The human race pays for the ability to walk on two legs with back pain. If your back regularly hurts in the lumbar region, it can be a sign of severe fatigue or the result of staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time during work or sleep. But the reasons can be more serious.
Causes of pain
The lower back is one of the most painful areas. There are reasons for this:
- Osteochondrosis;
- Scoliosis;
- disc herniation;
- tumors;
- tissue infections.
The nature and intensity of the pain depends on the disease. And he worries in different ways: after sleep, after training, after overwork. For example, renal colic is constantly accompanied by pain in the lower back. And here the type of activity of the patient does not matter.
- Most often, it hurts in the lumbar region due to osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. Pain of moderate intensity during sleep, aggravated by physical exertion. I am constantly tormented by the feeling of fatigue. The feeling of heaviness causes a desire to lie down. But relief doesn't always follow.
- If you have a herniated disc, severe pain occurs after sudden movements, heavy lifting, or falls.
- If the hernia is compressed, sharp pain occurs, which is characterized by lumbago. The movement of the lumbar region is noticeably limited. Damage to the nerve root gives a pain signal in the leg.
- Narrowing of the intervertebral canal often occurs in old age. A sign of this is limping, numbness of the legs, especially after a long walk.
- Stiffness in the spinal region in the morning indicates the onset of Bechterew's disease. At the beginning, sharp pain sensations appear in the sacral region, and then spread to the lumbar region. The feeling after sleep is not rest, but fatigue, which disappears with the start of motor activity. The disease mostly affects young men. The disease is inherited. Basically, the lower back hurts when lying down.
- Acute pain in the lumbar region also occurs with pyelonephritis (inflammatory process in the kidneys). They are accompanied by a rise in body temperature and swelling after sleeping in the morning.
- Elderly men often develop a disease such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Aching pains and abdominal throbbing are the result of aortic pressure on nearby organs.
- Lumbar pain, fever, burning sensation along the nerve are signs of shingles. This viral disease affects the cells of the spinal cord. A pink rash appears on the body, and later bubbles.
- Another widespread condition that many people think is harmless is flat feet. A deformed leg increases the load on the spinal column while walking. The pain eases during sleep.
- If there are congenital changes in the vertebrae: an irregular shape or a change in the cleft, then sooner or later they will make themselves felt.
- Autoimmune pathologies, especially multiple sclerosis, are provocateurs of pain of different localization. Including lower back pain.
There are other reasons why the lumbar region hurts a lot. This can be complications after osteoporosis, urinary tract infections, hemorrhoids, neoplastic diseases, viral or bacterial infections. And even the physiological changes affecting women that occur during pregnancy and childbirth.
Pain caused by diseases of the internal organs
When we wonder why the back hurts in the lumbar region, it is sometimes difficult to believe that the causes may lie inside the organs. The fact is that in some cases pain sensations from the internal organs "radiate" to the lumbar region.
- Right-sided pleurisy, pneumonia - causes of pain on the right side in the lumbar region. Associated symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, fever. Left sided pleurisy sends pain signals to the left side of the lower back, which is aggravated by bending while sleeping in a supine position.
- Gallbladder inflammation also localizes sharp pains on the right side, just above the waist, and is accompanied by belching and nausea. They have a piercing character.
- Belt pain in the lower back occurs due to pancreatitis. It is accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
- Severe pain under the left shoulder blade is often the result of a heart attack.
- In men, the pathology of the prostate causes pain in the area below the waist, with a transition to the sacrum. Women suffer from cystitis.
- Diseases of the distal alimentary canal - causes of pain below the waist.
Pain provocateurs
Pain can also be caused by factors such as:
- Hypothermia of the body.
- Intense physical activity.
- Certain sports (bodybuilding, bodybuilding, weightlifting, weight training).
- Spasm.
- Fracture.
- The menstrual cycle in women.
- Improper nutrition.
- Tension.
- Uncomfortable posture during sleep.
Back pain in the lumbar region in children
New technologies have not only brought benefits to our world, but also harm. Why? Because the love for the computer deprives children of full physical activity from an early age and develops incorrect posture.
Important: if you choose the right chair and table for your child, you can avoid curvature of the spine!
