Severe back pain in the lower back: possible causes, symptoms, consultation with a doctor and treatment

It is impossible to independently determine the cause of pain.Pain in the back and lower back is medically called lumbago.It is felt in the lower back, accompanied by muscle spasms and additional unpleasant symptoms.Acute lower back pain is felt for various reasons and can last from a few minutes to several months.As a result, a person begins to get used to sharp pain in the waist and back.But if you don't see a doctor in time, the person's health will deteriorate significantly and the chances of recovery will decrease.It is important to consider the causes and treatment of lower back pain.

Description of damage

Severe pain in the back and lower back, a feeling of tension and tightness are common conditions that many people experience sooner or later.

In most cases, the pain syndrome appears in the lower back, since the lumbar spine is characterized by mobility and takes half of the weight of the human body.Back pain in the lower back can occur as a result of lifting heavy objects or making sharp turns.

In some cases, unpleasant symptoms in the lower back appear over time due to regular exercise or incorrect posture.In some cases, it is impossible to determine the cause of the pain syndrome.The pain is strongest at night, when there is a load on the lower back, or after being in an uncomfortable position for a long time, for example, after a long car ride.In most cases, back pain in the lumbar region disappears if a person lies on a hard surface for a while.

Most often, the pain lasts for several days or weeks, and after that the general well-being of the person improves and the condition of the lower back is restored.You can speed up recovery by taking painkillers and optimizing daily physical activity: rest only in the first days, and then gradually return to normal.But in some cases, discomfort and discomfort in the lower back indicate the onset of a chronic disease that requires complex treatment.

In this process, human mood plays a special role.Due to the pain, the general condition of the patient can significantly deteriorate, but according to statistics, a person who is in a good mood recovers faster than a depressed person.

The main causes of the syndrome

The condition of the back directly depends on the functioning of the bones, nerves, muscles and joints.Most often, it is quite difficult to find out the exact cause of the pain.In rare cases, serious diseases or injuries of the spine occur.

In most cases, back pain at the waist level occurs due to minor injuries, muscle strain, ligament and muscle strain, nerve compression, and the start of an inflammatory process.Unpleasant back symptoms can occur suddenly or develop gradually.Causes of back and lower back pain:

• Too sudden movement: bending or turning to the side;
• lifting and carrying heavy objects, long bending of the body;
• incorrect posture when walking or working at the desk;
• Strong muscle tension in the back;
• A long ride in the car without a rest break.

In some cases, pain in this area appears for no particular reason, for example, after waking up in the morning.

The main factors

There are factors that can cause severe back and lower back pain.Experts allocate a large number of them;They can negatively affect the condition of the back.The main ones are:

• Heavy weight - in this case, the spine is heavily overloaded.To determine whether body weight affects the spine, the total body mass index should be calculated.
• Smoking - can adversely affect the tissues of the back, causing pain.
• Carrying a child - in this position, the woman's spine is subjected to strong stress, which only increases with the increase in the size of the belly.
• Long-term use of medications that reduce bone density, such as corticosteroids.
• Psycho-emotional overload, stress - regular anxiety causes strong tension in the muscles of the neck and back, which causes pain.

Major diseases

Diseases that can cause low back pain include:

1. Osteochondrosis and its complications, for example, spinal hernia, is a degenerative process in which the intervertebral cartilage is destroyed, causing pain.Such diseases appear in the elderly, especially those who experience severe stress on the back.
2. Sprains of ligaments and muscles - most often occur after prolonged physical activity or sudden movement.
3. Some types of arthritis are inflammatory joint diseases, in which joint stiffness and morning movement problems are felt in addition to pain.
4. Kidney diseases, for example, pyelonephritis, can cause back pain on the right or left side.

Implementation of diagnostic activities

Severe back and lower back pain can be managed at home with special medications that can be purchased at a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription.As a rule, there is no need for therapy in the clinic.

If the back pain radiates to the lower back and causes severe discomfort, then the patient should definitely consult a doctor.He will conduct an examination and prescribe treatment.

