Unfortunately, there are no absolutely healthy people in the world. Each of us is periodically concerned with something in the state of our own organism. That is probably why we most often wish for health, well-being, complemented by good humor.
Low back pain is among the most common complaints. And if in childhood it seemed to us that it only concerns the elderly, then, having matured, came the realization of the erroneous opinion. We do not have insurance against back pain by age, social status or type of activity. This is due, in the first place, to the variety of causes of pain in the lumbar spine, as well as to its various manifestations.
Diseases that cause low back pain
Often, lower back pain is caused by a specific disease and is a consequence - a symptom, the nature of which makes it possible to carry out targeted diagnoses, make the correct diagnosis and indicate the forms, methods, methods and, in general, disease treatment tactics.
Pain in the lower back is primary or secondary.
Primary has a direct connection to diseases of the spine:
- osteochondrosis or dystrophic disorders of the articular cartilage (one third of the total number of patient visits);
- "bulging" of the intervertebral disc outside the boundaries of the spine (protrusion), displacement of the disc nucleus, in which the fibrous annulus breaks (intervertebral hernia);
- displacement of one or more vertebrae: forward, backward;
- accelerated aging and destruction of the cartilage of the intervertebral joints (spondyloarthrosis);
- growth of bone tissue along the edges of the spine in the form of spines (spondylosis).
Secondary pain is caused by diseases of other organs:
- vertebral fractures due to trauma or osteoporosis (increased bone fragility);
- the appearance of a tumor in one of the parts (lumen) of the spinal canal;
- muscle tension;
- insufficient congenital width of the vertebral canal;
- all types of curvature of the spine and their combination, including deformity that leads to the appearance of a "bulge" in the thoracic spine;
- various types of arthritis / joint diseases (psoriatic, rheumatic and others);
- vertebral tuberculosis and other inflammatory processes that affect intervertebral discs;
- kidney / urinary tract stones, pyelonephritis (kidney damage);
- ovarian cysts, including cancers;
- back pain is also possible as a complication of pregnancy in women.
What can the character of low back pain indicate?
Of course, it is impossible to independently diagnose the degree, level and type of back pain. However, when it hurts the back, some specific symptoms indicate this or that disease.
Intense pains
When the pain in the lumbar spine is severe, the patient is more likely to have osteochondrosis or sciatica. In addition, in the first case, it manifests itself in the process of walking, when the person sits for a long time, lifts weights and also when coughing or sneezing. In some cases, there may be complaints that the back hurts and that pain radiates to the leg.
If we are talking about radiculitis, the patient describes the pain as acute or uncomfortable, painful, often - it is unilateral and "responds" to the thigh, lower leg, buttocks. It can increase with walking, with changing position of the human body, with coughing.
What can acute low back pain indicate?
In cases where the pain is acute, you should talk about:
- muscle stretching;
- long-term work in an uncomfortable position for the torso;
- back pain after sleep due, again, to an uncomfortable body position and staying in it for a significant period of time;
- pain that arises during the process of lifting or carrying weights, in the event of a fall, impact or sudden movement;
- hypothermia or prolonged exposure to a draft;
- also has the likelihood of lumbago (called lumbago), which suffers from patients involved in heavy physical work. In this case, the low back pain can pass in a few days, but it can also drag on and accompany the person for two or more weeks;
- displacement of the intervertebral discs that occur in the lumbar part - often appear in connection with a fracture of the spine, with osteochondrosis, interaction with heavy objects (in particular, lifting them), in the process of performing difficult physical actions, or as a result of surgical intervention aimed at the column.
The painful nature of pain: what is he talking about?
Acute pain (the patient can formulate his description as "pain in the lower back" or "pulls the lower back") - it often manifests itself in the inflammatory process of the lumbar muscles.
This disease arises as a result of hypothermia or sudden muscle tension / strain. In this case, the patient defines pain as that which reaches the lumbar spine and is accompanied by acute pain during movement.
Chronic and persistent low back pain
If the lower back hurts and even the patient himself can describe it as chronic, then the diagnosis will probably be:
- deforming spondylosis - an increase in the amount of bone tissue in the spine due to the appearance of spine-like growths along the edge of the vertebrae (manifested in severe back pain, especially in the lower back, which can combinenumbness and / or weakness in the legs);
- disease of the vertebral joints - most of the time it has a chronic systemic character;
- diseases from a number of oncological diseases;
- metabolic disorder.
Pains without constant location, moving
One of the most difficult cases to identify causative diseases is pain that moves from time to time. At the same time, the person can be sure that the lower back hurts, although in fact the body "deceives" it and the disease has spread to other organs.
These pains are usually caused by diseases of Organs pelvic organs. The inflammatory process in the kidneys, diseases of the pancreas, colon can contribute to the appearance of pain in the lumbar spine, and can also occur due to painful changes in bone tissue and tumors of another nature.
