Why does my back hurt in the lumbar region and how to treat lumbar pain?

Low back pain is a symptom that can be associated with a variety of medical conditions. They can be permanent or periodic, local or general.

If a person has pain in the lumbar spine, he or she is given a thorough examination to identify the cause.

Possible causes of back pain and its characteristics

Low back pain can be caused by a variety of reasons, depending on the severity of the discomfort. Pain syndrome reduces a person’s quality of life, limits movement, and makes it impossible to perform daily tasks.

There are many causes of back pain in the lumbar region. Some of them are quite serious and require immediate expert intervention.

Lumbar sciatica

Lumbar sciatica is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, in which there is compression and inflammation of the roots of the spine. This pathology is secondary, as it develops against the background of degenerative processes of the musculoskeletal system.

Common symptoms in this case are:

• Pain syndrome, aggravated by sudden movement, weight lifting. The localization of pain depends on the degree of damage. This syndrome can affect the lumbar and gluteal areas, back or front of the thighs. If there is damage to the nerve endings beneath the first and second lumbar discs, then the patient has lumbago in the lumbar and buttocks.
• Increased severity of pain during coughing, sneezing.
• Inability to stay in one position for a long time.
• Mobility disorders: inability to tilt the trunk freely forward, backward or sideways, inability to bend the toes down.

With lumbar spine radiculitis, the pain usually appears suddenly, stopping spontaneously. The next time the pain got worse, obviously.

Osteoporosis

Spinal osteoporosis is a phenomenon in which the process of calcium release from bone occurs and the cell activity responsible for bone growth is disrupted. Under such conditions, the bone is quickly destroyed, and its density continues to decrease. Osteoporosis is difficult to suspect in the early stages of its development.

Often, patients experience sharp pain in the lumbar spine at times of intense tension - with sharp body rotations, falls, weight lifting.

In addition to severe lower back pain, osteoporosis has manifestations such as:

• chronic fatigue;
• bloated stomach;
• spinal movement disorders.

With compression fractures, provoked by lumbar spine osteoporosis, there is acute pain, which increases with palpation of the affected area, as well as muscle spasms.

Scoliosis

With lumbar spine scoliosis, the structure deviates to the right or to the left. These changes are reflected in the state of the surrounding tissues: they are irritated, the focus of inflammation appears in the musculoskeletal structure.

Left-sided scoliosis is most commonly diagnosed. In left-handed people, scoliosis develops on the right side.

In the early stages, lumbar scoliosis may not appear in any way. Negative changes can be detected only with the results of X-ray examination.

The characteristic symptoms in this case, in addition to severe pain in the lumbar spine, are:

• squat;
• swelling in the lumbar region;
• chest pain;
• pelvic belt displacement, in which one lower limb becomes shorter than the other;
• knife difference.

Characteristics of pain in lumbar spine scoliosis: its appearance at the beginning of physical activity, decreased intensity of discomfort while walking. The pain is usually short-lived.

Injuries

Lumbar pain occurs during falls, exhalation. The lumbar region is most susceptible to trauma.

Lumbar spine shrinkage is closed damage to tissues and parts of the spinal cord, which does not cause anatomical abnormalities. Often this type of injury occurs in athletes, as well as people working in the workplace.

When bruising, the following additional symptoms are observed:

• hematoma formation;
• redness of the skin;
• increased pain when pressing at the site of injury.

If the transmission is severe, the flow of nerve impulses in certain zones of the lumbar spine may be disrupted, in some cases - complete loss of sensitivity.

Symptoms are more pronounced for lumbar injury and include the following:

• pain when inspecting the affected area;
• hematoma growing;
• pain when turning the body, inability to bend;
• swelling of the ankle area, indicating poor blood circulation;
• paralysis and paresis of the lower limbs.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine is another cause of lumbar pain. In this case, the joints located in this area are affected.

Rheumatoid arthritis pain most often occurs at night, usually close to morning. In the early stages, the syndrome can be suppressed with the help of special exercises, but at night the pain reappears.

Other symptoms: an increase in local temperature in the affected area, accumulation of fluid in the affected joint cavity.

Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a pathological process in which the intervertebral disc loses its elasticity. As the disease progresses, cracks form in it, hernias form.

In the early stages of osteochondrosis, lower back pain is rare and the intensity does not vary. In the future, they acquire a significant chronic character. The patient feels stiffness in movement, constant fatigue. Difficulty bending and lengthening the back.

Pain often radiates to the lower extremities. In parallel, tingling, numbness occurs.

