Low back pain is a common phenomenon that occurs regardless of age, but more often in adults. The reasons can be many - from physiological factors to disease. Sometimes back pain occurs briefly and passes quickly. However, lumbar pain can be a sign of a serious illness and in these cases an urgent need to see a doctor.
Causes
There are many causes of acute lower back pain, they are strictly individual for each sufferer. The most important of these are diseases and changes in the spine that can react with irreversible consequences.
Basic (most common)
The most common reasons are:
- Osteochondrosis. The awkward movement provokes pressure on the roots of the nerve trunk of the spinal cord. Burning and whining do not stop during the day, if you lift something heavy, there is just a hell of a pain in the lower back.
- Herniated disc. Usually the hernia is localized in the lower back and any sudden movement of the trunk leads to compression of the nerve roots.
- Sciatica. In lumbosacral radiculitis, a shooting pain syndrome occurs. Provokes lifting weights or unsuccessful movements. The sharp pain restricts the patient's movements so much that he cannot stand up and remains in the same position he was in when the attack occurred.
- Dislocation of the vertebrae. This problem is characterized by shooting pain in the lower back and, slightly lower, stiffness of movements. This pathology is accompanied by disorders of urination and bowel function.
- Facet Syndrome. When the intervertebral disc veneers expand both above and below, the intervertebral foramina decrease. In this case, unpleasant sensations occur that come suddenly and appear more than once a month. Leaning back, the patient experiences back discomfort.
- Epidural abscess. The accumulation of pus in the spinal cord occurs due to infectious diseases of the urinary tract. In addition to the pain, fever, weakness and fever occur.
These are the causes - the consequences of diseases of the spinal cord.
The lower back can get sick due to the difference in leg length of 2-3 cm. It is difficult to move, pain is felt in the back due to the constant curvature of the spine.
Overload and physical fatigue
In addition to serious illnesses, severe pain in the lumbar spine is due to large overloads and a sharp tilt of the trunk. Also, this problem occurs when the temperature effect on the body is disturbed. The sources of these pains are:
- Muscle stretching. Worsening of the stretching of the muscles in the lower back occurs due to physical overload. Muscle compression causes pain and reduces mobility. This problem occurs in athletes and people who are engaged in intensive work.
- Neuralgia. Hypothermia of the back leads to neuralgia - irritation or compression of the nerves. The pathology manifests itself in different ways: sometimes in the form of seizures, accompanied by redness of the affected area, tremor, tissue swelling and heavy sweating.
- Myositis. Lumbar pain and discomfort begin at night, as well as with a sudden rise, with a change in weather conditions, after hypothermia and overexertion.
Frequent colds, reduced immunity, spinal injuries after a blow or fall, both fresh and old, can provoke an attack.
Disorders of the internal organs
Sometimes it hurts in the lumbar region due to damage to other organs: heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, gallbladder. During inhalation, the lumbar pain syndrome spreads along all nerve channels. Often the causes of this pathology are:
- Pyelonephritis. It is an infectious inflammation of the kidneys and urinary tract. The pain is usually dull, but the attacks come with chills, weakness, nausea and vomiting, fever.
- Urolithiasis. The problem is revealed as a sudden sharp pain that becomes unbearable with prolonged walking and hard work. The attack is accompanied by nausea, vomiting and blood in the urine.
- Ectopic pregnancy. If there is a rupture of the fallopian tube with miscarriage, shooting pain radiating to the groin and rectum occurs. The rupture is accompanied by loss of consciousness, and in case of miscarriage a hematoma forms in the peritoneal cavity.
- Pelvioperitonitis. This is a transient inflammatory process of the uterine appendages. The woman has excruciating pain in her groin and back. In addition to the existing unpleasant sensations, chills, fever and palpitations are added.
- Tumors of various origins. Cancer with metastases provokes painful attacks when pressure is applied to nerve endings. There are often no initial signs of the disease.
