Why does the back hurt in the lumbar region and how to treat lower back pain?

26 September 2020

Low back pain is a symptom that can be associated with various medical conditions. They can be permanent or periodic, local or generalized.

If a person has pain in the lumbar spine, a full exam is prescribed to identify the cause.

Possible causes of low back pain and its characteristics

Low back pain can be caused by a variety of reasons, depending on the severity of the discomfort. Pain syndrome reduces a person's quality of life, limits mobility, and makes it impossible to perform daily tasks.

There are many causes of back pain in the lumbar region. Some of them are quite serious and require immediate intervention by a specialist.

Lumbar sciatica

Lumbar sciatica is a disease of the musculoskeletal system characterized by compression and inflammation of the spinal roots. This pathology is of a secondary nature, since it develops against the background of degenerative processes of the musculoskeletal system.

Common symptoms in this case are:

Pain syndrome, aggravated by sudden movements, lifting weights. The location of pain depends on the degree of damage. The syndrome can affect the lumbar and gluteal regions, on the back or front of the thigh. If there is damage to the nerve endings that are under the first and second lumbar discs, the patient has lumbago in the lumbar region and buttocks.
Increased pain severity when coughing, sneezing.
Inability to stay in one position for long.
Mobility impairments: inability to freely tilt the trunk forward, backward or to the sides, inability to bend the fingers of the lower limbs.

With radiculitis of the lumbar spine, the pain usually appears suddenly, stops spontaneously. Next time the pain becomes sharper, more pronounced.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis of the spine is a phenomenon in which there is a process of leaching calcium from the bones and a disruption of the activity of cells responsible for bone growth. Under such conditions, the bones are quickly destroyed, and their density is constantly decreasing. Osteoporosis is difficult to suspect in the early stages of development.

Most often the patient feels a sharp pain in the lumbar spine at the moment of strong tension - with a sharp rotation of the body, a fall, a lifting of weights.

In addition to severe back pain, osteoporosis has manifestations such as:

chronic fatigue;
abdominal bulge;
reduced mobility of the spine.

With a compression fracture, caused by osteoporosis of the lumbar spine, there is sharp pain, which increases with palpation of the affected area, as well as muscle spasms.

Scoliosis

With scoliosis of the lumbar spine, its structures deviate to the right or to the left. These changes are reflected in the condition of the surrounding tissues: they are irritated, foci of inflammation appear in the musculo-ligamentous structures.

Scoliosis on the left side is most often diagnosed. In left-handed people, scoliosis develops on the right side.

In the initial stage, lumbar scoliosis may not appear in any way. Negative changes can only be traced by the results of the x-ray examination.

The characteristic symptoms in this case, in addition to severe pain in the lumbar spine, are:

stoop;
swelling in the lumbar region;
chest pain;
displacement of the pelvic girdle, due to which one lower limb becomes shorter compared to the other;
blade divergence.

Characteristic features of pain in scoliosis of the lumbar spine: its onset at the onset of physical activity, a decrease in the intensity of discomfort when walking. The pain is usually short-lived.

Injury

Lumbar bruises occur during falls, blows. The lumbar region is the most susceptible to trauma.

Lumbar spine contusions are closed lesions of tissues and part of the spine, which do not cause anatomical abnormalities. This type of injury often occurs in athletes, as well as in people working in the workplace.

When bruised, the following additional symptoms are seen:

;
redness of the skin;
increased pain when pressing on the injury site.

If the contusion is severe, the conduction of nerve impulses in some areas of the lumbar spine may be disturbed, in some cases - complete loss of sensation.

Lower back injuries are more symptomatic and include the following:

pain when probing the affected area;
growing hematoma;
pain when turning the body, inability to bend;
swelling in the ankle area, indicating poor circulation;
paralysis and paresis of the lower limbs.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine is another likely cause of low back pain. In this case, the joints located in this area are affected.

Pain from rheumatoid arthritis most often occurs at night, usually around the morning. At the initial stage, the syndrome can be removed with the help of special exercises, but at night the pain reappears.

Other symptoms: local temperature increase in the affected area, accumulation of fluid in the cavities of the affected joint.

Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a pathological process in which the intervertebral discs lose their elasticity. As the disease progresses, cracks form and hernias form.

In the initial stage of osteochondrosis, low back pain occurs rarely and does not differ in intensity. In the future, they acquire a pronounced chronic character. The patient feels stiffness in movement, constant fatigue. Difficulties arise in flexing and extending the back.

The pain often radiates to the lower extremities. At the same time, tingling, numbness occurs.

