Low back pain - causes, treatment and prevention

If your lower back hurts, this could be the result of a large list of reasons. One of the most harmless options is physical fatigue. In more severe situations, a hernia, bulging eye, or damage to the skeletal apparatus may occur.To find out the cause of lower back pain, you need to have a medical examination. Once the diagnosis is made, appropriate treatment is indicated to relieve symptoms and eliminate the root cause of pain.

Why lower back pain: classification of pain

If there is severe low back pain in any part of the spine, this may indicate certain pathological changes. The doctor not only evaluates the nature and severity of pain, but also evaluates other accompanying signs of lumbar problems. A complete history collection is required.

Pain syndromes are classified as follows:

1. Non-specific pain of a benign nature. In most situations, benign acute or chronic pain does not make diagnosis difficult. These unpleasant symptoms are in most cases reversible. Such unpleasant sensations are used to diagnose back disease. Before, the diagnosis seemed different - bone necrosis. This is not a dangerous disease that occurs in all age subjects but manifests itself as collapsed discs due to the impact of gravity and muscle weakness.
2. Radiculopathy (lens syndrome). This condition involves compression or stimulation of nerve roots in the intervertebral space. Such pains may indicate an inflammatory process, compression of the vertebrae of the disc, the appearance of protrusions and hernias. They greatly worsen the patient's quality of life, especially during the acute phase of any physical activity.
3. Specific or alarming back pain. Such unpleasant symptoms alone are difficult to diagnose, so an additional examination is often ordered, which may include the exclusion of cancer, tuberculosis, kidney disease or fracture, injury. Examples include pyelonephritis with fever, in pregnant women, lower back pain, pain in the lower abdomen, and diseases of the female genital system. In men, urinary symptoms should be ruled out.

The general category of pain is divided into:

• strong;
• spicy;
• ached;
Chronic
• ;
• has moved.

Lower back pain - reasons

Severe pain in the lower backwith manifestations of osteonecrosis. Discomfort afflicts the patient almost all the time - while walking, sitting and even lying down. The lower back pain is more intense during the day due to movement. Exacerbated when coughing, sneezing, or carrying heavy objects. Less often, in the lower back, pain spreads down the legs, manifested by paresthesia - a feeling of numbness and shivering in the leg.

If the patient has sciatica, the pain spread to the lower body - buttocks, pelvis, thighs or lower legs. Discomfort increases with active body movement, as is the case with muscle problems. When such symptoms appear, it is necessary to see a neurologist as soon as possible.

Lumbar and lower abdominal painindicates a bacterial lesion, often accompanied by painful urination. In women, lower back pain is more common during pregnancy or menstruation. In the lower back, pain is the result of painful contraction or pressure of the fetus on internal organs. In the lower back, pain to the right or left indicates kidney disease. It is necessary to clarify the diagnosis with the doctor. The most reliable diagnostic methods are X-rays and MRIs.

Usually, the cause of lower back pain in women is related to their menstrual cycle. Lower back pain in women due to uterine contractions. To combat painful periods, you'll need to take an NSAID or use hormone therapy. Less common, the condition of oocyte syndrome is observed. In addition to a feeling of discomfort in the lower back, women observed alternating mid-cycle pain on the right or left side. Why this situation occurs is still unknown.

During pregnancy, the lower back hurt due to the shift of center of gravity and muscle weakness. Condition returned to normal after childbirth. Discomfort is observed at any time. It is important to be able to distinguish when the back is experiencing pain from load and when it is due to illness. If at any stage of pregnancy, besides pain in the lower back and abdomen, there is a menstrual-like discharge, you should urgently consult a doctor.

In men, a painful sensation in the lower back and below the waist, spreading to the perineum, indicates the development of prostatitis. If in addition to these symptoms, a man experiences an increase in body temperature and impaired health, you should contact a therapist or urologist. Treat inflammation with antibiotics.

Acute low back pain occurs in the following cases:

• sprain or back muscle inflammation;
• stays long in a counter-combat stance;
• if you suddenly lift a large volume;
• lateral or body rotation, injury;
• draft or hypothermia.

What to do if your lower back hurts: When the condition shows physical damage, you should see the trauma doctor. A specialist will prescribe drug therapy in the acute phase to relieve unpleasant symptoms. At first, NSAIDs of systemic action are used, then they switch to external release forms. It will be very helpful when taking vitamin preparations, injecting nerve stimulants. During recovery appoint physical therapy, massage, and vegetative exercise.

Why unpleasant symptoms appear - sore lower back pain that occurs due to inflammation of the muscle fibers or inflammation of the muscle. This is not pleasant, as the patient feels stiff below the waist, and normal body movements are difficult. For the temporary relief of the condition, take a warm bath, followed by a warm coat. Often back pain in the lower back area after injuries and falls. It is also recommended to use warming ointments. If your condition hasn't improved after a few days, it's best to see your doctor.

Pulling and lower back pain with spondylolisthesis. Patient is constantly pulling pain in the lumbar region, gradually developing leg problems. Loss of sensitivity and weakness are observed. Deformed spondylolisthesis is dangerous if symptoms are ignored, as the disease develops over a long period of time. Other causes of pulled back pain are ankylosing spondylitis, other diseases, pain from which to spread to the spine or cancer. You cannot linger with such symptoms, you should immediately seek the help of a specialist.

Sometimes the patient gets tormented by the "displacement pain", its nature that he does not know. The patient has a discomfort in the back, but this condition is not related to the developing pathology of the spine. The irradiation of pain is related to problems in the pelvis, stomach or duodenum, kidneys.

