Low back pain - causes, treatment and prevention

If your lower back hurts, it can be the result of a long list of reasons. One of the most harmless options is physical fatigue. In more serious situations, hernias, protrusions or damage to the bone apparatus may occur.To find out what causes lower back pain, you need to have a medical exam. Once the diagnosis is made, appropriate treatment is prescribed to relieve the symptoms and eliminate the root cause of the pain.

Why the lower back hurts: classification of painful sensations

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

Pain syndrome is classified as follows:

1. Non-specific pain of a mild nature. In most situations, mild chronic or acute pain does not require a difficult diagnosis. These unpleasant symptoms are in most cases reversible. These unpleasant sensations are used to diagnose back disease. Previously, the diagnosis sounded different - osteochondrosis. This is not a dangerous disease that occurs in every person with age, which is characterized by sagging of the intervertebral discs due to the action of gravity and muscle weakness.
2. Radiculopathy (radicular syndrome). The condition is associated with compression or irritation of the nerve root in the interdisk space. Such pains may indicate an inflammatory process, compression of the vertebrae of the intervertebral disc, the occurrence of protrusion and hernia. They significantly worsen the quality of life of the patient, especially during the acute period of any physical activity.
3. Specific or alarming back pain. Symptoms of such discomfort on their own are difficult to diagnose, so further examination is often ordered, which may include the exclusion of cancer, tuberculosis, kidney disease or fractures, injuries. Examples are pyelonephritis with fever, in pregnant women, lower back pain, pain in the lower abdomen with diseases of the female reproductive system. In men, urological symptoms should be excluded.

The general classification of pain is divided into:

• strong;
spicy
• ;
painful
• ;
chronic
• ;
• has moved.

Lower back hurts - reasons

The lower back hurts a lotwith manifestations of osteochondrosis. Unpleasant sensations torment the patient almost all the time - when walking, sitting and even lying down. The lower back hurts more during the day due to movement. Aggravated by coughing, sneezing, weight bearing. Less often, in the lower back, the pain radiates to the leg, which is manifested by paresthesias - a feeling of numbness and frightening feet.

If a patient has sciatica, the pain radiates to the lower body - buttocks, pelvis, thighs or lower leg. The discomfort increases with active bodily movements, as in the case of dorsopathy. When such symptoms appear, it is necessary to consult a neurologist as soon as possible.

Pain in the lower back and lower abdomenindicates bacterial damage, often accompanied by painful urination. In women, lower back pain is often seen during pregnancy or during menstruation. Under the lower back, pain is the result of a painful spasm or fetal pressure on internal organs. In the lower back, pain on the right or left indicates kidney disease. It is necessary to clarify the diagnosis with a doctor. The most reliable diagnostic methods are radiography and MRI.

Often the causes of lower back pain in women are related to their period. Lower back pain in women due to uterine cramps. To fight a painful period, you need to take NSAIDs or use hormone therapy. Less frequently, the state of ovulatory syndrome is observed. In addition to discomfort in the lower back, a woman observes alternating pains in the middle of the cycle on the right or left side. The reason why this condition occurs is not yet fully understood.

During pregnancy, the lower back hurts due to shifting center of gravity and muscle weakness. The condition returns to normal after childbirth. Unpleasant sensations are observed at all times. It is important to be able to distinguish when the back hurts from the load and when there is pathology. If at any stage of pregnancy, in addition to pain in the back and lower abdomen, there is discharge like menstruation, you should urgently see a doctor.

In men, painful sensations in the lower back and below the waist, which radiate to the perineum, indicate the development of inflammation of the prostate. If, in addition to these symptoms, a man has an increase in body temperature and a deterioration in his well-being, you should contact a therapist or urologist. Treat the inflammation with antibiotics.

Sharp lower back pain occurs in situations like this:

• sprain or inflammation of the back muscles;
• long stay in analgesic posture;
• if you suddenly lift a lot of weight;
• sharp turns to the side or body, injuries;
• draft or hypothermia.

What to do if your lower back hurts: When the condition indicates physical damage, you should see a traumatologist. The specialist will prescribe drug therapy in the acute period to relieve the unpleasant symptoms. At first, systemically acting NSAIDs are used, then they move on to external forms of release. It is useful to take vitamin preparations, inject neurotropic drugs. During the recovery period, physiotherapy, massage, gymnastics are indicated.

Why unpleasant symptoms appear - aching lower back pain occurs due to inflammation of muscle fibers or myositis. The condition is not pleasant, as the patient feels stiffness below the waist, and normal body movements are difficult. To temporarily relieve the disease, you need to take a hot shower, then wrap yourself in warm clothes. Often the back hurts in the lumbar region after injuries, falls. It is also recommended to use warming ointments. If after a few days the condition does not improve, it is better to see a doctor.

Tightness and pain in the lower back during spondylosis. The patient has constant pulling pain in the lower back, and over time there are problems with the legs. There is loss of feeling and weakness. Spondylosis deformans is dangerous if the symptoms are ignored, as the disease takes a long time to develop. Ankylosing spondylitis, other diseases, pain that radiates to the spine, or cancer are other causes of pulling pain. You can not shoot with such symptoms, you should immediately seek help from a specialist.

Sometimes the patient is tormented by "displaced pains" the nature of which he does not know. The patient has unpleasant sensations in the back, but this condition is not associated with the developing pathology of the spine. Irradiation of pain is associated with problems in the pelvis, stomach or duodenum, kidneys.

In which situations you must urgently contact a specialist:

1. The pain syndrome is intense, and the discomfort does not go away after 2-3 days, or even intensifies.
2. Unpleasant sensations have appeared after an injury or following an accident. There were falls in the back or beatings.
3. With the simultaneous appearance of pain in the lower back, leg, hips, pelvis.
4. Sensation in limbs, pelvis, buttocks, thighs, legs, feet and groin is lost due to unpleasant sensations.

