If your lower back hurts, it could 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 system may occur.
To find out what causes low back pain, you need to have a medical exam. After the diagnosis is made, appropriate treatment is prescribed to relieve 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, this may indicate certain pathological changes. The doctor assesses not only the nature and intensity of the pain, but also other signs of problems in the lower back that accompany it. A complete history collection is required.
Pain syndrome is classified as follows:
- Non-specific pains of benign nature. In most situations, chronic or acute benign pain does not require a difficult diagnosis. In most cases, these unpleasant symptoms are reversible. These unpleasant sensations are used to diagnose dorsopathy. Previously, the diagnosis looked different - osteochondrosis. This is not a dangerous disease that occurs in all people with age, which is characterized by the sinking of the intervertebral discs due to the action of gravity and muscle weakness.
- Radiculopathy (root syndrome). The condition is associated with compression or irritation of the nerve root in the space between the discs. These pains may indicate an inflammatory process, compression of the vertebrae of the intervertebral disc, occurrence of protrusion and hernia. They greatly worsen the patient's quality of life, especially during the acute period with any physical activity.
- Specific or alarming back pain. The symptoms of this discomfort alone are difficult to diagnose, so an additional exam is often prescribed, which can include the exclusion of cancer, tuberculosis, kidney disease or fractures, injuries. Examples are pyelonephritis with fever, in pregnant women, pain in the lower back, 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;
- sore; chronic
- ;
- moved.
Lower back hurts - reasons
The lower back hurts a lotwith manifestations of osteochondrosis. Unpleasant sensations plague the patient almost all the time - when walking, sitting and even lying down. The lower back hurts more intensely during the day due to movements. Aggravated by coughing, sneezing, carrying weights. Less often, in the lower back, pain radiates to the leg, which is manifested by paresthesias - a sensation of numbness and frightening running feet.
If a patient has sciatica, the pain radiates to the lower body - buttocks, pelvis, thighs or leg. Discomfort increases with active body movements, as in the case of dorsopathy. When these symptoms appear, it is necessary to see a neurologist as soon as possible.
Pain in the lower back and abdomenindicates a bacterial lesion, which is usually accompanied by pain when urinating. In women, low back pain is often seen during pregnancy or during menstruation. Below the lower back, the pain is the result of painful spasm or fetal pressure on Organs 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 X-ray and MRI.
Often, the causes of low back pain in women are related to menstruation. Low back pain in women due to uterine cramps. To combat painful periods, you need to take NSAIDs or use hormone therapy. Less commonly, the status of ovulatory syndrome is observed. In addition to the discomfort in the lower back, the woman observes alternating pains in the middle of the cycle on the right or left side. Why this condition occurs is not yet fully known.
During pregnancy, the lower back hurts due to the displacement of the center of gravity and muscle weakness. The condition returns to normal after delivery. Unpleasant sensations are observed at any time. It is important to know how to distinguish when the back hurts because of the load and when there is a pathology. If at any stage of pregnancy, in addition to back pain and lower abdomen, there is a discharge similar to menstruation, it is necessary to consult a doctor urgently.
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, the man has increased body temperature and worsens well-being, it is necessary to contact a therapist or urologist. Treat inflammation with antibiotics.
Acute low back pain occurs in situations like this:
- sprain or inflammation of the back muscles;
- long stay in antalgic posture;
- if you suddenly lift a lot of weight;
- sharp turns on the side or body, injuries;
- outline or hypothermia.
What to do if your lower back hurts: When the condition indicates physical damage, you need to see a traumatologist. The specialist will prescribe drug therapy in the acute period to relieve unpleasant symptoms. At first, systemic-acting NSAIDs are used, and then they move on to external forms of release. It is useful to take vitamin preparations, to inject neurotropic drugs. During the recovery period, physiotherapy, massage, gymnastics are indicated.
Why unpleasant symptoms appear - low 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 condition, you need to take a hot shower and then wrap yourself in warm clothing. Often, the back hurts in the lumbar region after injuries, falls. It is also recommended to use heating ointments. If after a few days the condition does not improve, it is best to consult a doctor.
Flexions and pain in the lower back during spondylosis. The patient constantly feels a low back pain and, in time, problems arise in the legs. Loss of feeling and weakness are observed. Deforming spondylosis is dangerous if symptoms are ignored, because the disease takes a long time to develop. Other causes of withdrawal pain are ankylosing spondylitis, other illnesses, pain that radiates to the spine or cancer. You cannot pull with these symptoms, you need to seek the help of a specialist right away.
Sometimes the patient is plagued 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 development of the pathology of the spine. The irradiation of pain is associated with problems in the pelvis, stomach or duodenum, kidneys.
In what situations you need to contact a specialist urgently:
- The pain syndrome is intense and the discomfort does not go away after 2-3 days, or even intensifies.
- Unpleasant feelings arose after an injury or as a result of an accident. There were falls on the back or bumps.
- With the simultaneous occurrence of pain in the lower back, leg, hips, pelvis.
