Back pain

If a person has worked hard, played intensely in sports or walked a long distance, at the level of reflex, he puts his hand in the lower back when he stops and relaxes. It is this part of the body that pulls and hurts after exercise, which is explained very simply. The spine is the mainstay of the human skeleton. It connects all the joints and absorbs most of the stress with each movement. Therefore, it is quite natural if after work or sports the lower back hurts and hurts.

But not always the causes of back pain in the lumbar region are fatigue. Lower back pain is often a symptom of serious disorders in the human body; it cannot be ignored, especially if the pain is severe, often recurrent. This is a sign that an unknown pathology is already progressing and causing more and more damage to the body every day. It is advisable to consult a doctor as early as possible: neglected spinal problems are difficult to treat and can end up in the patient's wheelchair.

It is interesting:Researchers believe that low back pain in the spine is a consequence of human evolution and, more precisely, two-way movement. In animals that move on four limbs, the loads are evenly distributed. One has to pay for the royal posture and the ability to walk on two legs with a violation of the distribution of loads, curvature of the vertebrae and back pain.

What can be back pain

Your back can hurt in different ways. Sometimes the pain is sharp, unbearable, the patient experiences an unbearable burning sensation and a sharp restriction of mobility. More often, patients complain of pain in the lower back, pulling, unpleasant sensations that usually occur in the evening, may wake up in the middle of the night, intensify with changing weather or after exercise.

Morning stiffness of the spine, back pain "for the time being" and after training are the first signals that the joints are not working.

Back pain is always accompanied by additional symptoms, which you should definitely pay attention to and inform your doctor about your observations. According to the accompanying signs, it will be easier to determine the true cause of pain in the lumbar spine. So, what symptoms and criteria will have diagnostic value:

• Duration (severity) of pain. It's called acute pain syndrome, which bothers you for up to three months. If it occurs periodically for four months or more, it is of varying intensity, then it is already listed as chronic.
• Localization. Lower back pain radiating to the buttocks is commonly referred to in medicine as lumbodinia. If the pain affects the legs, it is lumbosciatica. Also, unpleasant sensations can appear only on the right, left or on both sides at once.
• The nature of the pain. This criterion is essential. The pain can be acute and localized at one time, it can be projected on the limbs, buttocks, groin, lower ribs or lower abdomen. The pain is strong, dull or throbbing. The most difficult thing is to make a correct diagnosis of combined pain.
• Effects on joint mobility. The doctor will definitely clarify whether there is stiffness in the spine, limb, hip, under what circumstances, how long it lasts.
• Time indicator. It is also important when and after which the back starts to hurt. This happens all the time, in the morning, in the evening, at night, after exertion, when turning the head, walking, bending, etc. - the answers to all these questions are extremely important for a correct diagnosis.

On a note:according to doctors' statistics, more than 80% of Europe's population has experienced back pain at least once in their lives. More than 25% of medical visits are caused by discomfort and pain in the lumbar region. In addition, 8 out of 10 patients are young people in active working age from 35 to 45 years. Retirees are less likely to complain of low back pain and even less likely are teens.

The reasons

All causes of low back pain can be divided into two broad categories:

• physiological, usually caused by external factors;
• pathological, associated with diseases of the internal organs.

Physiological causes include:

• excessive physical activity in sports;
• lifting and carrying weights during work or training;
• hard work at home or in the country;
• hypothermia, prolonged stay in a humid room.

Age, combined with physical labor, are sufficient causes of low back pain.

The pathological causes of back pain, in turn, can be related to diseases of the spine or age-related changes in its structures - this pain syndrome is called primary. If the back pain is caused by dysfunction of other organs, such as the kidneys, it is called secondary - in this case it will be necessary to establish the background disease with the help of additional specific tests and treat two pathologies simultaneously.

Diseases and conditions in which the lower back may hurt:

• osteochondrosis (spondylosis) - previously diagnosed mainly in the elderly, now found at any age;
• intervertebral hernia - also occurs at any age, if in young people, then usually after excessive strength sports;
• neuralgia of various natures;
• arthritis and osteoarthritis, any inflammatory processes of the joints;
• rheumatism and other diseases of autoimmune origin;
• radiculitis;
• dysfunction of the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism);
• inflammation of the renal pelvis - pyelonephritis;
• inflammation of the urogenital organs.

Injuries to the back or limbs are also painful. To determine the exact cause, you will need to undergo a number of tests, the mandatory minimum is an external examination by a specialist, laboratory tests of urine and blood, X-ray, electrocardiogram, ultrasound of the kidneys and genitourinary system. If necessary, additional diagnostic measures will be prescribed.

In women, back pain can be caused by cystitis or inflammation of the appendages.

Spinal diseases as a cause of back pain

If the X-ray shows deformity of the vertebrae, their thickening and expansion with the formation of bone growths in the form of spines at the edges, the doctor diagnoses osteochondrosis or spondylosis. Until recently, this pathology was considered a disease of retirees and its main cause was called natural age-related changes in the body, slowing of metabolic processes and wear and tear of the vertebrae.