Damage to internal organs with bouts of severe lower back pain is more difficult to diagnose. Therefore, you should immediately contact a specialist or call an ambulance. In some cases, the delay can lead to serious health problems and even death.
Lower back pain is felt in almost all pregnant women. This is due to the restructuring of the body and the increase of the load on it. Also, the cause can be hard or complex work.
Symptoms of possible diseases
The pain syndrome most often occurs against the background of a pinched nerve, osteochondrosis, deformity and degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs, irritation of the nerve roots. Muscle spasms can also cause back discomfort in the lumbar region. Peculiarities of the symptoms in different diseases:
- Lumbago causes changes in the lumbar vertebrae. Initially, acute pain can be controlled with medication. However, mobility remains limited.
- In sciatica, the symptoms move lower - to the upper surface of the legs and buttocks. If there is no timely treatment, the disease becomes a constant companion and can cause other diseases.
- Osteochondrosis provokes the development of other diseases of the spine. Therefore, the pain can appear not only in the lower back, but also spread throughout the post.
- Scoliosis is characterized by skeletal curvature, degenerative changes. The chronic form may be asymptomatic, in other cases there is bone pain.
- Dull and pulling pains are typical for diseases of the internal organs (mainly of the genitourinary system and kidneys), benign and malignant tumors.
- In spondylitis the pain is dull, painful, at first very weak. At the beginning of the disease begins to hurt the lower back, movements are restricted. Gradually, health deteriorates, inflammation becomes more pronounced, it becomes difficult to move, even minimal loads are difficult to give.
- In spinal tuberculosis, in addition to pain, the body temperature also rises. One feels tired, weak, weak, appetite worsens. At night there is heavy sweating, frequent urge to urinate.
Views
The pain may be localized in one place or spread to the abdomen, spine, and lower back. The symptoms are sharp, in the form of lumbago, dull and painful, surrounding. It depends on the disease or pathological process.
Pain may be intermittent. This is usually associated with physical activity, physiological features, exacerbation of chronic pathologies. Constant, chronic pain occurs against the background of various diseases of the internal organs, with vascular lesions, deformation of the musculoskeletal system.
Sharp
Sharp, strong, shooting pains lead to limited mobility. During such attacks, a person freezes in one position and cannot move. Even light stirring increases the already unbearable pain. This syndrome is called lumbago. Such symptoms may occur after intense massage or hypothermia.
Whining
Painful pains accompany chronic diseases, often occurring with spondyloarthritis. Symptoms usually appear at night, immediately after waking up or after sitting in one position for a long time.
Pulling and dumb
These painful sensations can last a long time, they exhaust the person. Most often they can be tolerated. Dull and pulling pains are uncommon for osteochondrosis, more so for pathologies of the spine or damage to internal organs.
For example, in pyelonephritis, the kidney tissue swells a lot, the capsule stretches, which causes back pain.
Shingles
Symptoms may appear in one place and spread throughout the peritoneal area, spreading to the back. The pain in the waist also affects the entire lower back. Without further diagnosis, symptoms can be confused with diseases of the spine and joints. However, low back pain usually causes pathology of the internal organs.
Localization of pain
In ankylosing spondylitis, the symptoms appear mainly in the lower back. In general, the pain appears in the morning, may begin even late at night and gradually increase, giving in the lower back. Also, discomfort in the lower back accompanies diseases of the pelvic organs, trauma to the coccyx, urological and gynecological pathologies, with the threat of miscarriage after childbirth.
In the upper part the symptoms appear in kyphosis, trauma, muscular myositis, osteochondrosis, infectious processes or tumors. Also, the cause may be pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, gynecological, renal and cardiac diseases, pneumonia, pleurisy, influenza, ARVI.
Pain in the left or right side of the lower back occurs due to disorders of the central nervous system, diseases of the spine and internal organs. Symptoms will appear on the side of the affected area. The appearance of negative sensations immediately on the left and right side accompanies pleurisy, hepatitis, pneumonia, cholecystitis, inflammation of the prostate, and in women - the appendages.
