Low back pain is a well-known symptom. It can appear in any gender 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, sore, stabbing or shooting. Treatment depends directly on the type of pain and the causes.
Cause
It is very important to know the etiology of pain in time. First of all, it is worth noting the nature of the pain and the time of its onset. In addition, contact should be made with physical activity, food intake, and going to the toilet. It is also important for women to monitor the relationship between the menstrual cycle and the onset of pain.
Causes of low back pain may include:
- Neurological problems. Most commonly, the associated disorders of osteochondrosis and innervation of the lumbar region manifest in this way.
- Pathology of skeletal muscle. Myositis is as common as osteochondrosis and causes pain.
- Kidney disease. The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space, that is, closer to the back than to the anterior abdominal wall. Because of this, kidney disease can cause back pain.
- Pathology of intraperitoneally located internal organs. Sometimes, but not often, low back pain is associated with diseases such as appendicitis and cholecystitis.
- Pathology of pelvic organs. This is especially common in women with pelvic inflammatory disease.
Each of the diseases leading to low back pain needs to be examined in more detail.
Osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a metabolic pathology of the spine in which the structure of the intervertebral discs is damaged. After the age of 27, this condition is thought to be a change related to normal age and occurs in almost everyone.
Problems arise due to the fact that the intervertebral disc loses its flexibility and ability to withstand stress. At the same time, it begins to extend beyond the vertebral bodies. In the immediate vicinity of the vertebral bodies are the roots of the nerves exiting the spinal cord. The disc compresses these nerves and a discomfort occurs. This complication of osteochondrosis is called radiculitis.
Osteochondrosis can occur in any part of the back, but most commonly affects the lumbar region. This is because the load on this part of the spine is maximal and the disc protrusion is more common.
The nature of the pain in radiculitis caused by osteochondrosis may be different. There are three types of this:
- 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 shot. This will cause you to stop training. However, the lumbago resolves fairly quickly, in a matter of seconds or minutes.
- Lumbodynia.This pain is less intense but lasts longer. It also occurs during training, but not immediately, but gradually. Such pain can develop for several hours. He has a confused character. Lumbodynia lasts for several days and significantly reduces your workout tolerance during this period.
- Sciatica.The difference from the previous species is that in addition to the lower back, the foot also hurts. This is usually a unilateral lesion, but bilateral pain is also possible. Lumioischialgia is protracted. It develops gradually and descends from about the lower back to the thighs. This pain can lead to temporary lameness. It will also go away in a few days.
If osteochondrosis occurs, you should consult a neurologist.
Myositis
Almost everyone has experienced pain because of this. This is exactly what the people sound like "through" or "blown back. "The terms are not medical in nature, but the general principle of pain is correctly described.
In this case, exposure to cold air or cold objects in the lumbar region leads to inflammation of the muscles found here. The situation is that the muscular system of the back is very well developed, and the pathological processes in it can damage many anatomical structures at the same time.
First, the inflammation hurts the muscles themselves. Its fibers grow due to edema and compress the nerve endings that innervate this muscle. Second, in the immediate vicinity of the muscles are the nerve roots, which are now transforming into nerve trunks. Their defeat can lead to prolonged radiant pain.
Inflammation can travel from the muscle to the nerve trunk itself, leading to the spread of pain to the upper or lower parts of the back or internal organs. Myositis is also better treated by a specialist.
Kidney disease
Due to the proximity of the kidneys to the back, the affected pain radiates exactly to the lower back. However, painful feelings can lead to the thought of certain kidney disease.
For example, urolithiasis is accompanied by 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 severe that it puts a person in a state of emotional excitement and forces them to act unmotivated. For example, during a seizure, a person may start running around the room or make other sudden movements. These are justified by the fact that under load, the stone changes the position of the urinary tract and the pain is reduced.
In addition, pain may occur with pyelonephritis. In this case, it is less intense but more protracted. Pyelonephritis is a purulent inflammation of the renal goblet pelvic system. In addition to pain, fever, weakness, and malaise occur. In pyelonephritis, a positive symptom of Pasternatsky (tapping). The pain can be unilateral or bilateral.
Nephrologists treat the pathology of the kidneys. To avoid complications, it is better not to delay your visit.
Diseases of other organs
Pathology of intraperitoneally located internal organs is very rarely accompanied by back pain. The stomach hurts more often. However, in the case of inflammation of the atypically located appendicular process, if it is placed behind the appendix, the pain will be in the lower back. This is important to know because in this case, your stomach may not hurt at all. The person himself most often does not even know about such anatomical features of his organs.
In cholecystitis, pain often occurs in the right hypochondria. However, due to certain structural features of the gallbladder, it can also radiate to the lumbar region. This symptom can also appear with inflammation of the pancreas. In this case, the pain is related to food intake. It is more common after eating fried or fatty foods.
In women, lower back pain may be the equivalent of menstrual abdominal pain or inflammation of the reproductive system. For example, adnexitis or oophoritis. This symptom often appears during pregnancy. This is due to overuse of the spine, possible pyelonephritis, or fetal pressure at the nerve endings in the lumbar region.
How to get rid of such pain
First, the cause of the pain must be determined. This can only be done with the help of a suitable specialist and after passing a series of tests. X-ray, MRI, or CT scan of the spine and spinal canal is most commonly required. Ultrasound examination of any organ in which the above pathology may occur may also be required.
Treatment of osteochondrosis is treated by specifying the special position of the back and spine, limiting physical activity, and using special exercises. Swimming also has a good effect on the spine with this pathology. Pain can be reduced with oral or topical NSAIDs.
In myositis, NSAIDs should also be taken and applied to the lumbar region where pain occurs.
Urolithiasis and pyelonephritis should be treated by a doctor. In the first case, the stones may be dissolved by surgery or surgically removed. In the second case, antibiotics and uroseptics are prescribed.
Appendicitis is most often treated with surgery. Surgical treatment can also be used for inflammation of the gallbladder and pancreas, but more often these conditions are treated conservatively. NSAIDs, enzymes and bile acid substitutes are prescribed.
Diseases of the pelvic organs are treated by a gynecologist. Such therapy may be medical or surgical, depending on the type of pathology.
From this, it can be concluded that low back pain is a symptom that can occur together with damage to the spine and the muscles around it, as well as diseases of various internal organs. You can also try to treat the pain yourself by starting with NSAIDs and reducing physical activity. However, in order to detect the pathology in time, it is recommended to consult a doctor.