Causes and treatment for lower back pain

Lower back pain often occurs due to degenerative and dystrophic changes in the spine.Intervertebral discs are injured when lifting heavy objects, excessive loads at rest and during movement, falls.Protrusion of the annulus fibrosus through the tears and fissures of the nucleus pulposus forms a hernia.Instability in the spine contributes to the development of osteophytes (spondylosis), damage to intervertebral joints and ligaments (spondyloarthrosis), osteochondrosis, which is accompanied by pathological processes in the sacroiliac joint.

In addition to compression changes, pain is caused by reflex irritation of receptors, impulses that go to the motor neurons of the spinal cord.Muscle tone increases and over time, pathology appears in muscle tissue.Pain in the spine can be caused by the appearance of tumors, multiple myeloma, and systemic autoimmune diseases.

Causes of pain and their types

Pain sensations can be dull, sharp, aching, burning and throbbing.They can spread to the entire back, radiate to neighboring areas, or be localized.Unpleasant sensations develop in different ways;It can appear suddenly or grow over a long period of time.

Symptoms are also classified depending on the cause of their occurrence:

• The main pain is the result of the deterioration of the musculoskeletal system, lesions in it;
• The secondary type occurs during pathological processes in the body that are not related to the lower back.

There are two types of pain:

• The periodic ones are the characteristics of strong physical work, acute diseases and physiological characteristics;They can radiate to other parts of the body or spread beyond the affected area.After eliminating the cause of their occurrence, they stop bothering the person.
• Persistent pain is the result of deep damage to joints, tissues and muscles.With the help of drugs, the symptoms are temporarily eliminated, but they recur.

Indications for advanced diagnostics

To determine the method of pain relief, it is necessary to undergo additional examinations to identify the true cause of the syndrome.The test must be taken if:

• atypical manifestations of pain (no increase or decrease in discomfort when moving the body), unusual localization (for example, discomfort radiates from the back to the perineum, abdomen, rectum, anus, vagina);
• symptomatic weakness in a standing position and pumping while lying down;
• changes in the nature of back pain related to going to the toilet, eating, sex;
• previous injury to the spine or hip joint;
• pain accompanied by vomiting and high body temperature;
• Diagnosed oncology;
• the presence of mental behavioral disorders.

Additional studies are carried out in a hospital setting, when patients are hospitalized in neurology or other departments that provide laboratories to diagnose suspected diseases.

X-rays of the spinal column are taken in several projections, general blood tests are checked, and advanced biochemical analysis is performed, which shows the level of creatinine, calcium, glucose, phosphate and other substances in the blood.Computer diagnostic methods and magnetic resonance imaging are widely used.Bone scintigraphy is used to examine bone tissue.

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system

Unpleasant sensations in the back occur due to the following reasons:

• Intervertebral osteochondrosis includes several types of pathology characterized by dystrophy or degeneration.Due to this disease, cartilage and articular bones are loosened and destroyed, and nerve endings are involved in pathological changes.Osteochondrosis causes the development of hernia, lumbar radiculitis, sciatica, protrusion (bulging of the intervertebral disc without rupture of the fibrous ring).
• Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine, with an asymmetric shoulder line.It is accompanied by skeletal deformation, poor posture, and protrusion of the hump on the right or left side in the intercostal space.Classified as congenital or acquired form.
• Spondylosis occurs due to the natural aging of the vertebrae and joints in the lumbar region;Over time, pain increases as joints wear and mobility is lost.
• Lumbago is characterized by acute discomfort in the lumbar region due to destructive disorders in the vertebrae.Pain occurs when lifting weights incorrectly and is more common in men.With Lumbago, movement in the lower part is limited;Lack of treatment is dangerous because the destructive process develops to an irreversible level.
• Ankylosing spondylitis (Bechterew's disease) is characterized by loss of lumbar joint mobility and chronic inflammation with significant connective tissue proliferation.
• Osteomyelitis is a purulent-necrotic inflammation of the bone marrow, bone and surrounding soft tissue.This disease occurs due to infection with purulent mycobacteria and pyogenic bacteria (pus).
• Osteoporosis is formed as a result of improper development of bone tissue due to an impaired supply of phosphorus and calcium, while bone density is reduced, which causes frequent damage.
• Congenital or acquired difference in leg length (more than 3 cm).

This disease requires a visit to the clinic for examination and serious treatment.Sometimes therapy helps relieve symptoms only for a while, and for a complete cure, surgical methods are used.

