Back pain in the lumbar region is a common occurrence. From the age of 30, these sensations occur in 70% of people regardless of the type of employment, lifestyle and physical activity. Ignoring low back pain is fraught with undesirable consequences for health, since this symptomatology already indicates alterations in the functioning of the body.
At the consultation with a neurologist:
- carry out an inspection;
- Listen to patient complaints.
- Make a preliminary diagnosis;
- If necessary, submit for further investigation;
- 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 its nature. It is customary to differentiate:
- epicritic pain - severe back pain in the lower back with a clearly defined focus;
- protopathic pain - drawing and aching pain, which is a reflection of diseases of other anatomical areas.
The frequency of appearance, the duration of pain sensations and the area affected by them are significant. Often the back fails due to:
- age-related changes, in which the ability of the spine to perform depreciation functions 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 back pain limits mobility, prevents bending, then we are talking about stretching. A feeling of numbness, increased pain when coughing, sneezing, a feeling of spread to the lower extremities are neuroradicular syndromes. Growing pains of a prolonged nature are explained by problems with the 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, 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 in the lower back or the right side in the morning after sleep and prolonged immobility, this indicates spondyloarthrosis. A sharp pain during a drop in temperature (in the shower or due to hypothermia) is a manifestation of acute back pain.
With aching pains, it is advisable for men to first go to a urologist, for women - to a gynecologist. You will need to do 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 several reasons:
- kidney disease;
- heart disease (angina pectoris, myocardial infarction);
- pleuritis;
- pneumonia;
- diseases of the esophagus;
- appendicitis;
- gallbladder inflammation.
The back hurts a lot 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 spondyloarthrosis. In this case, patients have a sharp pain in the back below the waist.
How to relieve lower back pain
If you have experienced acute pain in the lumbar region, you can relieve discomfort with the help of simple actions. You should lie down on a horizontal surface and relax. Keep in mind that a soft feather mattress that sags too much under your weight won't work. The legs should be placed on an elevation, relieving the load on the spine.
After the discomfort has ceased to be felt, you need to gently roll onto 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 up, using the support, holding it with your hands. The belt for the back with pain in the lower back allows you to fix this part of the body, which also reduces pain. At the same time, you need to capture not only the diseased area, but also the part of the body above and below it. At the same time, pain relievers 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 carried out only in a clinical setting).
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 pain for a long time, aggravating her condition. As a result, the back muscles weaken, and the pain passes into a chronic phase. Pain reliever abuse can be addictive.
Treatment of back pain in the lumbar region
If your lifestyle causes periodic muscle spasms (sports or physical activity can cause them), then muscle relaxants should be in your home medicine cabinet. But these drugs must also be prescribed by a doctor after consultation. In the treatment of low back pain, depending on the diagnosis, several measures are used:
- Reflexology.It 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 nerve stimulation (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 effectiveness of drug use.
- Exercise and therapeutic massage.These measures are effective in diseases of the spine and in rehabilitation after injuries. Requires specialist supervision.
- Surgical intervention.It may be necessary for hernias causing compression of the spinal cord or spinal root.
Treatment is often complex, combining different approaches. The duration and effectiveness of therapy depend on the timeliness of treatment.