Lower back pain is a symptom that is familiar to many. It can occur in people of 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, painful, stabbing or shooting. Treatment directly depends on the type of pain and the causes that caused it.
Causes
It is very important to discover the etiology of pain in time. First of all, it is worth noting the nature of pain and the time of its occurrence. In addition, it is necessary to establish its connection with physical activity, food intake and going to the toilet. It is also important for women to monitor the connection between the menstrual cycle and the appearance of pain.
The reasons for lower back pain can be the following:
- Neurological problems. Osteochondrosis and related disorders of innervation of the lumbar region are most often manifested in this way.
- Skeletal muscle pathology. Myositis is the same common occurrence as osteochondrosis and also causes pain.
- Kidney disease. The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space, ie closer to the back than the anterior abdominal wall. Therefore, kidney disease can be accompanied by back pain.
- Pathology of internal organs located intraperitoneally. Sometimes, but not often, lower back pain is associated with diseases such as appendicitis and cholecystitis.
- Pathology of pelvic organs. Especially often such a manifestation of inflammation in the small pelvis occurs in women.
Each of the diseases that lead to lower back pain should be considered in more detail.
Osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a metabolic pathology of the spine, in which the structure of the intervertebral discs is disturbed. It is considered that after the age of 27, this condition is a normal change in relation to age and occurs in almost everyone.
Problems arise due to the fact that the intervertebral disc loses its elasticity and ability to resist stress. At the same time, he begins to move away from the vertebral body. In the immediate vicinity of the vertebral body are the roots of the 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 on any part of the back, but most commonly affects the lumbar region. This happens because the load on the spine is maximal in this part, and disc protrusion is more common.
The nature of the pain that occurs in radiculitis caused by osteochondrosis can be different. There are three types of this:
- Lumbago.It is also called "lumbago". This is a sharp and very intense sharp pain that occurs in the lower back during physical exertion. Such pain is subjectively like a bullet. It makes you stop exercising. However, the lumbago recedes quickly enough, in seconds or minutes.
- Lumbodynia.This pain is less intense, but longer lasting. It also occurs during exercise, but not immediately, but gradually. Such pain can develop for several hours. She has a nagging character. Lumbodinia lasts for several days and significantly reduces the tolerance to exercise during that time period.
- Sciatica.Its difference from the previous type is that in addition to the lower back, the leg also hurts. As a rule, it is a unilateral lesion, but bilateral pain is also possible. Lumioshialgia is a long-term withdrawal. It gradually develops and, as it were, descends from the lower back to the thighs. This pain can lead to temporary lameness. It also passes in a few days.
If osteochondrosis occurs, you should consult a neurologist.
Myositis
Almost everyone has experienced pain for this reason. This is exactly how people sound "through" or "inflated back". The terms are not medical, but the general principle of pain is described correctly.
In this case, exposure to cold air or cold objects on the lumbar region leads to inflammation of the muscles found here. The fact is that the muscular apparatus of the back is very well developed and that 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 nerve roots themselves, which here already turn into nerve trunks. Their defeat can lead to prolonged radiating pain.
Inflammation can move from the muscles to the nerve trunk itself, leading to the spread of pain to the upper or lower back or internal organs. It is also better to treat myositis with a specialist.
Kidney disease
Due to the close proximity of the kidneys to the back, the pain when affected radiates right into the lower back. At the same time, painful sensations can lead to the idea of a certain kidney disease.
Thus, for example, urolithiasis is accompanied by very sharp unbearable pain in the lower back. It's also called colic. It usually occurs after or during urination. Such pain can be so intense that it puts a person in a state of emotional arousal and forces him to unmotivated actions. For example, during an attack, a person may start running around the room or making other sudden movements. They are justified by the fact that under load the stone changes its position in the urinary tract and the pain decreases.
Also, pain can occur with pyelonephritis. In this case, it is less intense, but longer. Pyelonephritis is a purulent inflammation of the pelvic system of the kidneys. Along with pain, fever, weakness, and malaise occur. With pyelonephritis, a positive symptom of Pasternak (tapping). The pain can be unilateral or bilateral.
Nephrologists treat kidney pathology. It is better not to delay visiting them to avoid complications.
Diseases of other organs
Pathology of internal organs located intraperitoneally is very rarely accompanied by back pain. Stomach aches more often. However, in inflammation of the atypically located appendicular process, when it is arranged so that it is located behind the caecum, the pain will be in the lower back. This is important to know because in this case there may be no abdominal pain at all. The person himself usually does not even know about such an anatomical feature of his organs.
In cholecystitis, the pain often occurs in the hypochondrium on the right side. However, due to certain structural characteristics of the gallbladder, it can also radiate to the lumbar region. Also, this symptom can occur in pancreatitis. In this case, the pain is related to food intake. It occurs more often after consuming fried or fatty foods.
In women, lower back pain may occur as equivalent to menstrual pain in the abdomen or inflammation of the reproductive system. For example, this is how adnexitis or oophoritis manifests. This symptom often occurs during pregnancy. This is due to excessive strain on the spine, possible pyelonephritis or fetal pressure on the nerve endings of the lumbar region.
How to get rid of such pain
First of all, it is necessary to determine the cause of pain. This can be done only with the help of an appropriate specialist and after passing a series of examinations. An X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging or CT of the spine and spinal canal are usually needed. You may also need an ultrasound examination of all organs in which the above pathology can develop.
Osteochondrosis is treated by giving a special position to the back and spine, limiting physical activity and special exercises. Swimming also works well on the spine with this pathology. Pain can be reduced by taking NSAIDs orally or topically.
In 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 can be the dissolution of stones by the method of drugs or surgical removal. In the second case, antibiotics and uroseptics are prescribed.
Appendicitis is most often treated with surgery. Surgical treatment can be used for both cholecystitis and pancreatitis, but these pathological conditions are more often treated conservatively. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, enzymes and bile acid substitutes are prescribed.
Diseases of the pelvic organs are treated by a gynecologist. Such therapy can be both medical or surgical, depending on the type of pathology.
Thus, we can conclude that pain in the lower back is a symptom that can occur both in damage to the spine and the muscles that surround it, and in diseases of various internal organs. You can try to treat the pain yourself by starting NSAIDs and reducing physical activity. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor for timely detection of pathology.