An increase in the intensity of unpleasant sensations occurs with increased physical exertion, sudden movements and heavy lifting.

Malignant tumors

If the back hurts in the lumbar region, it may be associated with such a dangerous pathology as cancer. In this case, a malignant tumor does not necessarily affect the bony structures of the spine. In this case, the pancreas, located behind the stomach, may be affected, so that the pain can be transmitted to the lower back. Severe pain indicates an advanced stage of cancer.

Also, pain in the lumbar region may be associated with tumors from other organs having metastasized to the indicated area.

In women, back cramps can be a sign of ovarian cancer. In men, acute and prolonged spasms signal a tumor of the prostate.

Gynecological diseases

Women often worry about lower back pain. A similar symptom can occur under the influence of such pathologies as:

rupture of ovarian tissue;
pathological processes of the uterus;
cysts in the ovaries;
cervical cancer;
inflammatory processes of the fallopian tubes;
benign formations on the inner wall of the uterus.

Low back pain often occurs in women who have had an artificial termination of pregnancy. The unpleasant sensations are caused by mechanical damage to the tissues of the uterus and the prolonged process of wound tightening.

In women with gynecological diseases, lower back pain, tightness, pain. In addition, there is a violation of the menstrual cycle, loss of strength, irritability, an increase in body temperature. Often the pain syndrome is supplemented by secretions of various consistencies and colors from the vagina.

Pain syndrome in this case is caused by hormonal imbalance and inflammatory processes that spread to the tissues in the lumbar region.

Kidney disease

LBP is a sure sign of kidney disease.

A similar symptom accompanies such pathologies as:

urolithiasis;
pyelonephritis;
;
nephroptosis (kidney prolapse).

In the presence of stones in the urinary tract, the pain in the lumbar region is not too pronounced, has a dull character. With inflammatory processes that involve the kidneys, the pain is painful and constant. The place of its localization in this case is to the left and right of the spine.

Sharp pain indicates renal colic. The pain radiates to the groin area, the inside of the thigh, the anterior abdominal wall.

Additional manifestations that may indicate kidney disease include:

increased blood pressure;
swelling of the arms, legs, face that appears after waking up and goes away during the day;
change in urination: the process can be rapid and painful or, conversely, rare, until it stops completely;
lethargy;
increased sweating;
loss of appetite.

Discomfort and pain in the lower back is often associated with the fetus pressing on the kidneys in pregnant women. In this case, the pain syndrome is not associated with any pathology, it is a completely natural phenomenon.

Diseases of the genitourinary system in men

In the stronger sex, low back pain often occurs with diseases of the genitourinary system. Most often, the discomfort is caused by prostatitis, an inflammatory process in the prostate. With this disease, the urination process and sexual function are disturbed. In addition to lower back pain, there is pulling pain in the lower abdomen.

Another male disease that contributes to the development of pain in the lower back is epididymitis, an inflammation of the epididymis.

Lumbar myositis

Lumbar myositis is an inflammatory process in muscle tissue, manifested by pain and weakness of the muscles, sometimes by their atrophy. The disease can be caused by infectious processes, trauma, hypothermia, metabolic disorders in the body.

This pathology is characterized by:

aching lower back pain that gets worse with movement;
dull feeling of weakness in muscles;
swelling, redness of the skin.

Tuberculosis of bone

With tuberculosis of the spine, the lower back often hurts. The nature of the pain syndrome in this case depends on the number of vertebrae involved in the pathological process, as well as the degree of deformation of the structures.

The main signs of spinal tuberculosis are:

Severe pain in the lumbar region. This localization is associated with the fact that the lumbar region is the largest part of the spine, which receives the maximum loads.
Increased sweating at night.
Increase in the size of the lymph nodes.
Increased temperature between 37. 1 and 37. 3 degrees.
Constant fatigue.

With the progression of tuberculosis of the spine, there is an angular curvature of this structure, the development of abscesses in the region of the lumbar and thoracic regions.

Highlight

Impaired sexual function in women is often accompanied by lower back pain. A similar phenomenon is associated with a decrease in ovarian activity, which is reflected in the level of the hormone estrogen. Under the conditions of its deficiency, bone tissue becomes more fragile and prone to damage.

Against the background of hormonal changes, the musculoskeletal system as a whole becomes vulnerable: cartilage and intervertebral discs weaken, muscles and ligaments lose elasticity. As a result, the lumbar region, which is always under the most stress, is particularly exposed.

