Every third person at least once in a life has experienced back pain. According to statistics, more than 25% of all visits to specialists are caused precisely by unpleasant sensations in this department of the spinal column. This is not surprising, because there are many reasons for the appearance of unpleasant symptoms, both in men and in women and children.
The development of osteochondrosis, radiculitis or lumbar hernia is only part of the pathologies that lead to pain. The fact is that the lower back is the lower back, in which a large number of nerve endings are concentrated. They connect to the internal organs, so when pain occurs, it is difficult to immediately determine what caused the symptoms.
Patients describe their condition in different words. Some say that backache appears in the back, others complain of aches or pulling pains. Based on this, experts divided the symptoms into two categories, depending on the intensity and characteristics of constant lower back pain. Let's consider them in more detail.
Primary pain
This medical term indicates that a person suffers from unpleasant, aching sensations in the lumbar region against the background of the appearance of various diseases that affect the spinal column. This negatively affects the condition of the muscles and joints, as well as the intervertebral discs. Most often, such symptoms begin to appear unexpectedly.
For example, a person complains of lumbago, and after a few minutes the patient may feel relief. However, such primary pains may linger up to 2-3 days. The main characteristic of this symptomatology is that the lower back hurts more and more every day.
Exacerbation occurs during physical exertion and the appearance of infectious pathologies or at the time of hypothermia. Such painful sensations are called lumbalgia. Sometimes the symptoms may not appear at all, but the lumbar region becomes more constrained, and the patient feels discomfort in any position of the body.
Secondary pain
In this case, we are talking about serious infectious diseases or back injuries, as well as pathologies that greatly affect the performance of internal organs. This condition is considered very dangerous and requires immediate intervention by specialists. If we are talking about secondary pain, then in this case additional symptoms appear.
First of all, the patient begins to lose weight very quickly. Doctors suspect cancer. The second signal will be that painful symptoms can intensify even after the patient has rested or is completely at rest. Also, a deterioration in blood counts and an increase in body temperature will be diagnosed. The patient may develop neurological problems. For example, during urination, sensitivity will deteriorate significantly.
With the appearance of such constant back pain, the causes can also be very diverse. Therefore, it is recommended to consult a specialist as soon as possible. It is extremely difficult to determine on your own what exactly caused the unpleasant sensation.
It will also be useful to consider the most common causes of persistent lower back pain.
Osteochondrosis
If the unpleasant symptoms are caused precisely by this pathology, then in this case the pain will begin to intensify during coughing or sneezing, as well as during any movement. Exacerbation can occur when the body is tilted forward and backward. In addition to these manifestations, it is worth paying attention to additional symptoms. It can be a violation of the sensitivity of certain areas of the skin or muscles located in the lower body.
In addition to persistent lower back pain, patients complain of a weakening of tendon reflexes. Osteochondrosis is also indicated by the occurrence of certain curvatures in the lumbar region. They can occur in different planes, on the basis of this, and distinguish scoliosis. Often, this pathology leads to pinching of the spinal cord. This can lead to serious irregularities during urination or bowel movements. However, it is worth noting that with the development of osteochondrosis, so-called radiculitis pains often appear.
Typically, this happens when pinched individual nerve roots that extend from the spinal cord. Such unpleasant sensations appear at a time when a person is very stressed or his body is in an extremely uncomfortable position. In this case, patients just complain about the appearance of the so-called lumbago.
Lumbago
In this case, we are talking about sudden bouts of sharp pain. Lumbago is also characterized by muscle strain in the lower back. As a rule, such symptoms appear at a time when a person is experiencing strong physical activity or some time after it.
Exacerbation can also occur if severe overheating and sudden cooling of the body occur. At first, the lower back does not hurt much, so discomfort does not bother the person much. However, dystrophic processes in the area of intervertebral discs gradually begin to develop. The gelatinous core loses its elasticity and breaks up into individual elements. These particles, with any movement or physical activity, begin to put pressure on the fibrous ring, in which there are a large number of sensitive receptors. Their irritation just manifests itself in the form of sharp and sharp pain.
At the time of exacerbation, the patient cannot even straighten up, since the back muscles are very tense. At the slightest movement or cough, his condition worsens. In such a situation, it is in no case recommended to press on the back in the lumbar region. This will only intensify the pain syndrome and bring great suffering. In fact, a person freezes in the position in which he was, and any attempt to make a movement brings him terrible pain.
Sciatica
In this case, we are talking about constant pulling pain in the lower back against a background of lumbosacral radiculitis. With this pathology, it is the sciatic nerve that is affected. This nerve ending is the largest in the human body. The sciatic nerve begins in various areas of the spinal cord, which carry the greatest load. After that, it passes along the leg and is gradually divided into smaller nerves, which diverge into the thigh, knees, lower legs and other areas, reaching the fingers.
Since the sciatic nerve is so long, pain can be caused by almost any disease of the internal organs. Symptoms with sciatica can also be varied. Most often, patients complain of constant pain in the lumbar region, the appearance of burning sensation, lumbago, tingling and the so-called goose bumps. Moreover, all of these symptoms can occur simultaneously. Often this leads to the fact that the patient cannot fall asleep and lead a familiar lifestyle. If lumbago appears, then they can occur in the buttocks or back of the legs. As a rule, symptoms appear only on one side of the body. Therefore, if there is constant pain in the lower back on the left or on the right, then there is every reason to believe that this is sciatica. However, such manifestations may indicate other pathologies.
