For the ability to walk on two legs, the human race pays with pain in the back. If your back periodically hurts in the lumbar region, it may be a sign of severe fatigue or the result of a long stay in an uncomfortable position during work or sleep. But the reasons may be more serious.
Causes of pain
The lower back is one of the most painful areas. There are reasons for this:
- Osteochondrosis;
- Scoliosis;
- Herniated discs;
- tumors;
- tissue infections.
The nature and intensity of pain depends on the disease. And she worries in different ways: after sleep, exercise, overwork. For example, renal colic is accompanied by pain in the lower back constantly. And the type of activity of the patient does not matter here.
- Most often it hurts in the lumbar region due to osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. Moderate in its intensity pain in a state of sleep, aggravated by physical exertion. Constantly tormented by a feeling of fatigue. The feeling of heaviness causes a desire to lie down. But relief does not always follow.
- If there is a herniated disc, severe pain occurs after sudden movements, heavy lifting, falling.
- If the hernia is compressed, there is a sharp pain, characterized as lumbalgia. Movement in the lumbar region is noticeably limited. Damage to the nerve root gives a pain signal in the leg.
- In old age, stenosis of the intervertebral canal often occurs. A sign of it is limping, numbness of the legs, especially after a long walk.
- The stiffness that occurs in the morning in the spinal region indicates the onset of the development of Bechterew's disease. Initially, sharp pain sensations appear in the sacral region, then spread to the lumbar region. The feeling after sleep is not rest, but fatigue, which disappears with the onset of physical activity. Young men are most affected by the disease. The disease is inherited. Basically, the lower back hurts in the supine position.
- Acute pain in the lumbar region also occurs with pyelonephritis (an inflammatory process in the kidneys). They are accompanied by an increase in body temperature, swelling in the morning after sleep.
- Often in older men, a disease such as an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta develops. Aching pains and throbbing in the abdomen are the result of aortic pressure on nearby organs.
- Lower back pain, fever, burning 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 disease that many consider harmless is flat feet. A deformed foot increases the load on the spinal column when walking. During sleep, the pain is relieved.
- 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, in particular multiple sclerosis, are provocateurs of pain of various localization. Including lower back pain.
There are other reasons why it hurts a lot in the lumbar region. This may be osteoporosis, infections of the genitourinary system, hemorrhoids, tumor diseases, complications after viral or bacterial infections. And even physiological changes affecting women and occurring during pregnancy and childbirth.
Pain caused by diseases of the internal organs
When wondering why the back hurts in the lumbar region, it is sometimes difficult to believe that the reasons can be inside the organs. The fact is that in some cases, pain sensations from the internal organs are "radiated" to the lumbar region.
- Right-sided pleurisy, pneumonia - the causes of pain in the lumbar region on the right. Associated symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, fever. Left-sided pleurisy sends pain signals to the left side of the lower back, which are aggravated by bending over, in the supine position during sleep.
- Cholelithiasis also localizes sharp pains on the right, just above the waist, and they are accompanied by belching, nausea. They have a piercing character.
- Girdle pain in the lower back occurs due to pancreatitis. Her companions are nausea and vomiting.
- Severe pain under the left shoulder blade is often the result of a myocardial infarction.
- For men, the pathology of the prostate gives pain in the area below the waist, with a transition to the sacrum. Women have cystitis.
- Diseases of the distal digestive tube - the 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).
- Crick.
- Fracture.
- The menstrual cycle in women.
- Wrong nutrition.
- Stress.
- Uncomfortable posture while sleeping.
Back pain in the lumbar region in children
New technologies have brought not only benefits to our world, but also harm. Why? Because love for a computer from an early age deprives children of full physical activity, forms an incorrect posture.
Important: if you choose the right chair and table for your child, then curvature of the spine can be avoided!
Scoliosis can develop from wearing a heavy backpack, flat feet, uncomfortable shoes. Be sure to treat him! Children are contraindicated in excessive physical activity, weight lifting. When exercising in the sports section, you should be especially sensitive to the child's complaints about discomfort in the back after training. We can talk about a hernia of the spine. Timely treatment will allow the child to live a full life.
Types of pain
The nature of pain is divided into the following types:
- Spasms in the long muscles of the back cause acute pain. This happens due to stretching. The problem is familiar to athletes and people whose specific professions are associated with stress on the back muscles. In the supine position, the pain subsides a little. The place of the main localization is the lower back.
- A spinal injury, namely a fracture, is very dangerous. It can happen from an unsuccessful fall or become a consequence of osteoporosis, Paget's disease, hyperparathyroidism.
- The displacement of the intervertebral discs provokes pain as a result of compression of the nerve roots. For this reason, the patient's mobility is limited, sensitivity is impaired, and the knee jerk is reduced. The danger of this disease is also that healthy vertebrae begin to hurt, and this entails disturbances in the functioning of internal organs and is the cause of restless sleep.
- Facet joint syndrome in 31% of cases causes pain in the back. This degenerative process captures the capsule of the intervertebral joints and causes pain not only in the lower back, but also in the legs. The lower back hurts in a sitting position, with side bending or tilting back, with long standing.
- The inflammatory process of an infectious nature in the epidural space is a very serious and dangerous disease. It can be fatal if not treated on time.
Treatment
Seeing a doctor immediately when you have back pain is the key to successful treatment. Even if the pain only bothers you at night or after sleep, there is a reason to visit a specialist.
After analyzing the causes, the doctor will give recommendations on how to treat and not get sick. The treatment will be complex, with the use of ointments, tablets, injections, massages and physiotherapy exercises.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are in the first place in the treatment of lumbar pain:
- At the initial stage, literally in the first 3-5 days, treatment is carried out with the help of injections to relieve pain and inflammation. They act quickly, effectively relieving acute pain by directly injecting the drug into the blood or muscle.
- Then, anti-inflammatory and analgesic tablets, chondroprotectors, irritant drugs are used (in each case separately).
- Additionally, ointment treatment is applied. Properly selected ointment helps to relieve inflammation in the affected area, and also warms (if necessary).
Reflex muscle tension is removed with the help of muscle relaxants. With their help, the pain syndrome is treated, and mobility is restored. Apply from 3 to 7 days.
Vitamin preparations of group B are a necessary addition to the main therapy.
In some cases, drug blockade is necessary. The anesthetic is administered epidurally or paravertebral. It is used for degenerative changes in 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. To improve the overall tone of the body and only with the permission of the attending physician, massage is combined with a bath or sauna. You can not warm up during the infectious process!
Pain during pregnancy can be relieved by wearing a special bandage.
Wearing orthopedic insoles is mandatory for patients with flat feet.
Physiotherapy
Physical exercise is also a cure. 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 for the prevention of pain in the lumbar region. As in the case of drug therapy, therapeutic exercises are prescribed in each case individually, 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 overwork.
- 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 sides.
- In a position on all fours, do a "kitty": arching the 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, legs straightened, arms along the body. Alternately bend the legs at the knees, followed by pulling up to the chest.
- Standing on all fours, alternately swing your legs.
Whatever the reasons, 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 drug can not only heal, but also harm if chosen incorrectly.