According to statistics, around 80% of the people living on the planet have back problems. For possible reasons, methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention, read the article.
Everyone has experienced low back pain at least occasionally. But if it used to occur in older people, today pain in the lumbar spine tends to bother young people. Acute or painful, lasting only a couple of minutes, or bothering a person for weeks or even months (back pain) can appear as a result of a variety of reasons. Often a person gets used to his condition. Unpleasant sensations become part of life. But the visit to the doctor is still delayed, which reduces the chances of recovery.
Causes of Low Back Pain: What You Need to Know
- Most often, the cause of low back pain lies in degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine: joints, intervertebral discs, ligaments, periarticular muscles.Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, spondyloarthrosis, osteoporosis, protrusion and herniation of the intervertebral disc: these and other diseases of the spine acquired over time are always accompanied by painful manifestations. At the same time, it is important to determine the reasons that led to these violations. There are a dozen theories about the origin of these diseases. Excess weight has a negative effect on the spine, as a result of which the vertebrae experience increased stress, leading to premature wear and tear. Poor posture or incorrect position of the body during work will cause muscle overexertion, as a result: pinching of the nerves, displacement of the vertebrae. With strong overexertion of the muscles, when lifting weights or when performing an unsuccessful movement, sprains and microtraumas are inevitable.
- However,back pain can be secondaryand not necessarily associated with a pathology of the spine.An infectious process may be the cause. For example, in brucellosis, damage to the vertebrae causes sclerotic changes and the appearance of osteophytes (growths) that compress nerve tissues. With tuberculosis, the vertebral bodies are destroyed. With osteomyelitis, due to the accumulation of purulent content, the structures of the spine are compressed. In any case, the pain appears in the lumbar spine.
- Tumors(osteoblastoma, myeloma, osteosarcoma, metastases in the spine, etc. ) - benign or malignant, generally accompanied by pain in the lumbar region of variable intensity, not susceptible to analgesics.
- One of the common causes of back pain is the numerousdiseases of the internal organs.Rheumatoid arthritis,ankylosing spondyloarthritis, pyelonephritis, cystitis, urolithiasis, inflammation of the appendages, diseases of the prostate, as well as intestinal and even lung problems.
Five Common Causes of Back Pain
The back can legitimately be called an indicator of the state of the body. Almost any problem in the body is accompanied by pain. Low back pain can be very different in nature: painful or sharp, appearing after sleeping or staying in a long position. 
Often times, sudden stabbing pain makes it impossible for a person to move. The intensity of the painful manifestations depends on the cause of the origin of the pain. The most common are:
1. Lumbago, also called lumbago
This is one of the most common types of back pain. It appears with physical effort or with an uncomfortable body position. Although it can happen for no apparent reason. Burning and explosive pain does not allow the person to straighten out. When you try to change your body position, even when you cough, the sensations only intensify. Acute pain can last from minutes to hours or even days, but in some cases it can stop suddenly.
2. Sciatica (sciatic nerve neuralgia, lumbosacral radiculitis)
Sciatica is manifested by shooting pain, tingling, numbness. The pain often extends along the sciatic nerve to the buttock, along the back of the leg. The sensations can be so intense that a person cannot sit, walk, or bend over.
3. Low back pain with osteochondrosis
This is the most common type. Most often it grows gradually and intensifies with any movement, even sneezing or coughing. Also, the sensitivity of certain areas of the lower body or legs can be affected.
4. In case of illness
Pain in the lumbar region in various diseases is very characteristic. Painful, deaf in nature, it can occur in the lower abdomen, the area near the navel, in the hypochondrium. However, with renal colic, a person experiences very severe pain and urgent medical attention is needed.
5. Muscle spasms
Muscle spasms appear when the carcass is not in the correct position for a long time. As a result, the mobility of the spine is limited. This triggers the so-called "vicious cycle", when back pain is caused by a muscle spasm that, in turn, causes pain again. This state can continue for a long time and causes quite tangible suffering to a person.
What to do with acute back pain?
Acute low back pain occurs in a wide variety of conditions. Protrusion and intervertebral hernia, osteochondrosis, lumbago and sciatica, injuries and disorders of the spinal circulation. As well as various diseases of the pelvic organs and the abdominal cavity. It is almost impossible to determine the cause of the appearance of painful sensations on your own, so a person should be taken to a specialist.
- If you suspectinjury to the spineor vertebrae, it is important to restrict movement before the arrival of the medical team.
- Stretchmuscles or ligaments. In the first few minutes, you can apply cold, which will prevent the growth of swelling and reduce pain.
