of driving, etc.
Lumbodynia can radiate to the lower back in case of ectopic pregnancy and "acute abdomen".
Types of pain and their causes
When the back hurts in the lumbar region, a person is sometimes unable to even move. The nature of the pain can change within a day: first, a dull ache is felt in the lower back, and then an acute one, and then it subsides again. Also, it can be constant and not decrease. At a young age, everything is tolerated more easily than in the elderly, when the lower back constantly hurts.
In general, pain is a mechanism for recognizing problems caused by a disease. Pain reveals a hidden problem, so it plays a big role. But, of course, you can not tolerate it. You should immediately contact a specialist who will determine the cause and prescribe treatment.
Chronic pain
Chronic back pain is a frequent accompaniment of diseases of the spine and internal organs. It is pronounced and constant in cancer patients with vertebral metastases or their primary tumor lesions.
Strong pain
Acute back pain can signal a serious problem that requires proactive tactics. The following pathologies attract him:
- spinal fracture and other acute back injuries;
- deterioration of inflammatory processes in the joints;
- spinal epiduralitis;
- intervertebral hernia;
- exacerbation of osteochondrosis;
- acute abdomen (intestinal obstruction, appendix, ovarian apoplexy, etc. );
- movement of stones with ICD or gallstone disease;
- suppressed nerves;
- acute circulatory disorders in the vessels of the spine;
- pyelonephritis in the acute phase.
If a pregnant woman feels that her back is very sore, she should seek medical help immediately. With severe pain in the lower back of the child, parents are obliged to show the child to the pediatrician.
Strong pain
If you are worried about severe back pain and taking analgesics does not help, you should consult a doctor.
Painful aches
Often, back pain pain is thought to be the result of muscle fatigue. This is a misunderstanding. Sometimes the back hurts with severe pathology of the small pelvis (prostate cancer in men and uterine cancer in women).
Also, painful sensations of a similar nature are typical of slow infectious processes, growing benign formations, and hernias. Over time, they intensify, complemented by other signs of the disease.
Displaced pain
When the back hurts, and lumbodynia is different in intensity and duration, the cause may be not one pathology but several. You should make an appointment with a specialist and undergo a comprehensive examination.
Which doctor should I go to?
If your lower back hurts, you should first visit a therapist. The doctor will take a history, describe in detail the back pain, perform an examination and draw up a plan of diagnostic measures. Depending on their results, he will prescribe treatment or send for a consultation to a close specialist:
- neurologist;
- vertebroneurologist;
- gastroenterologist;
- neurosurgeon.
Diagnosing
When lower back pain, diagnostic measures are prescribed in complex. Laboratory tests, ultrasound examinations, X-ray methods, instrumental and other examinations are mandatory.
X-Ray
Bone X-ray is a simple and affordable diagnostic method. With spinal pathology, all existing defects are visible in the images. Focusing on the data obtained, the doctor makes a diagnosis and decides on further management tactics of a patient who has back pain.
CT scan
Computed tomography is prescribed to clarify the diagnosis and strictly according to the indications. The tomograms clearly show bone defects, which provoked pain in the lower back.
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging is a very informative modern diagnostic method. This allows you to explore any area of the body. With its help the condition of blood vessels, nerve structures, spinal cord and internal organs is assessed.
Despite its relative safety, it cannot be assigned to "everyone in a row" who have back pain. Examination has a number of contraindications.
Complications and possible consequences of pain
If you do not consult your doctor and determine the cause of your back pain, the consequences can be serious. A symptom can not be neglected.
When the back hurts intensely, spinal injuries or acute processes in the abdomen are possible. Ignoring lumbodynia with tight nerves can lead to a persistent loss of sensitivity and motor activity. Pain in the lower back is fraught with serious consequences, such as rupture of internal organs, bleeding, abscess, sepsis, etc.
First aid for acute pain
If there is acute back pain, call a doctor or ambulance. Before the doctor arrives, the patient needs:
- take a "middle-friendly" attitude;
- take an anesthetic and if there is no effect, repeat taking the pill after half an hour (insert an intramuscular injection);
- relieving spasm with medication;
- eliminate possible swelling by drinking a diuretic or herbal tea;
- improve tissue nutrition by taking a complex preparation of vitamins and minerals;
- lubricate the lower back with ointment or gel.
Sometimes they use popular methods (tincture of horseradish, pepper or nettle). When your back hurts, you should adhere to a "discharge" diet, to exclude any irritating factors.
How to recover from back pain?
There are several treatments for back and spine pain. But they all relate to either traditional (medical methods) or alternative.
Traditional methods include:
- bed rest;
- drug treatment;
- physiotherapy;
- surgical treatment;
Alternative methods include:
- massage;
- acupuncture;
- yoga class.
The main purpose of these methods is to alleviate suffering and the golden rule: "Do no harm. "
When back pain, first of all, it is necessary to consult a doctor, and based on the established diagnosis and recommendations received, carry out treatment at home. Injections, electrical procedures should be taken in a medical institution, and back massage, application of warm compresses and ointments on the lower back and taking pills can be taken not only in the clinic but also at home. Self-medication and improper adherence to recommendations will only hurt.
Drug treatment
Medical treatment should be prescribed by a doctor depending on the cause of the back pain. Self-administration of pharmaceutical drugs is unacceptable.
Ointments and gels
Spinal lubrication is recommended for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The following types of ointments are distinguished:
- combined, having several effects (relieve inflammation, relieve pain, heal);
- anti-inflammatory analgesic (containing menthol, lavender and similar ingredients);
- irritants (vegetables, animal or synthetic);
- chondroprotectors (to restore and protect cartilage tissue).
If the lower back hurts but the diagnosis has not been clarified, you should not use external agents.
Injections
Sometimes back pain is treated with injections. The doctor injects an analgesic into the affected area. In some situations, anesthetic blockade is used.
Physiotherapy
When back pain, exercise therapy is almost always recommended. Gymnastics helps strengthen the muscular frame of the lower back, improve tissue trophism, and stretch ligaments. The set of exercises is chosen individually.
Masotherapy
Low back pain can be effectively eliminated with massage therapy. You can turn to professionals, or perform the manipulations yourself. In case of pathology of internal organs and neoplasms it is impossible to massage the spine.
Physiotherapy
If your back hurts, physiotherapy is prescribed for a variety of ailments. Physiotherapy is especially effective for osteochondrosis of the spine. They use magnetotherapy, laser treatment, electrophoresis, pulse currents, hirudotherapy and other techniques.
Prevention of back pain
If a person has a chronic condition that can cause back pain, prevention will be to prevent irritations. In order, in principle, not to encounter this symptom, you should first of all monitor the health of the spine. If your back hurts, preventative measures are:
- active lifestyle;
- daily gymnastics;
- balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals;
- adequate physical activity for the back;
- exclusion of lower back injuries;
- lack of stress;
- treatment of foci of infection.
Annual preventive examinations are of great importance to identify existing health problems in a timely manner and to prevent back pain.