Back pain in the lower back is a common occurrence. At age 30, these sensations occur in 70% of people regardless of type of job, lifestyle and physical activity. Ignoring low back pain has undesirable consequences for health, as this symptomatology already indicates disturbances in the functioning of the body.
When consulting a neurologist:
- Conduct an inspection;
- Listen to patient complaints
- Make a preliminary diagnosis;
- If necessary, submit for further research;
- prescribe an individual course of treatment.
Causes of back pain
The causes of back pain in the lumbar region differ in the etiology of origin, require the definition of a pain zone and analysis of the nature. It is customary to differentiate:
- epicritical pain - severe back pain in the lower back with a clearly defined focus;
- protopathic pain - pulling, aching pain, which is a reflection of diseases of other anatomical areas.
The frequency of occurrence, duration of pain sensations and the area affected by them are significant. Often the back fails due to:
- age-related changes, in which the spinal column's ability to perform depreciating functions is reduced;
- loads when transporting a child;
- displacement of the vertebrae, injuries and compression fractures;
- spine deformities;
- intervertebral hernia, osteochondrosis, compression of the spinal cord nerve roots.
If low back pain limits mobility, prevents flexion, we are talking about stretching. A feeling of numbness, increased pain when coughing, sneezing, spreading the sensation to the lower extremities are neuroradicular syndromes. Growing pains of a long-term nature are explained by problems with internal organs.
Back pain in the lumbar region on the right occurs due to muscle spasm, irritation of nerve fibers, problems with the musculoskeletal system or spine. There are problems with the liver, right kidney, right ovary (in women), intestines, gallbladder. Similar reasons lead to the fact that a person has back pain in the lower back on the left. However, in this case with protopathic pain, it is worth paying attention to the left kidney, left ovary (in women), stomach, intestines and pancreas.
If the left side back pain in the lower back or right side in the morning after sleep and prolonged immobility, this indicates spondylarthrosis. A sharp pain during a drop in temperature (in the shower or due to hypothermia) is a manifestation of acute back pain.
With aching pains, it is advisable for men to first seek a urologist, for women - a gynecologist. You will need to perform an ultrasound of Organs internal organs, take a blood and urine test. When examining the spine, MRI of the lumbar spine gives good results.
Back pain above the lower back of a protopathic nature is caused by several reasons:
- kidney disease;
- heart disease (angina pectoris, myocardial infarction);
- pleurisy;
- pneumonia;
- esophageal diseases;
- appendicitis;
- gallbladder inflammation.
The back aches sharply above the waist with:
- radiculitis;
- osteochondrosis with disc displacement;
- spine and rib injuries;
- myositis (muscle inflammation).
Back pain below the waist is caused by morphofunctional musculoskeletal changes - osteochondrosis or spondylarthrosis. In this case, patients have a sharp pain in the back below the waist.
How to relieve lower back pain
If you felt a sharp pain in your lower back, you can ease the discomfort with the help of simple actions. You should lie on a horizontal surface and relax. Note that a soft feather mattress that sags too much under your weight will not work. The legs should be placed in an elevation, relieving the load on the spine.
After the discomfort is no longer felt, you should roll gently onto your side and onto all fours. The meaning of such "gymnastics" is to minimize the load on the back. You need to straighten up and stand, using the support, holding it with your hands. The low back pain back belt allows you to fix this part of the body, which also reduces pain. At the same time, he must capture not only the diseased area, but also the body part above and below it. At the same time, pain relievers can be used to relieve pain and relieve inflammation. They can be used as pills or as injections for back and lower back pain (in this case, lock injections are only performed in a clinical setting).
After the elimination of symptoms, you should definitely contact the clinic. Self-medication is unacceptable. Using an ointment for back and lower back pain and a belt, the patient can bear the pain for a long time, worsening their condition. As a result, the back muscles weaken and the pain passes into a chronic phase. Painkiller abuse can be addictive.
Treatment for lower back pain
If your lifestyle causes periodic muscle spasms (sports or physical work can lead to this), muscle relaxers should be in your home medicine cabinet. But these drugs should also be prescribed by a doctor after consultation. In the treatment of low back pain, depending on the diagnosis, several measures are used:
- Reflexology.It includes acupuncture (injections with special needles in certain areas) and electroacupuncture (use of electrical impulses). It can also be implemented in the form of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (suppression of the pain signal entering the brain).
- Physiotherapy.Magnetic and laser therapy methods are used, as well as drug electrophoresis, phonophoresis, which increase the effectiveness of drug use.
- Therapeutic exercise and massage.These measures are effective in diseases of the spine and in rehabilitation after injuries. Requires expert supervision.
- Surgical intervention.It may be necessary for hernias that cause compression of the spinal cord or spinal root.
Treatment is often complex, combining different approaches. The duration and effectiveness of therapy depend on the timing of treatment.