If back pain on the left side of the back prevents the patient from resting and moving normally, then you should consult a doctor at home.

When examining the condition, the doctor asks the person to sit, stand, walk, alternately raise the legs, and also determine the general range of motion of the back.He will also need information about possible recent illnesses or injuries, learn about lifestyle, work characteristics, and will also ask the following questions:

1. when did the pain start
2. Where is the frequent pain?
3. Does your back hurt before?
4. How is the pain syndrome manifested?
5. For what reason does the pain get stronger or weaker?

During the examination, the doctor will try to rule out possible infection and fracture, because such manifestations occur in rare cases.If there are problems with establishing the diagnosis, the doctor may send the patient for additional diagnostic measures: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or X-ray of the spine.A urine test is performed to rule out kidney disease.

In most cases, back pain is relieved on the third day of treatment.If the therapy does not improve the condition and the pain continues for six weeks (chronic process), or a serious disease caused the injury, then the doctor will refer the person to a specialist.In most cases, the treatment of back and lower back pain is prescribed by a neurologist.In addition, other doctors can join in examining the patient's condition: an osteopath, a chiropractor and a reflexologist.

Basic treatment methods

Treatment of pain syndrome will depend on its duration and severity, as well as individual characteristics of the person.In most cases, the pain can be relieved with simple medicines at home.

The main methods of treatment:

• mobility.In the past, doctors believed that it was important to ensure peace during low back pain.It has now been established that in patients who start moving earlier, the pain disappears more quickly.Complete rest and bed rest should be observed only in the first days of acute pain, when it is severe and prevents normal movement.In this case, a person should lie on a firm and level bed.After the condition returns to normal, you should gradually return to your normal lifestyle and previous activities, adding more and more mobility every day.Over time, the person will be able to walk normally at home or visit public places.But he will have to get used to some discomfort and try to avoid everything that can cause pain again.After a few days, a person can return to work without waiting for the severe pain in the back and lower back to completely disappear (of course, if the person's work does not involve stress on the lower back).Early mobility will help restore the condition and reduce the severity of pain.
• Taking painkillers.When it comes to acute pain above or directly in the waist, doctors prescribe painkillers.Products help to eliminate pain and inflammation.Depending on the severity of the injury, the specialist can prescribe different forms of these medicines: injections, tablets, local preparations - ointments, gels and creams against back pain.Most often, the initial treatment involves injections.After the pain syndrome passes, the medication is stopped and, if necessary, tablets or special ointments are started.Such drugs have certain contraindications, so before you start taking them, you should definitely consult a doctor and study the instructions.Painkillers are best taken with milk after meals.
• Muscle relaxants- Medicines that help eliminate muscle spasms and relax muscles.They are prescribed when the strong tension of the spinal muscles increases the pain syndrome, for example, in the acute stage of osteochondrosis or disc herniation.Muscle relaxants also have various side effects;For example, it is forbidden to pick them up while driving.It is important to consult a doctor first.
• Treatment with warm and cold compresses.In some cases, the pain can be relieved by taking a hot bath or applying heating pads to the painful area of the body.You can also improve your general condition with a bag of cold or frozen vegetables.But you must remember that you should not apply ice on the skin itself, as this can cause frostbite.You should first wrap a cold object in a towel and then apply it to the affected area of the body.You can also alternate treatment with cold and heat, applying ice or a heater to the body.
• Choosing a sleeping position.Changing your sleeping position can help relieve tension and pain.If the patient is used to sleeping on his side, then he should pull his legs to his chest and place a pillow between his legs.If he sleeps on his back, then a pillow should be placed under his knees, this will ensure the natural curvature of the spine in the lower back.
• body relaxation- This is a very important component in the fight against acute back pain on the left side above the lower back, because with strong anxiety and excess, the pain syndrome only worsens.As practice shows, people in a good mood recover much faster and their pain does not become chronic.There are special techniques that help a person to relax and forget the discomfort in the back for a while.For this, it is recommended to perform special breathing exercises and perform a set of simple exercises with alternating tension and relaxation of body muscles.
• Physical activity, maintaining a healthy lifestyle.It is important to eliminate the root cause of back and lower back pain in order to prevent it from recurring.The most common causes of pain in this area include being overweight, poor posture, and regular emotional outbursts.In this case, a positive effect can be achieved if you start an active and healthy lifestyle, for example, walking more or visiting the pool.The main thing is to choose the activity that you like the most.In some cases, lessons are conducted under the guidance of a trainer.Most often, a set of exercises is used, which helps to strengthen the back muscles and ensure correct posture and stretching.
• If the pain syndrome does not disappear within 6 weeks after treatment, then it automatically passes into the chronic stage.In addition to painkillers and muscle relaxants, complex treatment should be started in this case.

