Lower back pain is a rather unpleasant phenomenon that may indicate the presence of a serious illness. The lower back has a greater load than the rest of the spine, so it is more prone to injury.
Cramps in the lower back can be a symptom of sciatica, osteochondrosis, scoliosis and many other pathologies.
Pain in the lower back: possible causes
This can happen after sports training, staying in one position for a long time, after awkward movements.
Risk factors:
- obesity;
- recently gave birth / gave birth;
- sports training;
- sedentary work (driver, cashier, etc. );
- work related to significant physical effort;
- work while standing.
After excessive fatigue, the discomfort goes away by itself - rest is enough. Periodic appearance indicates the presence of pathology. Without quality therapy, the condition can worsen significantly: sometimes only surgical intervention is indicated.
A disease accompanied by discomfort in the lower back
These symptoms in medicine are classified into primary and secondary.
In the first case, the discomfort is directly caused by diseases of the back, specifically the spine:
- osteochondrosis of this area (one third of all cases of pain);
- spondylosis / spondylolisthesis / spondyloarthrosis;
- intervertebral disc protrusion or intervertebral hernia.
They say about secondary pain when it is caused by lesions of other organs:
- fractures due to osteoporosis;
- tumors in the spinal canal;
- spinal fracture;
- muscle tension;
- anatomical narrowing of the spinal canal;
- kyphosis / scoliosis / kyphoscoliosis / Scheuermann-Mau disease;
- arthritis (rheumatic, psoriatic, osteoarthritis);
- discitis, osteomyelitis, tuberculosis of the spine;
- urinary system disorders: urolithiasis / pyelonephritis;
- gynecological diseases: ovarian or cyst cancer, endometriosis;
- complicated pregnancy.
Types of pain
Severe back pain
This is observed in osteochondrosis. Discomfort is present when moving, sitting, lifting heavy objects, and also when coughing/sneezing. Unpleasant sensations can be given to the lower part. The patient should immediately see a neurologist.
Severe discomfort accompanies sciatica. The pain is dull or sharp, aching, usually unilateral.
It can give to the buttocks, thighs and even to the bottom of the legs; aggravated by changing position, coughing, walking. Radiculitis is treated by a neurologist. The patient is advised to rest on a hard mattress that will support the lower back.
Acute back pain
This can be caused by sitting in an uncomfortable position for a long time, carrying/lifting heavy objects, falls, bumps, sudden movements, as well as drafts and hypothermia.
An acute attack accompanies the displacement of the intervertebral disc. The latter occurs with spinal fractures, osteochondrosis, hard physical work, heavy lifting.
Displacement can also occur after surgery in this area. Diagnosis in this case is carried out by a neurologist. He also prescribes treatment.
Pain in the lumbar spine
This happens with myositis - inflammation of the back muscles. This disease appears after a sharp overvoltage or hypothermia. It is accompanied by stiffness of movement. The pain becomes sharp with movement.
Chronic (permanent) lower back pain.
Periodic attacks accompany deforming spondylosis. And the affected area may become numb. In addition, sometimes there is weakness in the legs.
It should also be taken into account that chronic pain is characteristic of Bechterew's disease, an oncological pathology. They may also show metabolic disorders.
Bedridden pain
Sometimes it seems to a person that the lower back hurts, but in fact the reason lies in the defeat of a completely different part of the body. This happens with diseases of the pelvic organs, pancreas, kidneys, colon.
Back pain: when to see a doctor?
Do not hesitate to visit a specialist in the following cases:
- attacks last 3 days or more;
- discomfort arises after injury;
- at the same time, the lower back, lower legs and feet hurt;
- pain syndrome combined with numbness of one limb.
What to do with severe cramps in the lumbar region
If the cause is unknown, the temperature should be measured. An increase in this indicator indicates infection and inflammation. Other symptoms are also determined (violation of feces, vomiting, pain only on one side). Then you need to contact the doctor or the emergency team.
If the cause is known, such as muscle strain or bruising, anti-inflammatory drugs should be taken first to reduce discomfort.
Relieves swelling, improves fluid circulation to remove harmful substances from the body, a dose of diuretic helps.
An orthopedic belt or a regular towel will help to fix the muscles and bones in a stable state.
What not to do with lower back discomfort
It is forbidden to perform heating procedures without making a diagnosis.
They trigger blood flow, which is not always safe. With prolonged discomfort of unknown nature, do not use painkillers. In this case, the disease will still develop, but without discomfort.
It is possible to fix the vertebra in any part of the back by a chiropractor only after examination, diagnosis and determination of the cause of the pathology. Vertebral bones are not always displaced due to trauma; this can also occur as a result of a dystrophic process. Reduction can pinch nerves and destroy vertebral processes.
How to treat back pain at home: folk recipes
Alcohol tincture of burdock or eucalyptus will help relieve discomfort. It can also be used to compress. For the same purpose, fresh radish leaves are used on the affected area. They are changed daily as needed.
- Ointment with horse chestnut. The melted fat is mixed with dried horse chestnut grass and camphor oil. Components are taken in equal proportions. The agent is applied to thin slices of black bread and applied to the affected area;
- You can treat with horse chestnut tincture. Cotton cloth or gauze soaked in it, which is used on the lower back;
- Effectively relieves discomfort in the joints and bones of the golden mustache color of "Bishofite". It is necessary to add 35-40 plant particles in the last ½ l. The mixture is left for 14 days. As time passes, it is filtered and used at night to compress.
Nutrition for back problems
To strengthen the bone apparatus, you need to enrich the diet with healthy food and reduce the amount of harmful in it.
Liver and fatty fish (eg salmon, sardines, mackerel) are very useful. These foods are high in vitamin D, fatty acids, and niacin.
Dairy products, meat, cereals, fresh fruits, especially garlic and lemon - all these should be prioritized in the diet.
A lot of potassium is found in cabbage and spinach, and vitamin C - in citrus fruits.
Vitamin A can be found in eggs, dark green leafy vegetables, red, orange and yellow fruits.
You should consume less caffeinated drinks, as well as sweet, spicy, fatty and fried foods.
Exercises for the spine
With minor discomfort, as well as for prevention such as in the back area, it is recommended to do a set of exercises:
- Lie on your back, put your hands along the body, bend your legs slightly at the knees. The legs are inclined to the right, and the body in the opposite direction. In this position, they freeze for 5 seconds, then return to their original position. Turn the other way in the same way. You need to complete 10 approaches;
- Kneel down, place your hands on the chair in front of you. Then bend and arch your back as much as possible. Do up to 10 approaches;
- Lie on your back with arms/legs straight. First, the right leg is raised about 15 cm from the floor, and continues to be raised until a feeling of fatigue appears. Repeat the same with the left leg. You need to complete 5 sets with each leg.
Prevention of back pain
To reduce the risk of problems, you need to follow a few simple rules:
- Less time spent sitting;
- When working sedentary, every hour do a little warm-up for the spine, limbs;
- Lift / carry the load correctly - keep your back straight, do not lift suddenly, divide the load into parts;
- Do exercises to strengthen the muscle corset (support for the spine);
- The mattress should be moderately firm to properly support the lower back;
- Watch your posture, don't slouch;
- Get up to the wall more often, touch with heels, butt, shoulder blades. You need to stand in this position for 3 minutes;
- It is recommended to go into sports to strengthen the muscles that hold the spine: walking, skiing, wushu / qigong gymnastics, swimming, yoga;
You cannot enter for running, boxing, tennis, martial arts, skiing, horse riding.