lower back pain

According to statistics, almost every two middle-aged and elderly patients come to see a doctor due to waist pain. Up to 80% of people experience this unpleasant feeling at least once in their lives.Around the world, lumbar spine pain can cause a person to lose mobility, undergo long-term treatment and be forced to limit their daily activities.

Causes of low back pain

There are many causes and factors that lead to back pain, especially low back pain. Some conditions are more common and others are quite rare, but it's important to consult a doctor promptly to determine the true cause and help relieve pain.

Muscle and ligament injuries

One cause of low back pain is strain and damage to the muscles and ligaments that support your back. Pain is usually localized to the muscles next to the spine and may be related to spasm of these muscles. The painful sensation can be transferred to the buttocks and, rarely, to the legs.

herniated disc

A herniated disc is characterized by prolapse of the interior of the disc into the spinal canal, which often results in severe, excruciating back pain in the lower back. Lumbar discs become displaced and damaged, forming herniations when they rupture. The reason is that the intervertebral disc structure degenerates (aging), causing the cartilage shell to rupture and fragment, and the inner dense gel (nucleus pulposus) of the intervertebral disc to be pushed out of the spinal canal. A herniated disc puts pressure on the spinal nerves, often causing pain.

Intervertebral disc degeneration and aging (osteochondrosis)

The intervertebral discs are strong and elastic cartilage shock absorbers between the vertebrae. Due to the aging process, the discs begin to shrink, lose their elasticity, and become flattened. When osteochondrosis is present, pain occurs in the spine, most commonly in the lower back, and requires treatment.Not everyone with disc degeneration develops back pain. However, for those who have ruled out all other possible back problems, the pain may be caused by degenerative changes in the discs (osteochondrosis).

Spondyloarthropathy (osteoarthrosis of the intervertebral joints)

Not long ago, osteoarthritis was thought to be caused by long-term wear and tear on the joints. However, scientists now believe it is a joint disease. Factors such as genetics, weight, injury, sedentary lifestyle, excessive stress on the back, etc. are believed to contribute to this process. Spondyloarthropathy is one of the common diseases that cause low back pain.

spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal itself or a reduction in the lumen of the opening through which the spinal nerves exit the spine. This condition typically develops with age, is accompanied by marked degenerative dystrophic changes in spinal structure, and results in a severe pain syndrome that is difficult to treat and may result in disability.

Spondylolysis

This term refers to a congenital or acquired condition in which a split, crack, or fracture occurs due to stress in one of the vertebrae. In some cases, a stress fracture can severely weaken the bone so that it cannot maintain its correct position in the spine. The vertebrae begin to shift or slip, causing back pain primarily in the lower back.

osteoporosis

Today, osteoporosis is a pressing problem for many women and some men over the age of 50. This is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone tissue and does not have time to produce new, young bone. Against the background of bone tissue loss, which becomes sparse and brittle, losing strength, vertebrae can break due to falls or awkward movements when lifting heavy objects. In some cases, back pain may be caused by osteoporosis itself, even in the absence of vertebral fractures.

pressure

When it comes to back pain, stress is one of the common triggers. When stressed, the muscles can become tighter and spasm, making it difficult to move and causing pain in the lower back.

other factors

Certain conditions can also cause back pain, including:

• bone-destroying infection (osteomyelitis),
• malignant oncology, especially if metastases occur to the spinal bones,
• Psoriasis, especially arthritis,
• Fibromyalgia.

Sometimes low back pain refers to low back pain, that is, it occurs against the pathological background of other organs and tissues, but is felt in the spine:

• urinary tract infection,
• Diseases of the abdominal organs, kidneys and pelvic organs.

