For the ability to walk on two legs, the human race pays with back pain. If your back hurts occasionally in the lumbar region, it may be a sign of severe fatigue or the result of staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time while working or sleeping. But the reasons can be more serious.
Causes of pain
The lower back is one of the most painful areas. There are reasons for this:
- Osteochondrosis;
- scoliosis;
- Disc herniation;
- tumors;
- tissue infections.
The nature and intensity of the pain depends on the disease. And it takes care of itself in different ways: after sleep, exercise, overwork. For example, renal colic is accompanied by constant lower back pain. And the type of activity of the patient is not important here.
- The most common pain in the lumbar region is due to osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. Moderate in intensity pain during sleep, increased by physical effort. He is constantly troubled by the feeling of fatigue. The feeling of heaviness causes the desire to lie down. But relief does not always follow.
- If there is a herniated disc, severe pain occurs after sudden movements, lifting heavy loads, falling.
- If the hernia is compressed, a sharp pain occurs, characterized as lumbago. Movement in the lumbar region is noticeably limited. Damage to the nerve root signals pain in the leg.
- In old age, stenosis of the intervertebral canal often occurs. A sign of this is limping, numbness of the legs, especially after a long walk.
- Stiffness that occurs in the morning in the spine indicates the beginning of the development of Bechterew's disease. At first, sharp pain sensations appear in the sacral region, and then spread to the lumbar region. The feeling after sleep is not rest, but fatigue, which disappears with the start of motor activity. The disease mostly affects young men. The disease is hereditary. Basically, the lower back hurts when lying down.
- 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.
- A disease such as abdominal aortic aneurysm often develops in older men. Painful pains and throbbing in the abdomen are the result of pressure of the aorta on nearby organs.
- Pain in the lower back, fever, tingling 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 blisters.
- Another widespread disease that many consider harmless is flat feet. A deformed foot increases the load on the spine when walking. During sleep, the pain is relieved.
- If there are congenital changes on the vertebrae: an irregular shape or a change in the gap, then sooner or later it will be felt.
- Autoimmune pathologies, especially multiple sclerosis, are provocateurs of pain of different localization. Including lower back pain.
There are other reasons why it hurts so much in the lumbar region. It can be osteoporosis, infections of the genitourinary system, hemorrhoids, tumor diseases, complications after viral or bacterial infections. And even the physiological changes that affect women and occur during pregnancy and childbirth.
Pain caused by diseases of internal organs
When you wonder why your back hurts in the lumbar region, sometimes it's hard to believe that the reasons can be inside the organs. The fact is that in some cases pain sensations from internal organs "radiate" to the lumbar region.
- Right pleurisy, pneumonia - causes of pain in the lumbar region on the right side. Associated symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, fever. Left-sided pleurisy sends pain signals to the left side of the lower back, which are worsened by bending over while lying down while sleeping.
- Cholelithiasis also localizes sharp pains on the right, just above the waist, accompanied by belching and nausea. They have a penetrating character.
- Pain in the girdle in the lower back is caused by pancreatitis. Its companions are nausea and vomiting.
- Severe pain under the left shoulder blade is often the result of a myocardial infarction.
- In men, prostate pathology gives pain in the area below the waist, with a transition to the sacrum. Women have cystitis.
- Diseases of the distal alimentary canal - causes of pain below the waist.
Pain triggers
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.
- Menstrual cycle in women.
- Wrong diet.
- Stress.
- Uncomfortable posture during sleep.
Back pain in the lumbar region in children
New technologies have brought our world not only benefits, but also harm. Why? Because the love for the computer from an early age deprives children of full physical activity, forms an improper 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 carrying 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 your child's complaints of back discomfort after training. We can talk about spinal hernia. 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 known to athletes and people whose specific professions are associated with back muscle stress. In the lying position, the pain decreases a little. The main location is the lower back.
- A spinal injury, or a fracture, is very dangerous. It can arise from an unsuccessful fall or become a consequence of osteoporosis, Paget's disease, hyperparathyroidism.
- Displacement of the intervertebral discs causes pain as a result of compression of the nerve roots. For this reason, the patient's mobility is limited, the sensitivity is disturbed, and the knee jerk is reduced. The danger of this disease is that the healthy vertebrae start to hurt, which leads to disturbances in the work of the internal organs and is the cause of restless sleep.
- Facet joint syndrome causes back pain in 31% of cases. This degenerative process affects the capsule of the intervertebral joints and causes pain not only in the lower back, but also in the legs. The lower part of the back hurts in a sitting position, with lateral bending or leaning back, when standing for a long time.
- 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 in time.
Treatment
Seeing a doctor right away when you have back pain is the key to successful treatment. Even if the pain only bothers you at night or after sleeping, there is a reason to visit a specialist.
After analyzing the cause, the doctor will give recommendations on how to treat and how not to get sick. The treatment will be complex, with the use of ointments, tablets, injections, massages and physiotherapy exercises.
In the treatment of lumbar pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are in the first place:
- In the initial phase, literally in the first 3-5 days, the treatment is carried out with the help of injections to relieve pain and inflammation. They work 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).
- In addition, fat 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. Application from 3 to 7 days.
Group B vitamin preparations are a necessary addition to the main therapy.
In some cases, drug blockade is necessary. Anesthetic is applied epidurally or paravertebrally. 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 doctor's permission, massage is combined with a bath or sauna. You can't get warm during the infectious process!
Pain during pregnancy can be alleviated by wearing a special bandage.
Wearing orthopedic insoles is mandatory for patients with flat feet.
Physiotherapy
Physical activity is also medicine. They strengthen the back muscles, 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 overload.
- In a standing position, tilt your body alternately to the right, forward, back, left.
- In a standing position, feet shoulder-width apart, turn your body to the side.
- In a position on all fours, do a "cat": bending the back in the lower back.
- Lying on your back, bend your legs at the knees, arms by your body. Raise and lower your pelvis, gradually increasing the range of motion.
- Lying on your back, legs straight, arms by your body. Alternately bend your legs at the knees, followed by a pull to your chest.
- Standing on all fours, swing your legs alternately.
Regardless of 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 does not pay! Any medicine can not only cure, but also harm if it is chosen incorrectly.