Pain in the lumbar region is a complaint that many patients of various ages seek to see a doctor. Sometimes, finding the body in an uncomfortable position causes pain in the back, but most often these phenomena arise from a specific disease and require immediate medical attention. What causes lower back pain? It is not easy to establish the cause; this symptom occurs in many diseases. To identify the pathology, you need to consult a doctor, undergo a thorough examination, and only after the diagnosis is made, treatment will be prescribed aimed at eliminating the pain that has arisen.
Causes of Lumbar Pain
Many factors affect spinal health, and the main six are the following six:
- Genetic predisposition. The early aging system of the musculoskeletal system and the occurrence of osteochondrosis are inherited.
- Improper nutrition. Failure to comply with the basic rules of nutrition leads to disruption of the digestive system and poor absorption of food. As a result, the body, including bone and cartilage, ceases to receive a sufficient amount of nutrients. And the appearance of excess weight, in connection with a violation of metabolic processes, leads to an additional load on the spine. That’s why the lower back hurts.
- Lack of movement. For the normal functioning of all parts of the spine, constant physical activity is necessary, which in modern conditions a person lacks. Most of the time people, especially mental work, spend in a sitting position. There is a violation of blood circulation, the lumbar spine lacks trace elements and vitamins - the nutrition of cartilage and bone tissue is disturbed, osteochondrosis occurs.
- Great physical activity. Prolonged sports training and injuries, weight lifting lead to disruption of the vertebral-motor segments.
- Psychological problems. What causes lower back pain? It turns out that pain can be associated with the unloved work that they go to daily, dissatisfaction with themselves, low social status or excessive load, a lot of work at home and at work. In such cases, pain in the back will not be removed by massage and physiotherapeutic procedures. To eliminate them, in the first case it is necessary to work on yourself, and in the second - to distribute the load correctly.
- The disease of the internal organs. Malfunctions in the work of internal organs often cause deviations from the norm in the work of the spine. For example, toxins come from an inflamed kidney into the spinal cord, and painful impulses lead to muscle spasm. As a result, spinal deformity occurs and symptoms of radiculitis appear.
Diseases that are always accompanied by pain in the lumbar
There are several diseases whose main symptom is lower back pain. These include:
- Osteochondrosis - occurs with the destruction of the intervertebral cartilaginous tissue and the violation of the functions of the spinal roots. The disease affects both men and women. Their lower back often hurts and gives a dull aching pain in the leg.
- Scoliosis is a curvature of the vertebrae. It is both congenital and acquired. Anomaly is possible in any part of the spine. For the lower back, there are several types of scoliosis: habitual - develops in childhood due to improper posture of the child; rickety - occurs in violation of metabolic processes in childhood; rheumatic - manifests itself after serious joint pathologies in adult patients; paralytic - formed after polio suffered by a child in childhood.
- Hernia of the lumbar spine - there is a displacement of the core of the disk with a rupture of the fibrous ring. This is when the lower back hurts and gives to the buttocks, as well as to the outer and back surfaces of the thigh.
- Lumbago - appears due to pinching of the sciatic nerve or displacement of the vertebrae. Strong, piercing pains occur.
- Rheumatoid arthritis - often occurs in the female half of the population during the menopause.
- Osteoporosis - bone tissue thins with age. In addition to pain in the lumbar spine, hernias occur, vertebrae deform, and cartilage tissue is erased.
- Phlebothrombosis - blockage of blood vessels. Mostly older people are affected. It is noted that with this ailment, the lower back hurts after long walks.
In addition, pain in the lower back appears due to poor blood flow provoked by atherosclerosis, ankylosing spondylitis and many other reasons. As noted earlier, such painful sensations are manifested in many cases. Therefore, a very important role in determining the cause of pain in the lumbar region is given to diagnostic measures. Only by appointing a thorough examination of the patient and having consulted with narrow specialists, you can make an accurate diagnosis of the disease, and therefore correctly prescribe therapy.
Urinary system diseases
Diseases of the urinary tract and kidneys often cause pain in the lumbar region. If the back hurts for a week, and the pain does not stop, then this indicates diseases such as pyelonephritis or cystitis. Pyelonephritis is a kidney disease caused by infection of the pyelocaliceal system. The disease is caused by various pathogenic microorganisms and can lead to kidney strain. A prolonged course of the disease turns into chronic renal failure. As a result of the disease, constant pain in the lumbar spine, malaise, fever, rapid and painful urination, the appearance of blood, pus and mucus in the urine are possible. Similar symptoms are caused by another disease - cystitis.
