One of the most common pain syndromes is associated with the lower back. According to some experts, the pain in the lower back is a kind of punishment for mankind for walking upright, when the greatest load falls on the lumbar spine, which bears the main load of the mass of the human body. Physical inactivity, poor diet, obesity, stress also have a negative effect. For many, back pain (lumbodynia) is so common that it is a part of everyday life. It can only occur once and go away without a trace, or it can come back again and again, causing tremendous suffering.
Many of us at least once, but worried about the pain in the lower back. Statistics say that this kind of pain occurs in 90% of the population. The lower back can hurt with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, genitals, accompany menstruation in women. But most often such pains are caused by osteochondrosis - degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine. And among all the many pain syndromes of osteochondrosis, back pain occupies a leading position.
Lower back pain can be of a different nature - painful, appearing after a long static load while sitting or sleeping, or sharp shooting, which occurs during sudden movement or is caught in an uncomfortable position. nerve roots, as well as spasms, swelling and irritation of the muscles and ligaments of the lumbar spine, which occur with osteochondrosis.
Causes of back pain
The lumbosacral spine is under maximum stress, and the intervertebral discs (platelets between the vertebrae) wear out much faster here. There are many causes of osteochondrosis in the lower back, but the two main ones are: prolonged heavy static load and strong peak load, which usually occurs when bending over to lift heavy loads. Here are some numbers. According to biomechanics, when lying down, the intervertebral discs undergo a pressure of 50 kg, when standing - 100, when sitting with a straight back without support - 150, and sitting hunched - 220.
Now calculate how much you are sitting in a day. . . And how long bent over, with a round back. . .
More figures: when the body is tilted forward only 20 ° without a load in the hands - 150, and with a load of only 10 kilograms (a few bags of groceries) - 200 kg, and if itleans even lower, at an angle of 70 °, the load will increase to 300 kg. For example, according to biomechanical data, when a person lifts a weight of 50 kg in a forward tilted position, the load on the spine is 700 kg. Now answer the question: do you lift heavy objects? And from the ground? And with a tilt and turn?
Back pain can be divided into primary and secondary pain. As you know, the spine is a series of vertebrae interconnected by elastic tissues - muscles and ligaments. They (in addition to bone tissue) contain nerve endings and can become a source of back pain.
The causes of primary back pain are due to the pathology of the spine - dystrophic and functional changes in the joints of the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, muscles, tendons, ligaments.
Secondary lower back pain syndrome is associated with traumatic injuries of the spine, tumor and infectious processes, diseases of internal organs, osteoporosis and other pathologies. It is a kind of alarm signal concerning the dysfunctions of the body. The particularly frequent causes of persistent low back pain are benign and malignant diseases of the pelvic organs (endometriosis, uterine fibroids, dysmenorrhea, lesions of the large vessels, kidneys, chronic prostatitis, certain diseases of the nervous system).
There are 5 most common causes of back pain:
Osteochondrosis (dorsopathy)- The most common source of lower back pain. The examination reveals degenerative diseases of the spine - arthrosis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis. The height of the intervertebral discs decreases, which leads to disturbances in the mechanical balance between the structures of the spine - hence the constant pain, quite tolerable, but periodically increasing in the lower back.
Muscle spasms.Have you experienced acute lower back pain while participating in intense and excessive physical activity that is unusual for you? The predisposing factor is prolonged static incorrect posture of the body (at the computer, squatting, bending in half during summer cottage work). As a result, a muscle spasm develops, limiting the mobility of a certain part of the spine. Tense muscles become a source of suffering, triggering a vicious cycle of low back pain - muscle spasms - pain. This condition can persist for a long time and causes many unpleasant minutes. Warning! For persistent low back pain, especially if it starts quickly and acutely, see a doctor to identify the underlying conditions and develop a modern and correct treatment.
Herniated disc, compressing the roots of the spinal cord, is especially common in men over 40. The first symptom of the disorder is lumbodynia associated with a number of additional signs: pain along the root of the buttock to the foot when coughing, sneezing and laughing, difficulty in bending and extending the spine in the lumbar region. (this is especially evident when putting on socks and shoes), increased unpleasant sensations when lifting a straight leg lying on the back. This back pain is often referred to as the outdated term sciatica or the colloquial word lumbago. The pain intensifies in the upright position and subsides in the horizontal position.
