Many people on the planet have experienced back pain at least once.According to statistics, only 10% of the population does not know what back pain is.In recent years, lumbago in the lumbar region has begun to appear not only after intensive physical activity at a young age, but also in patients with various diseases.
Species
Isolated cases of lower back pain are usually not a cause for concern.Frequent hypothermia, hard work and heavy loads can cause destructive changes in the spine.The appearance of pain is a sign of the development of a pathological process that must be treated in order to maintain full motor ability.
Finding the nature and intensity will help you understand why unpleasant feelings arise.Accurate identification of the pathology will help to prescribe effective treatment to relieve pain.
Depending on the duration of the activity, back pain can be:
- acute - occurs suddenly, is accompanied by high intensity, the duration of the symptom does not exceed thirty days and is often painful in nature;
- chronic - the patient is worried for more than six months, the pain is constant, not severe, it signals old processes in the body;
- periodic - appears in the acute phase, disappears completely with the arrival of the remission period;
- Constant pain accompanies many conditions that require immediate treatment, such as pathologies of the spine, nervous system, vascular damage, and oncological tumors.
A person can feel pain in one point or the whole back.Depending on the location, local pain that does not extend beyond the boundaries of the lesion or generalized pain that covers the entire back can be distinguished.
Sometimes the pain spreads to the lower extremities, causing a forced condition when moving.This symptom occurs with serious disorders in the spine.The reflected nature of pain occurs in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or gynecological problems.
Reasons
Non-pathological etiology may include severe back pain after prolonged physical activity.The accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles causes a painful effect that goes away on its own after a few days.
Main reasons:
- Dystrophic changes in the cartilage tissue of the lumbar-sacral vertebrae (osteochondrosis) are complicated by the proliferation of bone tissue and the loss of elasticity of the flattened cartilage.Low back pain worsens when the intervertebral disc is deformed, a complication of which is an intervertebral hernia.This condition causes increased pain that radiates to the hip and is sometimes reflected in the ankle area.
- Traumatic injuries caused by impact or fall.
- Shortening of a limb is observed in second and third degree coxarthrosis, after injury or surgery, individual characteristics during childbirth and high degree scoliosis.
- Hypothermia leads to myositis.Inflammatory events in muscle fibers cause widespread, constant pain.
- Radiculitis is a neurological pathology based on inflammation of the root of one of the spinal nerves.A sudden, sharp pain pierces the patient, forcing him to bend over.
- Scoliotic curvature of the spine.
- Thrombophlebitis is damage to the vessel wall due to the formation of a blood clot;with this pathology, the effect of pain in the lower extremity is also observed.
- Advanced forms of atherosclerosis with circulatory disorders.
- Inflammatory kidney diseases.
- Gynecological pathologies, pain originates from the lower abdomen and spreads to the lower back.
- Hormonal disorders in the body in women during menopause.
- Inflammation of the prostate gland in men.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Infectious diseases: tuberculosis, brucellosis and others.
- Pancreatitis and cholecystitis cause pain in the lower back.
- Malignant neoplasms in the lumbosacral region or abdominal cavity.
Diagnostic measures
Understanding why your back hurts is important for lasting pain relief.An experienced doctor must make a diagnosis.During admission, anamnesis is collected, complaints are heard and the patient's heredity is determined.
Visualization and palpation are performed to determine the deformed areas in the spine and to localize the most painful place in the lumbar region.
The following procedures are performed to confirm the hypothesis:
- laboratory analysis of blood and urine to determine possible inflammation in the body;
- biochemical blood test for indicators of a possible rheumatological factor;
- X-ray examination of the spine will determine the presence of a hernia or protrusion;
- ultrasound examination of blood vessels and pelvic organs;
- computed tomography of the spine;
- If necessary, an examination by an infectious disease specialist, rheumatologist, phtisist or gynecologist is prescribed.
Treatment
Taking painkillers will have a short-term effect, after which the back pain will return again.Treatment measures should consist of a number of basic and auxiliary treatment procedures.
A sudden attack requires immediate help.Measures that help alleviate the situation:
- take a pain reliever;
- tightly wrap the lumbar region to create compression in the painful area;
- contact a medical professional for qualified help.
At the moment of acute pain, in the absence of an accurate diagnosis, it is forbidden to try to warm the painful lumbar region so that the inflammation does not increase.It is not recommended to conduct a therapeutic massage and manual therapy session during an exacerbation.
Medicines
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will relieve back pain and reduce inflammation by regulating body temperature.Only a doctor can prescribe medicine.Uncontrolled use of non-hormonal painkillers causes irritation of the gastric mucosa.Taking a drug that inhibits the secretion of gastric acid half an hour before NSAIDs will prevent the pathological condition.
- Glucocorticosteroids are prescribed for severe inflammatory reactions.
- Diuretics will relieve swelling by removing excess fluid, which will reduce pain.
- Muscle relaxants will relieve spasms and relax skeletal muscles.
- Chondroprotectors that prevent destruction in the spine.
- Antibiotics for inflammation of internal organs.This pharmacological group disrupts the balance of intestinal microflora.Probiotics will help prevent the appearance of dysbiosis.
- To strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
Local treatment
Medicines intended for local treatment will help relieve pain.Ointments and creams for external use may contain active ingredients: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers, viper, cobra, viper, scorpion venom.
Patches with a medicinal base are convenient for use during the day.The pepper patch is applied directly to the lower back and has a uniform therapeutic effect on the painful area within a few hours.
Kinesio tape is a type of pain reliever.Banding gives an immediate effect;if done correctly, it can stay on the skin for up to 5 days and relieve persistent pain.
Orthopedic products include wearing a rigid lumbosacral corset.The bandage is designed for static loads, supports the lumbar region and relieves pain due to compression.Warming corsets with dog, camel or llama hair are prescribed for radiculitis.
Physiotherapy
Phonophoresis with lidocaine quickly penetrates the strong anesthetic substance into the deep subcutaneous layers and provides quick relief of symptoms.The safe method does not adversely affect the gastrointestinal tract, which is an additional advantage.
Massage is effective during the pain-free period.After the course, blood circulation improves, the muscular system is toned, and mobility in the lumbar region improves.
Acupuncture allows applying acupuncture to certain points for treatment and prevention.The Kuznetsov applicator is perfect for home use.Plastic needles increase blood flow and trigger natural pain-relieving processes.
Magnetic therapy is used in the treatment of many diseases, including osteochondrosis, vascular pathologies, gynecological diseases.Impulse current penetrates 7 cm under the skin and reaches the damaged areas.The therapeutic effect is cumulative, it is achieved at the end of the first course and is maintained until the next session.
Prevention
To keep your back healthy, you should follow the well-known rules:
- lead an active lifestyle;
- avoid heavy loads during professional activities, sports training and weight lifting;
- wearing a lumbosacral corset for dynamic loads when the spine is tense;
- wear orthotics to ensure shock absorption during walking;
- eat right and monitor your weight so that extra pounds do not contribute to the development of additional diseases;
- If suspicious symptoms appear, consult a specialist.