Only a doctor will find out the exact cause of back pain.

Treatments and ways to relieve low back pain

Once the diagnosis has been made, therapy is selected based on the individual characteristics of the patient. Treatment is aimed at relieving unpleasant symptoms and preventing relapses. Usually, conservative therapies are combined with the principles of physiotherapy and rehabilitation. In advanced situations, surgery may be necessary.

Drug treatment

Drug use is the most extensive branch of back treatment. Spine medications, NSAIDs or pain relievers, antispasmodics, neurotropic vitamins, and muscle relaxants may be prescribed. Each group of drugs will be discussed separately. These funds are intended for symptomatic treatment - to relieve pain during an exacerbation. They have no effect on the root cause of the disease.

NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) cope with several tasks at once during the symptomatic treatment of back pain. The funds effectively relieve and eliminate the inflammatory process, due to the reversible inhibition of the synthesis of inflammatory mediators. Systemic forms of release, in the form of tablets and injections, are used during the acute period for a short time to relieve severe pain syndrome.

Diclofenac and Movalis are the reference in the treatment of back pain. Less commonly, indomethacin or ketorolac are prescribed. After a few days of therapy, the patient is transferred to the use of external forms of release, which can be used much longer. Diclofenac gel, naproxen, ketorolac trometamol, piroxicam anesthetize perfectly.

Antispasmodics can be used to treat a patient if the patient cannot tolerate muscle relaxants. The classic antispasmodics are drotaverine hydrochloride or papaverine hydrochloride. They are prescribed to relieve spasms of smooth muscles, as a result of which radiating pain in the spine may occur. These 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 spasticity is tolperisone hydrochloride, although tizanidine is more potent and has fewer side effects. Balofen is a prescription drug prescribed for very advanced cases. It is not a first-line medication because it has many side effects. The average duration of treatment when taking muscle relaxants is 1 to 1. 5 months. If during this period the spasticity has not disappeared, the drugs are withdrawn.

Rehabilitation methods in physiotherapy

In this branch of medicine it is customary to use the following recovery methods:

1. Electrophoresis. The drugs are injected through the skin under the action of a galvanic current. Usually injectable B vitamins, nicotinic acid, and chondroprotectors are used. It is a long-standing method of treating back pain, but it is effective and helps well during the rehabilitation period. Galvanic current has good conductivity, delivering drugs locally where blood flow is disturbed. The drugs are active for 15 hours.
2. Laser therapy aimed at reducing pain. Using point infrared radiation, the method aims to relieve pain, eliminate spasms, stimulate regenerative processes, improve microcirculation in tissues, relax and strengthen the body. 'immunity. Laser therapy is especially effective in the treatment of osteochondrosis, hernia, protrusion.
3. Acupuncture is an ancient therapeutic method officially approved by the WHO. Contraindications to the procedure are the period of pregnancy, age up to 1 year and after 75 years. With the help of acupuncture, the pain syndrome in varying degrees is eliminated. The essence of the method is the effect of a needle on the nerve ending of the affected area. The average course of therapy is 10-12 sessions. Effectively and quickly eliminates pain in any part of the back - on the side, left or right of the spine.
4. Physiotherapy is one of the most popular rehabilitation methods for back pain. If there are no contraindications to the procedure, special exercises are selected by a rehabilitation therapist, aimed at restoring the mobility of the spine, eliminating muscle pain, strengthening hypotonic muscle structures. By strengthening the muscle corset, the pain disappears.

Traditional medicine methods are also used, but research has not proven their beneficial effects on health. Any method of self-medication should be discussed with a neurologist.

Prevention of low back pain

Maintaining a healthy spine is important from an early age. At the beginning of the maturation period of the body, the body is intensively trained - limbs develop, the position of organs changes, the skeleton lengthens. If at an early age you teach your child good posture and regular exercise, you can avoid many back problems in the future.

The child is taught to do exercise therapy at home several times a week to achieve a permanent effect. In order to avoid execution errors, you must consult a good rehabilitator. The specialist will tell you how to do back exercises correctly at home, select an individual exercise system. At a young age, it is important not to overdo it and to alternate the principles of moderate exercise with stretching and a thorough warm-up.

Good habits to prevent lower back disease in childhood and adulthood:

1. Prolonged and incorrect sitting in the workplace leads to scoliosis with displacement to the left or right. You need to get up every 15-20 minutes and do stretching - tilting the neck and lower back forward, to the side, will tone tired muscles, improve blood circulation.
2. It is important to avoid prolonged exposure to the analgesic posture. Static ridge overload is painful.
3. Do not make sharp turns of the neck or back. If you do this multiple times, there is a high probability of injury. Most often back injuries are caused by sudden and unusual stress on the body.
4. Sit up straight when working from home. When leaning to the right or left side in a sitting position, an incorrect load on the muscles occurs. The result is uneven muscle tension with alternating hypertonicity or hypotension in any part of the back.
5. It is necessary to exclude the port of the bag on the left or on the right on a shoulder. An alternative is a backpack that evenly loads the shoulders without distortions to the right or left.
6. At home, it is recommended to perform a stretching complex for tired muscles. After a long day of work, the muscles lose their elasticity. Warming stretches are also beneficial for ligaments and joints. Bend the neck to the side and forward, light static loads are helpful.

One of the best ways to avoid lower back discomfort is to go to the pool. It is enough to swim once or twice a week to feel relief in the back. If you have existing problems, experts recommend visiting the pool at least 3 times a week.