In clinical practice, back pain is a fairly common syndrome. It affects the lumbar spine, while the patient feels "encircling" pain, thus manifesting degenerative, musculoskeletal and dystrophic pathologies in the form of osteochondrosis or spondyloarthritis.
Lower back pain - causes and symptoms
In medicine, the following causes of lower back pain are traditionally distinguished:
- Infectious and inflammatory processes in the spine;
- Muscle cramps or pinched nerves;
- Intervertebral hernia formation;
- Spinal cord or spinal metastases;
- Scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis;
- Circulatory disorders (with stroke, paralysis);
- Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (atypical manifestation of appendicitis, obstruction of the biliary tract and intestine);
- Diseases of the kidneys, reproductive organs;
- In some cases, during late pregnancy, women may feel discomfort in the lumbar spine.
Lower back pain can be acute or persistent (chronic). They can also be "wandering", ie. they occur in another organ but give into the lower back.
Acute pain occurs suddenly, has a penetrating character, can interfere with movement and suffocate the lower extremities and hips. The patient has a forced body position and limited mobility.
Acute pain is diagnosed when:
- stretching of long back muscles;
- vertebral fracture and exit of intervertebral discs;
- facet syndrome (nerve root contraction, without displacement of the spinal discs);
- epidural abscess (urgent hospitalization of the patient is required, because there is a high risk of spinal cord compression);
- dystrophic anomalies of the hip joint.
Chronic low back pain is characterized by loss of sensitivity, "lumbago" in the gluteus muscle, weakness of the lower extremities, the formation of bony outgrowths.
The patient may experience postural disturbances, intermittent claudication, foot deformity.
Chronic back pain occurs when:
- osteochondrosis;
- ankylosing spondylitis;
- metastatic and intradural tumors.
Diagnosis and treatment of back pain
The real cause of back pain can be diagnosed by CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), X-ray or ultrasound of internal organs. The first two methods give a comprehensive assessment of the condition of bones and soft tissues, an X-ray shows the integrity of the bones and the presence of neoplasms, and an ultrasound examination of diseases of organs and their systems.
Therapeutic course prescribed only by a doctor, depending on the diagnosis, may include: taking analgesics, hormonal drugs, a course of physiotherapy procedures or manual therapy, exercise therapy. If the pain is caused by disc displacement or develops in the background of osteochondrosis, it is effective to wear a rigid fixative corset. It significantly relieves the lumbosacral region, preventing muscle strain and spasms. A good therapeutic effect is given by blockades - special injections into the intervertebral joints. They relieve pain and relax muscles.
In severe cases, surgery may be needed. It is very important not to self-medicate, but to seek qualified medical help in time.
During the rehabilitation period, it is necessary to regularly perform physiotherapy exercises, go through a course of massage and physiotherapy. This will help relieve muscle tension, improve blood flow and relieve tension.
General recommendations for pain in the sacro-lumbar spine:
- adhere to bed rest. In this case, the bed should have a hard, flat surface. Strictly exclude soft down mattresses.
- wear a support bandage. It is especially important for pregnant women in the third trimester.
- painkillers are allowed.
- rub your back with ointment with warming and anti-inflammatory components. In no case does he need a cold, it is best to wear a woolen scarf or a warm belt during the worsening of the pain.
Lower back pain during pregnancy
If we talk about lower back pain during pregnancy, then they are associated with a change in the center of gravity of the female body due to the development and growth of the fetus. Also, as a result of hormonal changes (excessive production of relaxin), the sacral joints of the hip relax, which disturbs the balance. An enlarged abdomen and excessive bending of the spine increase the pressure on the lower back. The muscles are constantly overloaded, which becomes the main cause of pain.
The risk group includes girls who before pregnancy had problems with the development of hip joint muscles, posture disorders, osteochondrosis and pathologies of the spine of a neurological nature. Painful sensations do not occur earlier than the second trimester, and this is approximately from the fifth or sixth month. It can be alleviated by strengthening the muscles with a special set of exercises. And the sooner you start training your back muscles, the easier it will be to endure a healthy diet.