Cystitis, which is very common in medical practice, is an inflammatory process in the bladder. The cause of the disease can be bacteria that easily penetrate the genitourinary organs. In some patients, along with the typical symptoms of cystitis, soreness in the lumbar region can occur. What symptoms of cystitis are considered typical, and why lower back hurts with cystitis, this article will tell.
Clinical picture
Acute cystitis is accompanied by a number of typical symptoms:
- burning or itching during urination;
- frequent, almost inconclusive (that is, very little urine is released) urination;
- soreness in the groin and suprapubic zone, pain in the urethra;
- turbidity of urine and the presence of blood in it;
- in severe cases, an increase in temperature, nausea, and so on.
Burning, itching
These sensations that occur during urination are most characteristic of this ailment. In most cases, this symptom indicates an allergic or infectious nature of the disease. In the case of an infectious nature, bacteria produce toxins that accumulate in the urine, and if they enter the urinary tract they irritate their mucous membranes. In case of allergies, burning and itching are the result of the presence of a high concentration of histamine.
Pain
One of the common signs of an ailment is pain localized in the perineum and lower abdomen. The intensity of pain is different, in about 10% of patients the course is painless and there is only bursting and slight discomfort, which often go unnoticed. In addition, unpleasant sensations can spread to the back (cystitis gives to the lower back), while the pain is a result of irritation of the nerve endings with products of the inflammatory process.
Pain can be combined with fever, weakness, and headache. However, if the patient's immunity is slightly reduced, these symptoms may not be.
Hematuria
It occurs with cystitis blood in the urine quite often. In this case, urine acquires a brick or light pink color. This symptom often indicates the viral nature of the lesion. The presence of hematuria is regarded by doctors as a condition requiring differential diagnosis, and may be a sign of one of two options for cystitis: complicated or acute.
Lower back pain
So, can lower back hurt with cystitis? Pain in the lumbar region can also occur with a complicated course of the disease, when the kidneys are involved in the inflammatory process, that is, the infection went upward.
In addition, if the anatomical feature of the patient is a large diameter of the ureters, a backflow (to the kidneys) of urine containing infectious agents from the bladder may be observed. As a rule, in these cases, pyelonephritis is found in patients - the main reason why pulling the lower back with cystitis. This pathology is diagnosed quite often.
Signs of kidney inflammation
If with cystitis the lower back hurts, then the probability of infection in the kidneys is high. In this case, signs of renal inflammation (pyelonephritis) are:
- significant hyperthermia (up to 40 degrees);
- soreness in the area of an inflamed kidney or on both sides;
- the brick shade of urine is replaced by its significant turbidity, pus may be present;
- signs of intoxication: vomiting, weakness, pain in the joints and head.
First aid
In any case, the treatment of cystitis is a specialist's task. Self-medication in this case can lead to disastrous results, especially when the lower back hurts with cystitis. But before going to the doctor, you can try to alleviate your condition by following these steps:
- adhere to bed rest, observing complete peace and protecting yourself from stress;
- if the pain has spread to the stomach and lower back, you can apply a warm compress to the stomach;
- the use of antispasmodics ("No-shpa") or their combination with ordinary painkillers is allowed;
- with cystitis, it is worth limiting the consumption of fatty foods, soft drinks and spicy foods;
- in order to stop the pain, you can use the folk way - drink chamomile tea.
The goal of therapy is to eliminate the pathogen of infection. However, it is true to choose an antibacterial fast-acting cure for cystitis and its dosage can only be a doctor, since self-medication in this case is fraught with deterioration and the spread of infection throughout the body.
Diagnostics
If signs of cystitis occur, the patient can consult a urologist or therapist, women with suspected cystitis, especially during pregnancy, can consult a gynecologist. If with cystitis the lower back hurts, you can safely contact a nephrologist.
Diagnostic measures begin with a collection of complaints and anamnesis. In this case, the patient should remember, after which the first signs of the disease arose, for example, the lower back was blown up and cystitis appeared sharply. After that, the doctor conducts a visual examination with palpation (pressure on the bladder will be painful) and thumping in the lumbar region (it will be painful with pyelonephritis).
