Back pain in the lumbar region may indicate various diseases of the spine, disorders in the connections of nervous structures, injuries to internal organs, soft tissues and oncological tumors. Pain syndrome can have different intensity and nature of manifestation. Depending on the type of pain that occurs, it is possible to identify the pathology, but to obtain an accurate diagnosis, an examination is carried out, including instrumental diagnostics. This allows you to find out why the pain occurs. Based on the results of the examination, the doctor selects treatment.
Types of pain
Back pain in the lumbar region may indicate the development of serious pathologies. But in most cases, the discomfort is benign and is associated with the influence of various external factors:
- hypothermia;
- stay in an uncomfortable position for a long time;
- compression of blood vessels;
- soft tissue damage due to trauma.
When diagnosing back pain, the doctor pays attention to the nature of its manifestation and duration. If the pain occurs due to a cold or simple hypothermia, it will completely disappear 2 weeks after using ointments that contain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components. They will not help cure the disease, but after them it does not hurt to move.
If the pain in the spine does not go away, despite the use of local medications, and sometimes intensifies, a comprehensive examination is necessary. In some cases, such a symptom is an alarming signal indicating the development of dangerous diseases. In diseases of the spine, at the time of an attack, pain can radiate to various areas of the body: leg, arm, groin. Often such an attack is accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the body: sensation of numbness, tingling, goosebumps, burning.
In most cases, pain in the lumbar region occurs suddenly, is sharp and resembles lumbago (low back pain). Patients themselves describe the pain as excruciating, sharp, sometimes oppressive and less intense. At the time of an attack, a person's movements are limited, and it is possible to straighten the lower back only through pain. Movements do not bring relief and sometimes cause increased pain. The acute condition may last only a few minutes, but sometimes persists for a day or longer.
Women and men over the age of 50, as well as people who have suffered serious injuries, experience chronic lower back pain. In this case it is constant, but tolerable; patients note only mild discomfort, stiffness of mobility in the morning and pain at night. Chronic pain attacks can be triggered by stress, heavy lifting, or hypothermia. The rest of the time there is no pain, there is stiffness and discomfort.
Back pain in pregnant women
Women often suffer from back pain during pregnancy. Its presence is associated with natural changes. As the fetus grows, around the second trimester of pregnancy, a change in the center of gravity occurs, causing a deformation of the posture with a deflection of the lumbar region. This change is not dangerous, it happens suddenly in more than 70% of women, but it must be monitored as it can lead to serious health problems in the future.
No special treatment is carried out during pregnancy. To relieve the intensity of painful attacks, the doctor may recommend that the woman take NSAIDs topically. In some cases it is recommended to wear support structures to ensure correct distribution of the load on the spine.
Also, expectant mothers should not neglect general rules: they need to take regular rest and avoid wearing high-heeled shoes. Be careful when bending to pick up something. Straighten your back and straighten, then you need to get up as slowly as possible. You should also pay attention to the choice of bed at home: it should be comfortable.
Pain at night and in the morning
If severe discomfort disturbs a person mainly at night and occurs in the morning immediately after waking up, the problem should be sought in the quality of night sleep. The manifestation of strongly painful sensations is associated with incorrect body position at night during the rest period. The first thing you need to do at home is replace the mattress, bed and pillow. It would be nice if the bed was orthopedic.
If the pain is observed only in the morning, it is worth considering the possibility of making sudden movements after waking up. It is best to wake up earlier and do a light warm-up of your muscles and joints while lying in bed. When you regularly perform such exercises, you can forget about the manifestation of pain. It will be much easier to bend and the feeling of stiffness in the back will disappear. It will be easier to get up after warming up.
It is also worth considering that the spine and lower back suffer from excess body weight. The problem of back pain occurs more often in obese individuals, as well as in patients who lead a sedentary lifestyle. After normalizing behavior and improving the quality of night rest, periodic pain disappears if it is not associated with any disease.
Lower back pain radiates to the leg
Pain that occurs in the back can radiate throughout the body. Very often it radiates to the leg and can involve part of the foot and reach the heel. The cause of the pain is sciatica, lumbago or radiculitis, that is, pathologies associated with damage to the nervous tissue. Due to changes in the structure of the cartilaginous tissue, leading to the deformation of the vertebrae and the formation of osteophytes, pinching of the nerve endings occurs, against the background of which attacks of acute pain appear that radiate to the leg.
