Back ache

If a person has worked hard, exercised intensively, or walked a long distance, at the reflex level, he puts his hand on the lower back when he stops and relaxes. It is this part of the body which pulls and hurts after the effort, which is explained very simply. The spine is the main support for the human bone skeleton. It connects all the joint joints and takes care of most of the stress in any movement. Therefore, it is quite natural if after work or sports the lower back hurts.

But the causes of back pain in the lumbar region are not always overuse. Low back pain is often a symptom of serious disorders in the human body; it cannot be ignored, especially if the pain is severe, often repeated. This is a sign that an unknown pathology is already progressing and causing more and more damage to the body every day. It is recommended to see a doctor as soon as possible: neglected spinal problems are difficult to treat and can end up in a wheelchair for the patient.

It's interesting:Researchers believe that low back pain in the spine is a consequence of human evolution, and more specifically of bipedal locomotion. In animals that move on four limbs, the loads are evenly distributed. A person has to pay for the royal posture and the ability to walk on two legs with a violation of the distribution of loads, curvature of the vertebrae and back pain.

What can back pain be

Your back can hurt in different ways. Sometimes the pain is sharp, unbearable, the patient feels an unbearable burning sensation and a strong limitation in mobility. Most often, patients complain of pain in the lower back, tightness, unpleasant sensations that usually appear in the evening, can wake up in the middle of the night, intensify when the weather changes or after physical exertion.

Morning stiffness in the spine, back pain "for the weather" and after exercise are the first signals that the joints are failing.

Pain in the back is always accompanied by additional symptoms, which you should definitely pay attention to and inform your doctor about your observations. Depending on the accompanying signs, it will be easier to establish the true cause of pain in the lumbar spine. So what symptoms and criteria will have diagnostic value:

• Duration (severity) of pain. Acute pain syndrome is called, which worries up to three months. If it occurs periodically for four months or more, it is of varying intensity, then it is already called chronic.
• Location. Low back pain radiating to the buttock is commonly referred to as lumbodynia in medicine. If the pain affects the leg, then it is lumboischialgia. In addition, unpleasant sensations can occur only on the right, on the left or on both sides at the same time.
• The nature of the pain. This criterion is of fundamental importance. The pain can be acute and localized at one point, it can be projected on the limbs, buttocks, groin, hypochondrium or lower abdomen. The pain is intense, dull, or throbbing. The most difficult thing is to make a correct diagnosis of combined pain.
• Effects on joint mobility. The doctor will certainly specify if there is stiffness in the spine, limbs, hip joint, under what circumstances, for how long it lasts.
• Time indicator. It is also important to know when and after what the back starts to hurt. It happens all the time, in the morning, in the evening, at night, after exertion, turning the head, walking, bending, etc. - the answers to all these questions are extremely important for the correct diagnosis.

On a note:according to doctors' statistics, more than 80% of the European population has suffered back pain at least once in their life. Over 25% of medical visits are caused by discomfort and pain in the lumbar region. In addition, 8 out of 10 patients are young people of working age, between 35 and 45 years old. Less often, retirees complain of lower back pain, let alone teenagers.

The reasons

All the causes of low back pain can be divided into two broad categories:

• physiological, usually caused by external factors;
• pathological, associated with diseases of internal organs.

Physiological reasons include:

• excessive physical activity while playing sports;
• lifting and carrying weights at work or training;
• hard work at home or in the country;
• hypothermia, prolonged stay in a humid room.

Age combined with physical labor are sufficient reasons for lower back pain.

Pathological causes of back pain, in turn, can be associated with diseases of the spine or with age-related changes in its structures - this pain syndrome is called primary. If the back pain is caused by malfunctions of other organs, for example, the kidneys, it is called secondary - in this case, it will be necessary to establish the underlying disease with the help of additional specific studies andto treat two pathologies simultaneously.

Diseases and conditions in which the lower back can hurt:

• osteochondrosis (spondylosis) - previously it was diagnosed mainly in the elderly, now it is detected at any age;
• intervertebral hernia - also occurs at any age, if in young people, then usually after excessive force sports;
• neuralgia of a different nature;
• arthritis and arthritis, any inflammatory process in the joints;
• rheumatism and other diseases of autoimmune origin;
• radiculitis;
• dysfunction of the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism);
• inflammation of the renal pelvis - pyelonephritis;
• inflammation of the genitourinary organs.

Injuries to the back or limbs are also painful. To determine the exact cause, you will need to undergo a number of examinations, the mandatory minimum is an external examination by a specialist, laboratory tests of urine and blood, an x-ray, an EKG, ultrasound of the kidneys andgenitourinary organs. If necessary, additional diagnostic measures will be assigned.

In women, back pain can be caused by cystitis or inflammation of the appendages.

Spine diseases as a cause of back pain

If the x-ray shows deformation of the vertebrae, their compaction and expansion with the formation of bone growths in the form of spines along the edges, the doctor diagnoses osteochondrosis or spondylosis. Until recently, this pathology was considered a disease of retirees, and its main cause was called natural age-related changes in the body, slowing of metabolic processes and wear and tear of the vertebrae.