Then the patient is invited to undergo a series of studies:
- OAM (red blood cells, mucus, leukocytes, bacteria, urates significantly exceeding the norm will be present in urine);
- bacterial inoculation of urine with a determination of the sensitivity of flora to antibiotics and the study of smears from the urethra and vagina (in women);
- cystoscopy, cystography;
- Ultrasound of the genitourinary organs, including the kidneys, if lower back hurts with cystitis;
- blood tests (general and biochemical).
Therapy
Hospitalization with uncomplicated cystitis, as a rule, is not required, only cases of severe pain and acute delay in urine are not pronounced, which cannot be eliminated by conventional means. Etiotropic therapy consists in taking antimicrobial drugs: nitrofurans, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, penicillins are less commonly used. A particular remedy, including a fast-acting cure for cystitis, is always prescribed taking into account the sensitivity of pathogenic microbes. The course of such treatment, as a rule, lasts 5-7 days. If the cause of cystitis lies in infection with fungi or viruses, the patient is prescribed treatment corresponding to the pathogen.
To relieve soreness (including in the lumbar region), antispasmodics, NSAIDs (in tablets or injections) are prescribed. In addition, for the same purpose, you can use a heating pad, which is applied to the lower abdomen. The heat coming from the heating pad also has an antispasmodic effect, due to which the urethra and ureters relax and expand, and the outflow of urine is restored. Warm baths have the same effect, which should be taken while sitting, or foot baths with an exposure of 20 minutes. and rectal anti-inflammatory suppositories based on belladonna.
When treating an ailment in women, patients are recommended to abstain from sexual relations and the mandatory maintenance of hygiene, in addition, measures are taken to normalize the vaginal microbiocenosis.
In chronic cystitis, therapy includes the restoration of an adequate outflow of urine (elimination of prostate adenoma and narrowing of the urethra, etc.), which is realized through the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs based on plant extracts (Cyston, etc.). In addition, all chronic infectious foci (caries, chronic tonsillitis, etc.) must be sanitized. In the treatment of cystitis in men, the appointment of herbal medicine, plant uroseptics is indicated.
Physiotherapy
Gymnastics with cystitis in women is an effective tool to combat the disease. There is a special set of Kegel exercises. These classes increase the effectiveness of the therapy and prevent the chronization of the process. Exercise involves the maximum possible compression of the perineal and vaginal muscles for 2-3 seconds, and then their relaxation.
In addition, you can perform:
- “Scissors” and “bicycle” - these exercises activate the work and strengthen the muscles of the bladder, inhibit pathogenic bacteria.
- “Cobra” - lying on the stomach, palms lowered to the level of the forearms. The patient raises his torso and slowly bends. Then take a deep breath and return to the starting position. The number of repetitions is 8-10.
- "Grasshopper" - position on the stomach, lying with arms spread out to the sides. Tighten the muscles of the buttocks as much as possible and, lifting the body, fix for 30 seconds in this position. The number of repetitions is 6.
- In the standing position, the patient joins the hands in the “lock”, lifting them up, and bends in the back. Repeat the movement 8 times. Then perform torso tilts left and right, also repeating them 8 times on each side. After that, 10 turns of the body and 15 squats are carried out.
Folk recipes
In the case of cystitis, folk remedies are an addition to the main therapy and must be agreed with the doctor. The principle of such therapy is simple: you need to drink more and, accordingly, urinate more. At the same time, water can be replaced with decoctions of herbs or cranberry juice. After several such “washes,” the pain weakens, the condition improves, and the color of the urine gradually returns to normal.
Doctors advise revising the diet, replacing ordinary dishes with soups and liquid cereals, as well as drinking water in a glass at least two times per hour. Anti-inflammatory and diuretic herbal preparations are quite effective.
Preventative measures
As a prevention of cystitis , the following rules must be followed:
- hygiene (sexual and personal);
- regular emptying of the bladder;
- avoid hypothermia;
- during catheterization and endovascular studies, observe aseptic rules;
- stimulation of immunity.
In order to prevent the spread of infection to the kidneys and, therefore, to prevent the occurrence of lower back pain and chronicity of the process, you should immediately contact a doctor if you have symptoms and then carefully follow all his instructions, in addition, do not interrupt the course ahead of schedule.