Back pain in the lumbar region is a common phenomenon. At 30, these sensations occur in 70% of people who are indifferent to the type of job, lifestyle and physical activity. Ignoring lower back pain is fraught with undesirable health consequences, since this symptomatology already indicates disturbances in the functioning of the body.
During the consultation with a neurologist:
- Conduct an inspection;
- Listen to patient complaints
- Make a preliminary diagnosis;
- If necessary, send additional searches;
- prescribe individual treatment.
Causes of back pain
The causes of back pain in the lumbar region differ in the original etiology, require the definition of a pain zone and the analysis of the nature. It is customary to differentiate:
- epicritical 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, the duration of painful sensations and the area affected by them are important. Often the back fails due to:
- age-related changes, in which the ability of the spine to perform the functions of impairment is reduced;
- loads when carrying a child;
- displacement of the vertebrae, compression injuries and 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 talk about stretching. A feeling of numbness, increased pain when coughing, sneezing, a feeling of spreading to the lower extremities are neuroradicular syndromes. Long-term growing pains are due to problems with internal organs.
Back pain in the lumbar region on the right occurs due to muscle spasms, 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, gallbladder. Similar reasons lead to the fact that a person has back pain in the lumbar region on the left. However, in this case, with protopathic pain, attention should be paid to the left kidney, left ovary (in women), stomach, intestines and pancreas.
If the left side hurts in the lower back or on the right side in the morning after sleep and long immobility, this indicates spondylarthrosis. Sharp pain during a drop in temperature (in the shower or due to hypothermia) is a manifestation of acute back pain.
With aching pains, men are advised to first turn to a urologist, for women - to a gynecologist. You will need to perform an ultrasound of the internal organs, take 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 protopathic nature is caused by a number of reasons:
- kidney disease;
- heart disease (angina pectoris, myocardial infarction);
- pleurisy;
- pneumonia;
- esophageal diseases;
- appendicitis;
- inflammation of the gallbladder.
The back hurts a lot above the waist with:
- radiculitis;
- osteochondrosis with disc displacement;
- spinal and rib injuries;
- myositis (muscle inflammation).
Back pain below the waist is caused by morphofunctional musculoskeletal changes - osteochondrosis or spondylarthrosis. In this case, patients have sharp pain in the back below the waist.
How to Relieve Lower Back Pain
If you felt a sharp pain in the lumbar region, you can relieve the discomfort with the help of simple actions. You need to lie down on a horizontal surface and relax. Please note that a soft mattress topper that sags a lot under your weight will not work. The legs should be placed on an elevation, relieving the load on the spine.
After the discomfort subsides, you need to gently roll over to your side and get on all fours. The meaning of such "gymnastics" is to minimize the load on the back. You need to straighten up and stand, using the support, holding it with your hands. The back belt with pain in the lower back helps to fix this part of the body, which also reduces pain. At the same time, he should capture not only the diseased area, but also the part of the body above and below. At the same time, painkillers can be used to relieve pain and relieve inflammation. They can be used in the form of tablets or injections for back and lumbar pain (in this case, blockade injections are performed only in clinical settings).
After the elimination of symptoms, you should definitely contact the clinic. Self-medication is unacceptable. Using an ointment for pain in the back and lower back and a belt, the patient can endure the pain for a long time, aggravating his condition. As a result, the back muscles are weakened, and the pain passes into a chronic phase. Abuse of painkillers can be addictive.
Treatment of back pain in the lumbar region
If your lifestyle causes periodic muscle spasms (sports or physical labor can lead to this), 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 low back pain, depending on the diagnosis, different measures are used:
- Reflexology.Includes acupuncture (injections with special needles in certain areas) and electroacupuncture (use of electrical impulses). It can also be implemented in the form of transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation (suppression of the pain signal entering the brain).
- Physiotherapy.Magnetic and laser therapy methods are used, as well as drug electrophoresis, phonophoresis, which increase the efficiency of drug use.
- Therapeutic exercise and massage.These measures are effective in diseases of the spine and in rehabilitation after injuries. Requires specialist supervision.
- Surgical intervention.May be needed for hernias that cause compression of the spinal cord or vertebral root.
Often the treatment is complex, combining different approaches. The duration and effectiveness of treatment depends on the timeliness of treatment.