Besides pulling lower back pain, postmenopausal women suffer from headaches, excessive sweating, hot flashes.

Vascular pathology

Violation of blood circulation, provoked by pathological vascular processes, can also cause pain in the lumbar region. Thrombophlebitis, atherosclerosis, phlebothrombosis contribute to the appearance of the pain syndrome.

The appearance of blood clots in the veins, inflammation of the vascular walls, narrowing of the vascular lumen - all this prevents the full flow of blood and thus limits the supply of oxygen to the tissues and structures of thebody, which negatively affects their condition.

Other symptoms that accompany vascular disease are swelling of the veins, heaviness of the extremities and bluish color of the skin.

Intestinal diseases

With bowel disease, the pain can radiate to the lower back. This is due to the fact that the intestinal tract occupies an important place in the abdominal cavity. If any part of it undergoes pathological changes, it grows, putting pressure on other organs. The spine is also at risk.

Pain spreads to lumbar region in ulcerative colitis, exacerbation of appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome.

With pathological processes that spread to the stomach, the pain is localized in the upper part of the lower back. They appear after meals, with the appearance of a feeling of hunger, in case of abuse of harmful products.

The following symptoms are observed in parallel:

;
stool disorders;
abdominal pain.

Obesity

Being overweight puts extra strain on the spine, especially the lumbar spine. Constant pressure creates the risk of developing pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, provokes injuries in the intervertebral discs, curvature of the spine and the development of osteochondrosis.

In addition to the above pathological causes, pain in the lower back area may occur due to prolonged driving or using a computer, excessive loads in the gym, a hobby for summer work and a sedentary lifestyle.

Which doctor should I contact?

The onset of lower back pain is often caused by serious disorders in the body, so it is important to see a doctor in a timely manner to diagnose the true cause and treat it.

It is necessary to consult a specialist if the patient has pain in the lumbar region:

is regular;
constantly appears after physical exertion;
does not disappear when lying down;
is accompanied by numbness in the limbs and an increase in body temperature.

The main specialists to contact in case of back pain in the lumbar region are:

vertebrologist (treats osteochondrosis and other neurological diseases);
;
nephrologist (urologist): this specialist diagnoses and treats whether low back pain is associated with pathological processes in the genitourinary system.

If necessary, other specialists are involved in the process of diagnosis and treatment: an orthopedist, a surgeon, a gynecologist, an oncologist and a gastroenterologist.

Diagnostics

For pain in the lumbar region, the following diagnostic measures are prescribed:

general examination, identification of the anamnesis;
tests to determine retained nerve endings;
blood test to assess hemoglobin level;
;
X-ray examination of the spine;
IRM;
CT;
ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
endoscopy of the uterus, stomach, intestines;
bone scan.

The activities listed provide a comprehensive picture of the patient's condition, identify the disease causing pain in the lumbar spine and determine the appropriate treatment.

Approaches to treating low back pain

The main treatment for low back pain depends on the cause of the symptom. Therapy is aimed at eliminating the existing disease.

General principles

Processing is based on the following:

the use of drugs to suppress inflammatory processes;
perform physiotherapy procedures aimed at accelerating the recovery of affected structures;
physiotherapy exercises.

In the process of treatment, the patient should avoid active sports activities, as well as any physical activity, so as not to aggravate the course of the pathological process. During the rehabilitation period, the patient may be advised to practice yoga, swimming, and outdoor hiking.

Therapy also includes dietary adjustments. The patient should refuse heavy food, anything fatty and fried. It is important to give up bad habits - this will significantly speed up the healing process.

Drugs

For pain in the lumbar region, drugs are usually prescribed in the form of injections, which include vitamin B. The tasks of these drugs are:

acceleration of the restoration of damaged nerve fibers;
increased functional activity of the central and peripheral nervous system;
acceleration of metabolic processes.

For severe and intense lower back pain, strong analgesics are prescribed.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that control inflammation are also given by injection.

After a series of injections of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs of this group are prescribed in the form of tablets for oral administration.

For muscle spasms that cause low back pain, drugs such as muscle relaxers are prescribed.

Patients are also prescribed external medications. They usually have a warming effect and help relieve pain. They are prescribed only as part of a comprehensive treatment.

For pain in the lumbar region, special ointments are recommended.

Catching up gymnastics

A series of therapeutic exercises is prescribed only after the reduction of the pain syndrome. During the period of exacerbation, therapeutic exercises are contraindicated.

