Low back pain is one of the most common and so many people simply don't pay attention to it. However, pain in the lower back can not only limit a person's mobility, but also signal diseases of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity. Therefore, if you feel the slightest discomfort in your back, it is important to seek help from a doctor who will examine you and prescribe effective treatment.
Types of pain
The first thing that interests a doctor when examining a patient is the intensity and frequency of pain. Depending on the cause, low back pain may be of the following nature:
subacute – starts abruptly and can last from 6 to 12 weeks;
acute – occurs suddenly, is characterized by high intensity, can last about 1. 5 months;
variable (transient) – occurs periodically;
chronic – can be weak or strong in intensity, lasting 12 weeks or more;
boring;
sore;
weak, medium intensity, strong.
Pain can vary depending on the cause. In this case, the duration and intensity of sensations may vary. Therefore, when visiting a doctor, it is important to describe your feelings as accurately as possible.
Common causes of lower back pain
In the lumbar region there are the following systems that can cause pain:
Skeletal muscle– pain often occurs as a result of an injury to the spine, as well as damage or strain to the muscles in the lower back.
Digestive– pain in the lower back often "shoots", caused by disturbances in the functioning of the gallbladder, pancreas, intestines, liver and stomach. This is observed in gastritis, the presence of stones in the bile ducts, intoxication, pancreatitis, poisoning, stomach ulcers and various forms of obstruction.
Nervous– pain occurs due to the formation of hernia, neuropathy, pinched nerve, curvature of the spine, protrusion and inflammatory processes occurring in the vertebrae.
Sexual and urinary– pain syndrome develops if a person has urolithiasis, problems with the bladder and kidneys, damage to the ovaries and uterus of various types.
The most common diseases that cause low back pain
Spinal curvatures (scoliosis, kyphosis)
In this case, the person feels pain when the disease occurs in the middle and late stages. As a rule, pain syndrome manifests itself at the end of the working day and may be accompanied by fatigue of the back muscles. Pain syndrome manifests itself in the form of spasms of the periarticular muscles of the lower and upper extremities, as well as the muscles of the spine and glutes.
Ankylosing spondylitis
It is a systemic inflammatory disease, characterized by the fusion of individual vertebrae into a whole. At the same time, there is an accumulation of calcium in the ligaments that stabilize the spine. This can lead to complete loss of mobility.
Ankylosing spondylitis is accompanied by the following back pain:
stiffness of movement in the lower back;
a strong increase in intensity when a person rests for a long time.
Urolithiasis disease
Crises manifest themselves in the form of severe pain in the lower back, caused by the affected kidney. The pain does not go away and does not decrease, even if the person changes body position. Typically, attacks are accompanied by a change in the color of urine (it turns red) and a decrease in its quantity.
Pain syndrome can result from:
inflammatory process in the pancreas;
bowel obstruction;
painful menstruation (algomenorrhea);
osteomyelitis;
pregnancy;
appendicitis.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region
One of the most common diseases, characterized by thinning of the intervertebral discs, which act as shock absorbers. This causes spasms in the surrounding muscles and irritation of the nerve roots, which causes severe pain. If the disease is diagnosed at an advanced stage, it will likely be accompanied by a herniated disc, which puts pressure on the spinal cord, causing increased low back pain.
The pain syndrome intensifies if a person:
gets up from a lying or sitting position;
leans to the sides;
try to lie on your stomach.
If, as a result of the development of the disease, a massive hernia forms in the spine, the pain in the lower back will only intensify. In addition, the pain syndrome may be accompanied by weakness or numbness in one or both legs.
Spondyloarthrosis
It is a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilaginous tissue that covers the intervertebral discs. The tissue becomes thinner over time, which leads to its destruction; osteophytes (specific bone growths) form around the lesion. This leads to a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae, a narrowing of the spinal canal, which causes irritation of the nerve roots and the spinal cord itself.
Pain in spondyloarthrosis is of the following nature:
in the initial phase it appears only in the morning, later it becomes permanent;
increases after physical activity (after walking, standing) and decreases after rest;
may be accompanied by pain in the hip joint and thigh.
Pain syndrome in spondyloarthrosis intensifies as a result of muscle spasms that are constantly under tension. Relieving lower back pain in this case is extremely difficult.
Which specialist should you contact when your lower back hurts?
