lower back pain

Lower back pain is common. It can be caused by ordinary fatigue as well as severe injury and pathology. If the pain is severe or does not go away after rest, be sure to consult a doctor to rule out dangerous conditions.

What does lower back pain look like?

Lower back pain can be sharp or sore, come on suddenly or gradually worsen, appear with load or certain movements (such as bending) or persist regardless of what the person is doing.The pain can be spotty or radiating (i. e. spread to other areas). In this condition, a person not only experiences pain in the lower back but also in other parts of the body, such as the lower abdomen, perineum, legs, or buttocks.Lower back pain may include stiffness of movement or muscle spasms. Patients may have difficulty bending over or standing up from a lying position, standing with their back straight, or maintaining posture while walking.If the pain is caused by muscle spasm or pinched nerves, it can be excruciating or even disabling. This pain forces you to stay in bed until you receive medical help.

Why does my lower back hurt?

The most common cause of pain in the lower back is one or another pathology of the musculoskeletal system: sprains, crushes, inflammation. They are common in men who work with their hands, athletes, and young mothers.Additionally, lower back discomfort may be a sign of acute or chronic disease of the internal organs. This happens because pain impulses are able to travel along nerve fibers to neighboring areas. In this case, they say the pain "radiates" into the lower back.

Musculoskeletal disorders that cause lower back pain

Most commonly, low back pain is caused by injuries and pathologies of the musculoskeletal system - muscle and ligament sprains, spinal injuries, disc herniations and herniations, joint inflammation, bone diseases.

Muscle and ligament deformations and sprains

Such injuries can occur due to mobility issues if a person lifts heavy objects or does not follow safety precautions when handling large objects. You can also get injured while exercising or simply by unsuccessfully sneezing.If you lift heavy objects without following safety precautions, you may develop lower back pain.With sprains and strains, the pain worsens with movement and the muscle may spasm. Patients may experience pain when walking, bending forward, or straightening their back.The diagnosis of muscle and ligament deformations and sprains is based on data from physical examination and instrumental studies (ultrasound, X-ray, MRI of the lumbar spine area). If you suspect a muscle or ligament sprain or deformation, you should contact an orthopedic traumatologist.Treatment includes the use of ice, pain relievers, and medications to relieve muscle spasms (muscle relaxants) to relieve acute pain and muscle spasms. It is important to allow the damaged area to rest to allow the tissue to recover - this usually takes about 2 weeks. After this, it is important to start rehabilitation: physical therapy exercises aimed at restoring muscle function.If left untreated, strains and sprains can lead to limited mobility: To avoid injuring the damaged area, people will move less, leading to weight gain, reduced bone strength, and loss of muscle mass.

spinal injury

Damage (usually a fracture) to one or more vertebrae due to a fall, accident, sports, or home injury. For people with bone density disorders such as osteoporosis, even minor exposures can cause this damage.Treatment for spinal injuries is to prevent the discs from shifting and further deforming. If the injury is not severe, it is recommended to sleep on a hard surface and limit physical activity. If the damage is severe, surgical fixation is used.If left untreated, disc damage can lead to spinal stenosis and neurological disorders, including sciatica - pinching of the nerve fibers that extend from the spine.

Intervertebral disc pathology

Intervertebral discs are fibrocartilaginous plates that sit between the vertebrae and have a gelatinous content. They act as shock-absorbing pads for the vertebrae, ensuring their mobility. The disc may become displaced (herniated) or ruptured (herniated), causing severe pain and limiting spinal movement.People who have muscle weakness, are overweight, sit for long periods of time, or lift heavy objects may develop intervertebral hernias and disc herniations. People who smoke are more likely to develop disc disease.Intervertebral hernia - herniation of a disc into the spinal canalTreatment involves relieving pain and inflammation - rest, painkillers, ointments and applying compresses to the inflamed area are recommended. Your doctor may prescribe physical therapy or exercise therapy. In moderate injuries, the disc can recover if the cause of the herniation or herniation is ruled out, such as strengthening the muscle corset, losing weight, and not putting excessive stress on the spine.If lower back pain is severe enough to interfere with daily activities, does not subside within 1-1. 5 months, or if symptoms worsen, you should contact your doctor again. In some cases, steroid treatment or even surgery may be needed. As we age, the discs may develop degenerative disease—the discs become flatter and less shock-absorbing, which can also cause pain. In this case, treatment includes pain relief and overall improvement of the body.

