According to statistics, about 80% of people who live on the planet have back problems. For possible reasons, methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention - read the article.
All people experience low back pain, at least occasionally. But if it used to happen in older people, today the pain in the lumbar spine tends to bother young people. Acute or painful, lasting just a few minutes or bothering a person for weeks or even months - back pain - can appear as a result of a variety of reasons. Often, the person gets used to his condition. Unpleasant sensations become part of life. But the visit to the doctor is still delayed, thus reducing the chances of recovery.
Causes of low back pain - what you need to know
- Most of the time, the cause of low back pain lies in degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine - joints, intervertebral discs, ligaments, periarticular muscles.Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, spondyloarthrosis, osteoporosis, protrusion and herniation of the intervertebral disc - these and other diseases of the spine acquired over time are always accompanied by painful manifestations. At the same time, it is important to determine the reasons for these violations. There are several theories about the origin of these diseases. Excess weight has a negative effect on the spine, resulting in greater stress on the vertebrae, which leads to premature wear. Violation of improper posture or body position during work will cause excessive muscle tension as a result - nerve compression, displacement of the vertebrae. With strong muscle tension, when lifting weights or unsuccessful movements, sprains and microtrauma are inevitable.
- However,back pain can be secondaryand not necessarily associated with a pathology of the spine.An infectious process can be the cause. For example, with brucellosis, damage to the vertebrae leads to sclerotic changes and the appearance of osteophytes (growths) that compress nerve tissues. With tuberculosis, the vertebral bodies are destroyed. In osteomyelitis, due to the accumulation of purulent content, the structures of the spine are compressed. In any case, the pain appears in the lumbar spine.
- Tumors(osteoblastoma, myeloma, osteosarcoma, metastasis in the spine, etc. ) - benign or malignant, usually accompanied by pain in the lower back of varying intensity, untreatable with analgesics.
- One of the common causes of back pain is the numerousdiseases of Organs internal organs.Rheumatoid arthritis,ankylosing spondyloarthritis, pyelonephritis, cystitis, urolithiasis, inflammation of the appendages, prostate diseases, as well as problems in the intestines and even the lungs.
5 common causes of back pain
The back can be correctly called an indicator of the state of the body. Almost every problem in the body is accompanied by pain. Low back pain can be of a very different nature: painful or acute, which appears after sleep or prolonged stay in the same position.
Often, sharp and sudden pain makes it impossible for a person to move. The intensity of the painful manifestations depends on the cause of the pain origin. The most common are:
1. Lumbago, also called lumbago
This is one of the most common types of back pain. Appears with physical stress or inadequate body position. Although it can occur for no apparent reason. The burning and explosion pain does not allow the person to straighten up. When you try to change your body position, even when you cough, the sensations only intensify. Acute pain can last from a few minutes to hours or even days, but in some cases it can stop suddenly.
2. Sciatica (sciatic nerve neuralgia, lumbosacral radiculitis)
Sciatica is manifested by acute pain, tingling and numbness. The pain usually spreads along the sciatic nerve to the buttock, along the back of the leg. The sensations can be so intense that the person cannot sit, walk or bend over.
3. Low back pain with osteochondrosis
This is the most common type. Most of the time, it grows gradually and intensifies with any movement, even when sneezing or coughing. In addition, the sensitivity of certain areas of the lower body or legs may be impaired.
4. In case of illness
Pain in the lower back in various diseases is very characteristic. Painful, opaque, it can radiate to the lower abdomen, the area close to the navel, in the hypochondrium. However, with renal colic, the person feels very severe pain and urgent medical attention is needed.
5. Muscle spasms
Muscle spasms appear when the case is not in the right position for a long time. As a result, mobility of the spine is limited. This triggers the so-called "vicious circle", when back pain is caused by muscle spasm, which, in turn, again leads to pain. This state can continue for a long time and causes quite tangible suffering to the person.
What to do with acute back pain?
Acute low back pain occurs in a wide variety of conditions. Intervertebral protrusion and hernia, osteochondrosis, lumbago and sciatica, injuries and disorders of the spinal circulation. As well as various diseases of Organs pelvic organs and the abdominal cavity. It is almost impossible to determine the cause of the onset of painful sensations on your own, so a person needs to be referred to a specialist.
- If you suspectof a spinal injuryor vertebra, it is important to restrict movement before the medical team arrives.
- Stretchingmuscles or ligaments. In the first minutes, you can apply cold, which will prevent the swelling from growing and reduce pain.