Today, it has been proven that osteochondrosis can be triggered by a number of other factors in young people and even adolescents. The impetus for degenerative changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs are:

• insufficient physical activity with excess weight or due to chronic diseases limiting mobility;
• sedentary work;
• metabolic disorders during a diet, for example, as a result of which the vertebral structures do not receive enough nutrients and wear out prematurely;
• inappropriate sports - without warming up muscles and ligaments, without a gradual increase in loads and without control of lifting loads.

With osteochondrosis, as it progresses, deformation of the intervertebral discs occurs - they become flat, dense and rough. The affected disc can easily pinch the nerve root, which separates from the spine, causing inflammation. In addition, the nerve roots are injured by the processes of the bone spines. The patient experiences this as a sharp, sharp pain, accompanied by limited mobility in the lower back. This condition is called sciatica.

In spondylosis, the bony growths along the edges of the vertebrae damage the nerve roots and thus cause an acute pain syndrome.

Inflammatory processes in the spine can begin to develop in adolescence and adolescence. It manifests itself by recurring back pain, sometimes disturbing at night. Then they are joined by morning stiffness, fatigue, and decreased physical activity. In advanced stages, the spine is severely deformed, changes a person's posture and gait, and a lump is formed. Rheumatoid arthritis can develop over the years, in some cases up to ten years. Since the course of the disease is slow, the symptoms are often hazy, the patient does not go to the doctor, trying to cope with the discomfort with improvised means. For this reason, inflammation of the spinal joints more often than other pathologies leads to disability.

If the patient during the investigation evokes discomfort in other joints (shoulder, foot, knee, hand), complains of pain in the buttocks, decreased visual acuity, stool disorders, 'spondylitis. A rheumatologist is engaged in the treatment of such a pathology, his consultation is necessary immediately, since the pathology progresses rapidly and leads to irreversible changes in bone and joint structures.

Diseases unrelated to the back as a cause of pain

Sometimes pain in the lower back causes organ diseases that, at first glance, have nothing to do with the spine. Myofascial pain syndrome is a common cause of back pain, which is not accompanied by other symptoms of joint pathologies. Usually, young women come to the doctor with back pain after a day of work, intense training at the gym, or a long stay in one position.

Pain in myofascial syndrome is not associated with damage to the joints of the spine and is easily eliminated by pain relievers, massages, and NSAIDs.

During the examination, the doctor easily detects points near the spine, when pressure is applied to which pain occurs. The pain is caused by an overstrain of muscle tissue, the nerve roots and joint elements do not suffer. This condition does not pose a great threat to the health of the patient, but can significantly reduce the quality of life. For treatment, the doctor prescribes muscle relaxants - drugs that promote muscle relaxation, as well as short-course nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in minimal doses. It is recommended to adjust the rest and sleep regimen and monitor physical activity.

Other extra-articular pathologies that may also be accompanied by pain in the spine:

• Cholecystitis and pancreatitis. The pain is localized in the right hypochondrium and can be projected on the lower right part of the back.
• Appendicitis. In some cases, sharp, shooting pains radiate down the back, also on the right side. Additional symptoms of inflammation of the appendix: bloating, stool disturbance, nausea, vomiting, severe pallor, fever.
• Renal dysfunction, urolithiasis. Depending on the inflamed kidney, the pain will occur in the right or left lower back. If a stone comes out with urolithiasis, the lower back also hurts a lot, in difficult cases, the body temperature may rise.
• Obesity. With excess body weight, heavy loads are placed on the lumbar spine, which leads to pain and discomfort in the back.
• Osteomyelitis. Bone infections are accompanied by severe pain and fever.

If during the examination no visible lesions of the spine or other joints were found, no disease of the internal organs was detected, it makes sense to donate blood for tumor markers and performan MRI of the spine. Malignant tumors, when they grow, put pressure on the nerve roots and also become a cause of pain. Pain syndrome is characteristic of cancer in stages 3-4.

Pain in the lower back can be a symptom of appendicitis.

Why does the back hurt in women

If women suffer from severe back pain in the lumbar region, you should first revise your individual schedule. The tightness can get in the way before menstruation, while also pulling on the lower abdomen, swelling of the mammary glands, the patient is nauseous, some are tormented by migraines, food intolerance, or, on the contrary, gluttony.

Pretty much the same symptoms are a sign of pregnancy. Therefore, if for several days the period has not started and pain and discomfort persist, it makes sense to take a pregnancy test and make an appointment with a gynecologist.

Also, the cause can be gynecological diseases. Adnexitis is usually manifested by pulling pain in the lower abdomen. But sometimes they radiate down the back. Similar sensations occur when ovarian cysts are twisted. With the onset of menopause, many women complain of a burning sensation in the lower back, stiffness. In any case, a therapist or rheumatologist will advise you to consult a gynecologist.

Causes of pain in men

In men, the back hurts mainly due to professional activities - hours of driving, working on the computer, lifting and carrying weights, professional sports.

But also pain on the right or left side of the back can be one of the symptoms of prostatitis or a condition like epididymitis. To exclude or confirm pathologies, you must be examined by an andrologist.

