Back pain - causes, treatment and prevention

If the lower back is painful, this may be due to many reasons. One of the least dangerous options is physical fatigue. In more serious situations, a hernia, protrusion, or damage to the bone apparatus may occur.To find out what causes lower back pain, you need to undergo a medical examination. Once the diagnosis is made, appropriate treatment is prescribed to relieve the symptoms and eliminate the cause of the pain.

Why the lower back hurts: classification of painful sensations

If there is severe lower back pain in any part of the spine, this may indicate certain pathological changes. Doctors assess not only the nature and severity of pain, but also signs of other problems in the lumbar region. A complete history collection is required.

Pain syndromes are classified as follows:

1. Nonspecific pain is benign. In most cases, chronic or acute benign pain does not burden a difficult diagnosis. These unpleasant symptoms are usually reversible. Such unpleasant sensations are used to diagnose dorsopathy. Previously, the diagnosis sounded different - osteochondrosis. This is not a dangerous disease that occurs in everyone with age, which is characterized by a decrease in the intervertebral disc due to the action of gravity and muscle weakness.
2. Radiculopathy (radicular syndrome). This condition is associated with squeezing or irritation of nerve roots in the interdiscal space. Such pain may indicate an inflammatory process, compression of the vertebrae of the intervertebral disc, the occurrence of protrusions and hernias. They worsen the quality of life of patients, especially in the acute period with any physical activity.
3. Specific or worrisome back pain. Symptoms of such discomfort are difficult to diagnose, so additional examinations are often prescribed, which may include the exclusion of cancer, tuberculosis, kidney disease or fractures, injuries. Examples are pyelonephritis with fever, in pregnant women, back pain, pain in the lower abdomen with diseases of the female reproductive system. In men, urological symptoms should be excluded.

The general classification of pain is divided into:

• strong;
• pedas;
• pain;
• chronic;
• moved.

Lower back pain - cause

Severe lower back painwith manifestations of osteochondrosis. Unpleasant sensations hurt the patient almost all the time - while walking, sitting and even lying down. Lower back pain is more intense during the day due to movement. Worse with coughing, sneezing, weight gain. More rarely, in the lower back, pain radiates to the legs, which is indicated by paresthesia - numbness and creepy legs.

If the patient has sciatica, then the pain radiates to the lower part of the body - the back, pelvis, thighs or lower legs. Discomfort increases with active body movements, as in the case of dorsopathy. When such symptoms appear, it is necessary to see a neurologist as soon as possible.

Pain in the lower back and lower abdomenindicates a bacterial lesion, which is often accompanied by painful urination. In women, lower back pain is often seen during pregnancy or during menstruation. Below the lower back, pain is the result of painful cramps or fetal pressure on internal organs. In the lower back, pain on the right or left side indicates kidney disease. It is necessary to clarify the diagnosis with a doctor. The most reliable diagnostic methods are X-ray and MRI.

Often the cause of lower back pain in women is related to their menstruation. Lower back pain in women due to uterine cramps. To cope with a painful period, you need to take NSAIDs or use hormone therapy. Less commonly, ovulation syndrome conditions are observed. In addition to discomfort in the lower back, a woman observed alternating pain in the middle of the cycle on the right or left side. Why this happens is still not fully known.

During pregnancy, the lower back hurts due to displacement of the center of gravity and muscle weakness. The condition returned to normal after childbirth. Unpleasant sensations can be seen at any time. It is important to be able to distinguish when the back hurts from the load, and when with pathology. If at the stage of pregnancy, in addition to pain in the back and lower abdomen, there is vaginal discharge such as menstruation, you need to see a doctor immediately.

In men, a painful sensation in the lower back and lower waist, which radiates to the perineum, indicates the development of prostate inflammation. If, in addition to these symptoms, a man experiences an increase in body temperature and a deterioration in well -being, you should contact a therapist or urologist. Treat inflammation with antibiotics.

