In clinical practice, back pain is a fairly common syndrome. It affects the lumbar spine, while the patient feels a "waist" pain. This is how degenerative, musculoskeletal and dystrophic pathologies manifest themselves in the form of osteochondrosis or spondyloarthrosis.
Low back pain: causes and symptoms
In medicine, the following causes of low back pain are traditionally distinguished:
- Infectious and inflammatory processes in the spine;
- Muscle cramps or pinched nerves;
- The formation of an intervertebral hernia;
- Metastasis in the spinal cord or spinal column;
- Scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis;
- Circulatory disorders (with stroke, paralysis);
- Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (atypical manifestation of inflammation of appendicitis, obstruction of the biliary tract and intestines);
- Diseases of the kidneys, reproductive organs;
- In some cases, during the last stage of pregnancy, women may experience discomfort in the lumbar spine.
Low back pain can be acute or persistent (chronic). They can also be "vagabonds", that is, they arise in another organ, but they occur in the lower back.
Acute pain strikes suddenly, has a stabbing character, can make movement difficult and give in the lower extremities and hips. The patient has a forced body position and limited mobility.
Acute pain is diagnosed when:
- stretch the long muscles of the back;
- fracture of the spine and exit of the intervertebral discs;
- facet syndrome (impingement of the nerve root, without displacement of the vertebral discs);
- pedural abscess (immediate hospitalization of the patient is required, since there is a high risk of compression of the spinal cord);
- dystrophic abnormalities of the hip joint.
Chronic low back pain is characterized by loss of sensation, "lumbago" in the gluteal muscle, weakness of the lower extremities, formation of bony outgrowths.
The patient may experience postural disturbances, intermittent claudication, deformity of the feet.
Chronic back pain occurs when:
- osteochondrosis;
- ankylosing spondylarthrosis;
- Metastatic and intradural tumors.
Diagnosis and treatment of back pain.
The true cause of back pain can be diagnosed with CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), X-rays, or ultrasound of internal organs. The first two methods provide a comprehensive assessment of the condition of the bones and soft tissues, an X-ray shows the integrity of the bones and the presence of neoplasms, and an ultrasound examination indicates diseases of the organs and their systems.
The therapeutic course is prescribed only by the attending physician, depending on the diagnosis, it may include: taking painkillers, hormonal drugs, a course of physiotherapy procedures or manual therapy, exercise therapy. If the pain is caused by displacement of the discs or develops in a context of osteochondrosis, it is effective to wear a rigid fixation brace. Significantly relieves the lumbosacral region, avoiding muscle overexertion and the formation of spasms. Locks provide a good therapeutic effect - special injections into the intervertebral joints. They relieve pain and relax the muscles.
In severe cases, surgery may be required. It is very important not to self-medicate, but to seek qualified medical help in time.
In the rehabilitation period, you need to regularly perform physiotherapy exercises, undergo 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:
- observe bed rest. In this case, the bed must have a flat and hard surface. Strictly exclude soft feather mattresses.
- wear a support bandage. It is especially important for pregnant women in the third trimester.
- Pain relievers are allowed.
- Rub your back with ointments with anti-inflammatory and warming components. In no case should you cool it too much; it is better to wear a woolen scarf or a warm belt during an exacerbation of pain.
Low back pain during pregnancy
If we talk about low back pain during pregnancy, then they are associated with a change in the center of gravity of the woman's body due to the development and growth of the fetus. In addition, as a result of hormonal changes (excessive production of relaxin), the hip-sacral joints relax, which upsets the balance. An enlarged abdomen and excessive arching of the spine increase pressure on the lower back. 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 the muscles of the hip joint, impaired posture, osteochondrosis and pathologies of the spine of a neurological nature. Painful sensations do not appear before the second trimester, and this is approximately from the fifth or sixth month. It can be relieved by strengthening the muscles with a special set of exercises. And the sooner you start to train your back muscles, the easier it will be to support a healthy child.