Characteristics for women and men
Some types of pain can only occur in women. For example, with gynecological diseases. Adnexitis is characterized by the appearance of discomfort in the lower abdomen. In this case, the pain sometimes radiates to the lower back. During pregnancy, the primary symptoms appear in the groin area and radiate to the lower back due to an increase in the load on the spine. 
Lower back pain occurs during childbirth, with the threat of miscarriage, in late gestation.
Menopause can cause back pain in the lumbar region when menstruation stops. The appearance of symptoms in the lumbar region is influenced by jumps in estrogen levels, circulatory disorders, the initial stage of osteochondrosis, hernias and other diseases of the spine. Pain also occurs as a result of stress to which women are more exposed than men. In this case, the symptoms are periodic.
In men, back pain is more often associated with professional activities, risks - heavy exercise, hypothermia, work in drafts. There are a number of diseases that provoke the appearance of negative symptoms in the lower back. In prostatitis, the pain first appears in the anal area, but can radiate to the back. Epididymitis is characterized by an inflammatory process. Initially, the pain appears in the groin area, then radiates to the lower back. At the same time, this is accompanied by fever and swelling of the scrotum.
First Aid
What to do if hellish back pain occurs spontaneously? The following steps should be taken immediately:
- Give your back an absolute rest.
- Take a comfortable position, it is best to lie on a hard surface.
- You can put ice on your lower back, but first put it on cheesecloth folded in 3-4 layers. This can only be done if the cause of the pain is not an organ infection.
- Apply a relaxing analgesic gel to the affected area.
- Get painkillers.
All these activities will help you quickly get rid of severe low back pain. However, consultation and examination by specialists is needed to determine the true cause of this attack and to prescribe adequate treatment.
What not to do
If you suddenly have a painful sensation in your back, doctors do not advise you to use warming ointments and gels immediately. They stimulate blood flow to the affected area, which contributes to increased swelling and then to increased pain. Before visiting a doctor or an ambulance arriving, it is completely and utterly excluded:
- Perform exercises of your choice.
- Washing in a sauna or steam bath, do not use contrast showers.
- Drinking alcohol to relieve pain.
Only a doctor after examination and diagnosis has the right to prescribe treatment for inflamed lower back.
What to do next, which doctor to visit?
You should see a therapist first. Conducts an initial examination, appoints the necessary tests and with the results obtained sends him to a narrow specialist - traumatologist, surgeon, neurologist. If the pain is associated with a malignancy, a consultation with an oncologist is necessary. When pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract become the cause - gastroenterologist, with female diseases - gynecologist, male - urologist or proctologist.
Check and check
To determine why the lower back hurts, an initial visual examination is performed, followed by palpation. With its help you can determine the location of the symptom. The patient describes the nature of the pain, the duration of the attacks, after which it may occur (fall, physical activity). In addition, a number of studies are being conducted:
- Blood test. It may show inflammatory processes, the presence of infection, tumors.
- Urine analysis. Allows you to rule out renal pathology. If the analysis is poor, ultrasound is additionally prescribed.
- x-rays. Allows you to identify inflammatory processes, diseases of the spine, injuries, cracks, fractures, pinched nerve. Ideally, an X-ray is taken of the spine and pelvis.
- CT. Tomography is more informative than X-ray, can show small defects, a 3D image is created. At the same time, all bone structures are clearly visible.
- NMR. Provides an opportunity to examine the soft tissues inside or near the spine. At the same time check the condition of the spinal cord, nerve roots, ligaments, muscles. Hernias and vascular changes are clearly visible.
Basic therapy
If low back pain is caused by problems with the spine, then a comprehensive treatment of the pathology is applied. It includes the following activities:
- organizing a gentle regime for the spine;
- conducting manual therapy;
- application of therapeutic massage;
- physiotherapy and reflexology: acupuncture, UHF and others;
- drug therapy: drugs, ointment, blockade;
- wearing a special corset if necessary;
- performing therapeutic gymnastics.