Acute lower back pain occurs in the following situations:

• sprains or inflammation of the back muscles;
• stays long in an antalgia posture;
• if you suddenly lift a lot of weight;
• sharp turns of the side or body, injury;
• draft or hypothermia.

What to do if your lower back hurts: When the condition shows physical damage, you should see a traumatologist. The specialist will prescribe drug therapy in the acute period to relieve unpleasant symptoms. Initially, systemic action NSAIDs are used, and then they switch to external release forms. It is useful to take vitamin preparations, inject neurotropic drugs. During the recovery period, physiotherapy, massage, gymnastics are indicated.

Why unpleasant symptoms appear - pain in the lower back occurs due to inflammation of the muscle fibers or myositis. The condition is unpleasant, as the patient feels stiffness below the waist, and normal body movements are difficult. To relieve the situation temporarily, you need to take a warm bath, and then wrap in warm clothes. Often the back hurts in the lumbar region after an injury, falls. Also recommended to use a warming ointment. If after a few days the condition does not improve, then it is better to see a doctor.

Pulling and pain in the lower back during spondylosis. Patients often experience pain in the lower back, and over time there are problems in the legs. Loss of sensitivity and weakness were observed. Spondylosis deformans is dangerous if its symptoms are ignored, as the disease takes a long time to develop. Other causes of pulling back pain are ankylosing spondylitis, other diseases, pain that radiates to the spine or cancer. You can not pull with such symptoms, you should immediately seek help from a specialist.

Sometimes the patient is tormented by "transferred pain", a trait he does not know. The patient has an unpleasant sensation in the back, but this condition is not related to the development of spinal pathology. Radiation pain is associated with problems in the pelvis, stomach or duodenum, kidneys.

In what situations should you immediately contact a specialist:

1. The pain syndrome is intense, and the discomfort will not go away after 2-3 days, or even worse.
2. Unpleasant sensations appear after an injury or as a result of an accident. There is a fall in the back or a blow.
3. With the onset of pain in the lower back, lower legs, hips, pelvis.
4. Sensation in the limbs, pelvis, buttocks, thighs, legs, feet and groin disappear due to unpleasant sensations.

Only a doctor will know the real cause of back pain.

Treatment and How to Relieve Low Back Pain

Once the diagnosis is made, therapy is selected according to the individual characteristics of the patient. Treatment aims to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and prevent relapse. Usually, conservative therapy is combined with the principles of physiotherapy and rehabilitation. In advanced conditions, surgical intervention may be required.

Drug therapy

Medication use is the most widespread branch of back therapy. From medications for the spine, NSAIDs or analgesics, antispasmodics, neurotropic vitamins and muscle relaxants can be prescribed. Each drug group will be discussed separately. These funds are intended for symptomatic treatment - pain relief during exacerbation. They do not affect the cause of the disease.

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) cope with several tasks at once during the symptomatic treatment of back pain. The funds effectively relieve and eliminate the inflammatory process, due to inhibition of the synthesis of reversible inflammatory mediators. Systemic release forms, in the form of tablets and injections, are used in the acute period for short periods of time to relieve severe pain syndromes.

Diclofenac and Movalis are the gold standards in the treatment of back pain. Less commonly, Indomethacin or Ketorolac is prescribed. After a few days of therapy, the patient is transferred to the use of an external release form, which can be used for longer. Diclofenac gel, Naproxen, Ketorolac trometamol, Piroxicam anesthetize perfectly.

Antispasmodics can be used to treat patients if the patient does not tolerate muscle relaxation. The classic antispasmodic is drotaverine hydrochloride or papaverine hydrochloride. They are prescribed to relieve smooth muscle spasms, as a result of which pain radiating to the spine may occur. Such funds are more easily tolerated than NSAIDs, but also have a weaker effect.

