In the article, we will consider for what reason shoots in the back in the lower back.
Perhaps every person has faced such a problem at least once in a lifetime. The reasons can lie in the mass of deviations or injuries, in connection with this it is very important to understand what exactly provoked the appearance of acute pain.
The reasons why people shoot in the back in the lower back
Pathology can occur in people at different ages, and there are many reasons for this. Among them, vertebral displacement along with a hernia, neoplasm, trauma and much more. It is worth considering in more detail the typical causes, which cause such discomfort in the lower back.
Osteochondrosis
Shooting back pain in the lower back can occur due to osteochondrosis.
The disease involves the thinning of cartilage between the vertebrae, as well as their gradual destruction. As osteochondrosis progresses, shooting pain is aggravated and can disturb a person with any physical exertion.
Spondylarthrosis
Often shoots in the back in the lower back due to the fact that osteochondrosis is able to progress and be complicated by spondylarthrosis. Pathology is a disease of facet joints located in the spinal column. Faceted joints help to connect the arches of the vertebrae, and bone friction is reduced by structural capsules. When the facet joint is affected, a person feels a strong shooting pain.
Rachiocampsis
When a person has shooting pain in the back in the lower back, the reason may be that the spinal column has curved. All this leads to pinching of the spinal cord and nerve endings, which can be manifested by very strong pain. The cause of vertebral curvature is usually an abnormal lifestyle along with sedentary work, excessive or, conversely, insufficient physical activity and much more.
Osteoporosis
When shooting in the back in the lower back, it is very unpleasant. Osteoporosis is a disease in which bone density is greatly reduced. This applies not only to the spine, but also to the bone tissue in the body as a whole. This causes the bones to be easily damaged, and fractures threaten even in the presence of insignificant loads. If it shoots in the lower back in the presence of osteoporosis, it is possible that, for example, against the background of a rise in severity, the overall integrity of the vertebra was violated.
Why shoots in the back above the lower back?
Intervertebral hernia
Shooting pains are one of the manifestations of the presence of an intervertebral hernia. When the disc ring, which is located between the vertebrae, breaks, a protrusion of nerve tissue occurs. The size of the protrusion determines the intensity of the pain. Such pain, as a rule, not only shoots, but also may not pass for a long time.
Vertebral displacement
Displacement along with curvature of the spinal column can lead to nerve tissue being pinched, and this can cause back pain. Otherwise, such a manifestation is called spondylolisthesis, and in order to reduce or eliminate the pain completely, the root cause of the displacement must be eliminated.
Sometimes shoots in the back in the lower back on the left. What is this talking about?
Injury
It shoots in the lower back often in people who have been injured. Fractures along with cracks, displacement - all this is a consequence of falls, bumps or heavy lifting. Such pain can be unbearable, because of this, a person loses his full working capacity. Discomfort can be moderate, while the patient is in no hurry to consult a doctor.
Reasons when shooting from the right side
Shooting pain in the back above the lower back on the right is usually caused by the following reasons:
- The occurrence of damage to the muscles, ligaments, and at the same time the tendons that surround and support the spine (i.e. soft tissues).
- The presence of problems with the vertebral structure, for example, the arched joint or intervertebral discs.
- The onset of conditions or diseases that affect the internal organs of the middle back, pelvic and abdominal areas.
At the same time, it is recommended to consult a doctor if lower back pain on the right side does not go away or worsen several days after the start. Do not do without a doctor, and when discomfort appears suddenly, it is very pronounced, as well as if it is accompanied by alarming symptoms.
In most situations, lower back pain is the result of minor damage to the muscles and ligaments, and the human body has sufficient resources to be able to cope with such injuries on its own. When the pain does not subside within three days, you must consult a doctor.
Pain in the lower back on the right side is usually caused by damage or trauma to the vertebral structure, for example, the muscles of the lower back, intervertebral discs or arched joints. True, many problems with these structures often cause pain in the center of the back. The option is not excluded, when discomfort can be felt completely throughout the lower back.
Common Lumbago Causes
Lower back pain that occurs on the left is usually caused by one of the following reasons:
- The appearance of damage to the soft tissues that support the spine. Or injuries of a certain vertebral structure, be it muscles, ligaments, joints.
- The occurrence of an intervertebral hernia or protrusion of the disc with displacement of its contents to the left side is foraminally or paramedianally the most common cause of pain in the lower back on the left.