This ailment is associated with inflammation of the bladder membrane, which in most cases occurs when a bacterial infection enters. More often, the disease occurs in the female half of the population and is acute, with pain. So if you have a low back pain for a week and have problems with urination, you need to contact a urologist or nephrologist. When examining and talking with the patient, the doctor will find out the nature of the pain, prescribe a full examination with the delivery of tests. And when confirming the diagnosis, he will conduct the appropriate therapy.
What shoes should I wear so that my lower back does not hurt?
Almost all women like to wear high-heeled shoes. From this, the legs look longer and the figure is more attractive. Despite fashion trends, hairpins will always remain in the wardrobe of a woman. On the one hand, high-heeled shoes make the lady straighten up, and on the other hand, in the evening, after returning home, she often experiences pain in her back and legs. The fact is that when walking in shoes, the heel of which is higher than five centimeters, the center of gravity of the body is shifted to maintain the hips and spine in line. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly strain the muscles of the back and lower leg.
As a result, problems begin with the lumbar spine. If high-heeled shoes are harmful to health, can the lower back from ballet flats with a flat sole hurt? It turns out that maybe - flat shoes violate the correct position of the foot. As a result, it deforms, fingers, feet, knees begin to hurt, flat feet, thrombophlebitis, arthritis develop. The load on the spine is unevenly distributed, there is a risk of osteochondrosis. It turns out that high-heeled shoes and flat soles are equally harmful when worn continuously. What shoes should be worn? She must be in heels. The optimal height is from two to five centimeters.
Persistent pain in the lower back in women with gynecological problems
Often, a woman’s stomach and lower back hurts before the onset and in the first days of menstruation. Painful sensations are associated with physiological features of the body structure. During this period, hormonal changes occur that cause stagnant fluid phenomena, tissue swelling occurs. And he, in turn, puts pressure on the nerve endings, causing pain. Often, pain in the lower back occurs along with secretions. In this case, they are most likely associated with gynecological diseases, pulls the stomach and sore lower back in women with:
- the occurrence of cysts;
- uterine fibroids;
- chronic adnexitis;
- endometritis;
- apoplexy of the ovaries;
- cervicitis.
In case of loss of consciousness, dizziness and lack of improvement should consult a doctor. In some cases, emergency care is required.
Pain in the lower back in women during pregnancy and after childbirth
During pregnancy, the occurrence of pain in the lumbar region is not such a rare occurrence. This is due to the growth of the fetus and especially often they occur in the second half of pregnancy. If a woman has a lower back pain, then this is explained by an increased load on the spine and a change in the center of gravity. This symptom is not a threat to the health of both the mother and the child.
But with constant pain that does not go away after rest, and the appearance of even minor bleeding, it is urgent to seek medical help. This indicates a threat of miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. Pain after childbirth in the lower lumbar usually occurs due to injuries that may occur during childbirth, namely, when the pelvic bones diverge.
Treatment of lumbar pain in women
After a visual examination, history, identification of the characteristic features of pain, a laboratory and instrumental study on modern equipment is prescribed. Most often, test results and radiography can accurately indicate the causes that cause pain in the lower back. In some cases, a woman is referred for consultation with specialized specialists. Depending on the diagnosis, medications are prescribed that can relax the muscles, and various procedures are prescribed that contribute to the relief of pain. For this, when the lower back on the right or left side and the lower abdomen hurts, use:
- muscle relaxants;
- ointments and gels that have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects;
- antibacterial drugs;
- massotherapy;
- electrophoresis sessions.
Physical therapy has very good results in conjunction with the use of drugs.
Why does lower back hurt after massage?
Often, muscle pain can appear after the first few sessions of lower back massage. This is explained by the fact that in people who do not have any physical activity, lactic acid is produced during muscle warming. It causes pain. In subsequent sessions, it gradually passes. And in some cases, painful sensations may indicate an incorrectly selected massage technique, conducting it during an exacerbation of the disease, or about existing contraindications. While maintaining pain in the lumbar region for three or more days, it is necessary to stop the massage and consult a doctor about the cause of its occurrence.
Pain in the left side of the lower back
The loin hurts on the left side when there are deviations in the musculo-ligamentous apparatus of the spine and in certain diseases of organs located in the abdominal cavity. This may be when:
- Gastric ulcer. Painful sensations occur in the upper abdomen and give to the left side of the lower back and the thoracic spine. Pain often occurs at night and disappears after eating. In addition, symptoms of the disease include heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.
- Renal colic on the left side. The pain is severe and sharp in case of blockage of the ureter with a stone, gives it to the thigh, left side and groin. After the attack, the pain calms down and becomes pulling.
