Back pain

If a person has worked hard, played hard sports, or walked a long distance, at the reflex level, he puts his hand on the lower back when he stops and relaxes. It is this part of the body that pulls and hurts after exertion, which is explained very simply. The spinal column is the main support of the human skeleton. It connects all the joint joints and takes care of most of the stress in any movement. Therefore, it is quite natural if, after work or sports, the lower back hurts and hurts.

But not always the causes of back pain in the lumbar region are overwork. Low back pain is often a symptom of serious disorders in the human body; it cannot be ignored, especially if the pain is severe and often recurs. This is a sign that an unknown pathology is already progressing and is causing more damage to the body every day. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible is recommended - Neglected spinal problems are difficult to treat and can end up in a wheelchair for the patient.

It is interesting:Researchers believe that low back pain in the spine is a consequence of human evolution and, more precisely, of bipedal locomotion. In animals that move on four limbs, the loads are evenly distributed. A person has to pay for the actual posture and the ability to walk on two legs with a violation of the distribution of loads, the curvature of the vertebrae and back pain.

What can be back pain?

Your back can hurt in different ways. Sometimes the pain is sharp, unbearable, the patient feels an unbearable burning sensation and a strong limitation of mobility. Most often, patients complain of pain in the lower back, pulling, unpleasant sensations that usually appear at night, they can wake up in the middle of the night, intensify when the weather changes or after physical exertion.

Morning spinal stiffness, back pain "from the weather" and after exercise are the first signs that the joints are out of order.

Pain in the back is always accompanied by additional symptoms, which you should definitely pay attention to and inform your doctor about your observations. According to the accompanying signs, it will be easier to establish the true cause of pain in the lumbar spine. So, what symptoms and criteria will be of diagnostic value:

• Duration (severity) of pain. It's called acute pain syndrome, which worries for up to three months. If it occurs periodically for four months or more, it is of varying intensity, then it is already known as chronic.
• Location. Low back pain that radiates to the buttocks is commonly called lumbodynia in medicine. If the pain affects the leg, then it is lumboischialgia. Also, unpleasant sensations can occur only on the right, on the left, or on both sides at the same time.
• The nature of the pain. This criterion is of fundamental importance. The pain can be sharp and localized, it can project to the extremities, buttocks, groin, hypochondrium, or lower abdomen. The pain is severe, dull, or stabbing. The most difficult thing is to make a correct diagnosis of combined pain.
• Effects on joint mobility. The doctor will definitely clarify whether there is stiffness in the spine, limb, hip joint, under what circumstances, for how long it lasts.
• Time indicator. It is also important when and after which the back begins to hurt. This happens all the time, in the morning, in the afternoon, at night, after exertion, when turning the head, walking, bending over, etc. - The answers to all these questions are extremely important for a correct diagnosis.

On a note:According to the statistics of doctors, more than 80% of the population of Europe have faced back pain at least once in their life. More than 25% of medical visits are due to aches and pains in the lower back. In addition, 8 out of 10 patients are young people of active working age from 35 to 45 years old. Less often, retirees complain of low back pain, and less often teens.

The reasons

All causes of low back pain can be divided into two broad categories:

• physiological, usually caused by external factors;
• pathological, associated with diseases of the internal organs.

Physiological reasons include:

• excessive physical activity while playing sports;
• lift and carry weights at work or in training;
• hard work at home or in the field;
• hypothermia, prolonged stay in a damp room.

Age combined with physical labor are reasons enough for low back pain.

The pathological causes of back pain, in turn, may be associated with diseases of the spine or changes in its structures related to age; this pain syndrome is called primary. If the back pain is caused by dysfunctions of other organs, for example, the kidneys, it is called secondary; in this case, it will be necessary to establish the underlying disease with the help of additional specific studies and treat two pathologies simultaneously.

Diseases and conditions in which the lower back can hurt:

• osteochondrosis (spondylosis) - previously it was mainly diagnosed in older people, now it is detected at any age;
• intervertebral hernia: it also occurs at any age, if it is in young people, usually after excessive force sports;
• neuralgia of a different nature;
• arthritis and arthrosis, any inflammatory process of the joints;
• rheumatism and other diseases of autoimmune origin;
• radiculitis;
• endocrine system dysfunction (diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism);
• inflammation of the renal pelvis - pyelonephritis;
• Inflammation of the genitourinary organs.

Injuries to the back or limbs are also painful. To determine the exact cause, you will need to undergo a series of examinations, the mandatory minimum is an external examination by a specialist, laboratory tests of urine and blood, an X-ray, an electrocardiogram, an ultrasound of the kidneys and genitourinary organs. . If necessary, additional diagnostic measures will be assigned.

In women, back pain can be caused by cystitis or inflammation of the appendages.

Spinal diseases as a cause of back pain.

If the X-ray shows deformation of the vertebrae, their compaction and expansion with the formation of bone growths in the form of spines along the edges, the doctor diagnoses osteochondrosis or spondylosis. Until recently, this pathology was considered a disease of retirees, and its main cause was called natural age-related changes in the body, a slowdown in metabolic processes and wear of the vertebrae.