In what situations should you urgently contact an expert:

1. A severe pain syndrome and discomfort that does not go away after 2-3 days, or has even increased.
2. Discomfort arising after injury or an accident. There are falls on the back or hits.
3. With the simultaneous appearance of pain in the lower back, lower legs, hips, pelvis.
4. Loss of sensation in the limbs, pelvis, buttocks, thighs, lower legs, feet and groin due to discomfort.

Only a doctor can find the exact cause of back pain.

Low back pain relief treatments and methods

Once diagnosis is made, therapy is selected according to the individual characteristics of the patient. Treatment is intended to relieve unpleasant symptoms and prevent recurrence. Usually, conservative therapies are combined with the principles of physical therapy and rehabilitation. In advanced situations, surgical intervention may be required.

Drug treatment

Drug use is the most extensive arm of back therapy. From medications for the spine, NSAIDs or pain relievers, antispasmodics, neurotropic vitamins and muscle relaxants can be prescribed. Each class of drugs will be discussed individually. These funds are used to treat symptoms - relieve pain during exacerbations. They have no effect on the root cause of the disease.

NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) deal with several tasks at the same time during symptomatic treatment of back pain. The funds effectively reduce and eliminate the inflammatory process, because inhibition can reverse the synthesis of inflammatory mediators. Systemic forms of release, in the form of tablets and injections, are used in the acute phase of the short term to relieve severe pain syndrome.

Diclofenac and Movalis are the gold standard in back pain treatment. Less commonly, Indomethacin or Ketorolac is prescribed. After a few days of treatment, the patient is switched to using external forms of release, which can be used for longer. Diclofenac gel, Naproxen, Ketorolac trometamol, Piroxicam perfect anesthesia.

Antispasmodic drugs may be used to treat the patient if he is intolerant to muscle relaxants. The classic antispasmodic drug is drotaverine hydrochloride or papaverine hydrochloride. They are prescribed to reduce spasms of smooth muscles, which in turn can cause spinal pain. Such funds are easier to tolerate than NSAIDs, but also have a weaker effect.

Central muscle relaxants include tizanidine, tolperisone hydrochloride or baclofen. The most commonly prescribed treatment for muscle spasms is tolperisone hydrochloride, although tizanidine is stronger and has fewer side effects. Balofen is a prescription drug that is prescribed for really severe cases. It is not a first-line drug, as it has many side effects. The average duration of treatment with muscle relaxants is 1–1, 5 months. If the spasticity does not go away during this time, the drugs are discarded.

Physiotherapeutic methods for rehabilitation

In this medicine, the following recovery methods are commonly used:

1. Electrophoresis. The drug is injected through the skin under the action of an electric current. Most often, injectable B vitamins, nicotinic acid, chondroprotectors are used. This is a long-standing remedy for back pain, but it is effective and well-supported in the rehabilitation phase. Galvanic current has good electrical conductivity, distributing the drug locally to the place where blood flow is disturbed. The drug works for 15 hours.
2. Laser therapy is for pain relief. With the help of point-correcting infrared radiation, this method aims to relieve pain, eliminate spasms, stimulate regeneration, improve microcirculation in tissues, relax and boost immunity. Laser therapy is particularly effective in the treatment of bone necrosis, herniation, and bulging eyes.
3. Acupuncture is an ancient WHO-approved treatment. Contraindications to the procedure are pregnancy period, age up to 1 year and after 75 years. With the help of acupuncture, pain syndromes of varying degrees are eliminated. The essence of the method is the impact of a needle on the nerve end of the affected area. The average course of treatment is 10 to 12 sessions. Get rid of pain effectively and quickly from any part of your back - side, left or right side of spine.
4. Physiotherapy is one of the most popular rehabilitation methods for back pain. In the absence of contraindications to the procedure, special exercises are selected by a rehabilitation therapist, aimed at restoring spinal mobility, eliminating muscle pain, strengthening muscle structure. hypotonia. By strengthening the corset, the pain will disappear.

Traditional medicine methods have also been used, but research has not proven their beneficial effects on health. Any self-medicating approach should be discussed with the neurologist.

Low back pain prevention

Maintaining spinal health is important from a young age. During the early adulthood of the body, the body is comprehensively formed - the limbs develop, the position of organs changes, the skeleton elongates. If you teach your child correct posture from an early age and exercise regularly, you will be able to avoid many back problems in the future.

Children are taught exercise therapies at home several times a week for long-term results. To avoid making mistakes, you need to consult a good practitioner. Experts will guide you on how to exercise back properly at home, choosing your own exercise system. As an adolescent, it's important not to overdo it and alternate the principles of doing exercise with muscle stretching and good warm-up.

Good habits to prevent low back in childhood and adulthood:

1. Sitting long and improperly at work can cause scoliosis when left or right. You need to get up every 15-20 minutes and do a stretch - tilt your neck and lower back forward, to the side will tone the tired muscles, improve blood flow.
2. It is important to avoid prolonged exposure to the antalgic posture. Static overload of the ridge is full of pain.
3. Do not forcefully turn your neck or back. If you do this more than once, there's a high chance of getting hurt. Usually, back injuries are caused by sudden and unusual stress in the body.
4. Sit upright when working from home. When bent to the right or left in a sitting position, incorrect load on the muscles will occur. The result is uneven muscle tension with alternating hypertonia or hypotension in any part of the back.
5. It is important to exclude left or right bag carrying on one shoulder. An alternative solution is a backpack that has a uniform load on the shoulder without deforming to the right or left.
6. At home, do complex stretches for tired muscles. After a long day at work, muscles lose elasticity. Warm up stretches are also beneficial for ligaments and joints. Neck bends to the side and forward, light static loads are helpful.

One of the best ways to prevent lower back discomfort is to go to the pool. Swimming 1-2 times a week is enough to feel a sense of relief in the back. If you are having current problems, experts recommend going to the pool at least 3 times a week.