Unfortunately, there are no absolutely healthy people in the world. Each of us periodically worries about something in the state of our own organism. Perhaps that is why most of the time we wish ourselves health, well-being, complemented with good humor.
Low back pain is one of the most common complaints. And, if in childhood it seemed to us that it concerns only the elderly, then, having matured, came the realization of the wrong opinion. We are not insured against back pain based on age, social status or type of activity. And this is due, first of all, to the variety of causes of pain in the lumbar region of the spine, as well as its various manifestations.
Diseases that cause low back pain
Often the pain in the lower back is caused by a specific disease and is a consequence - a symptom, the nature of which makes it possible to carry out specific diagnoses, make the correct diagnosis and indicate the forms, methods, methods and in general, the tactics to treat the disease.
Pain in the lumbar region is primary or secondary.
Primary has a direct connection with diseases of the spine:
- osteochondrosis or dystrophic articular cartilage disorders (one third of the total number of patient visits);
- "bulging" of the intervertebral disc outside the limits of the spinal column (protrusion), displacement of the nucleus of the disc, in which the fibrous ring ruptures (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 fragility of the bones);
- the appearance of a tumor in one of the parts (lumen) of the spinal canal;
- muscle tension;
- congenital insufficient width of the spinal canal;
- all types of curvature of the spine and their combination, including deformity leading to the appearance of a "hump" in the thoracic spine;
- various types of arthritis / joint diseases (psoriatic, rheumatic and others);
- vertebral tuberculosis and other inflammatory processes that affect the 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 indicate the character of low back pain?
Of course, it is impossible to independently diagnose the degree, level and type of back pain. However, when the back hurts, some specific symptoms indicate this or that disease.
Intense pain
When the pain in the lumbar spine is severe, the patient most likely has osteochondrosis or sciatica. Also, in the first case, it manifests itself in the process of walking, when a person sits for a long time, lifts weights, and also when he coughs or sneezes. In some cases, there may be complaints that the back hurts and this pain radiates to the leg.
If we talk about radiculitis, the patient describes the pain as sharp or dull, aching, often unilateral and "responsive" in the thigh, lower leg, and buttock. It can increase when walking, changing the position of the human body, coughing.
What can indicate acute low back pain?
In cases where the pain is acute, you should talk about:
- muscle stretching;
- I work long-term in an uncomfortable position for the torso;
- back pain after sleeping due, again, to an uncomfortable body position and staying in it for a significant period of time;
- pain that arises in the process of lifting or carrying weights, in case of a fall, blow or sudden movement;
- hypothermia or prolonged exposure to a draft;
- also has the probability of lumbago (the so-called lumbago), suffered by patients involved in heavy physical work. In this case, the low back pain can disappear in a few days, but it also happens that it lasts and accompanies 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 actionsheavy physical or as a result of a surgical intervention directed to the vertebral column.
The painful nature of pain - what is he talking about?
Painful pain (the patient can formulate its description as "lumbar pains" or "lumbar pulling") - very often manifested in the inflammatory process of the lumbar muscles.
This disease appears as a result of hypothermia or sudden muscle tension / overexertion. In this case, the patient defines the pain as one that locks the lumbar spine and is accompanied by sharp pain during movement.
Chronic and persistent low back pain
If your lower back hurts and even the patient himself can describe it as chronic, the most likely diagnosis is:
- deforming spondylosis: an increase in the amount of bone tissue in the spine due to the appearance of spinal-like growths along the edge of the vertebrae (manifested in severe back pain, especially in thelumbar region, which may combine numbness and / or weakness in the legs);
- disease of the vertebral joints: most of the time it has a chronic systemic character;
- diseases of a series of oncological;
- metabolic disorder.
Pains without constant localization, moving
One of the most difficult cases to identify the causal diseases is pain that moves from time to time. At the same time, a person can be sure that his lower back hurts, although in reality the body "tricks" him and the disease has infiltrated other organs.
These pains are often caused by diseases of the pelvic organs. The inflammatory process in the kidneys, diseases of the pancreas, the colon can contribute to the appearance of pain in the lumbar spine, and it can also occur due to painful changes in bone tissue and tumors of a different nature.
