Every second person on the planet is familiar with pain in the lower back - this is confirmed by official statistics.In fact, everyone has experienced pain in the spinal column of varying intensity, and attacks in the lower back are not even worth talking about - they lifted something wrong, bent down too suddenly, slept in an uncomfortable position, and the pain will definitely be present.
Pain in the lower back can be of absolutely different nature: aching and pulling, acute and constant, paroxysmal and cutting, shooting and local.Even the intensity of the syndrome in question is variable - the pain can appear suddenly, without visible preconditions, but it can develop constantly "more and more".
A person can tolerate pain in the lower back relatively easily, or it can cause immobility - it all depends on the individual tolerance of the syndrome and the psycho-emotional state of the patient.
Causes of lower back pain in men
Men, more often than women, work in extreme conditions - for example, at regularly low air temperatures, in conditions of high humidity, with the need to lift heavy objects, etc.It is not surprising that physiological factors are in the first place among the causes of lower back pain.
Pain in the lumbar spine in men can occur with prostatitis - an inflammatory process in the prostate.Please note: prostatitis is manifested not only by pain in the lower back with radiation to the rectum, but there are also disturbances in the process of urination, nagging discomfort in the groin and perineum, hyperthermia (increase in temperature).
If a man develops inflammation of the testicles (epididymitis), then pain in the lower back, together with an increase in the size of the testicles and their tumor, may be the main reason for a complete examination by an andrologist.
Causes of lower back pain in women
For female patients, pain in the lower back is typical for certain gynecological diseases/conditions:
- Adnexitis.Ovarian inflammation causes the development of constantly increasing pain in the lower back.It can be unilateral or bilateral - it all depends on the localization of the inflammatory process.Pain in the lower back with adnexitis is accompanied by increased body temperature, changed vaginal discharge, general weakness and increased pain during intimate relations.
- Pregnancy.This is a physiological state, which is accompanied by an excessive load on all organs and systems - giving birth to a child a priori implies the functioning of the body "under wear and tear".Another factor for lower back pain during pregnancy is the threat of miscarriage/miscarriage.
- The highlight.During this period, the female body goes through strong changes, including hormonal balance.The level of estrogen in the blood becomes unstable, to which the nerve endings react - this factor can explain the pain in the lower back.
Please note: women are characterized by idiopathic pain in the lower back - their appearance is unclear;doctors associate the pain with the woman's psycho-emotional state and her minimal resistance to stress.
Common causes of lower back pain
This classification includes pain in the lumbar spine, which can occur due to internal pathologies in both men and women.The most frequently recorded factors and reasons:
- An attack of acute or chronic appendicitis.Of course, this pathology is characterized by pain in the right hypochondrium, but in some cases (depending on the physiological characteristics of the body and the intensity of the inflammatory process) pain can appear in the lower back on the right side.
- Chronic cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder).The pain syndrome in this case will be localized in the right hypochondrium with strong radiation to the lower back - this means that spinal nerve fibers are involved in the pathological process.
- Inflammatory/infectious processes in the kidneys.For them, the main symptom is pain in the lower back, to which are added hyperthermia (permanent increase in body temperature), morning swelling of the face and high blood pressure.
- Diseases of the small intestine.They are characterized by standard digestive disorders (problems with stool, increased gas production, intestinal colic) combined with pain in the lower back.
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).The pain in this pathology is of a dangerous nature and is accompanied by nausea and vomiting.Please note: if the pain in the lower back is caused by pancreatitis, then after palpation of the spinal column there are no changes in the intensity of the sensation.
- Infectious pathologies.Not all infectious diseases cause pain in the lower back - this syndrome is characteristic only in cases where there is pathological damage to the bone tissue.And the lower part of the back hurts most often because of the heavy load on this part of the spine.
Doctors believe that inflammatory processes in the muscles - myositis - are the main cause of lower back pain in both men and women.They are characterized by painful, constant pain with a gradual increase in intensity - based on this symptom and in the absence of other signs, a preliminary diagnosis can be made.
In addition, the syndrome in question can appear in patients diagnosed with obesity of the 4th stage - the load on the muscles and bones is too great, so the pain in the lower back will be constant, intensify and spread to the legs.
Note: pain in the lumbar spine can be caused by the growth of malignant or benign tumors.But in this case, there will be no problem with the diagnosis - this syndrome does not appear in the first stage of cancer.
Diseases always accompanied by pain in the lower back
There are a number of pathological conditions in which lower back pain is the main symptom:
- Lumbago.It is characterized by acute, penetrating pain, which is most often diagnosed in male patients and can be the result of sciatic nerve entrapment or displacement of several vertebrae.
- Scoliosis.Vertebral curvature, which can be congenital or acquired.The pathological process can affect any part of the spinal column;the following disease classification is typical for the lower back:
- habitual scoliosis, which develops in childhood and is a consequence of improper posture of the child;
- rachitic appearance - the final stage of metabolic disorders in childhood;
- rheumatic - more often diagnosed in adult patients, always a consequence of serious pathologies in the joints;
- paralytic scoliosis.