Kidney disease
Constant back pain can be caused by this pathology. In this case, the symptoms will be aching and localized in the region of the rib-vertebral angle. That is, in close proximity to a diseased kidney. Very often, pain also gives in the hypochondrium, the navel and other lower abdomen. Such symptomatology manifests itself against the background of a stretching of the renal capsules, for example, if edema or acute pyelonephritis has occurred. However, in this case it is not necessary to talk about chronic pyelonephritis, hydronephrosis or malignant tumors. These pathologies, as a rule, proceed without serious manifestations.
Additional causes that lead to persistent aching lower back pain
Sometimes unpleasant symptoms are in no way associated with the development of pathologies or other problems in the human body. It is possible that the patient’s lifestyle also affects this. For example, pain may occur if a person spends a long time driving or is constantly sitting at a computer. Also, people engaged in dynamic physical labor complain about such problems, that is, when during the day there is a constant sharp change in body position.
Such symptoms often torment those who work too long and hard in gyms or fitness centers. The same applies to office workers, sellers, waiters and representatives of many other professions.
On the one hand, constant dull pain in the lower back can be associated with serious physical exertion, and on the other hand, on the contrary, with a person sitting all the time in the same position. Summer residents and overweight people also complain of pain. In addition, this is a completely normal manifestation in pregnant women who recently gave birth to a baby. However, there are more serious pathologies that are worth paying attention to.
Muscle spasms
This is exactly the case when the factor of incorrect body position is considered for a long time in connection with a job or a hobby. In this case, the pain is quite intense, but short-lived.
Muscle cramps for a while can limit the mobility of a certain area of the spine. However, as the muscles tighten, the pains become really unbearable. If such a condition persists for a long time and only subsides or intensifies a little, then this indicates more serious problems that require immediate diagnosis
Herniated disc
If we are talking about constant back pain in men over the age of 40 years, then doctors primarily suspect this particular pathology. A herniated disc is characterized by compression of the roots of the spinal cord. Initially, primary symptoms appear with additional symptoms. Pain can be given to the buttocks and even the feet. Symptoms occur during sneezing, laughing and coughing.
Also, patients complain that it is difficult for them to bend and unbend. This problem becomes most noticeable when a person puts on socks or ties shoelaces on shoes. Such pain is often mistaken for the manifestation of ordinary radiculitis. This is not surprising, because in this case there are so-called lumbago. But to exclude the possibility of a hernia of the intervertebral disc, you will also have to undergo an examination.
Spinal instability
If we consider the appearance of constant lower back pain in women, then first of all this ailment comes to the mind of the doctor. Mostly middle-aged women suffer from this problem. Spinal instability is characterized by the appearance of pain in the back, which intensifies if a woman is engaged in long physical exertion or is in the same position throughout the day.
Patients complain of constant fatigue and the need to periodically occupy a horizontal position and rest. A similar disease develops against the background of damage to the disc or the intervertebral joint itself. Additionally, the so-called moderate obesity often manifests itself. Any excess movement brings inconvenience.
Narrow spinal canal
With the appearance of constant back pain, this pathology can be suspected. It is quite easy to determine by symptoms. In this case, pain will also appear at rest. At the same time, pain can be observed while walking. She also often gives to the buttocks and feet. Pain can be so strong that sitting on the sore part of the buttocks becomes simply impossible. A similar syndrome is associated with the appearance of degenerative changes, which are characterized by proliferation of bone or articular materials in the spine. This leads to the fact that the roots of the spinal nerves gradually begin to become more and more pinched.
Based on this, it is obvious that the symptoms of many pathologies are very similar. Therefore, only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis.
Diagnostics
When severe or persistent back pain appears, experts recommend that patients undergo magnetic resonance and computed tomography. These studies help assess the condition of the spinal bones. An additional ultrasound of the internal organs is performed.
Another fairly common diagnostic diagnostic method is an X-ray. This is one of the most affordable and cheapest ways to assess the condition of patients. During the study of the image, the doctor will be able to identify disorders (including kidney pathologies) that provoke unpleasant symptoms.
Based on the data obtained, a diagnosis is made and an individual course of treatment for persistent lower back pain is developed. It may include taking medication or exercising.
Treatment
Depending on the specific pathology, certain therapeutic measures are prescribed. If we are talking about the classical scheme, then in this case, as a rule, the doctor resorts to complex treatment, which includes both medication and physiotherapeutic procedures and other exercises. Manual therapy and even acupuncture may be prescribed.
If we talk about medicines, then, as a rule, experts prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs. When severe pain occurs, pain medications can be prescribed, which at the same time have a weak anti-inflammatory effect. For example, "Analgin" or "Paracetamol" will help reduce discomfort. However, you need to understand that each of the drugs has its own side effects, so it is not recommended to independently engage in diagnosis and treatment.
Very often, doctors prescribe a course of exercises, since unpleasant symptoms are often associated with the wrong way of life. However, despite the variety of physiological therapy, it should be performed only under the supervision of a specialist. Training is recommended on a regular basis. All exercises should be performed very smoothly and calmly. In the process of training, sharp bends and turns should be avoided.