Today it has been shown that osteochondrosis can be triggered by various other factors in young people and even adolescents. The impetus for degenerative changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs are:

• insufficient physical activity with excess weight or chronic diseases that limit mobility;
• sedentary work;
• metabolic disorders during diet, for example, as a result of which the vertebral structures do not receive enough nutrients and wear out prematurely;
• Unsuitable sports - without heating muscles and ligaments, without a gradual increase in loads and control of lifting loads.

With osteochondrosis, as it progresses, a deformation of the intervertebral discs occurs - they become flat, dense and rough. The affected disc can easily pinch the nerve root, which branches out from the spine, causing inflammation. In addition, the nerve roots are injured by bone spine processes. The patient feels this as a sharp, sharp pain, along with limited mobility in the lower back. This condition is called sciatica.

In spondylosis, bony growths along the edges of the vertebrae injure the nerve roots and thus cause an acute pain syndrome.

Inflammatory processes in the spine can begin to develop from adolescence and adolescence. It manifests as recurring back pain, sometimes bothersome at night. Then they are joined by morning stiffness, fatigue, and decreased physical activity. In advanced stages, the spine is severely deformed, a person's posture and gait change, and a hump forms. Rheumatoid arthritis can develop over years, in some cases up to ten years. Since the course of the disease is slow, the symptoms are often blurred, the patient does not go to the doctor, trying to cope with the discomfort with improvised means. For this reason, inflammation of the vertebral joints more often than other pathologies leads to disability.

If the patient during the survey mentions discomfort in other joints (shoulder, foot, knee, hand), complains of pain in the buttocks, decreased visual acuity, stool disorders, spondyloarthritis may be suspected. A rheumatologist is engaged in the treatment of such a pathology, his consultation is necessary immediately, since the pathology progresses rapidly and leads to irreversible changes in bone and joint structures.

Diseases not related to the back as a cause of pain

Sometimes pain in the lower back causes organ diseases that, at first glance, have nothing to do with the spine. Myofascial pain syndrome is a common cause of back pain, which is not accompanied by other symptoms of joint pathologies. Young women typically go to the doctor with complaints of back pain after a workday, an intense workout at the gym, or a prolonged stay in one position.

Pain in myofascial syndrome is not associated with damage to the spinal joints and is easily removed with pain relievers, massages, and NSAIDs.

During the exam, the doctor easily detects the points near the spine, when pressure is applied on which the pain occurs. Pain is caused by overexertion of muscle tissues, nerve roots and joint elements do not suffer. This condition does not pose a great threat to the health of the patient, but it can significantly reduce the quality of life. For treatment, the doctor prescribes muscle relaxants - drugs that promote muscle relaxation, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in a short course in minimal doses. It is recommended to adjust the rest and sleep regimen and monitor physical activity.

Other extra-articular pathologies that can also be accompanied by pain in the spine:

• Cholecystitis and pancreatitis. The pain is localized to the right upper quadrant and may project to the lower right side of the back.
• Appendicitis. In some cases, the sharp, stabbing pains radiate to the lower back, also to the right side. Additional symptoms of inflammation of the appendix: swelling, stool disorders, nausea, vomiting, severe paleness, fever.
• Renal dysfunction, urolithiasis. Depending on which kidney is inflamed, right or left lower back pain will occur. If a stone with urolithiasis comes out, the lower back also hurts a lot, in difficult cases the body temperature can rise.
• Obesity. With excess body weight, heavy loads are placed on the lumbar spine, causing pain and discomfort in the back.
• Osteomyelitis. Bone infections are accompanied by severe pain and fever.

If during the examination no visible lesions of the spine or other joints were found, no diseases of the internal organs were detected, it makes sense to donate blood for tumor markers and perform an MRI of the spine. Malignant tumors, when they grow, put pressure on the nerve roots and also become a cause of pain. Pain syndrome is characteristic of cancer in stages 3-4.

Pain in the lower back can be a symptom of appendicitis.

Why does the back hurt in women?

If women have severe back pain in the lumbar region, first of all, you need to review your individual calendar. Drawing pains can bother before menstruation, while also pulling the lower abdomen, swelling of the mammary glands, the patient has nausea, some are tormented by migraines, food intolerance or, on the contrary, gluttony.

Roughly the same symptoms are a sign of pregnancy. Therefore, if your period has not started for several days and pain and discomfort persist, it makes sense to take a pregnancy test and make an appointment with a gynecologist.

Also, the cause may be gynecological diseases. Adnexitis usually manifests as pulling in the lower abdomen. But sometimes they radiate to the lower back. Similar sensations occur when ovarian cysts twist. With the onset of menopause, many women complain of a burning sensation in the lower back, stiffness. In any case, a therapist or rheumatologist will advise you to consult a gynecologist.

Causes of pain in men.

In men, the back hurts mainly due to professional activities: hours of driving, working at a computer, lifting and carrying weights, professional sports.

But also pain on the right or left side of the back can be one of the symptoms of prostatitis or a pathology such as epididymitis. To exclude or confirm pathologies, you need to be examined by an andrologist.

