Back pain in the lower back is common.By the age of 30, these sensations appear in 70% of people, regardless of the type of job, lifestyle and physical activity.Ignoring low back pain brings with it undesirable consequences for your health, as these symptoms already indicate disturbances in the body's functioning.
At a consultation with a neurologist:
- Carry out an inspection;
- Listens to patients' complaints;
- Make a preliminary diagnosis;
- If necessary, forward to additional research;
- will prescribe an individual course of treatment.
Causes of low back pain
The causes of back pain in the lumbar region differ in the etiology of origin and require determination of the area of pain and analysis of the character.It is customary to differentiate:
- epicritic pain - severe back pain in the lumbar region with a distinct focus;
- protopathic pain - dull, aching pain that is a reflection of diseases of other anatomical areas.
The frequency of occurrence, duration of pain and the area affected are significant.Backs often fail due to:
- age-related changes, which reduce the ability of the spine to perform shock-absorbing functions;
- stress when carrying a child;
- vertebral dislocation, trauma and compression fractures;
- spinal deformities;
- intervertebral hernia, osteochondrosis, compression of the nerve roots of the spinal cord.
If pain in the lower back limits mobility and prevents you from bending over, then we are talking about a sprain.Feeling of numbness, increased pain when coughing, sneezing, sensation spreading to the lower extremities - these are nerve-radicular syndromes.The long-term increase in pain is explained by problems with internal organs.
Back pain in the lumbar region on the right occurs due to muscle spasms, irritation of nerve fibers, problems with the musculoskeletal system or spine.Problems in the liver, right kidney, right ovary (in women), intestines and gallbladder affect.Similar reasons lead a person to have back pain, in the lower back on the left.However, in this case, with protopathic pain, attention should be paid to the left kidney, left ovary (in women), stomach, intestines and pancreas.
If the left side hurts in the lower back or the right side in the morning after sleep and long immobility, this indicates spondyloarthrosis.Sharp pain when the temperature changes (in the shower or due to hypothermia) is a manifestation of acute low back pain.
In case of severe pain, it is advisable for men to first consult a urologist and, for women, a gynecologist.You will need to undergo an ultrasound of internal organs, blood and urine tests.When examining the spine, MRI of the lumbar region gives good results.
Protopathic back pain above the lower back is caused by several reasons:
- kidney disease;
- heart disease (angina pectoris, myocardial infarction);
- pleurisy;
- pneumonia;
- esophageal diseases;
- appendicitis;
- inflammation of the gallbladder.
Acute back pain above the lower back with:
- radiculitis;
- osteochondrosis with disc displacement;
- spine and rib injuries;
- myositis (muscle inflammation).
Back pain below the lumbar region is caused by morphofunctional musculoskeletal changes - osteochondrosis or spondyloarthrosis.In this case, patients experience severe back pain, below the lower back.
How to relieve lower back pain
If you have experienced sharp pains in your lower back, you can ease the discomfort with simple steps.You should lie down on a horizontal surface and relax.Please note that a soft feather bed that bends too much under your weight will not work.The legs should be elevated, relieving the load on the spine.
After the discomfort stops being felt, you should carefully roll over to your side and get on all fours.The purpose of this “gymnastics” is to minimize the load on the back.You need to straighten up and stand using a support, holding it with your hands.A back belt for lower back pain allows you to secure this area of the body, which also reduces pain.At the same time, it should capture not only the diseased area, but also the part of the body above and below it.At the same time, painkillers can be used to relieve pain and inflammation.They can be used in tablet form or as injections for back and lower back pain (in this case, block injections are only performed in a clinical setting).
After eliminating the symptoms, you should definitely go to the clinic.Self-medication is unacceptable.Using ointment for back and lower back pain and a belt, the patient can endure pain for a long time, worsening their condition.As a result, the back muscles weaken and the pain enters a chronic phase.Abuse of painkillers can cause dependence.
Treatment of back pain in the lower back
If your lifestyle causes periodic muscle spasms (this may be caused by sports or physical work), you should have muscle relaxants in your home medicine cabinet.But these medications must also be prescribed by a doctor after consultation.In the treatment of low back pain, depending on the diagnosis, several measures are used:
- Reflexology. It includes acupuncture (injections with special needles in certain areas) and electroacupuncture (use of electrical impulses).It can also be implemented in the form of transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation (suppression of the pain signal entering the brain).
- Physiotherapy. Magnetic and laser therapy techniques are used, as well as medicinal electrophoresis and phonophoresis, which increase the effectiveness of taking medications.
- Therapeutic exercise and massage. These measures are effective for diseases of the spine and for rehabilitation after injuries.Requires specialized supervision.
- Surgical intervention. May be necessary for hernias that cause compression of the spinal cord or spinal root.
Treatment is often complex, combining different approaches.The duration and effectiveness of therapy depend on the timeliness of treatment.