Backache

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

But overwork is not always the cause of back pain in the lumbar region. 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. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible is recommended: 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 precisely, of bipedal locomotion. In animals moving on four limbs, the loads are evenly distributed. A person has to pay for real 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 be back pain

Your back can hurt in several ways. Sometimes the pain is sharp, unbearable, the patient feels an unbearable burning sensation and a sharp limitation of mobility. More often, patients complain of pain in the lower back, pulling, 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 of the spine, back pain "for the time" and after exercise are the first signs that the joints are out of order.

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

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

In a note:according to doctors' statistics, more than 80% of the European population has suffered from back pain at least once in their life. More than 25% of doctor visits are caused by discomfort and pain in the lower back. In addition, 8 out of 10 patients are young people of active and working age from 35 to 45 years. Less often, retirees complain of back pain and even less often 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 the internal organs.

Physiological reasons include:

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

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

Pathological causes of back pain, in turn, can be associated with diseases of the spine or age-related changes in its structures - this pain syndrome is called primary. If back pain is caused by dysfunctions 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 and treat two pathologies at the same time.

Diseases and conditions where the lower back can hurt:

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

Back or limb injuries are also painful. To determine the exact cause, you will need to undergo a series of examinations, the mandatory minimum is an external examination by a specialist, urine and blood laboratory tests, an X-ray, an electrocardiogram, an ultrasound of the kidneys and genital organs- urinary. If necessary, additional diagnostic measures will be assigned.

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

Diseases of the spine as a cause of back pain

If the x-ray shows the 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 age-related natural changes in the body, slowing of metabolic processes and wear of the vertebrae.

It has now been shown 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 overweight or due to chronic diseases that limit mobility;
• sedentary work;
• metabolic disorders during the diet, for example, due to which the vertebral structures do not receive enough nutrients and are consumed prematurely;
• improper sports - without warming up muscles and ligaments, without a gradual increase in loads and 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 branches off from the spine, causing inflammation. In addition, the nerve roots are damaged by bone spinal processes. The patient feels it as a sharp and sharp pain, along with which there is a limitation of mobility in the lower back. This condition is called sciatica.

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

Inflammatory processes in the spine can begin to develop already in adolescence and adolescence. It manifests itself as recurrent, sometimes annoying back pain at night. Then join morning stiffness, fatigue and decreased physical activity. In the advanced stages, the spine is severely deformed, a person's posture and gait changes, and a hump 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 blurred, the patient does not go to the doctor, trying to cope with the discomfort with improvised means. Because of this, inflammation of the vertebral joints more often than other pathologies leads to disability.

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

Diseases not related to the back as a cause of pain

Sometimes pain in the lower back causes diseases of organs 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 disease. Usually, young women come to the doctor with back pain after a day of work, an intense workout in 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 analgesics, massage and NSAIDs.

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

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

• Cholecystitis and pancreatitis. The pain is localized in the right hypochondrium and can be projected to the lower right back.
• Appendicitis. In some cases, sharp, stabbing pains radiate to the lower back, even on the right side. Additional symptoms of inflammation of the appendix: swelling, stool disorders, nausea, vomiting, severe paleness, fever.
• Renal dysfunction, urolithiasis. Depending on which kidney is inflamed, the pain will occur in the right or left lower back. If a stone with urolithiasis comes out, the lower back also hurts a lot, in difficult cases the body temperature can 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 diseases of the internal organs were detected, it makes sense to donate blood for tumor markers and perform an MRI of the spine. Malignant tumors, when they grow, put pressure on the nerve roots and also cause 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 have severe back pain in the lumbar region, first of all, you should review your individual calendar. Traction pains can bother before menstruation, while they also pull the lower abdomen, swelling of the mammary glands, the patient has nausea, some are tormented by migraines, food intolerance or, conversely, throat.

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

Also, the cause may be gynecological diseases. Annexesitis usually manifests itself by pulling pains in the lower abdomen. But sometimes they radiate to the lower 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, computer work, lifting and carrying of weights, professional sports.

But pain in the right or left side of the back can also be one of the symptoms of prostatitis or a condition such as epididymitis. To exclude or confirm pathologies, it is necessary to 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 intense 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 immediately and for a long time. Unfortunately, there is no such medicine. The pain syndrome can be extinguished with injections and pills, but the effect will not be long-term, since the cause of the discomfort will not be eliminated. Methods of treatment will be determined based on what triggered the back pain.

Bruises and muscle tears

The first thing to do is to rest your back completely. This means that you cannot play sports, lift weights, stand a lot, walk, run, jump, and cool excessively. It is recommended to get rid of extra pounds, with a 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 visiting the doctor:

• take an analgesic or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug at a minimal dosage;
• fix the lower back with an improvised corset - a towel or scarf;
• to reduce swelling, drink herbal tea with a diuretic effect.

What will the doctor recommend:

• short-course non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• muscle relaxants to relieve muscle spasm and tension;
• massage and warming of the back (in the absence of inflammatory processes);
• vitamins of group B.

If you follow all the advice, the pain will completely disappear in 7-14 days.

Remember!If an increase in body temperature is detected, pain in the leg or other parts of the body is given, mobility is limited or other atypical symptoms occur, in no case should you seek the help of a chiropractor, do a warm-up or massage yourself same. Also, it is not recommended to take painkillers, as this would complicate the diagnosis.

Pathology of the spine

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

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

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

Today, spine surgeries are no longer exceptional, a rich and varied experience has been accumulated, there are 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 better the chances of complete pain relief and restoration of spinal function.

Helpful tips

Prompt and effective treatment of low back pain is often difficult for an extremely common 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 go to a traumatologist. He will most likely prescribe analgesics and a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, then recommend various physiotherapy procedures: electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, massage and physical therapy. This is the standard treatment for back injuries.

The difficulty is that when they are hit or dropped, the nerve endings can be affected. And then it is necessary to involve a neurologist who will recommend their 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 is revealed, for example, the genitourinary system, the patient will be completely confused about what needs to be treated and who 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, that is, folk remedies, which ultimately lead to a worsening of the condition and the development of complications.

It happens that doctors make the wrong diagnosis and prescribe the wrong treatment, which leads to the progression of the disease and complications.

What to do in such a situation? Do not panic or rush, but follow the prescribed course of treatment to the end, focusing on your feelings and well-being. If, after two or 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 review the correctness of the diagnosis. Changing one analgesic 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, here too one should not get carried away and recklessly believe the promises of traditional healers. An adequate adult person must understand: Traditional treatment methods are good in the phase of remission, when the condition is stable, or for the prevention of relapses and complications. Rheumatoid arthritis, for example, being an autoimmune disease, herbal tinctures cannot cure it in any way.

Medicinal plants will help improve overall body tone, but are unlikely to help with a hernia, dislocated disc or compression fracture.

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

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