Vertebral instabilityIs a typical problem for middle aged women. Manifested by back pain, aggravated by prolonged physical activity and standing. At the same time, there is a feeling of fatigue and a desire to lie down. The disease is caused by damage to the disc or intervertebral joint and often occurs against a background of moderate obesity. It is difficult for such patients not to bend, but to straighten up, to make "extra" movements.
Narrow spinal canal.The most common symptom is pain at rest associated with pain when walking. It stretches along the root of the buttocks to the feet, while it always hurts, even lying or sitting, to the point that it is impossible to sit on the "sore" buttock. Narrow spinal canal syndrome is a consequence of degenerative changes, proliferation of bone and joint structures in the spine, which leads to damage to the roots of the spinal nerves.
Additionally, you have a real chance of experiencing back pain on your own skin if:
- Overweight
- Do you like summer cottage work
- Spend a lot of time driving a car or computer
- Lead a predominantly sedentary lifestyle (office workers) or standing (salespeople, waiters, street singers, surgeons)
- Overload yourself in the gym or fitness club. Be extremely careful if you have recently started exercising.
- Do dynamic physical work with a sudden change in body position (especially if your specialty is associated with intense physical activity)
Additional risk for women:
- You are pregnant or have recently given birth
- Have reached postmenopause, conducive to the development of osteoporosis
What to do for back pain:
And now, based on the above reasons, the same advice promised for those who want to reduce chronic lower back discomfort, as well as prevent the onset of lower back pain.
- Spend less time sitting. And if you still have to, sit in the correct position.
- If you stay seated for a long time, be sure to take breaks every hour to do several movements (extensions, bends, simple walking, etc. ).
- Do not lift heavy objects. If you have to lift them, use the rulers to lift heavy objects.
- Tighten your abdominal muscles as if you were pulling on tight pants. The abdominal muscles support the lumbar spine, and by straightening the abdomen, you lightly relieve the load on the lower back.
- Exercise regularly for the spine and strengthen the muscle corset. Strong muscles will help you relieve excess stress on your lower back in any position. A flexible spine will help avoid constricting blood vessels and nerve endings.
- Find yourself a comfortable orthopedic mattress.
Additionally, for back pain, your doctor will usually recommend:
- A specialist may prescribe muscle relaxants to relieve muscle spasms, as well as diuretics and vascular drugs to reduce swelling of the nerve roots and improve blood flow to the affected area.
- Relax for 2-5 days. As a rule, we are talking about bed rest on a hard, level surface.
- Take pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are available as tablets, solutions for injection and ointments.
- Wear a special bandage if necessary.
- Follow a physiotherapy cure to consolidate the positive effect when your well-being improves. Physiotherapy procedures (magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, phonophoresis), as well as massage and physiotherapy exercises relieve muscle tension, improve blood circulation and stop the inflammatory process
- Resort to local therapy with ointments and gels containing analgesic, anti-inflammatory or warming components.
Recently, doctors have at their disposal double-acting agents - analgesics and muscle relaxers (relaxant muscles), which is very important in the treatment of pain syndrome in the pathology of the musculoskeletal system and muscle spasms. These are drugs that have a triple effect - analgesic, muscle relaxant and neuroprotective (protecting nerve cells from damage). In fact, we are talking about a fundamentally new approach to the treatment of back pain.
Whatever the cause of low back pain, it is impossible to determine it for yourself with certainty. If the back does not rest during the day or at night, it is better to quickly consult a specialist who will tell you the tactics of treatment. All of these tips will help you prevent and reduce lumbar spine discomfort. But if you have severe pain in your lower back and sacrum, do not delay the visit to the doctor. Entrust the final diagnosis to a specialist! Low back pain has various causes, not necessarily associated with pathology of the spine. In case of back pain and lumbago, it is recommended to undergo a computer tomography (shows the condition of the bone tissues of the spine) and magnetic resonance imaging (allows to assess the condition of the soft tissues). As a rule, the majority of patients recover within 2-3 months, only a small number of patients with complaints of lumbodynia reveal serious diseases.