Back pain

After a person has worked hard, exercised vigorously, or traveled a long distance, they will place a hand on their lower back at a reflex level when they stop and relax. 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 skeleton. It connects all the joints and takes most of the strain on every movement. It is therefore natural for your lower back to hurt after work or exercise.

But the causes of back pain in the lumbar vertebrae are not always overloaded. Often a symptom of serious conditions affecting the human body, lower back pain cannot be ignored, especially if the pain is severe and repetitive. This is a sign that an unknown pathology has already progressed and is causing more and more damage to the body every day. It is recommended to see a doctor as early as possible: Neglected problems with the spine are difficult to treat and can end up in a wheelchair for the patient.

That is interesting:Researchers believe that low back pain in the spine is a result of human evolution, more precisely two-legged locomotion. In animals that move on four limbs, the loads are evenly distributed. A person has to pay for the regal posture and the ability to walk on two legs with violation of load sharing, curvature of the vertebrae, and back pain.

What can back pain be

Your back can hurt in different ways. Sometimes the pain is sharp, unbearable, the patient feels an unbearable burning sensation and a severe limitation of mobility. More often, patients complain of lower back pain, pulling, uncomfortable sensations that usually occur in the evening, waking up in the middle of the night, worsening when the weather changes, or after physical exertion.

Morning stiffness of the spine, back pain "for the weather" and after exercise are the first signals that the joints are not in order.

Back pain is always accompanied by additional symptoms that you should pay attention to and tell your doctor of your observations. The accompanying symptoms make it easier to determine the real cause of lower back pain. So which symptoms and criteria are of diagnostic value:

• Duration (severity) of the pain. An acute pain syndrome is called an alarming syndrome for up to three months. If it occurs periodically over four months or longer, if it is of varying intensity, then it is already referred to as chronic.
• Localization. Lower back pain that radiates to the buttocks is commonly referred to in medicine as lumbodynia. If the pain affects the leg, it is lumbar sciatica. In addition, unpleasant sensations can only appear on the right, left or on both sides at the same time.
• The nature of pain. This criterion is fundamental. The pain can be acute and localized in one point, it can be projected onto the limbs, buttocks, groin, hypochondrium, or lower abdomen. The pain is severe, dull, or throbbing. The hardest part is getting a proper diagnosis for combined pain.
• Effects on joint mobility. In any case, the doctor will clarify whether there is stiffness in the spine, limbs, hip joint, under what circumstances, and how long it lasts.
• Time display. It is also important when and from when the back starts to hurt. This happens all the time, in the morning, in the evening, at night, after exertion, when turning your head, walking, bending over, etc. - the answers to all of these questions are extremely important for a correct diagnosis.

On a note:According to medical statistics, more than 80% of the European population has back pain at least once in their life. More than 25% of doctor visits are caused by lumbar discomfort and pain. In addition, 8 out of 10 patients are young people of working age between 35 and 45 years of age. Pensioners complain of lower back pain less often, and young people even less often.

The reasons

All 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 are:

• excessive physical activity in sports;
• Lifting and carrying weights at work or exercise;
• hard work at home or in the country;
• Hypothermia, prolonged stay in a damp room.

Age combined with physical activity are sufficient reasons for low 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 the dysfunction of other organs, for example, the kidneys, then it is called secondary - in this case, it is necessary to establish the background disease with the help of additional specific studies and treat two pathologies at the same time.

Diseases and Conditions That May Make the Lower Back Pain:

• osteochondrosis (spondylosis) - earlier it was diagnosed mainly in the elderly, now it is detected at any age;
• Intervertebral hernia - also occurs at any age, if in young people then usually after excessive weight training;
• neuralgia of a different nature;
• Arthritis and osteoarthritis, inflammatory processes of the joints;
• Rheumatism and other diseases of autoimmune origin;
• Radiculitis;
• Endocrine system dysfunction (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 need to undergo a number of examinations, the mandatory minimum is an external examination by a specialist, laboratory tests of urine and blood, an X-ray, an electrocardiogram, an ultrasound of the kidneys and genitourinary organs. If necessary, additional diagnostic measures are assigned.

In women, back pain can be caused by a bladder infection or inflammation of the limbs.

Spinal diseases as a cause of back pain

If the X-ray shows a deformation of the vertebrae, their compression and expansion with the formation of bone growth in the form of thorns along the edges, the doctor diagnoses osteochondrosis or spondylosis. Until recently, this pathology was considered a disease of retirees, and its main cause was cited as natural age-related changes in the body, a slowdown in metabolic processes and a deterioration in the vertebrae.