Since the organs in the abdominal cavity are located very close to each other, the symptoms of the disease can be mixed. Furthermore, aching pain that is present for a long time may be enveloping in nature. Therefore, before treatment, it is important to make a diagnosis, one of the specialists can send you for examination:
Neurologist– when the patient feels acute "shooting" pain in the spine, which is accompanied by partial loss of sensitivity and mobility. When the pain intensifies after changing body position or remaining at rest for a long time.
Surgeon or traumatologist– due to a fall, injury or intense sporting activity.
Nephrologist or urologist– with frequent or difficult urination, which is accompanied by pain in the lower back, as well as if there is sharp pain on one side of the lower back.
Gastroenterologist– when pain syndrome is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, weakness and disorders of the digestive system. If the pain is present only on one side and is of a pulling nature.
Gynecologist– if the pain is felt on one or both sides, it may be accompanied by general weakness and intensify during physical activity. When pain is felt during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy.
If the person knows the cause of low back pain, there is no need to consult a specialist (intense physical activity - the pain usually disappears in a day or two). In other cases, you should be aware of these symptoms and consult a specialized doctor.
How to diagnose low back pain - diagnostic methods:
Ultrasound– if diseases of the pelvic or abdominal organs are suspected. It can even be prescribed for children, but it does not always allow us to see the true cause of lower back pain.
X-ray– if the patient has hernias, injuries, scoliosis. But this method allows you to see only the bone tissue.
TC– if there are hernias, neuropathy, protrusions, neoplasms or injuries in the spine. Computed tomography is ideal for patients with contraindications to MRI.
MRI– the indications are similar to those of CT. The method is highly accurate and allows you to examine the necessary organs in as much detail as possible.
Colonoscopy and gastroscopy– if the patient is diagnosed with diseases of the digestive system. These exams allow you to get a good look at the abdominal organs and, if necessary, take tissue samples for analysis.
Treatment methods for low back pain
Methods of treating low back pain are determined by the cause of its occurrence. When there are musculoskeletal disorders, non-drug, drug or surgical treatments may be necessary.
Non-drug treatment methods:
physiotherapy – the course of treatment is selected individually based on existing diseases. It is important to regularly perform a series of exercises to obtain the desired effect;
physiotherapy – includes treatment of the injury with laser, magnetic therapy, electrophoresis and other procedures;
acupuncture;
therapeutic and restorative massage - can only be used if the patient does not experience a worsening of the disease;
manual therapy and work with an osteopath.
Non-drug treatment is usually supplemented with medication.
Drug treatments
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are used as main therapy. Medications are prescribed in the form of intramuscular and intravenous injections, tablets, ointments and creams, as well as suppositories and rectal patches for topical application.
The dosage and duration of treatment are determined by the doctor. Uncontrolled use of medications can cause side effects.
If taking NSAIDs does not have the desired effect, the doctor will prescribe corticosteroids (hormonal medications). Taking them allows you to stop the inflammation process and relieve pain.
If a patient has muscle spasms in the lower back, he or she will be given antispasmodics. These medications can relieve muscle spasms in the lower back and improve overall well-being.
Drugs such as:
B vitamins, which help improve nerve conduction;
decongestants that relieve swelling of the pinched root;
sedative drugs.
Surgical treatment methods
If the doctor identifies a patient who is indicated for surgery, the patient will undergo surgery. However, surgery is not prescribed if the patient has a herniated disc, as it is not an indication for surgery, regardless of size. If the patient has an indication for removal of a hernia, tumor or there is a need to relieve compression of the medullary root, surgical intervention is performed. The decision on the need to perform any operation is made by the doctor individually, depending on the indications and the patient's condition.
Preventing low back pain
Moderate physical activity and a healthy lifestyle are the key to a healthy back. It is important to organize a comfortable place to sleep and constantly monitor your posture. If you spend a lot of time sitting, you need to get up periodically and do a little warm-up. If you don't like exercising, it is advisable to walk as much as possible.
Giving up bad habits and maintaining a proper diet will help prevent the development of diseases of internal organs. This is especially important for people who have already been diagnosed with diseases of the pancreas, stomach, kidneys and liver. Additionally, you need to try to keep your lower back warm at all times. The fact is that cold air can provoke the development of diseases of internal organs and cause inflammation of the nerves.
If there is a need to lift any heavy object, this should be done with your legs, while your back should be straight. This will transfer the load from the muscles in your lower back. And finally, don't ignore lower back pain, even if it doesn't cause great discomfort. It is better to get examined and start treatment in a timely manner than to deal with serious consequences.