Pain in the lower back affects around a quarter of the country's population, appears once or becomes common and accompanies the person for almost their entire life.Low back pain usually bothers men and women over 35 to 45 years of age.
In recent years, due to physical inactivity, poor diet, excess weight and constant stress, low back pain syndrome occurs increasingly in adolescents and children.Therefore, many people are increasingly concerned about the question of what to do if their lower back hurts.
Low back pain
Pain in the spine, in the lower back, can be dull, aching, sharp and there may also be pain in the lower back.They can appear on the left or right side of the body, disappear without a trace or constantly return, worsening the person's quality of life and physical activity.Patients complain that the lower back hurts a lot.It is important for the doctor to determine why the lower back hurts and for the patient to receive quality treatment.
Causes of low back pain
Sometimes severe lower back pain can be caused by excessive physical activity.Working in the field, excessive effort in the gym, carrying heavy loads and a sedentary lifestyle cause pain in the lower back.However, the pain usually goes away after a few days.But if relief does not occur, you should definitely consult a doctor to find out the causes of lower back pain.
Common reasons
Back pain in the lower back can have several causes.Pain can be caused by congenital diseases of the spine, malignant or benign tumors of the pelvic organs and infectious processes.Doctors have a sufficient number of facts that explain why the back hurts in the lower back.The following causes of pain are identified:
- Acute or chronic spasm of the back muscles.
- Lumps (bulges of the intervertebral disc) and herniated discs.
- Osteochondrosis (dystrophic lesions in the joints or intervertebral discs), spondylosis (deformation, proliferation of bone tissue of the vertebrae), arthrosis (joint damage caused by metabolic disorders).
- Ankylosing spondylitis (a chronic disease that leads to immobilization of the spine).
In men and women, the most common pathology is osteochondrosis, which causes curvature of the spine, compression of the roots of the spinal cord and severe pain in the lumbar spine.
One of the best-known syndromes is low back pain - a low back pain in which the lower back or sacrum hurts a lot.
In the lower back, the pain is often throbbing, tearing, lasts several minutes, but sometimes several hours or days, and disappears suddenly.
Dull, aching pain that radiates under the ribs, associated with stretching of the renal capsule, is characteristic of kidney disease.It may be acute pyelonephritis (an inflammatory process that affects the tubular system of the kidneys) or blockage of the ureter with calculi (stones).
Dull pain in the lower back develops with persistent allergic syndrome, hormonal imbalance and tuberculosis.In this case, destruction of the vertebrae occurs.
Pain in the lower back, radiating to the right, can be a symptom of diseases of the pancreas, duodenum, stomach ulcers, aneurysm (dilation) of the abdominal aorta.With phlebitis (inflammation of the walls of venous vessels), proctitis (inflammation of the rectum), the lower back also hurts.Appendicitis or cholecystitis is characterized by pain that radiates to the right side of the lower back.
Shingles in the lower back can be caused by several types of herpes.Often, the virus does not manifest itself as a rash, but rather as pain.To find out which medications and how to treat pain, you need to contact an infectious disease specialist to advise you on the use of antiviral medications.Pain in the lower back also accompanies inflammation of the peritoneum, osteochondrosis, radiculitis and myositis.
In women
Low back pain in women is caused by several reasons.The main ones are pregnancy, menopause, kidney disease, digestive system disorders, osteochondrosis or spinal hernia.This pain in the lower back not only causes discomfort but can also disrupt the monthly cycle and lead to infertility.
Dull pain in the lower back occurs with gynecological problems.These can be inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs, endometriosis (pathological growth of the uterine epithelium), ovarian cysts, polyps, fibroids or other formations in the uterine cavity.
Only a specialist can determine what can cause lower back pain in a woman.Therefore, you do not need to decide for yourself what to do if your lower back hurts.First of all, you need to visit a gynecologist.
Women often experience lower back pain during their menstrual periods.The reasons are a temporary change in hormonal levels, an increase in the amount of estrogens that increase the body's sensitivity, water retention, increased load on the spine and physiological contractions of the uterine walls.
Lower back pain during pregnancy occurs in almost all women, but often does not require treatment.Pain in the lower back is associated with an increase in the pregnant woman's body weight and pressure on the spine, hormonal changes in the body, a slight shift in the center of gravity and weakening of the musculo-ligamentous system in the lower abdomen.