Today it is proven that osteochondrosis in young people and even adolescents can be triggered by a number of other factors. Triggers for degenerative changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs are:

• insufficient physical activity with obesity or due to chronic diseases that limit mobility;
• sedentary work;
• metabolic disorders, for example, during diet, as a result of which the vertebral structures do not receive enough nutrients and wear out prematurely;
• improper sports - without warming up muscles and ligaments, without gradually increasing loads and controlling the lifting of loads.

In the course of osteochondrosis, the intervertebral discs become deformed - they become flat, dense and rough. The affected disc can easily pinch the nerve root branching off the spine and cause inflammation. In addition, the nerve roots are injured by bone spine processes. The patient experiences this as stabbing, stabbing pain, along with reduced mobility in the lower back. This condition is called sciatica.

In spondylosis, bone growths along the edges of the vertebrae injure the nerve roots and thereby provoke an acute pain syndrome.

Inflammatory processes in the spine can develop as early as adolescence and adolescence. It manifests itself as recurring back pain that is sometimes annoying at night. In addition, there is morning stiffness, fatigue and reduced physical activity. In advanced stages, the spine is severely deformed, changes a person's posture and gait, and a hump is formed. Rheumatoid arthritis can develop over years, in some cases up to ten years. Since the course of the disease is sluggish, the symptoms are often blurred, the patient does not go to the doctor and tries to cope with the symptoms with improvised means. Because of this, inflammation of the vertebral joints leads to disability more often than other pathologies.

When asked, if the patient mentions complaints in other joints (shoulder, foot, knee, hand), complains of pain in the buttocks, reduced visual acuity, stool disorders, spondyloarthritis. A rheumatologist is engaged in the treatment of such a pathology, his consultation is necessary immediately, since the pathology rapidly progresses and leads to irreversible changes in the structures of bones and joints.

Non-back related illnesses as a cause of pain

Sometimes lower back pain leads to diseases of organs that, at first glance, have nothing to do with the spine. Myofascial pain syndrome is a common cause of back pain that is not accompanied by other symptoms of joint disease. As a rule, young women with complaints of back pain come to the doctor after a day at work, intensive training in the gym or staying in one position for a long time.

Pain in myofascial syndrome is not associated with damage to the spinal joints and can be easily eliminated with analgesics, massage, and NSAIDs.

During the examination, the doctor will easily identify points near the spine that are being subjected to pressure, causing pain. Pain is caused by overloading the muscle tissue, the nerve roots and joint elements do not suffer. This condition does not pose a major 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 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in a short time in minimal dosages. It is recommended to adjust rest and sleep programs 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 onto the lower right side of the back.
• Appendicitis. In some cases, sharp, stabbing pain radiates to the lower back, including the right side. Additional symptoms of appendicitis: flatulence, stool disorders, nausea, vomiting, extreme paleness, fever.
• Renal dysfunction, urolithiasis. Depending on which kidney is inflamed, there is pain in the right or left lower back. If a stone comes out of urolithiasis, the lower back is also very painful, and in difficult cases the body temperature can rise.
• Obesity. If you are overweight, the lumbar spine is heavily stressed, which leads to pain and discomfort in the back.
• Osteomyelitis. Bone infections are accompanied by severe pain and fever.

If the examination did not reveal any visible lesions of the spine or other joints, did not detect any diseases of the internal organs, then it makes sense to donate blood for tumor markers and do an MRI of the spine. Malignant tumors, as they grow, put pressure on the nerve roots and also become a source of pain. The pain syndrome is characteristic of cancer in stages 3-4.

Lumbar pain can be a symptom of appendicitis.

Why does a woman's back hurt?

If women have severe back pain in the lumbar region, the first thing to do is to revise their individual calendar. Pulling pains can interfere with menstruation, including pulling on the lower abdomen, swelling of the mammary glands, nausea, some tormenting migraines, food intolerance or, vice versa, gluttony.

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

Gynecological diseases can also be the cause. Adnexitis usually manifests itself as pulling pain in the lower abdomen. But sometimes they radiate to the lower back. Similar sensations occur when the 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 see a gynecologist.

Causes of pain in men

In men, the back hurts mainly due to professional activities - driving for hours, working on the computer, lifting and carrying weights, professional sports.

But pain on the right or left side of the back can also be one of the symptoms of prostatitis or a pathology such as epididymis. To exclude or confirm pathologies, you need to be examined by an andrologist.

