Low back pain is a symptom known to many. It can appear in a representative of any sex and age. Pain may indicate damage to the musculoskeletal system, spinal cord, kidneys, pelvic organs, or abdominal cavity. It can be weak or very intense, sharp, painful, stabbing or pulling. Treatment directly depends on the type of pain and the causes that caused it.
Causes
It is very important to know the etiology of the pain in time. First of all, it is worth noting the nature of the pain and the time of its onset. In addition, it is necessary to establish its link with physical activity, food intake and going to the toilet. It is also important for women to trace the connection between the menstrual cycle and the onset of pain.
The reasons why lower back pain appears may be as follows:
- Neurological problems. Most often, osteochondrosis and associated disorders of the innervation of the lumbar region are manifested in this way.
- Skeletal muscle pathology. Myositis is the same frequency as osteochondrosis and also causes pain.
- Kidney disease. The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space, which is closer to the back than to the anterior abdominal wall. This is why kidney disease can be accompanied by back pain.
- Pathology of internal organs located intraperitoneally. Sometimes, but not often, low back pain is associated with conditions such as appendicitis and cholecystitis.
- Pathology of the pelvic organs. Especially often such a manifestation of inflammation in the small pelvis appears in women.
Each of the diseases that cause lower back pain needs to be looked at in more detail.
Osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a metabolic pathology of the spine, in which the structure of the intervertebral discs is disturbed. It is believed that after the age of 27, this condition is a normal age-related change and occurs in almost everyone.
Problems arise due to the fact that the intervertebral disc loses its elasticity and its ability to withstand stress. At the same time, it begins to overtake the vertebral bodies. In the immediate vicinity of the vertebral bodies are the roots of nerves that emerge from the spinal cord. The disc compresses these nerves and discomfort occurs. This complication of osteochondrosis is called radiculitis.
Osteochondrosis can occur in any part of the back, but it most often affects the lumbar region. This happens because the load on the spine in this part is maximum, and the protrusion of the disc is more frequent.
The nature of the pain that occurs with radiculitis caused by osteochondrosis may be different. There are three types:
- Lumbago.It is also called "lumbago". It is a sharp and very intense pain that occurs in the lower back during physical exertion. Such pain is subjectively like a gunshot. It makes you stop exercising. However, back pain resolves fairly quickly, within seconds or minutes.
- Lumbodynia.This pain is less intense, but longer in duration. It also occurs during exercise, but not immediately, but gradually. Such pain can develop for several hours. She has a tenacious character. Lumbodynia continues for several days and significantly reduces exercise tolerance during this time.
- Sciatica.Its difference from the previous species is that in addition to the lower back, the leg also hurts. Usually, this is a unilateral lesion, but bilateral pain is also possible. Lumioischialgia is of a prolonged pulling character. It grows gradually and, so to speak, descends from the lower back to the thigh. This pain can lead to temporary lameness. It also passes in a few days.
In case of osteochondrosis, you should consult a neurologist.
Myositis
Almost everyone has experienced pain for this reason. This is exactly what people say "through" or "swelled back". The terms are not medical, but the general principle of pain is correctly described.
In this case, exposure to cold air or cold objects on the lumbar region causes inflammation of the muscles there. The fact is that the muscular apparatus of the back is very well developed, and any pathological process in it can simultaneously damage many anatomical structures.
First, because of the inflammation, the muscles themselves hurt. Its fibers increase due to edema and compress the nerve endings that innervate this muscle. Secondly, in the immediate vicinity of the muscles are the very nerve roots, which are already turning into nerve trunks here. Their defeat can lead to long-term radiating pain.
The inflammation can travel from the muscle to the nerve trunk itself, causing the pain to spread to the overlying or lower parts of the back or internal organs. It is also best to treat myositis with a specialist.
Kidney disease
Due to the proximity of the kidneys to the back, the pain when touched radiates precisely to the lower back. At the same time, painful sensations can lead to the idea of a certain kidney disease.
So, for example, urolithiasis is accompanied by a very sharp unbearable pain in the lower back. It is also called colic. It most often occurs after or during urination. Such pain can be so intense that it puts a person in a state of emotional arousal and forces them to take unmotivated action. For example, during a seizure, a person may start running around the room or make other sudden movements. They are justified by the fact that under load, the stone changes position in the urinary tract and the pain decreases.
Also, pain can occur with pyelonephritis. In this case, it is less intense, but more prolonged. Pyelonephritis is a purulent inflammation of the calyx-pelvic system of the kidneys. In addition to the pain, fever, weakness and discomfort appear. With pyelonephritis a positive symptom of Pasternatsky (tapping). The pain can be unilateral or bilateral.
Nephrologists treat kidney disease. It is best not to delay a visit to their home in order to avoid complications.
Diseases of other organs
The pathology of internal organs located intraperitoneally is very rarely accompanied by back pain. Most often, the stomach hurts. However, with the inflammation of the appendicular process located atypically, when it is deployed so that it is behind the cecum, the pain will be in the lower back. This is important to know because in this case there may be no stomach pain. The person himself most often does not even know about such an anatomical feature of his organs.
With cholecystitis, pain often occurs in the right hypochondrium. However, due to some structural features of the gallbladder, it can also radiate to the lumbar region. Also, this symptom can appear with pancreatitis. In this case, the pain is associated with food intake. Occurs more often after eating fried or fatty foods.
In women, lower back pain can occur as the equivalent of menstrual abdominal pain or inflammation of the reproductive system. For example, this is how adnexitis or oophoritis manifests itself. This symptom often appears during pregnancy. This is due to excessive stress on the spine, possible pyelonephritis or fetal pressure on the nerve endings in the lumbar region.
How to get rid of such pain
First of all, it is necessary to determine the cause of the pain. This can only be done with the help of a suitable specialist and after passing a series of examinations. Most often, an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan of the bones of the spine and spinal canal is needed. You may also need an ultrasound of all organs in which the above pathology may develop.
Osteochondrosis is treated by giving a special position to the back and spine, limiting physical activity and special exercises. Swimming also acts well on the spine with this pathology. Pain can be reduced with NSAIDs taken orally or topically.
With myositis, it is also necessary to take NSAIDs and apply them to the lumbar region where the pain occurs.
Urolithiasis and pyelonephritis should be treated by a doctor. In the first case, it may be the dissolution of stones by a drug method or surgical removal. In the second case, antibiotics and uroseptics are prescribed.
Appendicitis is most often treated with surgery. Surgical treatment can also be used for cholecystitis and pancreatitis, but more often these pathological conditions are treated conservatively. NSAIDs, enzymes and bile acid substitutes are prescribed.
Diseases of the pelvic organs are treated by a gynecologist. Such therapy can also be medical or surgical, depending on the type of pathology.
Thus, we can conclude that lower back pain is a symptom that can occur both with damage to the spine itself and the muscles around it, and with diseases of various internal organs. You can try to treat the pain yourself by starting with NSAIDs and reducing physical activity. However, it is recommended to consult a doctor for the early detection of the pathology.