Men with back pain should definitely consult an andrologist to exclude prostatitis.

When and what treatment is needed

Even with very severe and persistent back pain, most patients do not believe that they need serious treatment and expect only one thing from the doctor: a good pain reliever that will help them immediately and for a long time. Unfortunately, there is no such medicine. The pain syndrome can be extinguished with injections and pills, but the effect will not be long-term, since the cause of the discomfort will not be eliminated. Treatment methods will be determined based on what caused the back pain.

Bruises and muscle sprains.

The first thing to do is give your back a complete rest. This means that you cannot play sports, lift weights, stand a lot, walk, run, jump, and get too cold. It is recommended to get rid of extra pounds, with sedentary work and an inactive lifestyle, on the contrary, you should think about saving sports, for example, yoga, Pilates, swimming. In the future, you will have to reconsider your habits and adjust the load on your spine.

What to do before visiting the doctor:

• taking an analgesic or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in a minimal dose;
• fix the lower back with a makeshift corset - a towel or scarf;
• To reduce swelling, drink herbal tea with a diuretic effect.

What will the doctor advise:

• short course non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• muscle relaxants to relieve muscle spasms and tensions;
• massage and warming of the back (in the absence of inflammatory processes);
• Vitamins B.

If you follow all the recommendations, the pain will completely disappear in 7-14 days.

Remember!If an increase in body temperature is detected, there is pain in the leg or other parts of the body, mobility is limited, or other atypical symptoms are present, in no case should you seek the help of a chiropractor, warm up or massage. yourself. Taking pain relievers is also not recommended, as this will complicate the diagnosis.

Spinal pathology

Early joint diseases are treated using the same techniques as contusions or other injuries. In addition, doctors can prescribe chondroprotectors, drugs that protect joint structures from destruction and stimulate their recovery.

For compression fractures of the spine, extensive hernias of the intervertebral discs, severe forms of osteochondrosis or spondyloarthritis, surgical intervention is indicated. Depending on the detected violation, the operation can be simple and performed under local anesthesia, or it is performed in several stages for six months. After an operation of any complexity, a course of antibiotics, wearing a bandage and physical therapy will be required for complete rehabilitation.

Modern technologies allow minimally invasive interventions on the spine with minimal risk of complications.

Today, spinal surgeries are no longer exceptional, a rich and varied experience has accumulated, there are special equipment that allows you to solve almost any problem. Therefore, if the situation is difficult and the doctor has recommended an operation, there is no point in delaying it. The earlier it is done, the better your chances of achieving complete pain relief and restoration of spinal function.

Helpful tips

Timely and effective treatment of low back pain is often difficult for an extremely common reason: the patient does not know which doctor to consult. If the pain was preceded by an injury, then everything is simple - you need to go to a traumatologist. Most likely, he will prescribe painkillers and a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and then recommend various physical therapy procedures: electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, massage, and exercise therapy. This is the standard treatment for back injuries.

The difficulty is that when it is struck or dropped, the nerve endings can be affected. And then you need to involve a neurologist who will recommend their own treatment methods. A rheumatologist or orthopedist will have her own opinion. And if, during the examination, the pathology of any of the internal organs is revealed, for example, the genitourinary system, the patient will be completely confused about what needs to be treated and who to listen to. By the way, it is for this reason that many people abandon the methods of official medicine and turn to non-traditional, that is, folk remedies, which ultimately leads to a worsening of the condition and the development of complications.

It happens that doctors make an incorrect diagnosis and prescribe the wrong treatment, which leads to the progression of the disease and complications.

What to do in such a situation? Do not panic or rush, follow the prescribed treatment to the end, concentrating on your own feelings and well-being. If, after two to four weeks, the back hurts so badly and there is not the slightest improvement, it makes sense to contact another doctor and undergo a second examination to review the accuracy of the diagnosis. Switching from one pain reliever to another, and instead of electrophoresis, there is no point in doing UHF.

When it comes to treating the back with homeopathic remedies at home, here too, one must not get carried away and recklessly believe the promises of traditional healers. A suitable adult must understand: traditional methods of treatment are good in the remission stage, when the condition is stable, or for the prevention of relapses and complications. Rheumatoid arthritis, for example, as an autoimmune disease, herbal tinctures cannot cure in any way.

Medicinal plants will be helpful in improving the overall tone of the body, but they are unlikely to help with a hernia, dislocated disc, or compression fractures.

The right decision would be if your lower back hurts constantly, and doctor appointments at the district clinic are ineffective - go to a reputable private clinic and get an exam there. It is not free, but you will discover the real reason and you can start the correct treatment, and not experiment with home remedies and standard painkillers that do not give any therapeutic effect.

Resume:Almost all adults experience back pain at least once in their life. In fact, there can be many reasons: from banal overwork to serious pathology of the spine, kidneys, infections or metabolic disorders in the body. It is important to accurately and correctly establish the cause and initiate the appropriate treatment as soon as possible. The spine is the main joint of the human skeleton, its dysfunction and destruction in the absence of proper medical care will inevitably lead to loss of mobility and disability.