Men with back pain should definitely see an andrologist to rule out prostatitis.

When and what treatment is necessary

Even with very intense, persistent back pain, most patients do not believe that they need serious treatment and only expect one thing from the doctor - a good pain reliever that helps immediately and for a long time. Unfortunately there is no such drug. The pain syndrome can be eradicated with injections and tablets, but the effects will not be permanent as the cause of the discomfort will not be eliminated. Depending on what triggered the back pain, the treatment methods are determined.

Bruises and muscle sprains

The first thing you need to do is give your back a full rest. This means that you cannot exercise, lift weights, stand, walk, run, jump and get too cold a lot. It is recommended to get rid of extra pounds through sedentary work and an inactive lifestyle, on the contrary, you should think about frugal sports - for example, yoga, pilates, swimming. In the future, you need to rethink your habits and adjust the load on the spine.

What to do before going to the doctor:

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

What the doctor will advise:

• short duration nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Muscle relaxants for relieving muscle spasms and tension;
• Massage and warming up the back (without inflammatory processes);
• B vitamins.

If you follow all the recommendations, the pain will go away completely in 7-14 days.

Notice!If there is an increase in body temperature, pain in the leg or other parts of the body, mobility impaired, or other atypical symptoms, you should under no circumstances consult a chiropractor to warm up or massage yourself. It is also not recommended to take pain medication, as it will make diagnosis difficult.

Spinal pathology

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

Surgical intervention is indicated for compression fractures of the spine, extensive disc hernias, severe forms of osteochondrosis or spondyloarthritis. Depending on the injury found, the operation can be simple and performed under local anesthesia, or it is performed in stages over six months. After surgery of any complexity, antibiotic use, bandage wear, and physical therapy are required for full rehabilitation.

Modern technologies enable minimally invasive interventions on the spine with a minimal risk of complications.

Today, spinal operations are no longer an exception, a rich and varied experience has been gathered, there are special devices that can help you solve almost any problem. Therefore, if the situation is difficult and the doctor has recommended surgery, there is no point in delaying it. The earlier it is done, the greater the chances of complete pain relief and restoration of spinal function.

useful hints

Timely and effective treatment of low back pain is often difficult for a very common reason - the patient does not know which doctor to see. If the pain was preceded by an injury, everything is simple - you need to go to a traumatologist. He will most likely prescribe analgesics and a regimen of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and then recommend various physiotherapy procedures - electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, massage, and exercise therapy. This is the standard treatment for back injuries.

The difficulty is that if you hit or fall, nerve endings can be affected. And then you need to involve a neurologist who will recommend his own treatment methods. A rheumatologist or orthopedist will have their own opinion. And if, during the examination, the pathology of any of the internal organs, for example, the genitourinary system, is revealed, then the patient becomes completely confused about what to treat and who to listen to. By the way, for this reason, many people give up the methods of official medicine and turn to non-traditional, that is, folk remedies, which ultimately leads to the deterioration 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 situationDo not panic or rush, but go through the prescribed course of treatment until the end and concentrate on your own feelings and well-being. If the back hurts just as badly after two to four weeks and there is not the slightest improvement, it makes sense to see another doctor and undergo a second examination to check the accuracy of the diagnosis. Switching from one analgesic to another and instead of doing electrophoresis, there is no point doing UHF.

Regarding the treatment of the back with homeopathic remedies at home, one should not get carried away here either and recklessly believe the promises of traditional healers. An adequate adult must understand: Traditional treatments are good at the stage of remission, when the condition is stable, or to prevent relapses and complications. For example, rheumatoid arthritis as an autoimmune disease, herbal tinctures cannot cure in any way.

Medicinal herbs are helpful in improving the overall tone of the body, but they are unlikely to help with an inguinal hernia, disc dislocation, or compression fracture.

The right decision would be if the lower back hurts constantly and the doctor's appointments at the district clinic are ineffective - go to a reputable private clinic and have yourself examined there. It's not free, but you will find out the real reason and be able to start the right treatment, not experimenting with folk remedies and standard pain relievers that have no therapeutic effect.

Summary:Almost all adults have back pain at least once in their life. In fact, there can be many reasons: from banal overload to serious diseases of the spine, kidneys, infections or metabolic disorders in the body. It is important to identify the cause accurately and correctly and to initiate appropriate treatment as early as possible. The spine is the main joint of the human skeleton, its dysfunction and destruction without adequate medical care inevitably leads to loss of mobility and disability.