Postural problems

Back pain often occurs due to strenuous daily activities. Often, back pain, especially lower back pain, can be caused by poor posture and weak abdominal muscles. These are exactly the areas that need to be addressed and strengthened to relieve discomfort and prevent recurrence of pain in the future.But how do abdominal muscles affect the lower back? this is very simple. The torso is a single muscle corset that supports the body, if the muscles in the front (abdominals) are weaker, guess which muscles will bear the greater load? Indeed, the lumbar muscles in the lower back part of the body are affected more than other areas. Weak abdominal muscles ultimately create extra tension around the back, overworking the psoas muscles and causing soreness. Most people with chronic back pain can reduce their back pain by strengthening their core muscles. A set of exercises performed daily can improve the condition.

low back pain during pregnancy

Women may experience lower back pain for the first time when they are pregnant with their baby. This is caused by changes in the center of gravity, changes in posture, and increased deflection of the lumbar spine. This condition is not dangerous, but may subsequently lead to changes in posture, muscle strain, and pinched nerves. To avoid back problems or reduce discomfort when experiencing spinal pain, primarily lower back pain, treatment includes wearing a supportive bandage, wearing comfortable low-heeled shoes, and resting frequently on your side.

Types of feeling in lower back pain

If back pain occurs suddenly and lasts no longer than 2-3 weeks, it may be acute back pain. If this feeling persists for months or even years, it is a chronic pain syndrome. Depending on the feelings that arise, we can distinguish:

1. Severe, burning, sharp, almost unbearable pain. Typical manifestations are hernia, radiculitis, and lumbago (low back pain).
2. Dull, aching, popping or aching pain. It usually occurs due to injury, inflammation or muscle strain, or problems with the soft tissue surrounding the spine.
3. Chronic pain can have different qualities; it often intensifies into burning, aching, or tingling sensations with movement or uncomfortable positions. They weaken when resting, wearing corsets, or assuming certain body positions.

Diagnosis of low back pain

To determine the cause of your pain, your doctor may prescribe:

• A set of laboratory tests that rule out inflammatory processes and pathologies of internal organs.
• X-ray of the spine (usually in two projections: direct and lateral). This helps identify skeletal abnormalities, vertebral and joint deformities.
• Computed optical topography of the spine can assess postural disorders and determine the degree of spinal deformation and pelvic distortion.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is the most common and informative method for diagnosing spinal conditions. MRI can detect damage to discs, joints, spinal cord, vertebrae, and other structures.
• ENMG (electromyography) – assesses neuromuscular transmission status, nerve and muscle function.

Treat lumbar pain

A program for treating back pain is individually prescribed by your doctor and may include:

• Pain relievers, decongestants and anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and vitamins (tablets, ointments, injections, droppers);
• Physiotherapy techniques (intratoplasmic electrical stimulation, carboxyl and ozone therapy, electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, amplified pulse therapy);
• Kinesio tape,
• massage, manual therapy and osteopathy;
• acupuncture;
• Physical therapy and other methods.

In difficult cases, when conservative treatment fails, surgical treatment may be necessary. These surgeries can be disc replacement, herniectomy, vertebrae fusion (spinal fusion), vertebroplasty, etc.

Prevent back pain

In order to prevent the appearance and development of back pain, it is necessary to monitor your posture, consult a specialist immediately at the first occurrence of back pain, regularly undergo preventive procedures according to the recommendations of your doctor, maintain an active lifestyle and exercise your body with special physical exercises, if possible, avoid excessive physical activity and injury.

Which doctor should I contact?

If you have back pain, especially lower back pain, you need to see a neurologist for diagnosis and treatment. In some cases, consultation with a physiotherapist, neurosurgeon or urologist, gynecologist may be necessary.

FAQ

How can you tell if your back or kidneys are injured?Many times, the spine will mimic kidney disease and vice versa, with kidney disease masquerading as spinal pathology. In order to determine the cause of the pain, it is necessary to consult a doctor and, if necessary, perform additional tests.What is the best sleeping position if you have lower back pain?If you have lower back pain, it is recommended to sleep on your side on a medium-firm mattress, the so-called "fetal position. "Can low back pain be caused by gynecological diseases?Yes. Some gynecological diseases (inflammation, tumors, etc. ) can cause referred pain in the waist.Can exercise therapy be used if you have severe lower back pain?If severe pain occurs in the lower back, it is recommended to first reduce the pain in the first stage of treatment, and only then start active therapeutic exercises.Can exercise cause low back pain?Yes, it's possible. Especially when performing traumatic sports, safety training requirements are not followed and no warm-up is done beforehand.