A modern person, having crossed the age limit at 25, periodically begins to experience pain in the lower back, which varies in frequency and intensity. Over time, the incidence of unpleasant symptoms increases, pain sensations increase. The period of exacerbation is getting longer and longer. This is a clinical picture of the development of lumbar osteochondrosis, a disease in which there is a gradual destruction of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs. They become thinner, deformed, their bulge settles. In advanced cases, in the absence of proper treatment, low back pain becomes unbearable and interferes with usual movements. At this stage, as a rule, a lumbar disc herniation is diagnosed.
This is a kind of retribution of a person for the upright posture and vertical position of the body. During the transition to an upright position, the center of gravity shifted, which we have in the lower back. This means that the full weight of the body when walking, running, jumping, bending the trunk and other movements puts pressure on the vertebrae of the lumbar spine. With an insufficiently developed muscular framework of the back and abdominal press, the destruction of the intervertebral discs, the appearance of osteophytes and other pathological formations occurs. And these are common causes of back pain.
Other causes of back pain.
In addition to osteochondrosis and its complications, there are other causes of low back pain. First, various injuries must be excluded, as a result of which both the integrity of the cartilaginous lining and the vertebral body may be affected. They can be vertebral fractures, spinous process fractures, compression fractures of the spine with displacement of the structures of the spinal cord.
Low back injuries can be caused by frontal and tangential impacts, falls from a height, and traffic accidents. Often with injuries, athletes who are professionally involved in weightlifting sports request an appointment.
In women, low back pain can be caused by pelvic inflammatory disease. The main one of them is adnexitis. Second is cystic disease of the ovaries, which causes pulling and lower back pain that worsens at certain periods of the menstrual cycle. After the age of 45, it is not uncommon for low back pain in women to be caused by tumor processes: uterine fibroids, oncological neoplasms of the ovaries and cervix.
In both sexes there are causes of low back pain such as inguinal hernia and kidney disease: pyelonephritis, polycystic, amyloidosis, glomerulonephritis. To exclude kidney pathology, it is necessary to consult a nephrologist and pass urinalysis according to Nechiporenko, according to Zimnitsky. It helps to differentiate the diagnosis from renal ultrasound.
In some cases, the cause of upper lumbar pain is intercostal neuralgia or shingles. The first condition can be distinguished by palpation of the intercostal spaces. Usually with intercostal neuralgia, this causes a sharp increase in pain and is characterized by a unilateral localization. With shingles, visible rashes on the skin in the form of small blisters filled with clear fluid.
The most dangerous causes of back pain can be tuberculosis and sarcoma. These diseases leave little chance of recovery. They are sometimes disguised in the initial stage as ankylosing spondylitis, in which there is also stiffness of movement and severe pain in the lower back in the morning. Then all the symptoms disappear.
Lower back hurts: what to do?
If your lower back hurts, what to do in this case, which doctor to seek help? You can make an appointment with a therapist, who, after careful examination, will make the initial diagnosis and prescribe additional tests. The mandatory ones are: general urinalysis, general blood analysis, ultrasound of the kidneys and urinary tract, exclusion of tumor processes in the abdominal cavity. Then a consultation with a neurologist, a gynecologist (for women) and a phthisiatrist can be appointed. To clarify the localization of the destructive process in the spine, X-ray and tomographic examination methods can be used.
The prescription of treatment depends on the diagnosis. With osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, full treatment is possible only with manual therapy methods. In the initial stage, pain is relieved with the help of traction, osteopathy, and therapeutic massage. Then doctors strive to restore the structure of the cartilage. To improve regeneration processes, reflexology, acupuncture and the introduction of minimal doses of drugs at biologically active points of the human body can be used.
After the restoration of physiological mobility, the rehabilitation treatment complex should be continued. Includes physiotherapy and massages. You should also listen to the recommendations of experts on the organization of diet, work and rest, the organization of your work and the place to sleep. In some cases, it may be necessary to temporarily wear a brace to support the spine.