lumbar scoliosis

Scoliosis (curvature) is a displacement of the spine to the right or left relative to the vertical axis. This pathology causes increased pressure on certain areas of the discs and vertebrae, as well as compression of tissue and nerve fibers. Scoliosis causes severe pain on the right or left side of the lower back (the area that takes most of the pressure) and severely limits the spine's mobility.Scoliosis (curvature) can cause severe pain in the lower back area that puts a lot of pressureScoliosis may occur due to weakening of the muscle fascicles due to lack of adequate physical activity, sedentary lifestyle (school children, office workers). In this case, it is difficult for the muscles to maintain the physiological position and curvature of the back.Treatment includes the introduction of balanced physical activities (physiotherapy, swimming), massage and manual therapy, muscle-strengthening physiotherapy procedures such as electrical stimulation. For severe injuries, it is recommended to wear a corset, which helps maintain the correct position of the spine.

Arthritis and joint disease

Inflammatory and degenerative processes in the spinal joints can also cause severe low back pain. Arthritis comes in many forms, including osteoarthritis (damage to cartilage and adjacent tissue), ankylosing spondylitis (ankylosing spondylitis - damage to the joints in the spine, causing the vertebrae to fuse).Arthritis may be caused by natural aging, a genetic predisposition, or an autoimmune disease.Depending on its form, treatment of arthritis may include the use of non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics, physical therapy procedures (magnetic therapy, electrophoresis), therapeutic massage, and physical therapy.Physical therapy procedures help relieve pain caused by joint pathology

spondylolisthesis

Displacement of the vertebrae relative to the spine (spondylolisthesis) occurs due to spinal injury or degenerative processes. This pathology occurs in athletes, older adults, or people with a genetic predisposition to bone disease (such as osteoporosis—a disorder of bone density). Spondylolisthesis can cause severe pain in the lower back, hips, and legs, as well as cramping or weakness in the legs.Treatment involves relieving pain and inflammation caused by the vertebrae compressing adjacent tissues. Depending on the severity of the pain syndrome, your doctor may prescribe non-hormonal pain reliever tablets or injectable corticosteroid medications. At the same time, physical therapy and exercise therapy are also performed to strengthen the muscles and restore the position of the vertebrae. If spondylolisthesis is associated with very severe pain, surgery is used. In traumatic and non-infectious lesions of the musculoskeletal system, lower back pain often subsides or decreases when the patient assumes a comfortable position.If spondylolisthesis is accompanied by severe pain, your doctor may prescribe corticosteroid injections.

spinal infectious diseases

Inflammation of bone tissue (osteomyelitis) and inflammation of the spinal discs (discitis) can lead to severe low back pain. Often, these pathologies are of a secondary nature, that is, they are complications of inflammation in other organs (infection enters the tissue through the blood stream).Treatment requires hospitalization, lasting up to 1 month, followed by rehabilitation, which can take 6 to 12 months.

Spinal tumor disease

Tumors can form under the influence of genetic or external factors (e. g. radiation), but most often they appear as repeated lesions (metastasis) in cancers of other organs (lung, breast, prostate, thyroid, kidney).One of the most typical symptoms of tumor pathology is pain that does not subside after changing position or resting. Symptoms such as numbness, partial paralysis, uncontrolled urination, and a sharp increase in body temperature accompanied by chills may also occur. If left untreated, symptoms will worsen.Treatment depends on the type, location, and symptoms of the tumor and may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery to remove the tumor. Use non-hormonal or steroid medications to relieve pain. To stabilize your spine, your doctor may recommend wearing a corset.Orthopedic bras help stabilize the spine

Internal organ diseases causing lower back pain

Low back pain can be caused by conditions unrelated to pathology in the spine and adjacent tissues. Acute or painful, may be accompanied by inflammation of internal organs: pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, abdominal aortic aneurysm. In women, lower back pain may occur due to gynecological pathologies.

urolithiasis disease

A disease in which stones - hard structures formed from deposits of chemicals in the urine - form in the kidneys and bladder. Low back pain is one of the main symptoms of the pathology. Depending on their size and location, kidney stones may cause a dull pain that comes and goes periodically, or a very sharp pain that doesn't go away on its own and requires emergency medical attention.Urolithiasis - the formation of stones in the kidneys and bladderIf you suspect kidney stones, you should contact a urologist or nephrologist. The doctor will perform tests and instrumental studies (ultrasound, X-rays, computed tomography, including the use of contrast media) to make a diagnosis and choose a treatment strategy.Treatment is planned taking into account the size, nature, location and other factors of the stone. If the stone is small (5-10 mm) and there are no other indications for surgical removal, medical treatment is used. If there is no positive development within a month, removal by non-invasive or surgical methods is recommended.