- Osteochondrosis of an intervertebral nature.
- Hernia of the lumbar spine.
- Arthritis of the rheumatoid type.It is more often diagnosed in menopausal women.
- Osteoporosis.It is about the thinning of bone tissue, the causes of which are exclusively related to age.In addition to pain in the lumbar spine, the patient is diagnosed with hernias, deformation of the vertebral joints and cartilage problems.
- Phlebothrombosis.This is not an inflammatory process in the blood vessels, but their blockage - the disease is more common in older people.It is typical that with phlebothrombosis pain in the lower back occurs only during a long walk.
In addition, pain in the lower back can be caused by atherosclerosis of the 3-4th degree, impaired blood flow through inflamed vessels (various phlebitis), ankylosing spondylitis and other factors and causes.
You must definitely call a doctor and undergo a full examination - the cause of the syndrome may be the development of severe pathology in the body.
Lower back pain - what to do?
To help yourself when you feel pain in the lower back, you need to remember a few recommendations of experts:
- When the syndrome appears for the first time, take a comfortable position and observe the nature of the pain:
- at what time it arises, increases or decreases;
- is it accompanied by nausea, headache, changes in physiological processes (urination, defecation);
- Is there an elevated temperature and foreign tastes in the oral cavity?
- If the cause of lower back pain is a bruise, sprain or injury, then you must do the following:
- take a drug from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- take a diuretic - this will help you quickly get rid of swelling and speed up the process of resolving inflammation;
- tighten the lower back with any fastening material - a special orthopedic belt, a towel, a scarf, an elastic bandage.
In any case, you will need to consult a doctor and undergo a complete examination - even the simplest injury to the spinal column and short-term pain in the lower back can be caused by a serious pathological process.
Actions that are contraindicated in lower back pain
The following manipulations are strictly prohibited:
- heat the area where the pain syndrome is localized without first determining the cause of its occurrence - this can cause a strong progression of the inflammatory process;
- take painkillers if the cause of lumbar spine pain remains unclear;
- align the vertebrae - many patients miss this point and believe that professional chiropractors will not cause harm.In fact, displacement of the vertebrae can be caused not only by strong physical stress, but also by various degenerative processes in the cartilage and ligaments.The result of violent displacement of a vertebra in place due to dystrophy of connective tissue or cartilage can be the complete destruction of the latter and immobilization.
Treatment of lower back pain
Professional treatment of the respective pain syndrome is carried out only in a hospital.As a rule, after an examination (x-ray, computer tomography, blood/urine laboratory tests, etc.), patients are prescribed drugs that can quickly and long-term alleviate the pain attack.Then, depending on the general state of health, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed, the doctor chooses restorative therapy, and the patient undergoes physical therapy and massage.
Note: you need to learn how to rest properly after heavy physical activity: lying on your back with your legs raised low.If your lower back hurts after sleeping, you will need an orthopedic mattress, and if the pain becomes regular and severe, doctors can make a block.But this does not mean that after the disappearance of the syndrome in question, you can calm down and not carry out treatment - the attacks will recur more and more often.
Treatment of lower back pain with folk remedies
Any means from the category of traditional medicine, which are intended to restore the function of the spinal column and eliminate pain in the lower back, can only be used if the etiology of the problem is clarified!Only in this case will they be truly effective and absolutely safe.
Some treatments for lower back pain:
- For osteochondrosis, you need to take wax, melt it and apply it hot to the lower back (at the point of pain).You need to put a scarf or a warm handkerchief on top so that the heating process has a greater effect.Please note: the skin in the area of application of the melted wax should not have any damage or visible pathologies from the field of dermatology.
- With regular stress, nervous breakdowns and lower back pain on the background of psycho-emotional disorders, St. John's wort can be used for treatment.Take 2 tablespoons of dry St. John's wort, cover with 400 ml of boiling water and leave overnight.Then strain the infusion and take 100 ml at least 4 times a day.The course of treatment is one week, even if the pain disappeared on the second or third day, it is not recommended to stop taking St. John's wort infusion.
- When diagnosing common pinched nerves (for example, the sciatic nerve), hot red pepper tincture and fir oil are used.These components should be applied to the lower back, exactly in the area where the pain syndrome is located, twice a day for one week.Note: hot pepper tincture is first rubbed into the skin, followed by fir oil.The number of procedures depends on the intensity of the pain syndrome - as soon as the condition normalizes, the treatment is stopped.
Regular massage helps a lot with common lower back pain.Doing it yourself is problematic, but our ancestors used the following method: it is necessary to take a nylon/nylon stocking and make three knots at the same distance.You have to rub your back with this sock every day - it's quite possible to do it yourself.
Pain in the lower back can be the result of various pathological conditions.Many habitually "dismiss" this syndrome, attributing everything to excessive tension or nerves.But doctors warn: even periodic and not intense pain in the lumbar spine may indicate the development of internal pathology.