- The presence of problems with internal organs that are located at the level of the middle region of the back, in the abdominal or pelvic areas, for example, with the reproductive organs of the body, kidneys or intestines.
Other cases of pain in the lower back may be a sign of a problem with the abdominal organs or are even symptoms of more serious abnormalities, such as fibromyalgia or ankylosing spondylitis. Understanding the possible factors of pain that occurs in the lower back on the left side, as well as its typical symptoms, helps patients at the doctor’s appointment to obtain an accurate diagnosis, and at the same time, appropriate treatment when the back hurts and shoots in the lower back.
Signs and symptoms
Recognizing the problem is usually straightforward. At first, sudden lower back pain appears when moving. Discomfort can last for several minutes, and sometimes can last even for weeks. It often happens that such pain is given to the leg, and patients notice tingling fingers along with numbness.
From the side, it can also be easy to determine that a person has an ailment against which shooting pains appear in the lumbar region: a grimace appears on the face, the back is significantly bent, and it does not work to straighten out due to severe pain. When the patient takes a bent pose, which is quite uncomfortable in everyday life. This means that the protective mechanisms are activated, in which it is necessary to exclude the load on the affected area. Next, let's talk about diagnostic methods.
Diagnostics
When the patient does not know what to do, if he shoots in the lower back, it is better not to hesitate to visit a doctor. To determine the cause of the disease, a neurologist conducts a survey and finds out when the pain first occurred, what is the general nature of the discomfort and how intense it is. According to the results of the survey, instrumental diagnostics are prescribed, for example, in the form of computed tomography or resonance magnetic examination, x-rays and other techniques.
How to get rid of shooting back pain above the lower back?
Treatment
When shooting in the back, on the right in the lower back or on the left, after the diagnosis is established, patients are prescribed complex treatment. This is how it is possible to completely get rid of the pain syndrome.
First aid
People often simply do not have the opportunity to visit a doctor at the very first time after the onset of an ailment; in this connection, it is important to understand how to behave in a similar situation. The first thing to do is to achieve maximum relaxation of the back muscles. For this purpose, the patient needs to lie on his back on a hard and even surface, and a blanket or pillow is laid directly under his feet.
In addition, it is worth taking painkillers so that the discomfort is not so strong. Medication may continue for several days after visiting the doctor until there is an improvement in well-being. Further therapy, when shooting in the lower back, depends on what exactly has become the main cause of this alarming symptom.
If the back shoots in the lower back, treatment should be comprehensive and timely.
Drug treatment
Almost no case with the occurrence of pain syndrome is complete without the use of medications. With their help, it is possible to improve the metabolic process in the body, suppressing pain, accelerating the healing process. Doctors often prescribe the following medications:
- Medicines against inflammation, characterized by a non-steroidal type.
- The use of muscle relaxants.
- The use of chondroprotectors.
- Reception of vitamins of group B.
In the event that concomitant diseases are established, then, most likely, you will need to take any other drugs.
Exercises
When the spine shoots in the lower back, physical therapy may be necessary. At the same time, all exercises are aimed at strengthening the back muscles, weakening the infringement of nerve fibers. Exercises are selected based on what diagnosis was made. First, the training is carried out under the supervision of a doctor, and then you can perform the movements independently in the framework of home conditions.
Injection
The administration of drugs is only appropriate if a serious disease develops and the patient has an intense pain syndrome. Such drugs are aimed at eliminating inflammation, as well as suppressing pain and reducing swelling of tissues.
Which doctor should I contact?
In those cases when a sharp shooting pain in the lower back gives a person a leg, you should not hesitate to visit a doctor. Such a manifestation may be a sign of a large number of diseases that require timely diagnosis and therapy.
It is best to make an appointment with the therapist, who must determine which of the patient’s specialists to send, and whether it will be required at all. As a rule, in situations when there is a sharp shooting pain in the lumbar region, only one of the narrow specialists is able to help the patient, namely a neurologist, vertebrologist or surgeon.
Thus, with such an unpleasant symptom as pain in the lower back, everyone has to face time. According to statistics, almost ninety percent of people periodically suffer from discomfort in the back of a different nature and genesis. Such a malaise can occur in people at almost any age, so everyone needs to know what to do when shooting pains in the lower back are tormented.