Treatment of chronic pain

In this condition, doctors prescribe the following measures to patients:

• Manual therapy is performed by a chiropractor or osteopath and includes the use of various therapy methods, massage and mobilization.
• Alexander's technique - helps to eliminate strong muscle tension, teaches a person how to correctly take the position of the body in different situations and move.This technique will help you learn to maintain body balance and correct posture.
• Acupuncture sessions are an ancient Chinese method of treatment, during which thin needles are inserted into different parts of the body, which helps to reduce pain and normalize the human condition.
• Taking antidepressants.Such drugs are prescribed to the patient when painkillers and other methods of treatment do not bring positive results.Doctors recommend taking tricyclic antidepressants in small amounts.Such remedies were originally designed to relieve depression and nervous system problems, but they can also suppress certain types of pain.
• A session with a psychiatrist.A positive effect can be achieved from such a procedure when other treatment methods do not help.Acute lower back pain is a real condition.How a person treats it can strengthen it or, on the contrary, significantly weaken it.Cognitive behavioral therapy can help eliminate lower back pain, right or left, by changing your attitude toward it.According to statistics, people who have undergone psychotherapy sessions experience much less severe pain.In this case, a person is motivated to lead an active lifestyle and exercise regularly, which leads to a reduction in pain.

perform an operation

Most often, surgery is used only when all other methods of treating back and lower back pain have failed.Surgery is used when the pain syndrome is so strong or constant that it prevents the patient from working or even resting.The chosen method of surgical intervention will directly depend on the type of pain syndrome and its cause.

For example, in the case of a herniated disc, the doctor prescribes a discectomy.Currently, doctors can perform surgery through minimal incisions using specialized microsurgical instruments.Such operations are difficult, but characterized by minimal trauma.

Spinal fusion is a difficult and rather rare surgical intervention.Its results do not always live up to expectations.For example, after surgery, a person may continue to have severe back pain below the waist.

With spinal fusion, the overall mobility of the spine is significantly reduced, since during the operation several vertebrae that cause pain are fixed in one position, including through the implantation of living bone tissue.At the end of the rehabilitation period, the bones are completely fused, and when a person moves, they do not affect the nerve endings near them.It helps to suppress severe back pain in the lumbar region on the left and right.Before deciding to perform surgery, the patient should receive information from the neurosurgeon about all possible complications and positive effects of therapy.

additional treatment

In dealing with acute and chronic back pain, other alternative treatment methods can be used, the effect of which has not been proven in medical practice.The main non-traditional methods of treatment include:

• laser treatment - minimal power lasers affect the inflamed area of the body and cause tissue regeneration;
• Treatment with interference currents - the lower part of the back is exposed to medium and low-frequency currents, which leads to an increase in the production of endorphins (pain-relieving hormones), as well as active restoration of damaged tissues;
• Ultrasound treatment - in this case, an ultrasound wave directed at the surface of the back is used: it provides tissue restoration and active healing, which eliminates pain;
• Electrical stimulation of nerves through the skin - electrodes that are glued to the surface of the skin deliver electrical impulses of a certain strength, which provoke the active production of endorphins and facilitate the transmission of pain signals along the spine to the brain;
• Lumbar braces - special pillows, brackets and corsets are used to maintain the condition of the spine;
• back traction using specialized equipment and sets of exercises;
• Administration of special injections into the spine - drugs are injected into the intervertebral spaces.