Sharp pain
The duration of acute pain attacks varies. They can last from a few minutes to many weeks. Chronic pain can occur unnoticed and acute for a person, the patient gets used to it and may not feel it when the attack passes.
Sharp, unbearable attacks of pain in the lumbar region are characteristic of various diseases:
- scoliosis;
- myositis;
- arthritis;
- arthrosis;
- neurological injuries;
- tumor processes;
- osteomyelitis;
- spondylitis
If the pain has a shooting character, it means that the roots of the spinal cord are involved in the pathological inflammatory process. If the pain seems monotonous, dull and spreads to the abdominal cavity, inflammation of the liver should be suspected. Severe attacks that interrupt consciousness and cause loss of consciousness may signal urolithiasis or pyelonephritis.
Causes of back pain
Back pain in the lumbar region can have various causes. Many of them lead to the development of pathologies that significantly reduce the quality of life, in which pain becomes a constant companion. Trying to deal with the problem on your own is practically useless and difficult; an accurate diagnosis and competent treatment selection can be made only on the basis of the results of instrumental diagnostics.
The most common causes of back pain:
- intervertebral hernial protrusions;
- osteochondrosis;
- disorders in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- curvature of the spine;
- tumors;
- damage to muscles and ligaments;
- soft tissue infections.
Often the cause of pain is simple hypothermia, which affects the largest nerve in the human body, the sciatic nerve. Also, against the background of hypothermia, it may pinch, causing sharp pain. Other factors can trigger attacks:
- physical inactivity;
- excessive nervous tension;
- hard physical work;
- damage and injuries.
Low back pain can occur with urolithiasis; accompany an attack. They are also characteristic of many sexually transmitted diseases. Pain in the lumbar region in women is not always pathological. It is a physiological norm if it occurs before menstrual bleeding or at the beginning of menopause. In these cases the conditions are not dangerous and can be controlled through the use of painkillers. With all the listed pathologies it is problematic to move, bend or do any work at home.
Spinal diseases
The main cause of low back pain is various diseases, deformations and injuries of the spine. Pain can be of a completely different nature. The intensity of their manifestation depends on many factors and varies greatly depending on the affected part of the spine. The most common types of pain observed are:
- periodic;
- local or local;
- pull or squeeze;
- burn and cut;
- shot.
The intensity of symptomatic manifestations may depend on stress, sitting in an uncomfortable position in a chair, sport and physical activity. The discomfort increases when you stand or sit awkwardly. When the muscle fibers spasm, low back pain is observed and the entire area hurts. With such pain, stiffness of movements occurs, the symptom spreads to the back of the thigh and can reach the calves and even the feet. Much depends on the type of disease and its nature. The pathology must be treated by a specialist.
Intervertebral hernia
Intervertebral hernias of the lumbar region are often formed with osteochondrosis in the later stages of development. They usually mainly cover the lumbar region, the lower back and form between the 4th-5th vertebra and in the sacral area. The pain syndrome in this case is unpleasant, intrusive, is associated with damage to the nerve roots, and weak blood circulation occurs. The pain is similar to that which occurs with radiculitis and intensifies when standing or sitting on an uncomfortable stool. If the hernial formation is large, it compresses the spinal cord, a person experiences a loss of sensitivity, and in complicated cases, paralysis is possible due to the hernia getting between the intervertebral discs.
You can understand what bothers you about intervertebral hernia by the appearance of the following episodes:
- it is impossible to stand without support on a chair or other surface, this is due to the increased load on the intervertebral discs;
- lying on your stomach is extremely uncomfortable;
- a feeling of stiffness in the back;
- it is difficult to bend forward;
- arching the back is impossible due to pain that prevents movement.
Treatment of hernias is provided conservatively and operatively. The appropriate method is determined based on the patient's condition. Treating the disease conservatively in advanced cases is ineffective.