The main focus is drug therapy, which is aimed primarily at eliminating the negative symptoms and relieving inflammation. Physiotherapy, massage, exercises are prescribed as additional means. In difficult cases, surgery may be necessary.
Drug treatment
Anti-inflammatory drugs are the first choice for back pain. They also relieve pain. Analgesics can be prescribed at the same time. Muscle relaxants are also prescribed. Chondroprotectors are prescribed to reduce degenerative processes in cartilage. To relieve pain, drug blockades are sometimes made based on pain medications.
Topical ointments and gels are grouped into the following types:
- Means based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components.
- Combined preparations with anti-inflammatory effect and tissue cell regeneration.
- Anesthetic and irritant agents.
- Homeopathic remedies.
- Chondroprotectors that promote the recovery of cartilage tissue.
- Massage products (cosmetic).
It is important to know that these methods can relieve pain, but cannot cure the root cause. For example, damage to internal organs if, for this reason, low back pain occurs. In this case, you should undergo an examination and a specialist will prescribe effective treatment for this particular pathology.
Exercise and massage
Exercises (therapeutic gymnastics) and massage are recommended to strengthen the muscular frame of the back, normalize blood circulation and increase tone. Exercise prevents back and lower back pain. The complex of exercise therapy is chosen individually. Massage enhances the effectiveness of the exercises, restores the elasticity and flexibility of the joints. Combining it with a bath or sauna can be allowed only on medical advice.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy methods are prescribed only after the relief of acute attacks of low back pain. Then the procedures help to reduce or prevent exacerbations. The following are used as physiotherapy:
- mud therapy;
- electrophoresis;
- balneotherapy;
- electrical muscle stimulation;
- phonophoresis (ultrasound); paraffin treatment;
- reflexology;
- amplipulse therapy.
The procedures help to reduce puffiness, have an analgesic effect, improve blood circulation, relax muscles, normalize metabolic processes and lymph flow.
Surgical
An absolute indication for surgery is cauda equina syndrome, when urinary and fecal incontinence occurs and tingling in the perineum occurs. Intervention is also needed if drug treatment is ineffective, low back pain lasts for more than six months and begins to radiate to the legs. Surgical operations are also performed in the presence of a hernia.
Folk remedies
In addition, folk remedies can be used - infusions, decoctions of medicinal herbs. Compresses are made (for example, from chopped onions, fresh burdock leaves, boiled potatoes with horseradish, mustard). Rubbed with tincture of eucalyptus and burdock, warm honey, a mixture of cologne, paprika, iodine and valerian. For internal use, a tincture of vodka with a sword or a decoction of wheat with coriander and milk is recommended.
Expert recommendations
If the pain is felt for at least 3 months, it is considered acute pain. The following tips will help speed recovery from acute low back pain and reduce its intensity:
- It is important to provide the patient with absolute rest for 2-3 days. You should lie down and take a comfortable position: lie on your side and put a pillow between your knees or lie on your back and put a pillow under your knees. You can not stand still all day - it is recommended to get out of bed every 2-3 hours and warm up for 10-15 minutes.
- If the pain cannot be tolerated, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs should be taken regularly. Taking them only when the pain intensifies, you may not achieve the desired effect.
- Helping a warm shower every 3 hours or applying a heating pad for 10-15 minutes or even a cold helps - it improves blood circulation, reduces pain and inflammation.
When you feel better, you should gradually return to your normal lifestyle. Prolonged lying in bed contributes to muscle atrophy and this worsens the disease. You can train your body by walking or walking on the simulator - this is the simplest exercise for lumbar pain.
If lower back pain is not an independent disease, it is a consequence of a serious disease that is present in the body. Therefore, you should immediately contact a medical facility to identify the pathology and competent treatment.