Men with back pain should definitely consult an andrologist to rule out prostatitis.

When and what treatment is needed

Even with very severe and persistent back pain, most patients do not believe they need serious treatment and only expect one thing from the doctor - a good pain reliever to help them immediately and for a long time. Unfortunately, such a drug does not exist. The pain syndrome can be quenched with injections and pills, but the effect will not be long-term, since the cause of the discomfort will not be eliminated. Treatment methods will be determined based on what triggered the back pain.

Muscle bruises and sprains

The first thing to do is to give your back complete rest. This means that you cannot play sports, lift weights, stand a lot, walk, run, jump, and cool down too much. It is recommended to get rid of extra pounds, with sedentary work and an inactive lifestyle, on the contrary, you should think about saving sports - for example, yoga, Pilates, swimming. In the future, you will have to reconsider your habits and adjust the load on the spine.

What to do before seeing the doctor:

• take an analgesic or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug at a minimum dose;
• fix the lower back with an impromptu corset - a towel or scarf;
• to reduce swelling, drink herbal tea with a diuretic effect.

What the doctor will advise:

• short-acting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• muscle relaxants to relieve muscle spasms and tension;
• massage and warming of the back (in the absence of inflammatory processes);
• B vitamins.

If you follow all of the recommendations, the pain will go away completely in 7-14 days.

Remember!If an increase in body temperature is detected, pain is given to the leg or other parts of the body, mobility is limited, or other atypical symptoms occur, in no case should you resort to the help of'a chiropractor, do a warm-up or massage yourself. It is also not recommended to take pain relievers, as this will complicate the diagnosis.

Pathology of the spine

Early joint disease is treated using the same techniques as bruises or other injuries. In addition, doctors may prescribe chondroprotectors - drugs that protect joint structures from destruction and stimulate their recovery.

For compression fractures of the spine, extensive hernias of the intervertebral discs, severe forms of osteochondrosis or spondylitis, surgical intervention is indicated. Depending on the violation detected, the operation can be simple and is performed under local anesthesia, or it is carried out in several stages over six months. After an operation of any complexity, a course of antibiotics, the wearing of a bandage and physical therapy for a complete rehabilitation will be necessary.

Modern technologies make it possible to perform minimally invasive interventions on the spine with minimal risk of complications.

Today, surgeries for the spine are no longer exceptional, a rich and varied experience has been accumulated, there is special equipment that allows you to solve almost any problem. Therefore, if the situation is difficult and the doctor has recommended an operation, there is no point in delaying it. The sooner it is performed, the more likely you are to achieve complete pain relief and restoration of spinal function.

Useful tips

Timely and effective treatment of low back pain is often difficult for an extremely trivial reason - the patient does not know which doctor should be consulted. If the pain was preceded by an injury, then everything is simple - you need to consult a traumatologist. Most likely, he will prescribe pain relievers and a course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and then recommend various physiotherapy procedures - electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, massage and exercise therapy. It is the standard treatment for back injuries.

The difficulty is that in the event of a shock or fall, the nerve endings can be affected. And then you have to involve a neurologist who will recommend his own methods of treatment. A rheumatologist or orthopedist will have their own opinion. And if during the examination the pathology of any of the internal organs, for example, the genitourinary system, is revealed, the patient will become completely confused about what to treat and whom to listen to. By the way, it is for this reason that many people abandon the methods of official medicine and turn to non-traditional remedies, that is, folk remedies, which ultimately leads to an aggravation ofcondition and development of complications.

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Sometimes doctors misdiagnose and prescribe the wrong treatment, leading to disease progression and complications.

What to do in such a situation? Do not panic or rush, but follow the prescribed treatment until the end, focusing on your own feelings and well-being. If after two to four weeks the back hurts just as much and there is not the slightest improvement, it makes sense to contact another doctor and undergo a second examination to revise the correctness of the diagnosis. Switch from pain reliever to another, and instead of electrophoresis, it makes no sense to do UHF.

As for the treatment of the back with homeopathic remedies at home, there too, one should not get carried away and recklessly believe in the promises of traditional healers. A suitable adult person should understand: Traditional methods of treatment are good at the stage of remission, when the condition is stable, or for the prevention of relapses and complications. Rheumatoid arthritis, for example, as an autoimmune disease, herbal tinctures cannot be cured in any way.

Herbal remedies will be helpful in improving the overall tone of the body, but they are unlikely to help with hernias, dislocated disks, or compression fractures.

The right decision would be that the lower back constantly hurts, and the appointments of the doctors in the district clinic are ineffective - go to a reputable private clinic and have an examination there. It is not free, but you will find out the real reason and be able to start the appropriate treatment, and not to experiment with folk remedies and standard pain relievers that do not give any therapeutic effect.

Summary:Almost all adults have back pain at least once in their life. In fact, there can be a lot of reasons: from banal overwork to a serious pathology of the spine, kidneys, infection or metabolic disorders in the body. It is important to accurately and correctly establish the cause and to initiate appropriate treatment as soon as possible. The spine is the main joint in the human skeleton, its dysfunction and destruction in the absence of adequate medical care will inevitably lead to loss of mobility and disability.