Rachiocampsis
With minor curvatures, pain does not appear. Feelings of tiredness may occur; a person wants to spend more time lying down, because the pain becomes stronger when standing or sitting. Various neurological disorders occur with second-degree deformities. In this phase, pain occurs, which can manifest itself in a moderate and moderately intense way, present on the left and right. As the disease progresses, the discomfort intensifies during the day, in advanced forms it becomes unbearable and is not relieved by local and systemic painkillers. It is difficult to completely eliminate the manifestation; curvature can be cured quickly.
Osteoporosis
This disease often occurs in men and women over the age of 50. The pathology is characterized by rapid loss of bone tissue. Due to such a loss, fragility occurs, the vertebrae become less strong, and damage is possible even with minor injuries, physical exertion or heavy lifting. Patients only bend over in discomfort and return from the bent position with severe pain. To make a person pick up something from the floor, it is better to sit down and straighten his back, and then straighten up. If you sit down earlier, the health risks related to osteoporosis will be reduced.
Pain in osteoporosis is not just due to fractures. The disease is dangerous, it can be used to register a group of disabled people.
Spinal injuries
The most common injury is a bruise. If it is mild, the discomfort is moderate. It tends to intensify during the day with movement, causing local swelling with bruises and hemorrhages. The symptom always increases with movement and exercise. In more severe cases, the problem not only hurts, but can be accompanied by neurological disorders, especially if nerve endings are involved in the process. It is impossible to completely eliminate the problem, it is not always possible to cure the consequences of injuries even surgically.
Soft tissue and kidney damage
With soft tissue bruises, mild pain appears, which disappears after local use of anti-inflammatory compounds. The pain is always local, the bruised area is swollen and bleeding is possible.
If, in combination with the described symptoms, pain in the left lower back is accompanied by the appearance of blood in the urine, it means that there is damage to the kidney. The discomfort will be more intense, with serious injuries to the organs of the excretory system, urination is impaired or becomes impossible. Hematomas in the lower back may occur. The development of shock and life-threatening conditions is not excluded.
Spinal infections
Infectious lesions of the spine are more dangerous. Osteomyelitis can be:
- postoperative;
- post traumatic;
- contact;
- hematogenous.
In acute cases, the disease progresses at lightning speed. It is characterized by increasing painful manifestations that intensify during the day, accompanied by high body temperature and a sharp deterioration in the general condition. The nature of discomfort can be different: twitching, pressure, bursting. The attacks are severe, hinder movement and force you to freeze in one position because it is painful to move. In chronic pathologies, fistulas with the formation of purulent secretion may appear.
A rare but dangerous disease of the spine is spinal tuberculosis. Already in the initial stage of development it causes deep and very strong pains in the lower part, which reach their peak after exercise. The gait of men and women becomes stiff. As the bone structures are destroyed, the nerve roots are compressed, the pain becomes burning and spreads to the lower part of the body.
With a spinal epidural abscess, the pain is quite deep, very strong, accompanied by chills and muscle tension. Against the background of progress, radicular syndrome intensifies, paresis occurs, and the functioning of the pelvic organs is disrupted.
Muscle damage
Painful discomfort in the lower back may occur after physical activity, lifting weights, or performing strenuous workouts. It also occurs during prolonged stay in a static position with tension in the lower back and gluteal muscles.
With such an injury, discomfort manifests itself less intensely at rest and after rest, after applying a warming ointment. Muscle damage or myositis occurs not only against the background of infections. It can be provoked by stress and hypothermia of the body, severe poisoning and metabolic disorders. The condition is often accompanied by aching pain.
Myofascial syndrome
Myofascial syndrome is classified as a painful condition in which discomfort in the lower back is associated with painful muscle tension. During an attack, trigger points appear on the affected area. The sources of pain are the muscles and fascia, the connective tissues. To treat this condition, specialists prescribe painkillers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and sedatives.
In some cases, it is indicated to treat the disease using centrally acting muscle relaxants. Such remedies are aimed at reducing tonic tension, reducing excitement and causing relaxation of the muscles involved in the spasm, so that the person can bend. In some cases, specialists resort to blocking the stitches by administering anesthetics.
Tumors of the spine, kidneys
Tumors of the spine and spinal cord are quite rare. The frequency of detection of such diseases does not exceed 0. 5% of the total number of diagnosed tumor pathologies. Neoplasms can be benign or malignant. Depending on this, the prognosis varies significantly.