Today, it has been shown that osteochondrosis can be caused by a number of other factors in young people and even adolescents. The impulse for degenerative changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs are:

• insufficient physical activity with overweight or due to chronic diseases that limit mobility;
• sedentary work;
• metabolic disorders during diet, as a result of which the spinal structures do not receive enough nutrients and wear out prematurely;
• improper sport - without warming up muscles and ligaments, without gradually increasing the loads and controlling the lifting of loads.

With osteochondrosis, as it progresses, the intervertebral discs become deformed - they become flat, dense and rough. The affected disc can easily pinch the nerve root, which branches off from the spine, causing inflammation. In addition, nerve roots are injured by bone spines. The patient feels this as a sharp, sharp pain, along with which there is a restriction of mobility in the lower back. This condition is called sciatica.

In spondylosis, the bone growths at the ends of the vertebrae injure the nerve roots and thus provoke a syndrome of acute pain.

Inflammatory processes in the spine can begin to develop in adolescence and adolescence. It manifests as recurrent back pain, sometimes bothersome at night. Then they are joined by morning stiffness, fatigue and reduced physical activity. In advanced stages, the spine is severely deformed, changes the posture and gait of a person and a hump is formed. Rheumatoid arthritis can develop over years, in some cases up to ten years. Because the course of the disease is slow, the symptoms are often blurred, the patient does not go to the doctor, trying to cope with the discomfort with improvised means. For this reason, inflammation of the spinal joints more often than other pathologies leads to damage.

If the patient during the survey mentions discomfort in other joints (shoulder, foot, knee, arm), complains of buttock pain, decreased visual acuity, stool disorders, spondyloarthritis. The rheumatologist deals with the treatment of such pathology, his consultation is necessary immediately, as the pathology progresses rapidly and leads to irreversible changes in bone and joint structures.

Unrelated diseases as a cause of pain

Sometimes low back pain causes diseases of organs that at first glance have nothing to do with the spine. Myofascial pain syndrome is a common cause of back pain that is not accompanied by other symptoms of joint pathology. Usually young women come to the doctor with complaints of back pain after a day of work, intense workouts in the gym or a long stay in one position.

Pain in myofascial syndrome is not associated with damage to the joints of the spine and is easily eliminated by analgesics, massage and NSAIDs.

During the examination, the doctor easily finds points near the spine when pressure is applied, on which pain appears. The pain is caused by overexertion of muscle tissues, nerve roots and joint elements do not suffer. This condition does not pose a major threat to the patient's health, but can significantly reduce the quality of life. For treatment, the doctor prescribes muscle relaxants - drugs that promote muscle relaxation, as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in a short course in minimal doses. It is advisable to adjust the regime of rest and sleep and monitor physical activity.

Other extraarticular pathologies that may also be accompanied by pain in the spine:

• Cholecystitis and pancreatitis. The pain is localized in the right hypochondrium and can be projected on the right lower back.
• Appendicitis. In some cases, sharp, piercing pains radiate to the lower back, also to the right side. Additional symptoms of inflammation of the appendix: bloating, stool disorders, nausea, vomiting, severe pallor, fever.
• Renal dysfunction, urolithiasis. Depending on which kidney is inflamed, the pain will appear in the right or left lower back. If a stone comes out with urolithiasis, the lower back also hurts very much, in severe cases the body temperature may rise.
• Obesity. In case of excess body weight, heavy loads are placed on the lumbar part of the spine, which leads to back pain and discomfort.
• Osteomyelitis. Bone infections are accompanied by severe pain and fever.

If no visible lesions of the spine or other joints are found during the examination, no diseases of the internal organs are found, it makes sense to donate blood for tumor markers and perform an MRI of the spine. Malignant tumors, when they grow, put pressure on the nerve roots and also become causes of pain. The pain syndrome is characteristic of stage 3-4 cancer.

Lumbar pain may be a symptom of appendicitis.

Why back pain in women

If women have severe back pain in the lumbar region, first of all, you need to reconsider your individual calendar. Pulling pains can bother before menstruation, while pulling the lower abdomen, swelling of the mammary glands, the patient is nauseous, some are tormented by migraine, food intolerance or, conversely, gluttony

Approximately the same symptoms are a sign of pregnancy. Therefore, if menstruation has not started for several days and the pain and discomfort persist, it makes sense to take a pregnancy test and make an appointment with a gynecologist.

Also, the cause may be gynecological diseases. Adnexitis is usually manifested by pulling pain in the lower abdomen. But sometimes they radiate to the lower back. Similar sensations occur when ovarian cysts are twisted. With the onset of menopause, many women complain of a burning sensation in the lower back, stiffness. In any case, a therapist or rheumatologist will advise you to consult a gynecologist.

Causes of pain in men

In men, the back hurts mainly due to professional activities - driving lessons, computer work, lifting and carrying weights, professional sports.

But also pain on the right or left side of the back can be one of the symptoms of prostatitis or pathology such as epididymitis. To rule out or confirm pathologies, you must be examined by an andrologist.

