Low back pain - causes, treatment and prevention

If the lower back hurts, then this may be the result of a large 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 examination. After the diagnosis is made, appropriate treatment is prescribed to relieve symptoms and eliminate the root cause of pain.

Why the lower back hurts: classification of painful sensations

If there is severe lower back pain in any part of the spine, this may indicate certain pathological changes. The doctor assesses not only the nature and severity of 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 pains of a benign nature. In most situations, benign chronic or acute pain does not impose a difficult diagnosis. These unpleasant symptoms are in most cases reversible. Such unpleasant sensations are used to diagnose dorsopathy. Previously, the diagnosis sounded differently - osteochondrosis. This is not a dangerous disease that occurs in every person with age, which is characterized by subsidence of the intervertebral discs due to the action of gravity and muscle weakness.
2. Radiculopathy (radicular syndrome). The condition is associated with squeezing 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 greatly worsen the patient's quality of life, especially during the acute period with any physical activity.
3. Specific or alarming back pain. Symptoms of such discomfort alone are difficult to diagnose, so an additional examination is often prescribed, which may include the exclusion of cancer, tuberculosis, kidney disease or fractures, injuries. Examples are pyelonephritis with fever, in pregnant women, lower back pain, aching pain in the lower abdomen with diseases of the female reproductive system. In men, urological symptoms must be excluded.

The general classification of pain is divided into:

• strong;
• spicy;
• aching;
• chronic;
• moved.

Lower back hurts - reasons

The lower back hurts badlywith manifestations of osteochondrosis. Unpleasant sensations torment the patient almost all the time - while 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 feeling of numbness and running creepy feet.

If a patient has sciatica, the pain radiates to the lower part of the body - buttocks, pelvis, thighs or lower leg. Discomfort increases with active body 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 a bacterial lesion, which is often accompanied by painful urination. In women, lower back pain is often seen during pregnancy or during menstruation. Below the lower back, pain is the result of 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 X-ray and MRI.

Often the causes of lower back pain in women are related to their periods. Lower back pain in women due to uterine cramps. To combat painful periods, you need to take NSAIDs or use hormone therapy. Less commonly, the state of the ovulatory syndrome is observed. In addition to discomfort in the lower back, a woman observes alternating pains in the middle of the cycle in the right or left side. Why this condition occurs is still not thoroughly 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 childbirth. Unpleasant sensations are observed at any time. It is important to be able to distinguish when the back hurt from the load, and when with pathology. If at any stage of pregnancy, in addition to pain in the back and lower abdomen, there is discharge like menstruation, you need to urgently consult 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 well-being, you need to contact a therapist or urologist. Treat inflammation with antibiotics.

Acute lower back pain occurs in situations like this:

• sprain or inflammation of the back muscles;
• staying in antalgic posture for a long time;
• if you suddenly lift a lot of weight;
• sharp turns of the side or body, injuries;
• draft 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, NSAIDs of systemic action are used, and then they switch 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 do unpleasant symptoms appear - aching lower back pain occurs due to inflammation of muscle fibers or myositis. The condition is not pleasant, since the patient feels stiffness below the waist, and normal body movements are difficult. To temporarily relieve the condition, you need to take a warm shower, and 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, then it is better to see a doctor.

Pulls and pains in the lower back during spondylosis. The patient constantly has a pulling pain in the lower back, and over time there are problems with the legs. Loss of sensitivity and weakness are observed. Spondylosis deformans is dangerous if the symptoms are ignored, because the disease takes a long time to develop. Other causes of pulling back pain are ankylosing spondylitis, other diseases, pain from which radiates to the spine or cancer. You can not pull with such symptoms, you need to 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 what situations you need to 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 arisen after injury or as a result of an accident. There were falls on the back or blows.
3. With the simultaneous occurrence of pain in the lower back, lower leg, hips, pelvis.
4. Sensation in the limbs, pelvis, buttocks, thighs, legs, feet and groin is lost due to unpleasant sensations.

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

Treatments and Ways to Relieve Low Back Pain

After the diagnosis has been made, the therapy is selected according to the individual characteristics of the patient. Treatment is aimed at relieving unpleasant symptoms and preventing relapse. Usually, conservative therapies are combined with the principles of physiotherapy and rehabilitation. In advanced situations, surgical intervention may be required.

Drug therapy

Drug use is the most extensive branch of back therapy. From drugs 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 intended for symptomatic treatment - relieving pain during an exacerbation. They do not have an effect on the root cause of the disease.

NSAIDs (non-steroidal 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 in the acute period for a short 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 much longer. Diclofenac gel, Naproxen, Ketorolac trometamol, Piroxicam perfectly anesthetize.

Antispasmodics can be used to treat a patient if the patient does not tolerate muscle relaxants. Classic antispasmodics are drotaverine hydrochloride or papaverine hydrochloride. They are prescribed to relieve spasm of smooth muscles, as a result of which radiating pains to the spine may occur. Such drugs are easier to tolerate than NSAIDs, but also have a weaker effect.

Central muscle relaxant drugs 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 really advanced cases. It is not a first-line drug of choice, as it exhibits many side effects. The average duration of therapy when taking muscle relaxants is 1–1. 5 months. If during this period the spasticity has not disappeared, then the medicines are removed.

Physiotherapy methods of rehabilitation

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

1. Electrophoresis. Medicines are injected through the skin under the action of a galvanic current. Usually, injectable B vitamins, nicotinic acid, chondroprotectors are used. This is a long-standing method of treating back pain, but it is effective and helps well in the rehabilitation period. Galvanic current has good conductivity, delivering drugs locally where blood flow is impaired. The drugs are active for 15 hours.
2. Laser therapy aimed at reducing pain. With the help of point-tuned infrared radiation, the method is aimed at pain relief, elimination of spasms, stimulation of regenerative processes, improvement of microcirculation in tissues, relaxation and enhancement of 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, pain syndrome of 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 from 10 to 12 sessions. It effectively and quickly removes pain in any part of the back - in the side, to the left or to the right of the spinal column.
4. Physiotherapy is one of the most popular rehabilitation methods for back pain. If there are no contraindications to the procedure, then 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, pain disappears.

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

Prevention of low back pain

Maintaining the health of the spine is important from an early age. In the early period of maturation of the body, the body is intensively formed - the limbs grow, the position of the organs changes, the skeleton lengthens. If, at an early age, you teach your child the correct posture and regular exercise, you will be able to avoid many back problems in the future.

The child is taught to do exercise therapy at home several times a week to get a permanent effect. In order to avoid mistakes in execution, you need to consult with a good rehabilitation therapist. 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 alternate the principles of moderate exercise with stretching and thorough warm-up.

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

1. Prolonged and improper sitting at the workplace is fraught with scoliosis with displacement to the left or right side. You need to get up every 15-20 minutes and do stretching - tilting the neck and lower back forward, sideways will tone tired muscles, improve blood flow.
2. It is important to avoid prolonged exposure to the antalgic posture. Static overload of the ridge is fraught with pain.
3. Do not make sharp turns of the neck or back. If you do this several times, there is a high probability of injury. Most often, back injuries are caused by abrupt and unusual stress on the body.
4. Sit upright when working from home. When bending 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 carrying the bag on the left or on the right on one 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 carry out a complex of stretching for tired muscles. After a long day at work, the muscles lose their elasticity. Warming stretching is also beneficial for ligaments and joints. Bending of the neck to the side and forward, light static loads are useful.

One of the best ways to prevent lower back discomfort is by going to the pool. It is enough to swim 1-2 times a week to feel relief in the back. If you have existing problems, experts recommend visiting the pool at least 3 times a week.