Kidney pathology

Because kidney function is affected, discomfort can occur in the lower back, and pain can occur on the left, right, and sometimes in the middle of the back.The cause of symptoms may be the following pathologies:

• Kidney prolapse.This is a condition in which the organ moves outside the permissible norm (the displacement of the kidney bed is provided down and up by 2 cm).With nephroptosis, the kidney is called wandering if it can deviate by 10 cm.
• Kidney failure is a condition in which urine is not formed.The patient notes that he has a sharp pain in his lower back, and his health is deteriorating.
• Pyelonephritis is inflammation of the renal pelvis, and adjacent tissues of the genitourinary system are involved.With this disease, urinary diversion may not be affected, and pain in the lower back on the right and left side is due to the intensity of the inflammatory process.
• Gout causes discomfort when standing up from a sitting position or during other movements.When the disease occurs, the natural metabolism of uric acid is disrupted;It accumulates in the lumbar joints, limiting their mobility.
• Renal colic is a common pathology.Thus, pain occurs for various reasons.The most common is damage to the ureter by stones, kinking, or obstruction of the upper urinary tract due to blood clots, formations, pus or mucus.Low back pain caused by renal colic is characterized by a sharp onset at any time of the day, during movement or at rest.
• Diabetic nephropathy is more typical of people with diabetes (75%) and is a complex lesion of the renal arteries, glomeruli, and tubules due to changes in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in the kidney tissue.Pain with this pathology radiates to any part of the back, as well as to the groin and lower abdomen.
• Glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the glomeruli (kidney glomeruli) and can lead to kidney failure.Rapidly progressive and chronic forms are observed.
• Kidney stone disease is not always accompanied by pain in the lower back;It can be difficult to determine its location.
• Hydronephrosis is characterized by renal pelvis and discomfort.Requires additional diagnostics.

Gynecological diseases

Pain syndrome occurs in women due to diseases:

• Frequent localization of discomfort caused by uterine fibroids, vulvitis, adnexitis, and neoplasms of the genital organs is the lower abdomen, but pain can occur in the lower part on the left and right side.
• During pregnancy, the lower back hurts and it hurts to walk, but such symptoms arise for natural reasons and are explained by the load from the growing fetus on the musculoskeletal system, so they do not require treatment.
• Menopause is accompanied by pain due to impaired blood supply to the internal organs of the small pelvis, which, in turn, is a result of hormonal imbalance during this period.
• Unpleasant sensations can always arise due to psychosomatics.In this case, the woman should see a psychotherapist and psychologist.
• As a result of surgery, for example, abortion, can be accompanied by discomfort in the lower abdomen and spread to the lumbar vertebrae due to involuntary contractions of the uterus or experiencing inflammation.
• Hormonal disturbances during the menstrual cycle, the release of follicles from the ovaries and their movement through the fallopian tubes, and the enlargement of the uterus during menstruation cause pain in the lower and lower back.

Causes of lower back pain

Discomfort in the lumbar region can be caused by diseases of the human body system:

• Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic pathology and most often affects women.This is a chronic inflammation that develops in the lumbar joint and involves the nearby cartilage and muscles.This disease occurs as a result of autoimmune disorders in the body.
• Thrombophlebitis and phlebothrombosis develop due to the partial or complete cessation of blood flow in the deep veins.Discomfort in the lower back is felt after a long walk or standing.This pain radiates to the back and legs.
• Atherosclerosis in the last stage causes discomfort in the lower part.

Treatment of pain due to musculoskeletal problems

To eliminate the discomfort in the lower part caused by the impaired function of the musculoskeletal system, various drugs are used depending on the root cause and the level of the underlying disease.

They are used in several forms, from tablets to intramuscular injections.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to reduce pain.These medicines lower body temperature, relieve inflammation and fever.

NSAIDs from the group of phenylated acid derivatives are popular in the treatment of lower back pain.These drugs are safe and effective, and have an advantage over other painkillers, because they do not affect the metabolic processes in the intervertebral disc.Therapeutic doses, enough to relieve severe discomfort, range from 75 to 150 mg per day, the norm is consumed in several doses.To accelerate the analgesic effect, rectal suppositories are used or the drug is administered intramuscularly.

Muscle relaxants

If NSAIDs do not provide a positive effect in treating pain, then muscle relaxants are used.These drugs reduce the tone of skeletal muscles and reduce their movement - sometimes to the point of complete cessation of function.Start therapy with a standard dose and maintain it for several weeks.Practice shows that the addition of muscle relaxants to the complex treatment of pain provides lasting regression of discomfort and improves joint mobility.Combinations of different types of drugs are not used.

Analgesics and corticosteroids

To relieve back pain if it is very painful, narcotic analgesics are used, which have been relevant in medicine for a long time.They are based on opioids, thanks to the drugs that provide relief.Such drugs are prescribed by a doctor (they are sold in pharmacies only with a prescription);You cannot treat the pain with these medicines yourself.

To eliminate the syndrome, corticosteroids are used in the case of degenerative disorders in the joint tissue.

Medications partially restore the cartilage and prevent further destruction.

Injection

Injections are used if previous medications have not had the required effect.For direct blockade in the lumbar region, drugs of the ester group and the amide series are used.

Blockage is a procedure to relieve muscle spasm at the site of pain;Injections are given into the nerve plexus, including into the paravertebral region through a catheter.The effect is short-lived, but it helps relieve severe attacks.