The intensity of the unpleasant sensation occurs with increased physical activity, sudden movements, lifting weights.

Malignant tumor

If the back hurts in the lumbar region, it may be associated with a dangerous pathology such as cancer. In this case, malignant tumors do not necessarily affect the structure of the spinal cord. In this case, the pancreas, located at the back of the stomach, can be affected, so that pain can be given to the lower back. Severe pain indicates advanced stage of cancer.

Also, pain in the lumbar region may be associated with the fact that tumors of other organs have metastasized to the indicated area.

In women, back pain can be a sign of ovarian cancer. In men, sharp and prolonged spasms indicate a prostate tumor.

Gynecological diseases

Women often worry about back pain. Similar symptoms can occur under the influence of pathology such as:

• rupture of ovarian tissue;
• pathological process of the uterus;
• ovarian cysts;
• cervical cancer;
• inflammatory processes in the fallopian tubes;
• Tame formation in the inner wall of the uterus.

Low back pain often occurs in women who have had an artificial termination of pregnancy. Unpleasant sensation is caused by mechanical damage to uterine tissue and prolonged wound tightening process.

In women with gynecological diseases, pain in the lower back, pulling, pain. In addition, there are violations of the menstrual cycle, loss of strength, irritability, increased body temperature. Often, pain syndrome is compounded by secretions of various consistencies and colors from the vagina.

Pain syndrome in this case is caused by hormonal imbalances and inflammatory processes that spread to the tissues of the lumbar region.

Kidney disease

Pain in the lower back of the girdle is a sure sign of kidney disease.

Similar symptoms accompany pathology such as:

• urolithiasis;
• pielonefritis;
• glomerulonephritis;
• nephroptosis (renal prolapse).

If there is calculi in the urinary tract, the pain in the lumbar region is not very noticeable, has a dull nature. With the inflammatory process involving the kidneys, the pain is painful and persistent. The place of localization in this case is to the left and to the right of the spinal space.

Acute pain indicates renal colic. Pain radiates to the groin area, inner thighs, anterior abdominal wall.

Additional manifestations that may indicate kidney disease include:

• increased blood pressure;
• swelling of the arms, legs, face that appears after waking up and disappearing during the day;
• changes in urination: the process is quick and painful or, conversely, infrequent, until completed;
• fatigue;
• increased sweating;
• appetite is disturbed.

Discomfort and pain in the lower back are often associated with the fact that the fetus presses on the kidney in pregnant women. In this case, the pain syndrome is not associated with any pathology, it is a natural phenomenon.

Diseases of the genitourinary system in men

In stronger sex, lower back pain often occurs with diseases of the genitourinary system. Often, discomfort is caused by prostatitis - an inflammatory process of the prostate gland. With this disease, the process of urination and sexual function is disrupted. In addition to back pain, there is pain in the lower abdomen.

Other male diseases that contribute to the appearance of pain in the lumbar region are epididymitis, inflammation of the epididymis.

Lumbar myositis

Lumbar myositis is an inflammatory process in muscle tissue that manifests itself in pain and weakness in muscles, sometimes in their atrophy. The disease can be caused by infectious processes, trauma, hypothermia, metabolic disorders in the body.

This pathology is characterized by:

• lower back pain exacerbated by movement;
• feeling dull weakness in muscles;
• swelling, redness of the skin.

Bone tuberculosis

With tuberculosis of the spine, lower back often hurts. The nature of the pain syndrome in this case depends on how many vertebrae are involved in the pathological process, as well as on the degree of structural deformation.

The main signs of spinal tuberculosis are:

• Severe pain in the lumbar region. Such localization is associated with the fact that the lumbar region is the largest part of the spinal space, which receives the maximum load.
• Increased sweating at night.
• Increased lymph node size.
• Rising temperature in the range of 37. 1-37. 3 degrees.
• Persistent fatigue.

With the development of spinal tuberculosis, there is an angular curvature of this structure, the development of abscesses in the lumbar region and thoracic region.

Climax

Fading sexual function in women is often accompanied by lower back pain. A similar phenomenon is associated with decreased ovarian activity, which is reflected in estrogen hormone levels. In the absence of it, bone tissue becomes more fragile and prone to damage.

Against the background of hormonal changes, the musculoskeletal system as a whole becomes vulnerable: cartilage and intervertebral discs become weak, muscles and ligaments lose elasticity. As a result, the lumbar region, which is always under the greatest pressure, is at particular risk.

In addition to attracting pain in the lower back, women during menopause experience headaches, excessive sweating, hot flashes.