abdominal aortic aneurysm

Weakening of the wall of the abdominal aorta (aneurysm) can lead to life-threatening conditions such as aortic rupture and intra-abdominal bleeding. In general, this pathology occurs in older people: risk groups include men over 65 years old and women over 70 years old, including smokers, those with vascular disease (hypertension), those who have had an aneurysm or those with arterialCancerous person. their genetic predisposition.Lower back pain caused by an abdominal aortic aneurysm does not subside over time and may be accompanied by pain in the abdomen and legs.If an aneurysm is suspected, abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography are performed.Treatment depends on the size of the aneurysm. Small changes require monitoring with twice-yearly instrumentation and lifestyle adjustments. Significant (more than 5 cm, high risk of rupture) is an indication for abdominal or minimally invasive surgery.

How to prevent low back pain

Because low back pain is most often caused by trauma to the muscles, fascia, joints, or bones, the main prevention recommendations are to follow safety precautions, maintain strong muscle bundles, and healthy bones and joints.Prevent lumbar sprains and micro-injuries:

• A varied diet that includes the vitamins and minerals needed to maintain healthy bones, muscle tissue, and joints;
• maintain a healthy weight;
• Engage in regular physical activity: Exercise to prevent low back pain should include strength exercises to strengthen the muscle frame, stretches to relieve muscle tension and spasms, and aerobic exercise to maintain blood supply and tissue nutrition;
• Follow safety precautions when exercising - for example, first classes in the gym must be supervised by a qualified instructor;
• Follow safety precautions at home - Many injuries can be avoided if you wear comfortable shoes, hold onto railings on stairs, and take your time when it's slippery outside;
• Observe safety precautions when lifting heavy objects - if you get as close to the object as possible (without reaching for it), the load on your spine will be less, and when lifting objects from the floor, bend your legs instead of leaning your body.

Yoga and Pilates classes can help relieve spasms and tension in the lower backSmoking impairs circulation and impairs tissue nutrition, increasing the risk of damage and injury.

What to do if you have lower back pain

If you have lower back pain, the cause may be different and so will the treatment strategies.If the body is severely fatigued, the back needs rest - perhaps enough to allow the muscles to recover and restore mobility to the spine.If the pain does not go away within 1-2 days or is very severe, you should consult a doctor. While you wait for your doctor, you can try pain relievers to relieve acute pain.During your appointment, your doctor will perform an examination to determine the cause of your pain and recommend treatment. This will help eliminate dangerous situations and prevent complications from occurring.Warming (pepper patches on the waist, hot water bottles, saunas) is contraindicated for inflammation, but can relieve acute pain in the lower back if it is caused by muscle fatigue or nerve compression. These methods should only be used after consulting a doctor.

Which doctor should I contact if I have symptoms of low back pain?

If you suspect a pathology of the musculoskeletal system, you should contact a neurologist and an orthopedic traumatologist.Diagnosis is made during a physical examination using instrumental methods: magnetic resonance therapy, computed tomography, X-ray and ultrasound. Myelography (an X-ray or CT test in which contrast material is injected into the spinal canal) and electromyography - a test that evaluates the condition of nerve and muscle fibers - may also be done.If you suspect kidney disease, you should contact a urologist, nephrologist, or therapist. The doctor analyzes the complaint and performs a physical examination, then performs laboratory and instrumental tests to confirm the diagnosis.Based on blood and urine tests, doctors will be able to determine whether inflammation is present in the urinary system organs, and ultrasound and X-rays will help visualize the organs, determine the cause of the pain, and choose the most effective treatment strategy.If the source of your lower back pain is unclear, you should consult your GP or therapist.The doctor will take a medical history (medical history), analyze genetic risks, perform a physical examination, and perform tests to identify inflammatory processes or internal organ dysfunction.General blood tests can help identify the inflammatory process.If necessary, the doctor will refer you for instrumental examination (ultrasound, X-ray, MRI) or recommend contacting a specialist for further diagnosis and treatment.