Central muscle relaxation medications include tizanidine, tolperisone hydrochloride or baclofen. The most commonly prescribed treatment for muscle cramps is tolperisone hydrochloride, although tizanidine is stronger and has fewer side effects. Balofen is a prescription drug prescribed for truly advanced cases. It is not a first line drug, as it shows many side effects. The average duration of therapy while taking muscle relaxation is 1-1, 5 months. If during this period, the flexibility has not disappeared, then the drug is removed.

Physiotherapy rehabilitation methods

In this branch of medicine, it is customary to use the following methods of recovery:

1. Electrophoresis. The drug is injected through the skin under the action of galvanic currents. Usually, vitamin B injections, nicotinic acid, chondroprotectors are used. This is an old method of treating back pain, but is effective and helps well during the recovery period. Galvanic current has good conductivity, delivering the drug locally to the place where blood flow is disrupted. The drug is active for 15 hours.
2. Laser therapy aims to reduce pain. With the help of point infrared radiation, this method aims to relieve pain, relieve cramps, stimulate regenerative processes, increase microcirculation in tissues, relaxation and increase immunity. Laser therapy is very effective in the treatment of osteochondrosis, hernias, protrusions.
3. Acupuncture is an ancient method of therapy officially approved by the WHO. Contraindications to the procedure are the period of pregnancy, age up to 1 year and after 75 years. With the help of acupuncture, pain syndromes with various stages are eliminated. The essence of the method is the effect of the needle on the nerve endings of the affected area. The average course of therapy is from 10 to 12 sessions. Effectively and quickly relieves pain in any part of the back - on the side, on the left or on the right side of the spinal space.
4. Physiotherapy is one of the most popular methods of recovery for back pain. If there are no contraindications to the procedure, then special exercises are selected by rehabilitation therapists, which aim to restore mobility of the spine, relieve muscle pain, strengthen hypotonic muscle structure. By strengthening the muscular corset, the pain disappears.

Traditional medical methods are also used, but research has not yet proven its beneficial effects on health. Any method of self -treatment should be discussed with a neurologist.

Prevention of lower back pain

Maintaining a healthy spine is important from an early age. In the early period of maturation of the body, the body is formed intensively - the limbs grow, the position of the organs changes, the skeleton elongates. If, at an early age, you teach your child proper body posture and regular exercise, you will be able to avoid many back problems in the future.

Children are taught to do exercise therapy at home several times a week to get a lasting effect. To avoid mistakes in implementation, you need to consult a good rehabilitation specialist. Experts will tell you how to do back exercises properly at home, choose an individual training system. At a young age, it is important not to overdo it and replace the principle of moderate exercise with stretching and thorough warm -up.

Good habits to prevent back pain in childhood and adulthood:

1. Long and improper seating at work is fraught with scoliosis with displacement to the left or right. You need to get up every 15-20 minutes and do stretching - tilt the neck and lower back forward, in addition will tense tired muscles, increase blood flow.
2. It is important to avoid prolonged exposure to antalgia postures. Excess static on the ridge is fraught with pain.
3. Don't make sharp neck or back rounds. If you do this a few times, there is a high chance of injury. Often, back injuries are caused by sudden and unusual pressure on the body.
4. Sit upright while working from home. While bending to the right or left in a sitting position, improper loading on the muscles occurs. The result is uneven muscle tension with alternating hypertension or hypotension in any part of the back.
5. Excludes carrying a bag on the left or on the right on one shoulder. The alternative is a backpack that fits the shoulders evenly without distortion to the right or left.
6. At home, it is recommended to do complex stretching for tired muscles. After a day of work, the muscles lose their elasticity. Warm -up stretches are also beneficial for ligaments and joints. Bending the neck sideways and forward, a light static load is useful.

One of the best methods to avoid lower back discomfort is to go to the pool. Just swim 1-2 times a week to feel relieved in the back. If you have any existing problems, experts recommend visiting the pool at least 3 times a week.