- For a seizure caused bydiseases of the spine, you should first take the most comfortable position. Most of the time, a person feels relief when lying on his back on a hard surface with his legs slightly raised. If you cannot see a doctor right away, you can take a pain reliever.
- If back pain is a symptom ofinternal illnesses, the patient chooses the most comfortable position for him. It is important to remember: if the cause of low back pain is not known, it is better to refuse compresses and warming ointments. In fact, in the presence of an inflammatory process, they can make the situation worse.
Methods to diagnose low back pain
There are many conditions in which low back pain occurs. To determine its origin and prescribe treatment, you need the help of a doctor. The cause of its appearance is not always the disease of the spine. In that case, the location of the painful sensations is important in the first place. For example, low back pain on the right or on the left can indicate urological pathologies, intestinal diseases: appendicitis, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, obstruction, etc. In some cases, there may be pain above the lower back, for example, with hepatitis, cholecystitis or use of toxic drugs. If the back hurts below the lower back, this location may indicate diseases of Organs genitals, for example, the appendages of the uterus in women or the prostate in men.
Start with a visit to a therapist or neurologist who will prescribe the necessary tests. In some cases, it may be necessary to consult a urologist, orthopedist, traumatologist, infectious disease specialist and other restricted specialists. Thanks to the diagnostic methods available today, it is possible to determine the cause of pain in the lower back with high precision. X-ray of the lumbosacral spine is the most accessible examination method, which allows determining the violation of structures, the presence of an inflammatory process, osteoporosis and related diseases. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is the most effective diagnostic method, thanks to a layered image of internal structures, even the smallest violations can be detected. In addition, a wide variety of laboratory tests can be prescribed - depending on the symptoms.
Treatment for back pain
The patient must be kept at rest in any situation. However, treatment tactics are selected depending on the illness that caused the pain in the spine.In the case of dystrophic and functional changesin the spine, anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants are prescribed to relieve muscle spasm, as well as drugs that improve nutrition and tissue regeneration. The scheduling of physiotherapeutic procedures (electrophoresis, phonophoresis, magnetotherapy), as well as massages, acupuncture and therapeutic exercises, is very effective. In some cases, such as hernias or injuries, surgical treatment is indicated.
To reduce pain, relieve excessive tension and muscle spasms, the use of a special bandage is recommended. It is used as an adjunct in drug therapy for osteochondrosis, radiculitis, trauma and in the postoperative period. But an expert must choose a model, as several options of corsets are for sale.
If low back pain is a symptom ofdiseases of Organs internal organs, then treatment is selected taking into account the existing pathology: antibacterial agents in the presence of an infectious process, surgical treatment - in tumor, intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, etc. . . .
What to do if low back pain occurs?
We are prepared that, when health problems arise, we try to get rid of painful sensations on our own. Especially in cases where movement is not limited, the condition does not worsen and, after taking the painkiller, the pain seems to decrease. But you should know that trauma alone is the only cause of back pain that a person can determine on their own with relative accuracy. In other cases, it is better to entrust the diagnosis to a specialist. But there are situations where emergency medical care is needed immediately:
- disability or limited movement;
- decreased sensitivity in certain areas of the body, tingling in the limbs;
- urinary or fecal incontinence;
- severe pain, fever, nausea, etc.
How to maintain mobility for many years or a little about prevention
Many conditions of back pain do not appear suddenly. And serious illnesses, accompanied by lower back pain, are perfectly possible to prevent. What is needed for this?
- Treat existing illnesses in a timely manner, as well as have regular preventive exams.
- Physical activity must correspond to age, weight, general condition of the body. If it is impossible to avoid lifting weights, the load must be lifted with the back straight. In addition, there are special devices for carrying weights and you can also use a corset to support your back.
- Walking straight, refusal of heels, correct position while sitting helps to avoid spinal deformities.
- Inactivity and malnutrition will certainly lead to overweight - the main culprit of almost all diseases, including the spine. Correcting your diet, exercising regularly, swimming in the pool and even walking outdoors will help prevent many problems. In addition, an active lifestyle is an effective way of dealing with stress - the main problem for a modern person. But frequent stressful situations can correctly be called the main risk factor in the development of many pathologies.
Unfortunately, the desire to self-medicate is unavoidable. Numerous recipes, supposedly miraculous rubs and widely advertised ointments often prove useless when used in an uncontrollable manner. Remember - self-medication is a waste of time and money! Refusing the help of specialists, we run the risk of acquiring an advanced form of the disease. So, if you are worried about low back pain, don't put it off until later, make an appointment with your doctor!