Back pain in the lumbar region is a common phenomenon. By the age of 30, these sensations appear in 70% of people regardless of the type of employment, lifestyle and physical activity. Ignoring lower back pain is fraught with undesirable health consequences, as this symptomatology already indicates disturbances in the functioning of the body.
In consultation with a neurologist:
- Conduct an inspection.
- Listen to the patient's complaints
- Make a preliminary diagnosis.
- If necessary, send for additional 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, they require the definition of a pain zone and the analysis of the nature. It is common to differentiate:
- critical 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 important. Often the back fails due to:
- age-related changes in which the spine's ability to perform cushioning functions decreases.
- loads when transporting a child.
- displacement of vertebrae, injuries and compression fractures.
- spinal deformities;
- intervertebral hernia, osteochondrosis, compression of the nerve roots of the spinal cord.
If lower back pain limits mobility, prevents bending, then we are talking about sprains. Numbness, increased pain when coughing, sneezing, spreading 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 the spine. There are problems with the liver, right kidney, right ovary (in women), intestines, gall bladder. Similar reasons lead to the fact that a person has back pain in the lumbar region on the left. However, in this case, with primary pain, it is worth paying attention to the left kidney, left ovary (in women), stomach, intestines and pancreas.
If the left side hurts from the back to the lower back or the right side in the morning after sleep and long immobility, then this indicates spondyloarthritis. A sharp pain during a drop in temperature (in the shower or due to hypothermia) is a manifestation of acute low back pain.
With pain, it is recommended that men first turn to a urologist, for women - to a gynecologist. You will need to do an ultrasound of the internal organs, do 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 primary nature is caused by several reasons:
- Kidney Disease?
- heart diseases (angina, myocardial infarction).
- pleurisy;
- pneumonia;
- diseases of the esophagus;
- appendicitis;
- inflammation of the gallbladder.
The back hurts 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 spondyloarthritis. In this case, patients have sharp pain in the back below the waist.
How to relieve lower back pain
If you have experienced an acute pain in the lumbar region, then you can relieve the discomfort with the help of simple actions. You should lie down on a flat surface and relax. Keep in mind that a soft feather bed that sags too much under your weight will not work. The legs should be placed in a lift, relieving the load from the spine.
After the discomfort has ceased to be felt, you should gently roll to the side and get up on all fours. The point of such "exercise" is to minimize the load on the back. You need to straighten up and stand on your feet, using the support, holding it with your hands. The back belt with lower back pain allows you to correct this part of the body, which also reduces pain. At the same time, it should capture not only the affected area, but also the part of the body above and below it. At the same time, analgesics can be used to relieve pain and relieve inflammation. They can be used as tablets or as injections for back and lower back pain (in this case, blocking 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 endure the pain for a long time, worsening his condition. As a result, the back muscles weaken, and the pain goes into a chronic phase. Abuse of pain relievers can cause addiction.
Treatment of back pain in the lumbar region
If your lifestyle causes periodic muscle spasms (sports or physical work can lead to this), then muscle relaxants should be in your home medicine cabinet. But these drugs should also be prescribed by a doctor after consultation. In the treatment of back pain, depending on the diagnosis, various measures are used:
- Reflexology.It includes acupuncture (injections with special needles in certain areas) and electroacupuncture (use of electrical impulses). It can also be applied in the form of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (suppression of the pain signal entering the brain).
- Physiotherapy.Magnetic and laser treatment 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. Expert supervision is required.
- Surgery.It may be needed for hernias that cause compression of the spinal cord or vertebral root.
Often, treatment is complex, combining different approaches. The duration and effectiveness of treatment depends on timely treatment.