Low back pain is a symptom known to many. It can appear on a representative 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 stabbing. Treatment directly depends on the type of pain and the causes that caused it.
Causes
It is very important to find out the etiology of pain in time. First of all, it is worth noting the nature of the 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 bathroom. It is also important for women to trace the connection between the menstrual cycle and the onset of pain.
The reasons for low back pain may be the following:
- Neurological problemsMost often, osteochondrosis and associated disorders of the innervation of the lumbar region are manifested in this way.
- Skeletal muscle pathology. Myositis occurs with the same frequency as osteochondrosis and also causes pain.
- Kidney diseaseThe kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space, that is, closer to the back than to the anterior abdominal wall. That is why kidney disease can be accompanied by back pain.
- Pathology of internal organs located intraperitoneally. Sometimes, but not often, low back pain is associated with conditions such as appendicitis and cholecystitis.
- Pelvic organ pathology. Especially often this manifestation of inflammation in the small pelvis appears in women.
Each of the diseases that cause low 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 altered. After age 27, this condition is believed to be a normal age-related change 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, it begins to go beyond the vertebral bodies. In the vicinity of the vertebral bodies 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 in any part of the back, but most often affects the lower back. This happens because the load on the spine in this part is maximum and the bulge of the disc is more common.
The nature of the pain that occurs with radiculitis caused by osteochondrosis may be different. There are three types of this:
- Lumbago.It is also called "lumbago". It is a sharp and very intense pain that occurs in the lower back at the time of physical effort. That pain is subjectively like a gunshot. It makes you stop exercising. However, low back pain resolves quickly enough, within a few seconds or minutes.
- Lumbodynia.This pain is less intense, but longer lasting. It also happens during exercise, but not immediately, but gradually. Such pain can develop over several hours. It has an irritating character. Lumbodynia continues for several days and significantly reduces exercise tolerance during this time period.
- Sciatica.Its difference with the previous species is that in addition to the lower back, the leg also hurts. As a general rule, this is a unilateral injury, but bilateral pain is also possible. Lumioischialgia has a prolonged pulling character. It develops gradually and, as it were, descends from the lower back to the thigh. This pain can cause temporary lameness. It also happens in a few days.
If osteochondrosis occurs, you should consult a neurologist.
Myositis
Almost everyone has experienced pain for this reason. This is exactly what people sound like "through" or "inflated". The terms are not medical, but the general principle of pain is correctly described.
In this case, exposure to cold air or cold objects in the lower back leads to inflammation of the muscles found here. The fact is that the muscular apparatus of the back is very well developed, and any pathological processes in it can simultaneously damage many anatomical structures.
First, due to 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 same nerve roots, which here already become nerve trunks. Their defeat can lead to long-term radiating pain.
The inflammation can move from the muscle to the nerve trunk itself, causing the pain to spread to the overlying or lower parts of the back or internal organs. It is also better to treat myositis with a specialist.
Kidney disease
Due to the proximity of the kidneys to the back, the pain when they are affected radiates precisely to the lower back. At the same time, painful sensations can lead to the idea of a certain kidney disease.
So, for example, urolithiasis is accompanied by very sharp excruciating pain in the lower back. It is also called colic. It occurs most often after or during urination. Such pain can be so intense that it puts a person in a state of emotional arousal and forces them to perform unmotivated actions. For example, during a seizure, a person may start running around the room or make other sudden movements. They are justified by the fact that under load, the stone changes position in the urinary tract, and pain decreases.
Also, pain can occur with pyelonephritis. In this case, it is less intense, but more prolonged. Pyelonephritis is a purulent inflammation of the calyx-pelvic system of the kidneys. In addition to pain, fever, weakness and malaise appear. With pyelonephritis, a positive Pasternatsky symptom (tapping). The pain can be unilateral or bilateral.
Nephrologists treat kidney disease. It is better not to delay the visit to avoid complications.
Diseases of other organs.
Pathology of internal organs located intraperitoneally is rarely accompanied by back pain. Most often the stomach hurts. However, with atypical location appendicular process inflammation, when it unfolds so that it is located behind the cecum, the pain will be in the lower back. This is important to know because, in this case, you may not feel any stomach pain. The person himself often does not even know such an anatomical feature of his organs.
With cholecystitis, pain often occurs in the right upper quadrant. However, due to certain structural features of the gallbladder, it can also radiate to the lumbar region. Also, this symptom can appear with pancreatitis. In this case, the pain is associated with food intake. It occurs most often after eating fried or fatty foods.
In women, low back pain can occur as the equivalent of menstrual abdominal pain or inflammation of the reproductive system. For example, this is how adnexitis or oophoritis manifests itself. This symptom usually appears during pregnancy. This is due to excessive stress on the spine, possible pyelonephritis, or fetal pressure on the nerve endings in the lumbar region.
How to get rid of such pain
First of all, it is necessary to determine the cause of the pain. This can only be done with the help of an appropriate specialist and after passing a series of exams. Most often, an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan of the bones of the spine and spinal canal is necessary. You may also need an ultrasound of all organs in which the above pathology may 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 with NSAIDs orally or topically.
With myositis, it is also necessary to take NSAIDs and apply them to the lumbar region where the pain occurs.
Urolithiasis and pyelonephritis must be treated by a doctor. In the first case, it can be the dissolution of stones by a pharmacological method or surgical removal. In the second case, antibiotics and uroseptics are prescribed.
Appendicitis is most often treated with surgery. Surgical treatment can also be used for cholecystitis and pancreatitis, but more often these pathological conditions are treated conservatively. NSAIDs, enzymes, and bile acid substitutes are prescribed.
Pelvic organ diseases are treated by a gynecologist. Said therapy can also be medical or surgical, depending on the type of pathology.
Thus, we can conclude that low back pain is a symptom that can occur both with damage to the spine itself and the muscles that surround it, as well as diseases of various internal organs. You can try treating the pain yourself by starting with NSAIDs and reducing physical activity. However, it is recommended to consult a doctor for the timely detection of pathology.