Lower back pain (lower back pain, lower back pain, lumbar pain, or a pulling sensation) is a common complaint that patients present to the hospital.According to medical statistics, at least 70% of people experience such symptoms at least once in their lives.Additionally, in 10% of cases, episodes of low back pain become chronic.
The symptoms are structured as follows:
- 80-85% - Non-specific low back pain.Symptoms resolve within a few weeks;
- 10-15% - spinal stenosis, radiculopathy, causing nerve root compression;
- 1-2% - specific syndromes caused by neoplastic pathology and diseases of internal organs.
Low back pain has the second longest duration of all conditions and the third most frequent issuance of temporary disability certificates.In order to prevent recurrence of the condition, timely medical treatment is required.
Types of low back pain
Depending on the duration of the pain syndrome:
- Acute pain.It occurs suddenly as a reaction to new injury.Lasts up to 6 weeks;
- Subacute pain.Lasts longer than 12 weeks - this is the period during which damaged tissue heals normally;
- Recurrent pain.The syndrome occurs at least six months after the last exacerbation.Between relapses, symptoms completely disappear;
- Chronic low back pain worsens.The difference from relapse: The interval between attacks is less than 6 months, and the symptoms may gradually disappear, but they will not disappear completely.
Depending on the etiology and pathogenesis, low back pain is:
- primary.The symptoms occur due to functional and/or dystrophic changes in the discs, joints, fascia, tendons, muscles;
- Secondary.The causes of frequent low back pain are congenital abnormalities of the spine (scoliosis, lumbar scoliosis, etc.), back injuries, arthritis, projecting pain caused by lesions of the intestines, stomach, abdominal aorta and genitourinary system organs.
What does low back pain look like?
Most commonly, patients complain of severe pain in the lower back, also known as shooting, throbbing, or lumbago.Movement of the back is restricted.Sometimes, a person remains in a bent position and is unable to straighten up.Severe pain in the lower back that worsens with any movement (back "tingling").The main cause of this condition is chronic disease of the lumbar spine.Acute attacks can last from minutes to weeks.In some cases, the pain lessens so much that people get used to it.Full recovery without recurrence is also possible.
Persistent pain in the lower back is a common symptom of chronic diseases of the internal organs and spine.These sensations are not noticeable but can cause discomfort.Lower back pain can be worsened by low bending, physical activity, following an infection, or hypothermia.Even if the symptoms completely disappear, the back may still be stiff and uncomfortable.
Symptoms you shouldn't ignore
If acute or dull low back pain is accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms, you should consult your doctor immediately.
Warning signs:
- Numbness, tingling, or "cottoniness" in the arms or legs;
- hip and knee pain;
- leg cramps;
- Irregular menstruation in women;
- male impotence;
- Pain that worsens when sitting;
- Inability to stand for long periods of time;
- rapid weight loss;
- Increased body temperature, fever;
- Serious deviations in blood tests;
- Aged over 50 years old;
- Lack of energy during 4 weeks of “regular” treatment.
The clinic's doctors will determine the cause of the pain and help relieve any worsening pain.Thereafter, examination and comprehensive treatment under medical supervision are required.
What conditions can cause acute waist pain
Musculoskeletal system diseases
Compression of the sciatic nerve.Severe stabbing pain in the lower back is caused by the tight spacing of adjacent vertebrae compressing nerve roots.The cause of this phenomenon is osteochondrosis – a degenerative change in the intervertebral discs.Tissue is gradually destroyed, the gaps between the vertebrae shrink, and any sudden movement can squeeze the nerves.The pain is often accompanied by pulsations in the compressed blood vessels.
Sciatica (lumbosacral radiculitis).As a result of the compression, the nerve roots become inflamed and radiculitis occurs.If the sciatic nerve is affected, the condition is called sciatica.With lumbosacral radiculitis, lumbar spine pain—sharp pain in the lower back and leg on the affected side—often occurs.
Osteochondrosis (spondylosis).The vertebrae become denser, deformed, and covered with osteophytes—osteophytes that look like sharp spines.Osteochondrosis has long been thought to be the result of age-related degenerative changes, but now diagnoses are getting "younger" every year.A sedentary lifestyle and a sedentary job can already cause changes in the intervertebral discs by the age of 25-30 years.Osteophytes can irritate and compress the roots, causing pain.
Herniated disc.Fragments of joint tissue extend into the spinal canal.Hernias may occur after a back injury or as a result of osteochondrosis.
Inflammatory diseases of the spine.The pathology can develop for years without manifesting itself in any way.The disease starts at a young age and gradually leads to disability.The reason the prognosis is so disappointing is also because patients endure persistent nighttime pain that disrupts sleep and do not take morning back stiffness seriously.Several years pass between the first symptoms and your visit to the doctor.Chronic inflammation has led to irreversible changes in the spine, with reduced motor activity and the appearance of humps.
Arthritis of the spine.Conditions such as Crohn's disease and seronegative spondyloarthritis may cause lower back pain.The main symptoms are inflammation of the joints in the knees, feet or hands, pain in the buttocks, blurred vision, and erratic stools with unusual consistency.