Vascular pathology

Circulatory violations, provoked by pathological vascular processes, can also cause pain in the lumbar region. Thrombophlebitis, atherosclerosis, phlebothrombosis contribute to the onset of pain syndrome.

The appearance of blood clots in the veins, inflammation of the vascular wall, narrowing of the vascular lumen - all this prevents full blood flow and thus limits the supply of oxygen to tissues and body structures, which negatively affects their condition.

Additional symptoms that accompany vascular disease are swelling of the veins, heaviness in the toes, and bluish skin color.

Bowel disease

With intestinal disease, the pain can spread to the lower back. This is due to the fact that the intestinal tract takes up a large space in the abdominal cavity. If a part experiences pathological changes, then it grows, putting pressure on other organs. The spine is also at risk.

Pain spreads to the lumbar zone in ulcerative colitis, exacerbation of appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, intestinal irritation syndrome

If the pathological process spreads to the abdomen, the pain is localized in the upper back. They appear after a meal, with the appearance of hunger, in the event of abuse of harmful products.

The following symptoms are observed in parallel:

• bloating;
• feces disorders;
• abdominal pain.

Obesity

Being overweight puts extra pressure on the spine, especially the lumbar spine. Persistent stress poses a risk of developing pathology of the musculoskeletal system, provoking injury to the intervertebral disc, curvature of the spine, the development of osteochondrosis.

In addition to the above pathological causes, pain in the lumbar zone may occur due to prolonged driving or computer use, excessive load in the gym, hobbies to work in summer huts, and an inactive lifestyle.

Which doctor should I go to?

The appearance of lower back pain is often caused by serious disorders in the body, so it is important to see a doctor in a timely manner to diagnose the actual cause and treatment.

You should see a specialist if the patient has pain in the lumbar region:

• regular;
• appears continuously after physical exertion;
• does not disappear while lying down;
• is ​​accompanied by numbness of the limbs and an increase in body temperature.

The main specialist you should contact if your back hurts in the lumbar region is:

• vertebrologists (treating osteochondrosis and other neurological diseases);
• neurologist;
• nephrologist (urologist): this specialist diagnoses and treats if lower back pain is associated with pathological processes in the genitourinary system.

If necessary, other specialists are involved in the process of diagnosis and treatment: orthopedists, surgeons, gynecologists, oncologists, gastroenterologists.

Diagnostics

For pain in the lumbar region, the following diagnostic measures are prescribed:

• general examination, anamnesis introduction;
• test to determine controlled nerve endings;
• blood tests to assess hemoglobin levels;
• myelography;
• X-ray examination of spinal space;
• MRI;
• CT;
• abdominal organ ultrasound;
• endoscopy of uterus, stomach, intestines;
• bone scintigraphy.

The activities listed make it possible to gather a complete picture of the patient's condition, identify diseases that cause pain in the lumbar spine, and determine appropriate treatment.

Approaches for the Treatment of Low Back Pain

The main course of treatment for back pain depends on what is causing the symptoms. Therapy aims to get rid of existing diseases.

General principles

The treatment is based on the following:

• use of drugs to suppress the inflammatory process;
• perform physiotherapy procedures aimed at accelerating the recovery of the affected structure;
• physiotherapy training.

In the treatment process, the patient must avoid active sports activities, as well as physical activities, so as not to aggravate the course of the pathological process. During recovery, patients may be advised to practice yoga, swim, and climb in the fresh air.

Also, therapy includes dietary correction. Patients should reject heavy foods, all fatty and fried. It is important to abandon bad habits - this will speed up the healing process.

Medicine

For pain in the lower back, the medicine is usually prescribed in the form of an injection, which includes vitamin B. The function of this medicine is:

• accelerated recovery of damaged nerve fibers;
• increased functional activity of the central and peripheral nervous systems;
• acceleration of metabolic processes.

For severe and severe back pain, strong painkillers are prescribed.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that control inflammation are also given by injection.

After injection of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the drugs of this group are prescribed in tablet form for oral administration.

For muscle cramps that trigger back pain, medications such as muscle relaxants are prescribed.

Patients are also given external medication. They usually have a warming effect and help suppress pain. They are prescribed only as part of a comprehensive treatment.

For pain in the lumbar region, a special ointment is recommended.

Recovery gymnastics

A set of therapeutic exercises is prescribed only after the pain syndrome is reduced. During exacerbations, therapeutic exercise is contraindicated.

