A modern person, having crossed the age limit at 25 years old, periodically begins to experience pain in the lower back, varying in frequency and intensity. Over time, the incidence of unpleasant symptoms increases, the pain sensations increase. The period of exacerbation is becoming more and more prolonged. 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 protrusion sets in. In advanced cases, in the absence of proper treatment, lower back pain becomes unbearable and interferes with the usual movements. At this stage, as a rule, a lumbar herniated disc is diagnosed.
This is a kind of retribution of a person for 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 lumbar region. This means that the entire 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 frame of the back and abdominal press, destruction of intervertebral discs occurs, the appearance of osteophytes and other pathological formations. 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 lower back pain. First of all, various injuries should be excluded, as a result of which both the integrity of the cartilaginous lining and the vertebral body may be affected. These can be vertebral fractures, fractures of the spinous processes, compression fractures of the spine with displacement of the spinal cord structures.
Lumbar 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 apply for an appointment.
In women, low back pain can be caused by pelvic inflammatory disease. Leading among them is adnexitis. In second place is cystic ovarian disease, which causes pulling and aching lower back pain, exacerbating at certain periods of the menstrual cycle. After the age of 45, it is not uncommon for lower back pain in women to cause tumor processes - uterine fibroids, oncological neoplasms of the ovaries and cervix.
In both sexes, there are causes of lower back pain such as inguinal hernia and kidney disease: pyelonephritis, polycystic, amyloidosis, glomerulonephritis. To exclude renal pathology, it is necessary to consult a nephrologist and pass urine tests according to Nechiporenko, according to Zimnitsky. Helps differentiate the diagnosis of renal ultrasound.
In some cases, the cause of pain in the upper lumbar region 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 one-sided localization. With shingles, visible rashes on the skin in the form of small blisters filled with a clear liquid.
More dangerous causes of back pain can be tuberculosis and sarcoma. These diseases leave little chance of recovery. Sometimes they are disguised at the initial stage as ankylosing spondylitis, in which there is also stiffness of movements and severe pain in the lower back in the morning. Then all symptoms disappear.
Lower back hurts: what to do?
If the lower back hurts - what to do in this case, to which doctor to seek help? You can make an appointment with a therapist, who, upon careful examination, will make the initial diagnosis and prescribe additional examinations. Mandatory are: general urine analysis, general blood test, 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 phthisiatrician can be appointed. To clarify the localization of the destructive process in the spinal column, X-ray and tomographic examination methods can be used.
Prescribing treatment depends on the diagnosis. With osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, full treatment is possible only with manual therapy methods. At the initial stage, pain is relieved with the help of traction traction, osteopathy and therapeutic massage. Then doctors make efforts to restore the cartilage structure. To enhance the regeneration processes, reflexology, acupuncture and the introduction of minimal doses of drugs into biologically active points on the human body can be used.
After the restoration of physiological mobility, the complex of rehabilitation treatment should be continued. It includes physical therapy and massage. You should also listen to the recommendations of experts on the organization of the diet, work and rest, the organization of your work and sleeping place. In some cases, it may be necessary to temporarily use a brace to support the spinal column.