Other diseases.Severe pain in the lower back is caused by myositis - inflammation of the lower back muscles caused by tension or hypothermia.This symptom is also characteristic of osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, degenerative sacroiliitis, and other conditions.
internal organ disease
The causes of low back pain are usually lesions of the kidneys, internal reproductive organs, and urinary tract.This condition requires careful diagnosis and medical monitoring, as many complications are irreversible.
Low back pain caused by renal pathology differs from the consequences of diseases of the musculoskeletal system in that it is persistent and independent of the degree of movement or body posture.Be particularly vigilant if symptoms such as cloudy urine, frequent urination, and painful urination occur.
reproductive organ diseases
Both women and men experience severe lower back pain due to various pathologies of the reproductive system.This is how sexually transmitted infections and inflammation of tissues and organs manifest.
Low back pain in women often occurs during menstruation and is accompanied by lower abdominal discomfort.This can be considered a variant of the norm.If your periods are very heavy, accompanied by stress surges and poor health, it may be a good idea to visit a prenatal clinic for hormone testing.Menstruation can be normalized with the correct choice of medication.
Lower back pain in men may be a sign of prostate problems.A urologist appointment and examination is required.
pancreatitis
When the entire pancreas becomes inflamed, pain occurs in the lower back area.May irradiate the tailbone, left thigh, and perineum.Pain in the waistband begins to worsen after eating and worsens with physical activity.Walking, jumping, and other movements cause stretching of the pancreatic sac and reaction of nerve endings.
What to do if you have severe lower back pain
If severe pain occurs at home or at work, you need to lie on a hard surface with a cushion under your bent knees so that your legs are at right angles to your body.Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.You can tie a shawl or a warm scarf around your waist to keep your back slightly warm.
If these measures do not relieve symptoms, you need to call your doctor or seek emergency medical help at home.If you feel better, do not wait for a new onset of pain, but find time to go to a medical center and make an appointment first with a general practitioner - he will comprehensively assess your health, make a preliminary diagnosis, plan an initial examination, give appropriate symptomatic treatment and, if necessary, refer you to a specialist.
Expert advice
Modern advertising offers many "quick" solutions to back pain: various gels, ointments and patches.Some of these do relieve symptoms, but should not be used continuously without medical supervision.In some cases, heating the gel can only cause harm.Therefore, if you have lower back pain, you should see your doctor even if you manage to suppress the symptoms.
Diagnosis of low back pain
At the first appointment, the doctor interviews the patient to find out how long the symptoms have lasted, their development, and whether there are accompanying complaints.Doctors will look specifically at the specifics of the pain - left or right side, dull, aching, sharp or throbbing pain, the duration of the episode and other details - to make a preliminary diagnosis.In many typical cases, standard treatment can be carried out by a general practitioner.
Most commonly, patients are referred for additional testing if there are specific signs of serious disease of the spine or internal organs:
- blood test.Low hemoglobin levels may indicate the presence of tumors, and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates may indicate inflammation or infection.Doctors recommend not only general analysis, but also biochemical tests to evaluate the function of internal organs;
- Urinalysis.The results determine the health of your kidneys and urinary tract.Deviations in analytical results are a direct indication for urinary tract ultrasonography and further examination by a urologist;
- Lumbar spine X-ray.The photos show some signs of joint inflammation, various structural disorders, and the tightness of the vertebrae due to degenerative changes.From X-rays, doctors can tell if you have osteoporosis and see broken bones;
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).A non-X-ray method of examining a patient that allows you to obtain many images (slices) of the area of interest and its three-dimensional representation.Unlike radiography and computed tomography, MRI provides information not only on the condition of bones but also on the condition of muscles, blood vessels, and soft tissues.
Treats back and waist pain
Simple pain not related to serious disease of the spine or internal organs can be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).To get rid of discomfort, it is enough to eliminate triggering factors: lose weight, sit less, walk more, do simple exercises regularly.It is recommended that individuals continue to engage in moderate physical activity.
Eliminating pain caused by deeper disease requires a systematic and comprehensive approach.The course of treatment should include medication, physical therapy, therapeutic exercise, and massage.
Conservative treatment
If severe, unbearable pain occurs, the doctor will immediately perform a blockade during the appointment - injecting an anesthetic into the affected area.Injections can provide quick, but only temporary, relief.Patients should begin treatment immediately.
In order to alleviate the worsening condition, the doctor prescribed the following:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which reduce pain and swelling;
- Muscle relaxants relax spasmed muscles;
- B vitamins improve nerve fiber regeneration and nutrition.
If the cause of back pain is a disease of the internal organs, the patient will need to be prescribed medication to treat the underlying pathology.
assistive technology
After the condition is in remission, the following treatments are effective:
- Wear a special fixed bandage;
- Waist medical massage;
- shockwave therapy;
- swimming and exercise classes;
- acupuncture;
- Use tape;
- manual therapy;
- Other physical therapy techniques.
surgical intervention
Surgery is a last resort.Surgical treatment is indicated for severe disease of the spinal cord or internal organ structures.There are many techniques.The specific type of intervention is ultimately planned by the neurosurgeon, urologist, or abdominal surgeon based on the established diagnosis and the individual characteristics of the patient's condition.
Don't live with back pain.Make an appointment with the clinic's therapist, neurologist, or urologist.At the medical center, you can undergo a comprehensive examination to find out the cause of your back discomfort and receive high-quality treatment.