- For a seizure caused byspinal diseases, you must first take the most comfortable position. Most often, a person experiences relief by lying on their back on a hard surface with their legs slightly raised. If you can't see a doctor right away, you can take a pain reliever.
- If back pain is a symptom ofinternal diseases, the patient chooses the most comfortable position for him. It is important to remember: if the cause of low back pain is not known, it is better to refuse warm compresses and ointments. Indeed, in the presence of an inflammatory process, they can aggravate the situation.
Methods to diagnose low back pain
There are many conditions in which low back pain occurs. To determine its origin and prescribe a treatment, you need the help of a doctor. The cause of its appearance is not always spinal diseases. In this case, the localization of painful sensations is important, first of all. For example, right or left lumbar pain can indicate urological pathologies, intestinal diseases: appendicitis, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, obstruction, etc. In some cases, there may be pain above the lower back, for example, with hepatitis, cholecystitis, or ingestion of toxic drugs. If the back hurts under the lower back, then such localization may indicate diseases of the genital organs, for example, the appendages of the uterus in women or the prostate gland in men.
You should start by visiting a therapist or neurologist who will prescribe the necessary tests. In some cases, you may need to see a urologist, orthopedist, trauma surgeon, infectious disease specialist, and other limited specialists. Thanks to the diagnostic methods that exist today, it is possible to determine the cause of pain in the lumbar region with high precision. X-ray of the lumbosacral spine is the most accessible method of examination, which makes it possible to determine the violation of structures, the presence of an inflammatory process, osteoporosis and related disorders. Computed tomography or MRI are the most effective diagnostic methods, thanks to a layered image of internal structures, even the smallest violations can be detected. Additionally, a variety of laboratory tests may be prescribed, depending on the symptoms.
Treatment for back pain
The patient must remain at rest in any situation. However, treatment tactics are selected depending on the disease that provoked the pain in the spine.In case of dystrophic and functional changesin the spine, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants are prescribed to relieve muscle spasms, as well as drugs that improve nutrition and tissue regeneration. The appointment of physiotherapeutic procedures (electrophoresis, phonophoresis, magnetotherapy), as well as massage, acupuncture and therapeutic exercises are very effective. In some cases, such as hernias or injuries, surgical treatment is indicated.
To reduce pain, relieve excessive tension and muscle spasm, it is recommended to use a special bandage. It is used as a complement to pharmacotherapy for osteochondrosis, radiculitis, trauma, and in the postoperative period. But a specialist should choose a model, since various options for corsets are on sale.
If low back pain is a symptom ofdiseases of internal organs, then the treatment is selected taking into account the existing pathology: antibacterial agents in the presence of an infectious process, surgical treatment, for atumor, intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, etc. . . .
What to do if low back pain occurs?
We are so willing that when health problems appear, we try to get rid of the painful sensations on our own. Especially in cases where movement is not limited, the condition does not get worse, and after taking the pain reliever, the pain seems to decrease. But you need to keep in mind that only trauma is the only cause of back pain that a person can determine with relative accuracy independently. In other cases, it is better to entrust the diagnosis to a specialist. But there are situations when emergency care from a doctor is needed right away:
- disability or limited movement;
- decreased sensation in certain parts of the body, tingling in the extremities;
- urinary or fecal incontinence;
- severe pain, fever, nausea, etc.
How to stay mobile for many years or a little about prevention
Many back pain conditions do not appear suddenly. And serious illnesses accompanied by pain in the lower back can be prevented. What is needed for this?
- Treat existing diseases promptly, as well as perform regular preventive examinations.
- Physical activity should correspond to age, weight, and general body condition. If it is impossible to avoid lifting weights, then the load should be lifted while keeping the back straight. In addition, there are special devices for carrying weights and you can also wear a corset to support your back.
- The straight gait, the rejection of the heels, the correct position during the seated work will help to avoid the deformity of the spine.
- Inactivity and poor diet will undoubtedly lead to excess weight, the main culprit in almost all diseases, including the spine. Correcting your diet, exercising regularly, swimming in the pool, even walking outside will help you avoid many problems. Furthermore, an active lifestyle is an effective means of dealing with stress, the main problem of a modern person. But frequent stressful situations can rightly be called the main risk factor in the development of many pathologies.
Unfortunately, the urge to self-medicate is unstoppable. Numerous recipes, supposedly miraculous rubs, and widely publicized salves are often useless when used uncontrollably. Remember: self-medication is a waste of time and money. By refusing the help of specialists, we run the risk of acquiring an advanced form of the disease. So if you are concerned about low back pain, don't put it off for later, make an appointment with your doctor!