- Sprain of the ligaments and muscles on the left side. It occurs in athletes with a heavy load or in untrained people when performing physical work associated with torso.
Drawing pain in the lumbar region
Pain of a pulling nature indicates muscle spasm. It can appear as a result of physical stress, with some diseases and when a person is in an uncomfortable position for a long period. The loin hurts and pulls it in the following cases:
- Stretching muscles and ligaments - often occurs in athletes with intensive training. Swelling of tissues appears at the site of damage, movements become stiff.
- Prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position - muscle spasm appears from prolonged sitting, when the muscles of the spinal column are under heavy load. Often a person wakes up in the morning with a pulling pain in the lumbar spine from an uncomfortable posture or mattress.
- Muscle inflammation - occurs with hypothermia or contusion. The pain is pulling, aching in nature, and when moving becomes acute.
What to do if your back is ill?
If the lower back hurts, what measures should be taken first? The simplest thing that can bring relief with a aching back:
- Lie with your back on a hard surface and lie down. To relax, turn on soft, pleasant music and close your eyes.
- Wear a woolen belt on the lower back, which will have a warming effect and relax muscle spasm from the lower back.
- At home, carry out a simple massage, consisting of light stroking and rubbing
With prolonged painful sensations, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination and receive full-fledged medical therapy.
Low back pain, how to treat?
There are many different methods for treating pain in the lower back. Which one to choose, the doctor decides, taking into account the causes of their occurrence and the individual characteristics of the patient. Here are a few of them:
- Pain Management is a pain management method. Used to treat chronic pain symptoms. It consists of a point effect on painful areas. An injection of painkillers is injected into the affected areas using X-rays. A set of individually selected procedures and blockade of pain impulses relieve the patient from pain for a long period, possibly for several years.
- Drug therapy - when combined with exercise therapy, kinesiotherapy, wearing a muscle corset and aqua therapy, gives good results.
- Physiotherapy exercises - individually selected exercises create a miracle. They start the process of tissue regeneration of the spine and restore its function.
- Therapeutic massage - solves many problems, especially at the recovery stage.
- Transcutaneous electroneurostimulation - blocks pain at its location using electrical impulses.
- Surgical intervention - is used in extreme cases with especially severe, chronic processes or injuries.
To prevent radical intervention, if the lower back hurts, at the early stage of the disease it is necessary to consult a doctor and be sure to pay attention to preventive measures.
Lumbar Treatment Reviews
Special forums have been created on the Internet where people who have experienced constant pain in the lumbar spine seek help from those who have overcome this ailment. The latter, in turn, actively share their successes. Here are a few of them:
- After heavy physical exertion, severe lower back pain appeared. The doctor conducted a study and after a two-week therapy, the pain stopped. After some time, they resumed again, I had to visit a chiropractor, who advised me to strengthen my back muscles. Performing physical exercises for the muscular skeleton helped to get rid of the tormenting pains. It is recommended to everyone who has lower back pain and gives to various parts of the body, systematically perform exercises to strengthen muscles, and you need to start with a small number of repetitions.
- Some people recommend taking small 10-minute breaks during sedentary work and performing some simple exercises that relieve tension on the muscles of the neck, shoulders and lower back. All this is very useful for muscles and bone apparatus, and practically does not take time.
- Kinesiotherapy is a new technique for treating back pain with movement. Everyone who has tried this method gives it a positive rating. It is based on the principles of exercise therapy and natural recovery. The method allows you to return to an active lifestyle without painkillers, corsets and surgery.
Preventive measures for back pain
Most often, back pain can be prevented. But, unfortunately, most people are not used to taking care of their health. In order for the spine to be healthy, it is necessary:
- Pay attention to posture and, if necessary, correct it.
- Make the workplace comfortable at work and at home to sit without stooping.
- Spend a quarter of an hour a day for exercises that improve blood circulation in the back and in all organs.
- Avoid stress and strain.
- Use a complete, balanced diet containing phosphorus, calcium, and vitamin D.
- Do not perform excessive loads and sudden movements.
- Sleep on a semi-hard mattress and a low pillow.
- It is very useful to engage in swimming and walking.
- It is necessary to conduct scheduled examinations by a chiropractor, regularly do massage procedures, and in some cases use a corset.
- If you experience pain immediately consult a specialist.
Do not forget that back pain does not occur just like that. It signals a malfunction in the body. Therefore, you need to know what causes lower back pain in order to prevent it or start proper therapy. Medical assistance will be required not only during the treatment of the disease, but also during rehabilitation.