Scoliosis can develop due to wearing a heavy backpack, flat feet, and uncomfortable shoes. Treat him by all means! Excessive physical activity and weight lifting are contraindicated for children. During exercises in the sports department, you should be especially sensitive to the child's complaints about back discomfort after training. We can talk about spinal hernia. Timely treatment allows the child to live a full life.
Types of pain
The nature of the pain is divided into the following types:
- Spasms of the long muscles of the back cause acute pain. This is due to stretching. The problem is familiar to athletes and people whose special professions are associated with stress on the back muscles. When lying down, the pain subsides a little. The main location is the lower back.
- A spinal injury, namely a fracture, is very dangerous. It can occur from an unsuccessful fall, or it can be the result of osteoporosis, Paget's disease, hyperthyroidism.
- Displacement of the intervertebral discs causes pain due to compression of the nerve roots. Because of this, the patient's mobility is limited, sensitivity deteriorates, and knee jerking decreases. The danger of this disease is that healthy vertebrae begin to hurt, which leads to dysfunction of the internal organs and causes restless sleep.
- Facet joint syndrome causes back pain in 31% of cases. This degenerative process seizes the capsule of the intervertebral joints and causes pain not only in the lower back, but also in the legs. Pain in the lower back when sitting, bending to the side or leaning back, when standing for a long time.
- An infectious inflammatory process in the epidural space is a very serious and dangerous disease. If not treated in time, it can be fatal.
Treatment
The key to successful treatment is to consult a doctor immediately in case of back pain. Even if the pain only bothers you at night or after sleep, it is still worth consulting a specialist.
After analyzing the causes, the doctor gives recommendations for treatment and prevention of the disease. The treatment will be complex, using ointments, tablets, injections, massages and physiotherapy exercises.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the first line of treatment for low back pain:
- In the initial stage, literally the first 3-5 days, the treatment is carried out with the help of injections to relieve pain and inflammation. They act quickly and effectively relieve acute pain by injecting the medicine directly into the blood or muscle.
- Then, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving tablets, chondroprotectors, irritant drugs are used (separately in each case).
- In addition, ointment treatment is used. A properly selected ointment will help relieve inflammation in the affected area and warm it up (if necessary).
Reflex muscle tension is removed using muscle relaxants. With their help, they treat the pain syndrome and restore mobility. Apply for 3-7 days.
Group B vitamin preparations are necessary supplements to the main therapy.
In some cases, drug blockade is necessary. The anesthetic is administered epidurally or paravertebrally. It is used for degenerative changes of the spine.
Physiotherapy treatment:
- UHF;
- electrophoresis;
- Magnetotherapy.
Massage relieves acute pain by improving blood circulation. Kneading the muscles has a beneficial effect on the elasticity and flexibility of the ligaments. In order to improve the general tone of the body and only with the permission of the attending physician, the massage is combined with a bath or sauna. Do not heat up during the infectious process!
Pain during pregnancy can be alleviated by wearing a special bandage.
Orthopedic insoles are mandatory for patients with flat feet.
Physiotherapy
Exercise is also medicine. They strengthen the muscles of the back, improve posture, increase muscle tone, and increase blood circulation. They are used not only in the complex of therapeutic therapy, but also to prevent pain in the lumbar region. As in the case of drug therapy, therapeutic exercises are prescribed in each case separately, analyzing the main causes of the disease. But there are several general exercises, each of which is performed 5-10 times, preferably in the morning, avoiding overload.
- In a standing position, tilt the body alternately to the right, forward, backward, left.
- In a standing position, feet shoulder-width apart, turn the body to the side.
- While lying on all fours, do a "kitten": arch your back in the lower back.
- Lying on your back, bend your legs at the knees, arms along the body. Raise and lower the pelvis, gradually increasing the range of motion.
- Lying on your back, straightened legs, arms along the body. Alternately bend your legs at the knees and then pull them up to your chest.
- Standing on all fours, swing your legs alternately.
Whatever the reason, only a specialist can determine why the back hurts, identify the "culprit" of the disease, and prescribe the correct and effective treatment. As with any other disease, self-medication is not worth it! Any medicine not only heals, but also harms if it is chosen incorrectly.