So, let's consider in order the causes of pain syndrome that occurs in the lower back:
- Spine diseases. The rarer but serious conditions that cause back pain include Bechterew's disease. With this disease, the vertebrae grow together, calcium is deposited in the ligaments, and the affected back loses mobility. Characteristic features of pain in this pathology - pain increases at rest, with a long lying down; movements in the lower back are restricted. This disease most often starts at a young age and may have a hereditary predisposition.
- Column curvature. Kyphoscoliosis and asymmetric scoliosis (two types of curvature) cause spasms of the deep muscles of the spine. Most often, the pain syndrome is felt in the middle and late stages of the disease, it manifests itself more acutely at the end of the day, along with fatigue. This pathology begins in childhood and may also have a hereditary predisposition.
- Osteoporosis is a decrease in bone mineral density, leading to bone fragility, frequent fractures.
- Osteochondrosis - thinning of the intervertebral discs at a late stage leading to bulges and herniated intervertebral discs - the most common cause of back pain. In addition, the pain intensifies when changing positions: getting up from a sitting position, trying to lie on your stomach, turning over, bending over.
- Spinal injuries, sprains and bruises, fractures.
- Spondylolisthesis - that is, displacement of the lumbar vertebra in relation to the vertebra below it. The pain is located in the middle of the back, is felt in the legs, and is accompanied by numbness and/or weakness, which is aggravated by standing up or bending over backwards.
- Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain in muscles, ligaments and tendons. There is pain and stiffness in various parts of the body, the pain is aggravated when touched. The patient often complains of poor sleep. Most common in women aged 20 to 50.
- Soft tissue and kidney injuries. Acute, severe pain from the diseased kidney is characteristic of urolithiasis. Pain can occur in any position of a person. Another disease that presents a symptom of discomfort in the lower back is pyelonephritis.
- Spinal cord and spinal cord infections or infections, eg osteomyelitis, discitis, spinal epidural abscess. The pain caused by this cause progresses, regardless of the patient's position or activity. Sometimes there is fever or night sweats.
- Local inflammatory processes such as appendicitis or cholecystitis.
Low back pain is divided into three types: local, radiated and reflected. Local pain is felt in the same place where its cause is located, this type of pain is more common in lumbar syndromes. In this case, the most common cause is osteochondrosis of the spine, degeneration of the intervertebral disc, stretching or spasm of the deep muscles of the spine.
The radiating pain is dull and aching, most of the time it radiates to the leg and happens to reach the foot itself. This may accompany osteochondrosis in the herniated disc stage, osteoarthritis, or degeneration of the deep muscles of the spine with hemodynamic disturbances along the sciatic nerve.
Referred pain usually means that the cause of the syndrome is in Organs internal organs. For example, with heart disease, the arm, back, and shoulder blade can hurt. The pain is reflected from Organs internal organs to the lumbar region and has a deeply painful character, it does not depend on movement.
Low back pain in men and women
In women, back pain can be a result of gynecological diseases. In this case, the discomfort is dull, pulling. Among these diseases in women - adnexitis, ovarian cyst torsion, salpingo-oophoritis, uterine fibroids and endometritis can be expressed as pain in the lower back. Pregnancy, due to increased load on the spine and increased body weight, often causes back pain, which is also possible during menopause. With an ectopic pregnancy, back pain can also occur - in this case, it is unbearable.
The causes of low back pain in men are usually caused by excessive exercise, weight lifting, spinal injuries, but they can also indicate exclusively male diseases - prostatitis or epididymitis. The pathology of the prostate is characterized by pulling, aching pain, the patient often has difficulty urinating.
Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain
Depending on the causes of back pain, different specialists are involved in its treatment. If this is a pathology of the spine, you need to contact kinesitherapists, if it is a pathology of internal organs, then to a therapist, gastroenterologist, gynecologist, urologist, If the pathology is of rheumatic origin, then to a rheumatologist, in cases of a neoplasm in the lower floor of the body, then to an oncologist .
First of all, for the diagnosis, the doctor interviews the patient, recognizing the nature of the pain: if it is sharp or dull, if it is pulling, if it depends on movement, activity, body position, if it is accompanied by other symptoms or not. After verbal questioning, the physician examines the patient, palpating the lower back, spinal muscles, and limbs. Additional tests, laboratory tests, X-rays, MRI, tissue biopsy, electromyography may be needed.
For treatment, also depending on the disease, various means are used. In cases of osteochondrosis, scoliosis, spondyloarthrosis and other factors that cause spasm and inflammation in the deep muscles of the spine, the most used are analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, but they do not directly affect the cause of the painful syndrome, they only eliminate its manifestation and have many effects. collaterals. To treat the cause of back pain, the following are suggested:
- strength and stretching type decompression exercises to relieve spasm of the deep muscles of the spine and eliminate pain,
- therapeutic massage to relieve tension in the muscles in the area of pathology,
- cryotherapy to reduce pain locally,
- physiotherapeutic methods such as shock wave therapy, acupuncture, massage with appliances, balneotherapy (mud applications, contrast treatments, etc. ),
Back pain prevention
The main prevention of various diseases of the musculoskeletal system is the prevention of the development of dystrophy, that is, the weakening of the deep muscles of the spine, on which the nutrition of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs depends. The strengthening of the muscles of the spine must be regular and the most modern way for this is the author's method, that is, the use of power and decompression simulators. But the exercises can also be performed without simulators, there are many. It is important to take a break for gym at work, especially if you are the sedentary type, i. e. every 3-4 hours, dedicate at least 15 minutes to it, just walk a few times a week for 1, 5-2 hours, and do it in the morning loading.
According to the method, it is recommended to regularly perform several simple exercises to avoid back pain:
- relaxation of the back (the well-known "Cat" exercise): in the position of all fours, inhale - lift your head, bend your back down; exhalation - lowering the head, rounding the back;
- stretching step (in yoga, this exercise is called the "Pigeon Pose"): in the position of all fours, you need to move one knee forward, the foot inwards and the other leg backwards, lie face down on the thigh, palms under the shoulders. For the most effective stretch, move your arms diagonally to the sides and lower your head, stopping for 5 to 10 seconds. Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side.
- lift the pelvis in the supine position with the legs bent at the knees;
- press: in the supine position, bend your knees and arms at the elbows, holding the back of your head, press your chin to your chest as you exhale, lifting your shoulder blades;
- Knee Press: In the prone position, pull your knees towards your chest, pressing your hands against your body as you exhale, or do this while hanging.
All these exercises are very simple, just do 10-15 repetitions of each exercise. With regular practice, they will bring you invaluable benefits!
From the additional tips, a comfortable mattress can be placed so that the back muscles can relax at night. If you spend a lot of time driving or working on a computer, take care of the correct body position. The seat in the car should be height adjustable and close to the steering wheel, and the backrest should be soft enough to contain the bumps of rough roads.
When working or studying at the desk, elbows should be bent at right angles. The chair must necessarily have a backrest to support the lower back, and the gaze (along with it and the neck) must be directed straight or slightly upwards, but not downwards. The light falls correctly onto the table's work surface.
Remember, prevention is more important than cure!