Pain in the lower back is a companion of about a quarter of the country's population, appears once or becomes a common phenomenon and accompanies a person almost throughout his life.Pain in the lower back often bothers men and women over the age of 35-45.
In recent years, due to lack of physical activity, improper nutrition, excess weight and constant stress, lower back pain syndrome is increasingly occurring in adolescents and children.That is why many people are increasingly concerned about the question of what to do if their lower back hurts.
Lower back pain
Spinal pain in the lower back can be dull, aching, shooting, and there can be a throbbing pain in the lower back.They can appear on the left or right side of the body, disappear without a trace or constantly return, worsening the quality of life and physical activity of a person.Patients complain that their lower back hurts a lot.It is important for the doctor to determine 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 activity.Working in the country, overexertion in the gym, carrying heavy loads and a sedentary lifestyle provoke the process when the lower back hurts.However, the pain usually goes away after a few days.But if relief does not occur, you should definitely consult 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 spine, malignant or benign tumors of the pelvic organs, infectious processes.Doctors have enough facts explaining why the back hurts in the lumbar region.The following causes of pain have been identified:
- Acute or chronic back muscle spasm.
- Protrusions (bulging of the intervertebral disc) and disc herniation.
- Osteochondrosis (dystrophic 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 (chronic disease leading to immobility of the spine).
In men and women, the most common pathology is osteochondrosis, which causes curvature of the spine, 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 hurts a lot.
In the lumbar region, the pain is often throbbing, tearing, lasts a few minutes, but sometimes a few hours or days, and disappears suddenly.
A dull, aching pain radiating under the ribs associated with stretching of the kidney capsule 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 with concretions (stones).
Intrusive pain in the lower back develops with persistent allergic syndrome, hormonal imbalance and tuberculosis.In this case, destruction of the vertebrae occurs.
Pain in the lower back, radiating to the right, can be a symptom 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), the lower back also hurts.Appendicitis or cholecystitis is characterized by pain that radiates from the right side of the lower back.
Herpes zoster in the lumbar region can be caused by different types of herpes.Often, the virus does not manifest itself as a rash, but rather as pain.To find out what drugs and how to treat the pain, you should contact an infectious disease specialist to advise you to take antiviral drugs.Girdling pain in the lower back also accompanies inflammation of the peritoneum, osteochondrosis, radiculitis and myositis.
In women
Lower back pain in women is caused by a variety of reasons.The main ones are pregnancy, menopause, kidney diseases, disorders of the digestive system, osteochondrosis or spinal hernia.Such pain in the lower back not only causes discomfort, but can also disrupt the monthly cycle and lead to infertility.
Pressing pain in the lower back occurs with gynecological problems.These can be inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs, endometriosis (pathological growth of the epithelium of the uterus), ovarian cysts, polyps, fibroids or other formations in the uterine cavity.
Only a specialist can determine what can cause pain in a woman's lower back.Therefore, you do not need to decide for yourself what to do if your lower back hurts.First of all, you should visit a gynecologist.
Often women have pain in the lower back during menstruation.The reasons are a temporary change in hormonal levels, an increase in the amount of estrogens that increase the sensitivity of the body, water retention, an increase in the load on the spine and physiological contractions of the uterine walls.
Low back pain during pregnancy occurs in almost every woman, but often does not require treatment.Pain in the lumbar region is associated with an increase in the pregnant woman's body weight 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 hurts even after giving birth.Experts say that postpartum causes of pain in the lower back appear after microtraumas of the musculo-ligamentous apparatus and joints of the spine.
Spinal instability is another problem for women of all ages, even those who are mildly obese.Other common causes are damage to the intervertebral discs or joints.
Physical activity and prolonged standing cause pain in the spine, pain in the lower back, difficulty in straightening the body, desire to lie down and rest.Osteoporosis can develop during the postmenopausal period.
In men
The occurrence of periodic back pain in men can be caused by professional activities associated with excessive physical activity, uncomfortable body positions and working in the cold.The culprit of pain radiating in the lumbar region or groin can be epididymitis - inflammation of the testicles, manifested by swelling of the scrotum and fever.With prostatitis, inflammation of the bladder, a person is worried about a dull pain on the left side of the back.
Lower back pain in men over 40 is often caused by herniated intervertebral discs.It is characterized by back pain when coughing, sneezing, difficulty bending and straightening the back.Pain in the lower back increases when standing up, so such patients tend to lie down faster.Advanced hernias and lower back pain sometimes require surgery.
The listed specific male diseases and other pathologies in which the lower back hurts constantly and strongly should not be treated without the supervision of a doctor.Self-medication can lead to deterioration and complication of the pathological process and lead to disability.Treatment of the lumbar spine can only be performed by qualified specialists.
Diagnosis of diseases
If the exact cause of the pain is still unknown, diagnostic measures should begin with a visit to the therapist.Treatment of pain in the lower back should begin after establishing an accurate diagnosis, which is carried out after a complete examination.The review includes:
- history study (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 by somatic causes, the patient should be examined by a neurologist, vertebrologist, therapist and nephrologist.Women, if they have pain in the lower back, must be examined by a gynecologist, and men should visit a urologist.
Treatment of lower back pain
After the correct diagnosis of pain in the lower back, the specialist prescribes treatment specific to this pathology, which is aimed at eliminating the causes of the disease.
If your back hurts, you should not look for the answer to the question of how to relieve lower back pain from your neighbors, acquaintances or the Internet.Pain in the lower back has different causes, so the treatment of each disease is individual.Only a doctor knows how to cure the patient and how to relieve the pain.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain in the lower back.These drugs have a negative effect on the gastric mucosa, so they must be taken simultaneously with drugs that reduce acidity and protect the walls of the stomach from damage.In case of pain, you can use suitable ointments or gels prescribed by your doctor.
Since pain in the spine and lower back is caused by a variety of reasons, only specialists can prescribe appropriate treatment for the lower back.That is why you should consult a doctor as soon as possible, and not self-medicate.Only a doctor can determine why your lower back hurts and how to get rid of lower back pain.
At home, the treatment of pain in the lower back can be carried out only after an examination and medical examination, otherwise incurable complications may occur.
If your lower back hurts, then the treatment can be complicated, i.e.you can use both traditional and folk methods.
Prevention
It is better to prevent pain in the spine, then you will not have to look for the answer to the question of how to treat pain in the lower back.Prevention rules are simple but effective.The main thing is not to forget to fulfill them.
According to statistics, more than 25-30% of people have had this condition when their back hurts.Preventive planned monitoring of the state of health and timely consultation with a doctor allows you to identify the initial pathology, diagnose why the spine hurts in the lumbar region, why the lower back is pulled.
Morning gymnastics, jogging, brisk walking, exercises 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 tension or overload, will help strengthen muscle tissue.
To reduce the load on the spine, you need to adjust your body weight.Excess weight and lack of physical activity are the enemies of the spine.
To properly reduce body weight, you should not get carried away by diets found on the Internet.It is better to consult a nutritionist or your doctor to get competent recommendations regarding nutrition and maintenance of water-salt balance.
Routine medical examinations are important to prevent back pain in the lumbar region.Women should see a gynecologist every year, men a urologist.Many spinal disorders begin in childhood.
Parents should closely monitor the child's health, teach him exercises, active children's games and correct posture.School-aged children must undergo a routine medical examination each year before the start of the school year.
If your lower back hurts, a positive attitude, faith in success, following all the instructions of specialists allows you to reduce or completely get rid of the pain and lead a fulfilling life.