For lower back pain, the following exercises are recommended:

Lifts the pelvic region.You should lie on your back and bend your legs at a right angle. You should gently lift the pelvis and return to its original position. Repeat 10 to 15 times.
Maintain balance.The exercise is performed in a standing position. You should stand on your toes and try to maintain balance in this position for about 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat 3 to 5 times.
Raise the legs from a lying position.Lie on your back, alternately lift the straightened lower limbs as high as possible. Perform 5-10 lifts for each leg.
Movement on the buttocks.You need to sit on the floor, straighten your back. Using the pelvis and buttocks, step forward, then back. You should walk in this way about 2 m forward and the same amount behind. The number of approaches is 2-3.

You can not do gymnastics with injuries to the spine, tumors and hernias, as well as in the presence of diseases that occur in an acute form.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy procedures are carried out on the condition that the low back pain is not caused by an acute inflammatory process. Acute pain syndrome is relieved first by conservative methods and only after physiotherapy is prescribed.

For pain in the lumbar region, the following procedures are prescribed:

Magnetotherapy.This method improves blood circulation in the affected area.
Electrophoresis.This method is necessary if you want to speed up the delivery of drugs to the lesion (analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors).
Laser therapy.The technique allows you to normalize metabolism and improve blood circulation in the affected areas.

Nutrition

To strengthen the bone elements, you need to include in the diet cottage cheese, dairy products and whole milk, fatty sea fish, brown bread.

If the patient is overweight, which creates an additional load on the spine, it is necessary to exclude flour, sweets and sugary carbonated drinks from the diet.

Folk remedies

Traditional treatment methods should never become the basis of low back pain treatment. They are used exclusively as an adjuvant method and are only used with the agreement of the attending physician.

For lower back pain, you can use the following traditional medicine recipes:

Honey-based ointment.To prepare a medicinal composition, you need to take 3 tablespoons of natural bee honey and melt it with a water bath. Cool the composition. Add 2 tablespoons of drugstore alcohol to honey, add 100 g of petroleum jelly and rub in the areas where the pain is localized. For greater effectiveness, you can apply a compress with this ointment. In this case, it is not rubbed on the skin, but spread over it in a thin layer and put on a plastic film, and wrap it with a warm scarf on top. Leave the compress for 3-4 hours, then wash off the composition with warm water.
Salt compression.It is necessary to dissolve table salt in hot water (proportions - 1: 10), stir. In the finished solution, moisten a gauze cloth folded in several layers, cover the lower back with a compress, wrap it with a towel and warm it with a scarf. Leave overnight, remove the rest of the compress in the morning.
Garlic compress.You need to take 3 heads of garlic, peel, chop. Pour the resulting mass with lukewarm water (2 glasses), let stand 3 hours. In the infusion, moisten a cotton cloth and sprinkle it with freshly squeezed lemon juice over the entire surface. Apply the cold compress. Leave for 20 minutes for a damp towel to reach body temperature. After that, repeat the procedure of applying the compress. This can be repeated until the patient feels relieved.

Compress with a body.You need to mix bodyagi powder with olive oil in a ratio of 1: 30. Lubricate the lower back with the resulting composition, leaving the product on the skin for 40 minutes. After the expiration of the specified period, the product should be washed off with lukewarm water.
Compress of dried burdock leaves.You need to moisten the raw material in boiling water, apply it on the back, wrap it with a warm scarf on top. Leave the compress for at least an hour.
Baths with additives.Taking a bath can reduce the severity of pain. As additives, 200 g of mustard powder, 600 ml of broth on mint leaves can act. Take a bath within 20 minutes. The water should be lukewarm.

All of these treatments are intended to relieve back pain, that is, they are symptomatic.

Treatment for a specific diagnosed disease should be carried out according to a separate scheme.

Prevention

To reduce your risk of lower back pain, you should:

watch your posture;
stand and walk only with your back straight;
perform special exercises to strengthen the muscles of the spine and back;
do not expose the spine to excessive loads, perform moderately exercises that use the back muscles;
avoid hypothermia;
as much as possible, play a sport that does not negatively affect the spine: swimming, yoga, walking are especially useful;
do not make sudden movements when lifting loads;
sleep on a medium firm mattress, best of all - orthopedic, the pillow should also be orthopedic and of medium size;
track your weight, if necessary, follow a diet and do special exercises to combat extra pounds;
are taking vitamin and mineral complexes, especially during times of hormonal changes in the body.

Back pain can be associated not only with diseases of the spine, but also with dysfunctions of internal organs. A specialist can determine the true cause of the pain syndrome during diagnostic measurements. The symptom itself and its cause should be treated.