Painful sensations in the back are common to everyone and are one of the most common reasons to see a doctor. Moreover, about 80% of patients complain precisely that their lower back hurts.
Sometimes the reason for the appearance of discomfort in the lower part of the spine may be a prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position. If the pain becomes normal, then there is a reason to see a specialist.
Back pain can be a sign of a variety of diseases: from osteochondrosis to malignant tumors.
The complex of therapeutic measures should be based on the cause of this pain. Medicines and alternative medicines can be used.
Why the lower back hurts: reasons
There are various factors that can cause back pain. Only an experienced specialist, based on patient examination and additional examinations, can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment. Distinguish between primary and secondary pain syndromes.
In the first case, the lower back hurts due to the appearance of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine with diseases such as:
- Osteochondrosis - is a lesion of bone and cartilage tissue, dystrophic in nature;
- Spondyloarthrosis is one form of osteoarthritis, characterized by lesions on the intervertebral joints responsible for spinal mobility.
In the latter case, various reasons why the lower back hurts more widely:
- Scoliosis, or curvature of the spine;
- Inflammation, non -infectious nature (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome);
- Various infectious diseases (tuberculosis, brucellosis, epidural abscess), in which the vertebral discs and intervertebralis are damaged, are common reasons why the lower back hurts;
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (acute appendicitis, intestinal obstruction);
- Often, back pain is a reflected nature. This condition occurs when there is a disease of the organs located in the pelvic area (renal colic, venereal disease, gynecological pathology).
- Tumors located in the vertebrae or spinal cord contribute to the appearance of pain;
- Stroke and pre-stroke conditions, in which there is a violation of blood supply to the spinal cord, can cause pain in the lower back;
- During pregnancy, the load on the spine increases greatly, in connection with this there is pain in the lumbar spine;
- Spinal fractures are the most serious cause of pain.
Also, the lower back is often sore due to muscle stretching, displacement of the intervertebral disc, arthrosis of the hip joint. Experiencing acute pain, the patient assumes a forced position of the body, which severely restricts his movement when walking. Typically, this problem is faced by athletes or people whose work is related to physical activity.
It happens that the lower back hurts during prolonged work in an uncomfortable position, as a result of lifting or carrying loads, falling, hitting, straightening sharply, hypothermia or being in a draft. All of these causes can cause inflammation of the deep back muscles or cramps.
Sometimes the lower back hurts due to stress. The fact is that this part of the spine is one of the most psychosomatic parts of the body, so it responds quickly to a variety of worries and experiences. Anger, fear, irritation contribute to the release of adrenaline into the bloodstream, which in turn causes an increase in the tone of the muscles of the spine. If adequate release does not occur, then the tense muscles begin to tighten and pain ensues. Therefore, people with unstable souls often experience pain in the spine.
Treatment of lower back pain
The discomfort and painful sensation in the lower back may vary - from an insignificant lightness to an unbearable pain that makes it difficult to move even slightly. It can also be a sharp, dull, pulling or burning pain, which is often accompanied by tingling, goose bumps, numbness. Often combined with pain in the hips, legs, or knees.
If the lower back hurts for more than 3 days, then it is important to see a therapist. Depending on the results of the examination, you may need to see a specialist doctor. So, to assess the condition of the spine, back muscles or nervous system, a neurologist must be examined, if there is a suspicion of diseases of the urinary system - consultation with a urologist, if there is a disease of the female reproductive system - by a gynecologist.
Also, general analysis of urine and blood is usually prescribed to exclude or confirm the inflammatory nature of the disease, hip joint ultrasound, spinal X-ray (MSCT or MRI) and other studies. With the exception of severe and advanced cases, treatment of back pain may not require surgery and may be reversed with medications.
Conservative treatment has three main purposes:
- Relieves the patient from pain;
- Development of therapy and prevention programs to reduce negative processes in the spine;
- The patient's return to a satisfying life.
The fastest effect if lower back pain is given with drug therapy. Commonly used in treatment:
- Muscle relaxants. They should be used as soon as acute pain occurs. This allows you to relieve cramps from the muscles, eliminating the compression (squeezing) of the spinal roots produced;
- Anti-inflammatory painkillers can quickly relieve pain and inflammation. They can be used in the form of ointments and gels for external use, as well as in the form of tablets and injections.
- Chondoprotectors (drugs including chondroits and glucosamine). This substance is found in the cartilage tissue of the joints and intervertebral discs;
- Vitamin therapy.
However, it is not always possible to use drug therapy if the lower back is sore. If there are allergies, pregnancy and certain diseases, medications are contraindicated.
How can you help with back pain in this case? Proposal:
- Massage is one of the safest treatments. The only contraindication is the presence of cancer. Massage procedures allow you to relieve muscle spasms, reduce pain, improve blood flow to all tissues;
- Physiotherapy - exposure to magnetic fields, electric currents can be considered the most effective method in case of disease of the spine. Pain sensations are reduced, tissue nutrition is improved, muscles are strengthened;
- Manual therapy and acupuncture. This method is similar to massage, but this method works at a more subtle reflex level.
To reduce the risk of back pain, you should sleep on a firm bed with a hard mattress, maintain proper body posture, relax while working at a computer or driving a car, where you can do moderate exercise, avoid lifting weights, do not try to addweight loss, and exercise regularly. . .