Lower back hurts

When the lower back hurts, a person's life becomes miserable due to the colossal discomfort it causes.Meanwhile, there is not a person whose lower back pain is not a symptom that has appeared at least once in their life.Lower back pain can occur for a variety of reasons and in different ways.In its manifestations, the pain is sudden and increasing, throbbing and painful.However, there is one common characteristic: if left untreated, the situation will get worse.

Causes of back pain in the lumbar region

The human spine is exposed every day to stress of varying intensity, from insignificant to significant.At the same time, he does not always manage to compensate for the loads and distribute them to the surrounding tissues without injury, which causes him to experience microtrauma.It should be noted that the lumbosacral spine is often subjected to overload.Additionally, there are a number of other reasons why your lower back may hurt.This includes infections, genetics, organ damage, etc.

Why does the lower back hurt (female causes):

1. Inflammatory diseases manifest as lower back pain or cause complications leading to this symptom:
   1. Vulvitis – inflammation of the external genitalia;
   2. Colpitis – inflammation of the vaginal mucosa;
   3. adnexitis – inflammation of the uterine appendages;
2. During pregnancy, the load on the spine in general, and on the lower back in particular, is particularly increased.Typically, the lower back stops hurting after childbirth.It should also be noted that during pregnancy there may be an impetus for the development of a mature disease;
3. Abortion.The procedure damages internal membranes, leading to local inflammation.In addition, abortion is accompanied by significant psychological stress;
4. Pain during menstruation or, in scientific language, algodismenorrhea.The menstrual cycle is a process associated with hormonal changes in the body.It is also accompanied by the rejection of the endometrial layer (uterine wall), which causes blood loss and leads to intense contractions of the uterus to eliminate “waste”.This can cause stomach and lower back pain;
5. Climax.Problems with hormonal balance in the body can lead to poor circulation to the organs in the pelvic region.As a result, bone density decreases and osteoporosis develops;
6. Suspicion.Although this quality is common to both sexes, it is in the vast majority of cases characteristic of women;
7. Large chest size;
8. High heels and carrying a heavy purse can also cause lower back pain.

Why does the lower back hurt (male causes):

1. Prostatitis.Inflammation of the prostate sometimes causes pain in the lumbar region;
2. Epididymitis.Inflammation of the epididymis can result in discomfort in the lower back;
3. Men aged 50 and older are at increased risk of genital cancer.What could be the cause of lower back pain?

Why does the lower back hurt (common causes):

Lower back pain can occur due to many pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.However, in addition to diseases affecting the spine (spondyloarthrosis, osteochondrosis, osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, etc.) and injuries, there are multiple causes:

1. Skeletal abnormalities or defects: kyphosis, scoliosis, lordosis, spina bifida, cuneiform vertebrae, etc.It should be noted that in ≈50% of cases the causes of the development of the defect are unknown, in ≈10% - environmental influences, in ≈19% - genetics, in the rest - multiple factors.In most cases there is no treatment, sometimes surgical correction is acceptable;
2. Appendicitis.Inflammation of the vermiform appendix of the cecum (appendix) causes sudden, sharp pain in the abdomen, which can radiate to the lumbar region;
3. Cholecystitis.Lower back pain may be due to inflammation of the gallbladder;
4. Acute pancreatitis.Inflammation of the pancreas, characterized by pain in the girdles;
5. Cystitis.Bladder inflammation causes discomfort in the pelvic area;
6. Diseases of the small intestine, due to their proximity to the nerve fibers of the lumbosacral region, can cause pain in this area.Enteritis (gastroenteritis, enterocolitis, gastroenterocolitis), intestinal enzymopathies, diverticulosis;
7. Kidneys.Lower back pain often accompanies diseases of these organs.Pyelonephritis, renal prolapse, renal failure, urolithiasis, amyloidosis, lupus nephritis, etc. ;
8. Excess weight increases the load on the spine and leads to its gradual destruction;
9. Tuberculous tissue damage;
10. Ankylosing spondylitis;
11. Inflammation of the lower back muscles following a viral or bacterial infection;
12. Malignant tumors developing or metastasizing in the lower back;
13. Benign formations developing on or compressing nerve fibers;
14. Spinal epidural abscess.Purulent inflammation of the spinal space;
15. Abdominal or pelvic adhesions after surgery.This is the proliferation of connective tissue during the healing process of postoperative wounds.For example, adhesions of the intestine to organs or the abdominal wall after laparotomy;
16. Hypothermia, stress, poor diet, injury;
17. Due to other illnesses.

“Poor posture is the main reason a child may have lower back pain.”