Men with back pain should definitely consult an andrologist to rule out prostatitis.

When and what treatment is needed

Even with very intense, persistent back pain, most patients do not believe they need serious treatment and expect only one thing from the doctor - a good pain reliever to help immediately and for a long time. Unfortunately, such a drug does not exist. The pain syndrome can be suppressed with injections and pills, but the effect will not be long-term, as the cause of the discomfort will not be eliminated. Treatment methods will be determined depending on what triggered the back pain.

Bruises and muscle sprains

The first thing you need to do is give your back a full rest. This means that you cannot exercise, lift weights, stand a lot, walk, run, jump and catch a cold. It is advisable to get rid of extra pounds, with a sedentary job and an inactive lifestyle, on the contrary, you should consider sparing sports - such as yoga, Pilates, swimming. In the future, you will need to reconsider your habits and adjust the load on your spine.

What to do before visiting the doctor:

• take an analgesic or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug at a minimum dose;
• fix the lower back with a makeshift corset - a towel or scarf;
• to reduce swelling, drink herbal tea with a diuretic effect.

What the doctor will advise:

• short course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• muscle relaxants to relieve muscle spasm and tension;
• massage and warming of the back (in the absence of inflammatory processes);
• B vitamins.

If you follow all the recommendations, the pain will completely disappear in 7-14 days.

I remember!If you find a rise in body temperature, pain in the legs or other parts of the body, limited mobility or other atypical symptoms, in any case you should not resort to the help of a chiropractor, to warm up or massage yourself. It is also not recommended to take painkillers, as this will complicate the diagnosis.

Pathology of the spine

Early joint diseases are treated by the same techniques as bruises or other injuries. In addition, doctors may prescribe chondroprotectors - drugs that protect joint structures from destruction and stimulate their recovery.

Surgical intervention is indicated for compression fractures of the spine, extensive herniation of intervertebral discs, severe osteochondrosis or spondyloarthritis. Depending on the violation found, the operation can be simple and performed under local anesthesia or in several stages over six months. After surgery of any complexity, a course of antibiotics, bandaging and physical therapy will be required for complete rehabilitation.

Modern technologies allow minimally invasive interventions on the spine with minimal risk of complications.

Today, spinal surgeries are no longer exclusive, a rich and varied experience has been accumulated, there is special equipment that allows you to solve almost any problem. Therefore, if the situation is difficult and the doctor has recommended surgery, there is no point in postponing it. The sooner it is done, the more chances you have for complete pain relief and restoration of spinal function.

Useful tips

Timely and effective treatment of low back pain is often difficult for an extremely common reason - the patient does not know which doctor to consult. If the pain was preceded by an injury, then everything is simple - you need to go to a traumatologist. He will most likely prescribe analgesics and a course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and then recommend various physiotherapy procedures - electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, massage and exercise. This is the standard treatment for back injuries.

The difficulty is that nerve endings can be affected by a blow or fall. And then you need to involve a neurologist to recommend your own treatment methods. A rheumatologist or orthopedist will have their own opinion. And if the examination reveals pathology of any of the internal organs, such as the genitourinary system, the patient will be completely confused about what should be treated and who to listen to. By the way, it is for this reason that many people abandon the methods of official medicine and turn to non-traditional, ie folk remedies, which ultimately leads to deterioration and the development of complications.

It happens that doctors misdiagnose and prescribe the wrong treatment, which leads to disease progression and complications.

What to do in such a situation? Do not panic or rush, but go through the prescribed course of treatment to the end, focusing on your own feelings and well-being. If after two to four weeks your back hurts just as much and there is not the slightest improvement, it makes sense to contact another doctor and undergo a second examination to review the correctness of the diagnosis. Replacing one analgesic with another and instead of electrophoresis, it makes no sense to do UHF.

As for the treatment of the back with homeopathic medicines at home, here too you should not get carried away and recklessly believe in the promises of traditional healers. An adequate adult should understand: traditional methods of treatment are good in the remission stage, when the condition is stable, or to prevent recurrences and complications. Rheumatoid arthritis, for example, as an autoimmune disease, herbal tinctures cannot be cured in any way.

Medicinal plants will be useful to improve the overall tone of the body, but are unlikely to help with hernias, disc dislocations or compression fractures.

The right decision would be if the lower back hurts constantly and the appointments of doctors in the district clinic are ineffective - go to a reputable private clinic and undergo an examination there. It's not free, but you will understand the real cause and you will be able to start the right treatment, instead of experimenting with folk remedies and standard painkillers, which do not give any therapeutic effect.

Summary:Almost all adults experience back pain at least once in their lives. In fact, there can be many causes: from banal fatigue to serious pathology of the spine, kidneys, infection or metabolic disorders in the body. It is important to determine the cause accurately and correctly and to start appropriate treatment as early as possible. The spine is the main joint in the human skeleton, its dysfunction and destruction in the absence of adequate medical care will inevitably lead to loss of mobility and injury.