Sometimes the painful condition of the lower back is confused with the pain that occurs in the region of the shoulder blades. However, there are still different types of pain and, for the most part, they are associated with different diseases. Therefore, pain in the shoulder blades, for example, indicates stomach ulcer, myocardial infarction, intercostal neuralgia and even a person's psychological problems.
If you find it difficult to independently determine the area where the pain occurs and, at the same time, whether they are regular or acute, see a doctor immediately!
Injuries that cause low back pain
Interestingly, but often the cause of lower back pain is an injury sustained by a person - for example, a bruise on the back muscles or a sprain. The timely visit to the doctor is the guarantee of the correct diagnosis and the effectiveness of the treatment.
In advanced cases, there is a high probability of complication, not excluding a severe curvature of the spine.
Peculiarities of back pain in women
"What are the specific causes of low back pain in women? " - you ask. And we will answer that there are not so few. And men, in general, could thank the Creator for the fact that they simply cannot have these reasons.
Among the "triggers" of low back pain in women are:
- menstruation / periods;
- pregnancy;
- climax.
In each of these cases, the pain may be of a different nature. Depending on the immediate cause, the characteristics of the female body, the degree of stress in the lower back during pregnancy, the woman's age, employment, the type of professional activity, pain can manifest themselves in different ways.
But what about men?
In men, lower back pain syndrome, unfortunately, is quite common.
And there are enough reasons for him without the female component:
- stretching (muscle, accompanied by acute pain);
- fracture of the spine (after a person falls on his feet or when a man was hit in the lower back), men often suffer such injuries in car accidents;
- protrusion / bulging of the intervertebral disc or displacement of several intervertebral discs, when it begins to press on the nerve roots, this pathology usually appears and is diagnosed by an excessive degree of physical activity;
- growth of cancer metastases from genitals in men, most often occurs after age 50; at the same time, the pain develops with a change in the degree of damage to bone tissue, and it is so strong that it can only be stopped with the use of special narcotics, analgesics; spondyloarthrosis
- (when a nerve root or several roots are damaged in the area of the intervertebral canal);
- in the event that painful manifestations are radiating, then they indicate the presence and development of prostate disease, liver or kidney problems.
Risk factors: what can trigger low back pain?
Unfortunately, we cannot insure ourselves against this or that disease. But it is in our power to study the risk factors - the most common causes of the onset of the disease, and to take measures to eliminate them (if possible) or, at least, partially neutralize their effects on the body.
The most common and pronounced risk factors for low back pain include:
- performing intensive training with great physical effort (gymnastics), mainly in the spine and in your lumbar spine;
- sudden strange movement;
- staying for a significant period of time in the same position (for example, people whose activities are related to driving a car, working on a computer and even work where a person is forced to stay for a long time - consultants in stores, pharmacists) in pharmacies, in charge of machinery in factories, etc. );
- in the morning, the lumbar region can also hurt, which "says" that a mattress or pillow is not suitable for you, but does not exclude an inflammatory process, which thus manifests itself symptomatically;
- work, which is based on great physical or psychological stress, stress can also manifest itself in low back pain;
- As mentioned earlier, pregnancy and childbirth also increase the likelihood of lower back pain;
- heavy weight and pain in the lower back are also closely related, since the force of pressure on a person's internal organs and spine depends on the total body weight.
When do you need medical attention?
Just as we hate to be sick, we hate to ask doctors for help. There are many ways to independently identify the causes of disease and its treatment. Of course, there are reasons for this belief.
But in the case of back pain, I still want to differentiate in some way: here you can lie down, get medical treatment on your own, but here - without the help of a doctor, sometimes - urgent! - just not enough.
We can say unequivocally that if the pain is of a unique nature, or the cause of the pain is one of the reasons for the female line, then, in principle, you cannot panic, but wait, watch the body, give itthe opportunity to rest, do not overload.
If the pain does not persist and does not recur, then you have established the cause correctly and can do this without medical intervention.
For low back pain:
- are repeated systematically;
- pass and resume;
- are amplified;
- the pain persists for more than three days;
- are repeated in the morning;
- you are injured and you associate pain in your lower back;
- feeling pain in the lower back and leg (foot and leg) at the same time;
- or - the pain in the lower back is combined and along with it the buttocks and the leg (thigh, leg, foot) and even the groin area are numb - this is a serious reason for an urgent consultation with the doctor!
In any of the above cases, you don't have to guess, look for the causes of the pain yourself, wondering why your lower back hurts, but you should immediately contact a medical institution. Without medical assistance, the situation can get worse and treatment will require much more time and effort.
Remember that back pain, low back pain is not a case where you can play or wait "at random" (deformities or displacements of the intervertebral discs, for example, have never been corrected by themselves).
Failure to timely diagnose pain in a person, as well as correct treatment, can lead to serious and complicated illnesses, lumbar surgery and even paralysis of the lower body and disability.