Types of back pain in the lumbar region

Pain is a mental and physiological reaction of the body to severe irritation of the nerve ganglia of organs and tissues.Pain is the most common reason patients go to the hospital, and it is also usually the first sign and warning of illness.Pain is a signal of damage that helps trigger protective (for example, muscle spasms to limit mobility of the affected part of the body when a nerve is pinched) and compensatory mechanisms of the body (for example, fibrosis in the last stage of osteochondrosis).There are many different classifications of pain.

Depending on the location of the sensation, we can divide the reasons why the lower back hurts very much into 2 types: primary and secondary (reflected, projected).In the first case, pain is caused by damage to the musculoskeletal system resulting from degenerative changes (for example, osteochondrosis) or trauma.In the second case, it is caused by a pathology (for example cholecystitis radiating to the lower back) that is not directly related to the spine and the muscles of the lumbar region, therefore it can be very diverse.

The nature of the pain is constant (otherwise chronic) and periodic (otherwise acute).The first type is associated with irreversible processes of circulatory disorders, nerve damage or damage to the musculoskeletal system.Typically, eliminating the source of persistent pain is complicated, if not impossible.The second type includes acute diseases of organs, injuries and individual physiological characteristics of the body.Periodic pain disappears after eliminating its cause.

We speak of pain when the sensations do not coincide with the true source of the pain (the original source, the site of the damage).For example, pain radiating down the leg, when the nerve roots are compressed in the lumbosacral spine, is called referred pain.And after damage to internal organs, pain appears, called referred pain, which is localized in a certain dermatome in accordance with the Zakharyin-Ged zones.

Depending on the location, pain can be superficial somatic (skin damage), deep somatic (disorders of the musculoskeletal system and tissues), visceral (damage to organs inside the body).

Depending on the nerves affected, the pain can be neuropathic, when the peripheral nerves are damaged, or central, when the central nervous system is damaged.

Diseases characterized by chronic low back pain

Here they are:

1. Intervertebral osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine is one of the most common causes of lower back pain.It is a complex disease characterized by inflammation and tissue destruction, compression of nerves and blood vessels.Has widespread symptoms;
2. Lumbago.Shooting pain in the lower back.In most cases, this is the result of osteochondrosis and its complication – herniated disc.So the treatment is similar;
3. Osteoporosis.Chronic and progressive metabolic disease of bones, in which their density decreases and their fragility increases.In other words, bone thinning.It is the leading cause of hip fractures in the elderly.The disease deforms the skeleton, joints and cartilage.Typical for women during menopause.Osteoporosis risk assessment: Anyone who has ever suffered a minor force fracture of a bone (e.g. vertebra, hip) should be assessed;
4. Scoliosis.Curvature of the spine, which results in asymmetry of the shoulders, poor posture, impaired motor function of the skeleton, protruding ribs on the left or right side;
5. Rheumatoid arthritis.Women are more susceptible to the disease.It most often develops during menopause.It is a chronic systemic disease involving muscles, ligaments and cartilage in the degenerative-dystrophic process.The causes of the disease are autoimmune processes;
6. Ankylosing spondylitis or ankylosing spondylitis.A disease with progressive loss of joint mobility.More common in men.It is a chronic inflammation of the joints leading to fibrosis, that is to say the proliferation of connective tissue.Located mainly in the spine.Accompanied by pain, eye damage and decreased growth.Leads to complete loss of joint mobility;
7. Spondylosis.Chronic disease of the spine, which is manifested by changes in the fibrous tissue of the intervertebral space and the formation of bony growths of the spine (spondylophytes or osteophytes) on the sides of the vertebrae.Most commonly due to old age;
8. Phlebothrombosis.Partial or complete blockage of the deep veins of the leg due to blood clots.It develops with a simultaneous combination of 3 factors: pathology of the walls of blood vessels, thickening and slowing of blood flow.Prolonged wearing of high heels increases the risk of developing a pathology.Phlebothrombosis is extremely dangerous because up to a severe stage it is practically asymptomatic;
9. Thrombophlebitis.Partial or complete cessation of blood circulation in superficial veins due to the formation of blood clots caused by pathological changes in the vein resulting from its inflammation.Most often, the disease is a consequence of varicose veins.Phlebothrombosis may be a later development of this disease;
10. Atherosclerosis.Slowing or stopping blood flow in a vessel due to cholesterol plaques.The disease is typical of elderly men;
11. Osteomyelitis.Purulent-necrotic process in bones, bone marrow and surrounding tissues.The cause is a bacterial infection.The patient's condition worsens over several days.Requires immediate treatment;
12. Different leg lengths.More than 3 cm.The disease develops due to atrophy of the muscles of one of the legs.

These and many other diseases are the reason why the lower back constantly hurts.All require urgent and serious treatment.However, it is often symptomatic and its objective is to slow the progression of the disease.

What to do if you have lower back pain

“If you periodically experience lower back pain, this is a signal that should be taken seriously and urgently examined.”