Sometimes women complain that their back hurts even after giving birth.Experts say that postpartum causes of low back pain appear after microtraumas of the musculoligamentous system and spinal joints.
Spinal instability is another problem for women of any age, even those with mild obesity.Other common causes are damage to intervertebral discs or joints.
Physical activity and prolonged stay in an upright position cause back pain, lower back pain, difficulty straightening the body and the desire to lie down and rest.Osteoporosis can develop during the postmenopausal period.
In men
The appearance of periodic back pain in men can be caused by professional activities associated with excessive physical activity, uncomfortable body postures and working in the cold.The culprit of pain radiating to the lower back or groin may be epididymitis - inflammation of the testicles, manifested by swelling of the scrotum and fever.With prostatitis, inflammation of the bladder, a man is bothered by a dull pain in the left side of his back.
Low back pain in men over 40 is often caused by a herniated intervertebral disc.Characterized by back pain when coughing, sneezing, difficulty bending and straightening the back.Pain in the lower back intensifies when standing, so these patients tend to lie down more quickly.An advanced hernia and lower back pain sometimes require surgery.
The listed specific male diseases and other pathologies in which the lower back hurts constantly and severely should not be treated without the supervision of a doctor.Self-medication can lead to aggravation and complication of the pathological process and result in disability.Lumbar spine treatment can only be performed by certified specialists.
Disease diagnosis
If the exact cause of the pain is not yet known, diagnostic measures should begin with a visit to the therapist.Treatment of low back pain should begin after establishing an accurate diagnosis, which is carried out after a complete examination.The exam includes:
- study of anamnesis (questioning the patient about the disease);
- visual inspection of painful points;
- blood and urine tests (general and biochemical);
- ultrasound examination (ultrasound);
- Radiographic examination of the spine;
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
- computed tomography (CT).
Since pain in the lower back is caused not only by neurological, but also by somatic causes, the patient must be examined by a neurologist, vertebrologist, therapist and nephrologist.Women, if they experience pain in the lower back, should definitely be examined by a gynecologist, and men should visit a urologist.
Low back pain treatment
After the correct diagnosis of low back pain, the specialist prescribes a specific treatment for this pathology, which aims to eliminate the causes of the disease.
If your back hurts, you should not look for the answer to the question of how to relieve lower back pain from neighbors, acquaintances or the Internet.Low back pain has different causes, so the treatment for each disease is individual.Only a doctor knows how to cure a patient and how to alleviate pain.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve lower back pain.These drugs have a negative effect on the gastric mucosa, so they must be taken simultaneously with drugs that reduce acidity and protect the stomach walls from damage.For pain, you can use appropriate ointments or gels as prescribed by your doctor.
Since pain in the spine and lower back is caused by various reasons, only experts can prescribe the appropriate treatment for the lower back.Therefore, at the first opportunity you need to consult a doctor and not self-medicate.Only a doctor can determine why the lower back hurts and how to get rid of lower back pain.
At home, the treatment of lower back pain can only be carried out after examination and medical examination, otherwise incurable complications may arise.
If the lower back hurts, the treatment can be complex, that is, you can use traditional and folk methods.
Prevention
It is better to prevent back pain, so you won't have to look for the answer to the question of how to treat lower back pain.Prevention rules are simple but effective.The main thing is not to forget to comply with them.
According to statistics, more than 25-30% of people have experienced this condition when their back hurts.Planned preventive monitoring of health status and timely consultation with a doctor make it possible to identify incipient pathologies, diagnose why the spine hurts in the lower back, why the lower back is pulled.
Morning exercises, running, brisk walks, gym classes, swimming are the main physical activities necessary for the spine and back muscles.At least 20-30 minutes a day without strong tension or overload will help strengthen muscle tissue.
To reduce the load on the spine, you need to adjust your body weight.Excess weight and physical inactivity are the enemies of the spine.
To properly reduce body weight, you should not get carried away by diets found on the Internet.It is best to consult a nutritionist or doctor to receive competent recommendations on nutrition and maintaining water-salt balance.
Routine medical exams are important to prevent back pain in the lower back.Women should visit a gynecologist every year, men - a urologist.Many spinal diseases begin in childhood.
Parents need to closely monitor the child's health, teach him to exercise, actively play with children and correct posture.School-age children must undergo a routine medical examination every year before the start of the school year.
If your lower back hurts, a positive attitude, faith in success, compliance with all the instructions of specialists allows you to reduce or completely eliminate pain and lead a full life.