- Sensations in the limbs, pelvis, buttocks, thighs, legs, feet and groin are lost due to unpleasant sensations.
Only a doctor will find out the exact cause of the back pain.
Treatments and ways to relieve low back pain
After diagnosis, therapy is selected according to the individual characteristics of the patient. Treatment is aimed at relieving unpleasant symptoms and preventing relapses. Conservative therapies are usually combined with the principles of physiotherapy and rehabilitation. In advanced situations, surgical intervention may be necessary.
Medical therapy
Drug use is the broadest branch of back therapy. From medications for the spine, NSAIDs or analgesics, antispasmodics, neurotropic vitamins and muscle relaxants can be prescribed. Each group of drugs will be discussed separately. These funds are earmarked for symptomatic treatment - pain relief during an exacerbation. They have no effect on the root cause of the disease.
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) perform several tasks at the same time during the symptomatic treatment of back pain. The resources 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 pills and injections, are used in the acute period for a short period of time to relieve severe pain syndrome.
Diclofenac and Movalis are the gold standard 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 for much longer. Diclofenac gel, Naproxen, Ketorolac trometamol, Piroxicam anesthetize perfectly.
Antispasmodics can be used to treat a patient if he does not tolerate muscle relaxants. The classic antispasmodics are drotaverine hydrochloride or papaverine hydrochloride. They are prescribed to relieve spasm of smooth muscles, as a result of which pain may radiate to the spine. These funds are easier to tolerate than NSAIDs, but they 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 medication prescribed for really advanced cases. It is not a first-line medication, as it has many side effects. The average duration of therapy when taking muscle relaxants is 1–1, 5 months. If during this period the spasticity does not disappear, the drugs are removed.
Physiotherapy rehabilitation methods
In this branch of medicine, the following recovery methods are used:
- Electrophoresis. Medicines are injected through the skin under the action of a galvanic current. Injectable B vitamins, nicotinic acid and chondroprotectants are normally used. This is an old method of treating back pain, but it is effective and helps well during the rehabilitation period. The galvanic current has good conductivity, taking drugs locally to where the blood flow is disturbed. The drugs are active for 15 hours.
- Laser therapy to reduce pain. With the aid of tuned infrared radiation, the method aims to relieve pain, eliminate spasms, stimulate regenerative processes, improve tissue microcirculation, relax and increase immunity. Laser therapy is especially effective in the treatment of osteochondrosis, hernia and protrusion.
- Acupuncture is an ancient therapeutic method officially approved by 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 to varying degrees is eliminated. The essence of the method is the effect of a needle on the nerve end of the affected area. The average course of therapy is 10 to 12 sessions. Removes pain effectively and quickly on any part of the back - on the side, left or right of the spine.
- Physiotherapy is one of the most popular rehabilitation methods for back pain. If there are no contraindications for the procedure, then the special exercises are selected by a rehabilitating therapist, aiming to restore the mobility of the spine, eliminate muscle pain, strengthen the hypotonic muscle structures. By strengthening the muscle corset, the pain disappears.
Traditional medicine methods are also used, but research has not proven their beneficial health effects. Any self-medication methods should be discussed with a neurologist.
Low back pain prevention
Maintaining the health of the spine is important from an early age. In the initial period of maturation of the body, the body is intensely formed - the limbs grow, the position of the organs changes, the skeleton stretches. If, from an early age, you teach your child correct posture and regular exercise, you will be able to avoid many back problems in the future.
The child learns to do exercise therapy at home several times a week to obtain a permanent effect. To avoid errors in the execution, you need to consult a good rehabilitator. The specialist will explain how to do the back exercises correctly at home, select an individual exercise system. At a young age, it is important not to overdo it and alternate the principles of moderate exercise with full stretching and warm-up.
Good habits to prevent lower back diseases in childhood and adulthood:
- Prolonged and improper sitting in the workplace is full of scoliosis and displacement to the left or right side. You need to get up every 15-20 minutes and do stretches - tilting your neck and lower back forward, sideways will tone tired muscles and improve blood flow.
- It is important to avoid prolonged exposure to antalgic posture. The static overhead of the summit is fraught with pain.
- Do not make sharp turns to the neck or back. If you do this several times, there is a high likelihood of injury. Most of the time, back injuries are caused by an abrupt and unusual stress on the body.
- Sit upright when working at home. When bending to the right or left side in a sitting position, an incorrect load on the muscles occurs. The result is irregular muscle tension with alternating hypertonia or hypotension anywhere on the back.
- It is necessary to exclude carrying the bag on the left or right on the shoulder. An alternative is a backpack that carries the shoulders evenly, without distortions to the right or left.
- At home, it is recommended to perform a stretching complex for tired muscles. After a long day at work, the muscles lose their elasticity. Warm-up stretching is also beneficial for ligaments and joints. Flexing the neck to the side and forward, light static loads are useful.
One of the best ways to avoid discomfort in your lower back is to go to the pool. Just swim 1 to 2 times a week to feel relief on your back. If you have problems, experts recommend visiting the pool at least 3 times a week.