If sudden pain occurs and the cause is unclear, body temperature should be measured and symptoms noted.Such as vomiting, diarrhea, coating on the tongue, nature and location of pain, etc.Lie on a hard bed or mat, placing thick pillows under your knees, head, and torso.If the pain does not subside for a long time, call a doctor.And in all cases, you must undergo an examination.

For cases where the cause of the pain is known.For example, for a bruise or sprain of the lower back, first aid is provided with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (tablets or better ointments).You can take a diuretic once to reduce swelling and wrap the lower back with an orthopedic belt or towel to limit mobility.

Exercises that can help relieve pain:

1. Relaxation.Lie down on the mat.Place a thick pillow under your torso and head, and a low stool or nightstand under your knees.Relax completely.This will help the body adopt the most natural position for the spine;
2. Gentle stretching of the lumbosacral region.Lie gently and carefully with your stomach on the table, placing your hands on it to lean forward with minimal strain on your back.You can also contract your abdominal muscles.Position yourself so that your pelvis is at the very edge of the table.In other words, approach the table until your hips touch it and lie down.Completely relax the muscles in your back, buttocks and legs.Half of the body hangs on the table in a relaxed state.In this state, take a deep diaphragmatic (belly) breath and hold your breath for 3-5 seconds, then exhale slowly.Take 7 to 10 breaths this way.Then stand up carefully using your hands and abdominal muscles, with minimal tension in your lower back.You can repeat the exercise several times;
3. Unloading of the lumbosacral region.Get on all fours.Hands are placed shoulder-width apart and perpendicular to them.Legs wider than shoulders.The back should remain in a natural position without arching or arching.In this position, inhale deeply through the diaphragm, then exhale as much as possible, imagining how the navel stretches towards the spine.At the end of the exhale, hold for 2-3 seconds, while tightening the muscles of the buttocks and hips, but not the lower back!So relax.Take 7-10 such breaths and 2-3 sets of exercises;

What not to do if you have lower back pain:

• Warm up.This can increase inflammation and make the situation worse;
• Take painkillers without an established diagnosis.Pain is the body's defense mechanism.There may be no pain, but that does not mean the degenerative changes have stopped;
• Repair bones yourself or even with a chiropractor without examination or diagnosis.Regular adjustment of the vertebrae will further damage the spine.Displacement of the vertebrae does not always occur as a result of injury.In the case, for example, of advanced osteochondrosis.

“You have to treat the underlying disease first, then its symptoms. »

Determining the cause of such a common symptom as lower back pain may require a thorough examination and consultation with various medical specialists: neurologist, vertebrologist, gynecologist, etc.If you do not know which specialist to contact, you can consult a therapist.The most common examination procedures are:

1. Consideration of patient complaints, examination of joint mobility, assessment of the degree of degenerative changes;
2. General analysis of urine and blood;
3. Biochemical blood test;
4. Radiological examination of the lumbar vertebrae;
5. Ultrasound of the heart and abdominal organs;
6. Doppler ultrasound – examination of blood vessels;
7. CT or MRI.

Treatment of lower back pain

Treatment depends on the diagnosis because there is no single cure for every disease.This article lists some common names of medications often used in the treatment of lower back pain.However, it is strictly not recommended to self-medicate and take medication only after consulting a doctor.

Medication for low back pain aims to relieve inflammation and pain.And for this purpose, the following types of drugs are used:

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
2. Muscle relaxers;
3. Narcotic analgesics;
4. Corticosteroids;
5. Blockade;
6. Minerals and vitamins.

Some of the best ways to relieve pain are ointments, creams and gels:

• NSAIDs;
• Ointments containing diclofenac;
• Combination medications;
• anti-inflammatory ointments;
• Medicinal patches.

Symptomatic treatment is used only for incurable diseases.Modern medicine takes a comprehensive approach to treating lower back pain.Vitamins B1, B6, B12 are added to NSAIDs.It has been proven that the use of high therapeutic doses of B vitamins enhances the effect of NSAIDs due to better restoration of nervous tissue.Thus, the optimal complement to NSAIDs is a combination of vitamins.Therefore, to combat pain as effectively as possible, treatment with this drug begins with daily injections for 7-10 days.Added to this are physiotherapeutic procedures, exercise therapy, massage, etc.Thus, the most effective and longest treatment is obtained.

Prevention

Prevention of lower back pain is as follows:

• Regular physical activity, keeping the body in shape, developing muscle structure.If it is not possible to play sports, therapeutic exercises for 15 minutes 2-3 times a day will help not to get sick;
• Watch your posture;
• Less stress, more fruits and vegetables.Strong immunity saves you from many diseases;
• Balanced diet containing essential minerals and vitamins;
• An annual preventive examination by a doctor is the best prevention for detecting diseases at an early stage;
• Support for water-salt balance.The human body requires 1.5 to 4 liters of water per day, depending on body weight, weather and activity.