In this pathology the distinctive symptom is pain in the lumbar region. With benign etiology, discomfort is relieved through the use of medications. If the formation is malignant, the treatment must be complex, often requiring surgery.
Also, pain in the lower back on the left can be traced to kidney cancer. It will have a pronounced character, it can be sore, pressing, bursting. The discomfort increases over time and urination disorders develop. Do not spray or apply heat to the affected area. Normalization of the condition is possible after removal of the formation.
What to do after acute back pain
If a sharp pain in the back appears for a moment, the situation can be controlled on its own. If possible, you should visit a specialist and undergo an examination to reduce the risk of recurring attacks.
You need to urgently contact a specialist if the following symptoms occur:
- back pain of any nature persists for a week;
- against the background of pain, body temperature rises;
- the discomfort arose at the site of previous injuries and damage;
- pain spreads throughout the body;
- Sensitivity in some areas is lost.
In these cases the pain cannot be ignored. It is important to consult a doctor as quickly as possible and start treatment, otherwise the disease will progress.
Which doctor should I contact?
If you suspect the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, you should consult a traumatologist or neurologist. Specialists will conduct a survey, physical examination and prescribe the necessary instrumental examination. If your back suddenly hurts, you can call an ambulance. You can use pain relief gels at home.
If you suspect that pain in the lower back is due to kidney damage, you should visit a urologist or nephrologist. You can also consult a therapist. Any specialist will tell you what to do in case of back pain that occurs against the background of kidney disease, and will also prescribe additional tests. Laboratory tests of the patient's blood and urine are necessary; are necessary to confirm or deny the disease.
If lower back pain occurs sporadically in women and is associated with menstruation or menopause, it is worth raising the issue with a gynecologist. A specialist will help you choose a treatment that will eliminate discomfort. In cases where it is necessary to clarify the origin of the pain syndrome, it is necessary to visit a therapist, family doctor or family doctor. The doctor will conduct an examination and determine the preliminary cause of the violation.
Diagnostics
There are many factors that can cause pain in the lower back, so even an experienced doctor cannot make an accurate diagnosis without an examination. The following methods are used as part of diagnostics:
- Radiographic examination of the painful area;
- MRI;
- Ultrasound of the pelvic and abdominal organs;
- general analysis of urine and blood;
- electroneuromyography.
If pain occurs against the background of pathologies of the genitourinary system or gastrointestinal tract, an endoscopic examination of the intestine may be necessary. If the development of neoplasms in the body is suspected, a biochemical blood test is performed.
Treatment
The intervention regimen necessary for the treatment of back pain is selected individually. The main rule is that therapy should be comprehensive, including symptomatic treatment and lifestyle changes. Treatment is selected after the doctor determines the cause of the pain.
Regardless of the causes of back pain, all patients should follow these rules:
- do not lift heavy objects;
- bend and straighten your back when sitting;
- give up strenuous sports;
- if you are obese you should lose weight;
- change the place to sleep, make it comfortable;
- Carry out regular minutes of physical education while sitting directly on a chair or armchair;
- light sports;
- do not take steam baths, do not go to the sauna, do not take hot baths;
- wear a support bandage (as prescribed by a doctor).
For diagnosed spinal pathologies, the treatment complex also includes the following recommendations:
- Medicinal influence. The use of painkillers, anti-inflammatories and decongestants is indicated. Drugs can be prescribed for oral administration and topical use in the form of a cream, gel or ointment that relieves pain.
- Blockage of the lumbar region.
- Physiotherapy. Patients are prescribed physical therapy, massage, magnetic therapy and electrophoresis.
- Acupuncture, manual therapy, osteopathy.
In more serious cases, when conservative intervention for spinal pathologies does not produce results, surgery is performed.
The information in the article should not become the basis for self-diagnosis and treatment; are provided for informational purposes only. You should not take any medication without consulting a specialist.
Trying to figure out on your own how to get rid of back pain and why your back hurts is almost useless. It can have a different nature, depending on the selected effective method of influence. Self-medication for many pathologies is ineffective and dangerous, as it leads to a worsening of the condition.