Use of ointments, creams and patches

With the help of gels and creams, uncomfortable conditions are also eliminated.They are applied directly to the sore spot.You can use NSAID-based products.Combined products have a better effect.

For local disturbing and disturbing effects, warming ointments with restorative chondroprotective effects are used, which dilate blood vessels, resulting in better nutrition of the vertebral tissue and cartilage, and metabolic processes are accelerated in them.

The use of patches is popular because of the simple application method and fast action.This product is infused with medicine and applied to the site of pain.With this method, overdose is excluded.

Other methods affect the painful area

Physiotherapy treatment allows you to warm the muscles, increase blood supply, and increase the therapeutic effect of basic medicines.

Paraffin application is used, which is effective in the case of shooting pain.The procedure consists of layer by layer application of wax or paraffin to the skin with a total thickness of 1 cm, which is covered with polyethylene, then with a warm blanket.The duration is at least one hour, with daily use of the treatment is a month.Physical therapy is effective when used during periods of unabsorbed disease.Exercise also reduces the risk of recurring back pain.

Massage is not done in all cases, because in some pathologies it can harm the body.In this case, the effect is not in the sick place, but in the surrounding area.This procedure should be carried out by an experienced massage therapist;You cannot do this alone.

The mud therapy method is also used as a distraction.

Pain relief for gynecological problems

Complex antibacterial agents are used to eliminate the original cause of pain.Special drugs are used to reduce vaginal bacteriological infections.Ointments containing antibiotics and antiseptics are used in the vulva area.

Glandular inflammation of an infectious nature, accompanied by back pain, is treated with antibiotics, taking into account the sensitivity of microorganisms, and ultrasound is used as a physiotherapy effect.Abscesses of genital organs, especially Bartholin's gland abscesses, are surgically removed by opening.If the pain is moderate and the tumor does not bother the patient, then hormonal drugs are prescribed, which are considered only as prophylaxis before surgery.

GnRH antagonists reduce the amount of estrogen in the body.They are used for uterine fibroids, hyperplasia, and endometriosis.Hormonal drugs are effective as a way to reduce the size of the uterus before surgery.However, their long-term use leads to the development of osteoporosis.

In some cases, after treatment, nodules begin to grow and cause back pain.Unpleasant sensations are released with the help of oral contraceptives.To reduce well-being when lumbar pain occurs, antigonadotropin therapy is used.These drugs have many side effects, so they are used in rare cases.

If the growth of the tumor leads to severe pain and threatens health, then surgery is required to remove it.During menopause and if a woman does not plan to have children, complete removal of the uterus is recommended.In other cases, only fibroids are removed by laparoscopy (through small incisions in the abdomen).

The most popular hormonal drugs are NSAIDs.Antispasmodic drugs are also used.

Help with kidney pain

Acute pain in the kidneys is relieved by taking antispasmodic drugs that can increase the lumen of the ureter and ensure the diversion of urine.

Acute symptoms require the use of combined drugs containing analgesics and antispasmodics with anti-inflammatory components.You can take 2 tablets at a time;In severe cases, intramuscular injections are given.Antipyretics based on analgin help relieve pain in the kidneys.

Traditional treatment methods

Traditional recipes help relieve pain in the lower part, but before using them, you need to make sure that there are no diseases dangerous to human life and health that require timely drug treatment or surgery.The most popular methods:

• A towel soaked in a combined infusion of St. wort.John's wort, thyme, chamomile flowers and black elderberry are used for sore spots.To cook, take 1 tsp.Raw or dry ingredients, pour a glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour.Then remove the compress and sleep.
• Garlic ointment helps a lot.To prepare it, take one head, roll it in an accessible way, and mix it with a small portion of vaseline and lemon juice.Apply the prepared mixture to the sore spot on the back.
• Mustard bath relieves pain.To do this, take a glass of mustard powder and pour it into warm water.Shower until cool, then rinse the skin with clean water and cover with a blanket.
• Compresses of honey and vinegar (1 tablespoon each) relieve pain.The resulting mixture is placed on cabbage leaves and applied to problem areas.
• Carrots or radishes are grated, combined with sour cream and placed on napkins made of natural materials.The compress is fixed with a warm scarf or handkerchief.
• Dried large burdock leaves steamed with boiling water are applied to sore and protected areas.
• To increase blood flow in the tissues, rub the back with honey.Massage is done without pressure, but the movements should be intense.Similarly, use alcohol tincture with eucalyptus, which is bought at the pharmacy.
• Make a compress from the grated beets, squeeze them, and mix the resulting cake from one vegetable with 1 liter.kerosene.Using a napkin, the composition is transferred to the painful place and fixed and bandaged.This compress is left overnight.
• Use grated laundry soap together with white incense, mix in equal quantities, add 2 beaten egg yolks.This product is applied to the back, a napkin is placed on top, and secured with a bandage.Keep for about 2-3 hours.

Treatment of pain in the back is carried out in various ways, but the diagnosis of the underlying disease causing the unpleasant symptoms is always necessary.