The most common causes of back pain in the lumbar region: what conditions

2 October 2020

Return issues are very common. According to statistics, more than 30% of the population is facing pain. About 80% of them endure pain of varying intensity throughout their adult life.

Pain in the lumbar region occurs more often than in other segments of the spine. This is due to the fact that the lower back bears the greatest load, the higher the risk of developing pathological processes in this area. Lumbar pain is not only related to diseases of the spine, but also related to diseases of the internal organs. Before treating low back pain, it is important to find out the nature of its origin.

Causes of pain syndrome

90% of lumbar spinal pain cases are related to vertebrae, both congenital and acquired.

The most common ones are:

lumbosacral bone necrosis;
bulging eye and disc herniation;
degenerative vertebrae;
degenerative spondylolisthesis disease.

Painful birth defect:

abnormal shape of vertebral processes;
splitting vertebrae;
congenital curvature of the spine.

Neurological causes of lower back pain:

pinched nerve roots;
migraine (occurs when the sciatic nerve is damaged);
multiple sclerosis.

Low back pain can reflect and be a symptom of diseases outside the spine:

infections of the urinary tract and genitals;
;
kidney stones and urinary stones (stones in the kidney and bladder);
tumor formation in the gastrointestinal tract;
hemorrhoids;
in the uterus in women;
pulpitis;
as a complication after a previous viral infection.

Sometimes severe back pain in the lower back occurs due to physiological changes:

during menstruation;
after childbirth;
during pregnancy;
due to rapid weight gain.

Factors that trigger low back pain could be:

hypothermia;
weakening of the immune system and the body against infectious damage;
infrequent physical activity;
jobs that involve long periods of time (office workers, vehicle drivers);
excessive stress causes compression fractures, cracks, stretching of the back muscles;
strength sport (bodybuilding, bodybuilding, pitching);
inadequate diet - deficiency of essential vitamins and elements for bone tissue (phosphorus, calcium, fluoride), excessive consumption of high calorie foods;
curvature of the spine (stooping, scoliosis, scoliosis);
Stressful situations - prolonged stress aggravates a number of chronic, debilitating illnesses of the body.

Defines the nature of the pain

Back pain in the lumbar spine can be of different nature:

acute pain (lasting up to one and a half months);
semi-level (one and a half months to three months);
(more than three months).

Types of pain:

Nonspecific - no clear native of pain sensations and the reason for their occurrence.
Specific - is a symptom of a number of diseases (tumor, hernia, osteoporosis).

Acute low back pain, often sudden, occurs as "low back pain" in the lumbago region (lumbago). The pain can spread down the buttocks, to the lower extremities and other parts of the body, like some illnesses.

Depending on the cause of the pain in the lumbar spine, they can have different properties (puncture, cut, press, bend, pain).

At the onset of the pathological process, pain is usually not as pronounced. Patients may feel discomfort in the affected area, a feeling of "goosebumps" on the skin. Gradually, the symptoms began to increase and become more pronounced.

Pay attention!It is very important not to delay seeing a specialist. If not treated in time, the pain will become more intense, in the future, signs of disruption of the functioning of other organs and systems (sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence) may appear. owner, paralysis, restriction of movement).

Effective treatment

Before starting lower back pain treatment, you need to see a chiropractor or neurologist. He will try to find out the cause of the pain, prescribe the necessary studies. If necessary, he will send the consultation to other specialists (gastroenterologist, gynecologist, urologist).

In addition to patient interviews and visual examinations, it is advisable to diagnose by means of tools:

;
CT;
MRI;
.

In addition, general blood and urine tests, material sampling may be required for histological examination.

The following conditions require immediate medical attention:

for the first time and suddenly severe low back pain;
radiation therapy reduces pain in the legs and feet, combined with pain in the thighs and legs;
a history of trauma;
urinary incontinence and feces;
pain time more than 3 days;
presence of cancer;
severe anorexia and weight loss;
chills and fever;
presence of bacterial infection;
incapable of self-service due to pain.

In most cases, lumbar spinal pain occurs due to damaged vertebral structures, it is necessary to eliminate its cause. Treatment must be comprehensive.

Medicines

For any pain in the lower back, medication is used first to relieve it. The doctor prescribes a number of groups of drugs in the form of injections, tablets, ointments.

If the cause of the pain cannot be found, prescribing some medicine (for example, an NSAID or a pain reliever) may only make the situation worse.

For diseases of the spine, NSAIDs and pain relievers should be used to relieve pain and inflammation.

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

The use of back pain ointment is effective as a supportive treatment for lower back problems. They help relieve pain, reduce inflammation and have a warming effect. Ointments for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, combined, stimulating, chondroprotective ointments. Topical remedies should be prescribed by a doctor, based on the desired therapeutic effect.

Corticosteroid injections are sometimes used for the quick relief of severe pain. The drug is injected directly into the lesion. Such a course of treatment should not exceed 2-3 injections.

Non-drug therapy

To restore lower back and reinforce the results of drug treatment, you should use the following measures:

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

These methods improve the blood supply to problem areas, strengthen muscle tissue and ligaments, make them more elastic and relieve pain. All medical procedures cannot be performed independently without the supervision of a specialist. A certain load mode must be observed.

Helpful Hints

Tip:

In the case of back pain, there should be a significant reduction in physical activity, and it is best to ensure stability during the first 2 days of an attack.
Do not stay in bed for prolonged periods unless there is a fracture, high fever or other serious symptoms. Moderate activity is always beneficial to the spine.
If the pain is intolerable, it is better to take pain relievers. It's better to protect your digestive tract as much as possible from the effects of the medication.
It is better to sleep in fetal position, to reduce the load on your lower back you can place a pillow between your legs.
In case of lower back problem, you should walk as often as possible, warm up during work, sit for a long time.

Low back pain prevention

Pain is a symptom of malfunction in the body. To avoid problems with the lower back, it is necessary to prevent the appearance of provoking factors as much as possible.

Precautions include:

Get regular moderate exercise. Physical education should be done at least half an hour per day. Will be very helpful when doing yoga, swimming, morning exercise.
Adhere to the diet. You need to drink up to 2 liters of fluids per day. Most of the time it will take place during the first half of the day. After 8pm, it is best not to drink any fluids.
Eat right. Significantly reduce the amount of fatty, high-calorie foods. It is better to use boiled and steamed dishes.
At least once a year, regular check-up is recommended.
2 times a year to undergo a therapeutic massage session.

Pain in the lumbar spine is a sign that the body is having problems. The cause of the pain can be many. Cannot be stopped immediately with pain relievers, you need to seek the help of a specialist and be seen. After all, the problem can be hidden not only in the spine, but also in the disruption of the functioning of other organs and systems. The earlier the cause of the pain is identified and treated, the higher the chance of cure it is.