The most common causes of back pain in the lower back: what diseases indicate

2 October 2020

Back problems are very common. According to statistics, more than 30% of the population faces pain. About 80% of them suffer from pains of varying intensity throughout adulthood.

Pain in the lower back occurs more often than in other segments of the spine. This is due to the fact that the lower back has a greater load, the risk of developing pathological processes in this region is greater. Pain in the lower back can be associated not only with diseases of the spine, but also with pathologies of internal organs. Before treating low back pain, it is important to discover the nature of its origin.

Causes of pain syndrome

90% of low back pain is associated with vertebral pathologies, both congenital and acquired.

The most common causes are:

lumbosacral osteochondrosis;
intervertebral protrusions and hernias;
spondylosis;
spondyloarthrosis.

Congenital anomalies that cause pain:

irregular shape of the vertebral processes;
division of the vertebrae;
congenital curvature of the spine.

Neurological causes of low back pain:

of nerve roots;
lumboischialgia (occurs when the sciatic nerve is damaged);

Low back pain can be reflexive and symptomatic of non-spinal diseases:

urinary tract and genital infections;
kidney disease;
nephrolithiasis and urolithiasis (kidney and bladder stones);
tumor formations in the gastrointestinal tract;
hemorrhoids;
neoplasms in the uterus in women;
as a complication after previous viral infections.

because there is back pain in the lower back

Sometimes severe back pain in the lower back occurs in the context of physiological changes:

during menstruation;
after delivery;
during pregnancy;
as a result of rapid weight gain.

The triggering factors for low back pain can be:

hypothermia;
weakening of the immune system and the body in the context of infectious lesions;
irregular physical activity;
work related to long standing in a sitting position (office workers, vehicle drivers);
excessive stress, which causes compression fractures of the spine, cracks, stretching of the back muscles;
strength sports (weight training, weight training, shot put);
inadequate nutrition - deficiency of vitamins and elements necessary for bone tissue (phosphorus, calcium, fluoride), excessive consumption of high calorie foods;
curvature of the spine (curved, kyphosis, scoliosis);
stressful situations - prolonged nervous tension exacerbates a series of chronic illnesses, weakens the body.

Determining the nature of pain

Back pain in the lumbar spine may be of a different nature:

acute pain (lasts up to a month and a half);
(one and a half to three months);
(more than three months).

Types of pain:

Unspecified - there is no clear location of pain sensations and the reasons for their occurrence.
Specific - it is a symptom of certain diseases (tumors, hernias, osteoporosis).

Acute low back pain, usually sudden, occurs in the form of lumbar "lumbago". The pain can radiate to the buttocks, lower extremities and other parts of the body, mimicking certain diseases.

Depending on what caused the pain in the lumbar spine, they can be of a different nature (stab, cut, pressure, fracture, pain).

At the beginning of the development of the pathological process, the pain is usually not pronounced. The patient may experience discomfort in the affected area, a sensation of "chills" on the skin. Gradually, the symptoms start to increase and become more pronounced.

Pay attention!It is very important not to delay visiting a specialist. If it is not treated in a timely manner, the pain will become more intense, in the future there may be signs of disturbance in the functioning of other organs and systems (sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence, paresis, restriction of motor activity).

Effective treatments

Before starting treatment for low back pain, you need to consult a vertebrologist or neurologist. He will try to find the cause of the pain, prescribe the necessary research. If necessary, he will refer for consultation to other specialists (gastroenterologist, gynecologist, urologist).

In addition to interviewing the patient and visual examination, it is recommended to diagnose using instrumental methods:

;
CT;
MRI;
electromyelography.

In addition, a general analysis of blood and urine, sampling of material for histological examination may be necessary.

The following conditions require immediate medical attention:

for the first time and sudden onset of severe low back pain;
irradiation of pain in the lower leg and foot, a combination of pain with numbness in the thigh, leg;
history of trauma;
urinary and fecal incontinence;
duration of pain for more than 3 days;
presence of cancer disease;
loss of appetite and dramatic weight loss;
chills and fever;
presence of bacterial infections;
inability to self-care due to pain.

In most cases, pain in the lumbar spine occurs due to damage to the vertebral structures, and it is necessary to eliminate its cause. The treatment approach must be comprehensive.

Medicines

For any back pain, the medicine is used first to relieve it. The doctor prescribes several groups of drugs in the form of injections, pills, ointments.

Without finding out the cause of the pain, prescribing certain medications (for example, NSAIDs or pain relievers) can only make the situation worse.

For diseases of the spine, the use of NSAIDs and analgesics is recommended to relieve pain, relieve inflammation.

Muscle spasms are relieved by intramuscular or oral administration of muscle relaxants in the short term (up to 5 days).

The use of back pain ointments is effective as an adjunct treatment for lower back problems. They help to reduce pain, relieve inflammation and have a warming effect. Ointments are anti-inflammatory, analgesic, combined, irritating, chondroprotective. External remedies must be prescribed by a doctor, based on the therapeutic effect to be achieved.

Corticosteroid injections are sometimes used to relieve very severe pain quickly. Medicines are injected directly into the lesion. The course of this treatment should not exceed 2-3 injections.

Drug-free therapy

To restore the lower back and strengthen the outcome of drug therapy, the following measures are recommended:

;
manual therapy;
exercise therapy;
yoga;
physiotherapy and other methods of influence.

These methods improve blood supply to problem areas, strengthen muscle tissue and ligaments, make them more elastic and reduce pain. No medical procedure can be performed independently, without specialist supervision. A certain mode of loading must be observed.

Useful tips

Tips:

In case of back pain, physical activity should be significantly reduced, and it is best to guarantee peace during the first 2 days of a crisis.
Prolonged bed rest is not recommended unless there are fractures, a high fever or other aggravating symptoms. Moderate activity always benefits the spine.
Taking painkillers is best in case of unbearable pain. It is best to protect the gastrointestinal tract as much as possible from the effects of medications.
It is better to sleep in a fetal position, to relieve the load on your lower back you can place a pillow between your legs.
In case of problems in the lower back, it is advisable to walk as fast as possible, to warm up during work, which requires sitting for a long time.

Low back pain prevention

Pain is a symptom of malfunctioning of the body. To avoid problems with the lower back, it is necessary to prevent the occurrence of provocative factors as much as possible.

Preventive measures include:

Regular moderate exercise. Physical education should be given at least half an hour a day. It is useful for doing yoga, swimming, morning exercises.
Compliance with the drink regime. You need to drink up to 2 liters of fluid a day. Most should be in the first half of the day. After 8 pm, it is best not to drink any fluids.
Eat right. Significantly reduce your intake of fatty, high-calorie foods. Better to use boiled and steamed dishes.
At least once a year, a routine check-up should be done.
2 times a year to take a massage therapy course.

Pain in the lumbar spine is a sign that there is a problem in the body. The causes of pain can be many. You can not stop immediately with anesthetic pills, you need to seek the help of a specialist and be examined. After all, the problem may be hidden not only in the spine, but in disrupting the functioning of other organs and systems. The sooner the cause of the pain is identified and treated, the greater the chance of recovery.