Sometimes the painful condition of the lower back is confused with pain that occurs in the area of the shoulder blades. However, these are still different types of pain and, for the most part, they are associated with different diseases. So, pain in the shoulder blades, for example, indicates a stomach ulcer, myocardial infarction, intercostal neuralgia, and even psychological problems of a person.
If you find it difficult to independently determine the area in which the pain occurs, and at the same time they are regular or sharp, you should immediately consult a doctor!
Lesions causing low back pain
Oddly enough, but very often the cause of pain in the lumbar region is an injury received by a person, for example, with a bruise on the back muscles or a sprain. A timely visit to a doctor is a guarantee of the correct diagnosis and the effectiveness of the treatment.
In advanced cases, there is a high probability of a 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 they 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:
- menses / periods;
- pregnancy;
- climax.
In each of these cases, the pain can be of a different nature. Depending on the immediate cause, the characteristics of the female body, the degree of stress on the lower back during pregnancy, the age of the woman, her employment, the type of professional activity, pain can manifest itself in different ways.
But what about men?
In men, painful back syndrome, unfortunately, is quite common.
And there are enough reasons for it without the female component:
- stretching (muscle, accompanied by sharp pain);
- spinal fracture (after a person fell on his feet or when a man was hit in the lower back), very often men suffer such injuries in car accidents;
- protrusion / bulging of the intervertebral disc or displacement of several intervertebral discs, when it begins to exert pressure on the nerve roots, this pathology usually arises and is diagnosed by an excessive degree of physical activity;
- growth of metastases of cancers of the genital organs in men, most often occurs after 50 years; 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 be stopped only by taking special narcotics, painkillers;
- spondyloarthrosis (when a nerve root or several roots are damaged in the area of the intervertebral canal);
- in the event that painful manifestations radiate, they indicate the presence and development of diseases of the prostate gland, liver or kidney problems.
Risk Factors: What Can Cause Low Back Pain?
Unfortunately, we cannot insure against this or that disease. But in our power, study the risk factors, the most common causes of the onset of the disease, and take measures to eliminate them (if possible) or at least partially neutralize their effect on the body.
The most common and pronounced risk factors for low back pain include:
- undergoing intensive training with great physical effort (gym), especially in the spine and lumbar spine;
- sudden awkward movement;
- stay 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 a job in which a person is forced to stand for a long timetime: consultants in shops, pharmacists) in pharmacies, machine foremen in factories, etc. );
- in the morning, the lower back can also hurt, which "speaks" that the mattress or pillow is not suitable for you, but does not exclude the inflammatory process, which therefore manifests itself symptomatically;
- work, which is based on great physical or psychological stress, stress can also manifest itself in low back pain;
- As mentioned above, pregnancy and childbirth also increase the likelihood of low back pain;
- High weight and pain in the lower back are also closely related, as the force of pressure on a person's internal organs and spine depends on total body weight.
When do you need medical attention?
Just as we hate getting sick, we hate going to the doctor for help. There are many ways to independently identify the causes of diseases and their treatment. Of course, there are reasons for this belief.
But in the case of back pain, you still want to differentiate yourself in some way: here you can lie down, get medical treatment on your own, but here, without the help of a doctor, sometimes urgently! - is not sufficient.
We can unequivocally say that if the pain is one-time in nature, or the cause of the pain is one of the reasons for the female line, then, in principle, you can not panic, but wait, watch thebody, give you a chance 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 without medical intervention.
For low back pain:
- are repeated systematically;
- pass and resume;
- are amplified;
- pain persists for more than three days;
- are repeated in the morning;
- is injured and associates the appearance of pain in the lumbar area;
- feels pain in the lower back and leg (foot and leg) at the same time;
- or - pain in the lower back is combined and together with it the buttock and leg (thigh, lower leg, foot) and even the groin area go numb - thisit is a serious reason for an urgent visit to the doctor!
In any of the above cases, you do not need to guess, look for the causes of pain on your own, 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 in which you can joke or wait "at random" (deformities or displacement of the intervertebral discs, for example, have never been corrected by themselves).
Failure to diagnose a person's pain promptly, as well as the correct treatment, can lead to serious and complicated illness, lumbar surgery, and even lower body paralysis and disability.