For pain in the lumbar region, the following exercises are recommended:

• Raises the pelvic area.You need to lie on your back and bend your legs at right angles. You should lift the pelvis gently and return to the upright position. Repeat 10-15 times.
• Maintain balance.Exercises are performed in a standing position. You need to stand on your toes and try to maintain balance in this position for about 10-15 seconds. Repeat 3-5 times.
• Raise the foot from the cartilage position.Lying on your back, lift the straightened lower limbs as high as possible. Do 5-10 lifts for each leg.
• Movement on the back.You need to sit on the floor, straightening your back. Using the pelvis and buttocks, move forward, then backward. You need to walk 2 m forward and the same amount back. The number of approaches is 2-3.

You should not do gymnastics for spinal injuries, tumors and hernias, as well as in the event of an acute illness.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy procedures are performed provided that lower back pain is not caused by an acute inflammatory process. Acute pain syndrome is first eliminated by conservative methods and only then is physiotherapy prescribed.

For pain in the lumbar region, the following procedure is prescribed:

• Magnetotherapy.This method improves blood circulation in the affected area.
• Electrophoresis.This method is needed if you want to speed up the delivery of medication to the lesion (analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors).
• Laser therapy.This technique allows you to normalize metabolism and improve blood circulation in the affected area.

Nutrition

To strengthen the bone element, you should include cottage cheese food, dairy products and in fact whole milk, fatty sea fish, black bread.

If the patient is overweight, which puts an extra burden on the spine, it is necessary to exclude flour, sweets, and sugary carbonated drinks from food.

People's solution

Traditional treatment methods should not be the basis for the treatment of back pain. They are used exclusively as an assistant method and are used only with the consent of the attending physician.

For back pain, you can use the following traditional medicine recipes:

• Honey-based ointment.To prepare the medicine composition, you need to take 3 tablespoons of natural bee honey and dilute it with a water bath. Cool the composition. Put 2 tablespoons of pharmaceutical alcohol into honey, add 100 g of petroleum jelly and rub into the area where the pain is localized. For greater effectiveness, you can use a compress with this ointment. In this case, it is not rubbed into the skin, but spread over it with a thin layer and put on adhesive, and wrap with a warm scarf on it. Leave to compress for 3-4 hours, then wash the composition with warm water.
• Compress salt.Need to dissolve table salt in hot water (proportion - 1: 10), stir. In the finished solution, moisten the gauze folded in several layers, cover the lower back with a compress, wrap with a towel and heat with a scarf. Leave overnight, remove the rest of the compress in the morning.
• Garlic compress.You need to take 3 heads of garlic, peel, cut. Pour the resulting mass with warm water (2 glasses), leave for 3 hours. In the infusion, moisten a cotton cloth and sprinkle with freshly squeezed lemon juice all over the surface. Apply a cold compress. Leave for 20 minutes for the damp towel to reach body temperature. After that, repeat the compression procedure. This can be repeated until the patient feels relieved.

• Compress with the body.You need to mix bodyagi powder with olive oil in a ratio of 1: 30. Apply pain on the lower back with the resulting composition, leave the product on the skin for 40 minutes. Upon expiration of the specified period, the product must be washed with warm water.
• Compresses dried burdock leaves.You need to moisten the raw material in boiling water, attach it to the back, wrap with a warm scarf on it. Let compress for at least an hour.
• Bath with additives.Bathing can reduce the severity of pain. As an additive, 200 g of mustard powder, 600 ml of broth on mint leaves can act. Take a shower in 20 minutes. The water must be warm.

All of the treatments listed are intended to relieve lower back pain, which is symptomatic.

Treatment of certain diagnosed diseases should be done according to a separate scheme.

Prevention

To reduce the risk of back pain, you should:

• monitor your posture;
• stand and walk only with straight back;
• perform special exercises to strengthen the muscles of the spine and spine;
• do not expose the spine to excessive load, do moderate exercise using the back muscles;
• avoid hypothermia;
• As much as possible, do sports that do not negatively affect the spine: swimming, yoga, walking are very useful;
• do not make sudden movements while lifting weights;
• sleeping on a mattress of moderate firmness, at best - orthopedic, pillows must also be orthopedic and medium-sized;
• follow the weight, if necessary, follow the diet and do special exercises to combat extra weight;
• takes vitamin and mineral complexes, especially during hormonal changes in the body.

Back pain can be associated not only with spinal diseases, but also with dysfunction of internal organs. Specialists can determine the true cause of pain syndrome during diagnostics. Both the symptoms themselves and their causes must be addressed.