The specialist may also send the patient to a "pain school", where people are taught to cope with pain independently, perform special exercises and live an active and healthy life.Such facilities primarily deal with group therapy, relaxation and psychology.

Prevention measures

A healthy and strong back is the best solution to avoid any pain.For this very reason, the most effective prevention will be regular physical activity in a rational amount, correct posture and also avoiding lifting heavy objects.

If a person has temporary low back pain that radiates to the lower back, then he should take the following preventive measures:

• Get rid of excess weight, if any: a large amount of extra pounds can negatively affect the condition of the lower back, cause additional stress;
• use correct and comfortable shoes with low heels, which will help distribute the load evenly on the feet and avoid overloading the spine during movement;
• It is also important to stop the movement suddenly, as this can cause muscle strain;
• Learn to cope with stress, depression, nervousness, stop worrying too much, because all this can cause pain.

Types of exercises for the back

A set of exercises is a good way to prevent and relieve lower back pain, but if the pain persists for more than 6 months, then it is very important to consult a doctor before starting to exercise.

Strengthening walking and swimming will help improve the condition of the muscles and support the spine without overloading it, which eliminates possible stretching.Pilates and yoga can help strengthen your back muscles and develop flexibility, but they should be done under the strict supervision of a professional trainer.

The most common simple exercises for back pain that can be performed at home:

1. Wall squat - for this you need to straighten, place your feet shoulder width apart.Next, perform a squat until the body is in a 90-degree bend.
2. Alternate leg raises.To perform the exercise, you need to lie on the floor and raise your legs one by one without bending them.The exercise is repeated 5 times.
3. Pelvic lifts.The exercise is performed in a lying position.First, the knees are bent, and then the pelvis is raised by the tension of the abdominal muscles.It is important to keep your back straight while performing the exercise.Repeat 5 times.

Initially, exercises are performed several times a day, over time the number of approaches increases to six, depending on how a person feels.This complex helps to warm up and strengthen the back muscles.Most often, people injure their lower back during everyday activities, such as lifting heavy objects or cleaning the house.Warming up your muscles thoroughly before working out can help prevent injury.

Pain due to osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disease of the articular cartilage that connects the vertebrae.Due to this disease, the roots of the spinal cord are stretched, which causes pain.People over the age of 30 are especially susceptible to this condition, and recently the lesion is often diagnosed in young people.

The main cause of back and lower back pain is lifting heavy objects, monotonous work in an uncomfortable position (for example, in the garden).Osteochondrosis can occur as a result of a long journey without stopping, when a person sits all the time.

No person is immune from such a disease.It can be recognized by the following symptoms:

• back pain
• pain in the lower back, the right (or left) side of the back hurts, the pain radiates to the leg;
• The pain only worsens with changes in position and load on the lower back;
• A person may have a strong burning sensation and painful lumbago;
• After being in an uncomfortable position for a long time, it is difficult to change it due to severe discomfort;
• The sensitivity of the buttocks and legs decreases, a feeling of goosebumps appears;
• Sweating problems appear, the lower limbs get cold.

If a person is sure that the pain syndrome comes from the spine, then he should carry out the following therapeutic measures:

• use a special woolen belt or scarf, tie it to the lower back;
• lie on a hard and flat surface;
• Start taking anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Apply anti-inflammatory ointments for back pain in the lumbar region.

It is important to remember that painkillers cannot be taken on an empty stomach, as they irritate the mucous membrane and can cause ulcers and gastritis.If a person is not sure of the cause of back and lower back pain, then it is important for him to consult a doctor - taking anti-inflammatory drugs for diseases of the stomach and pancreas is very dangerous, because they can only aggravate the general condition.

what is forbidden

In no case should the patient try to "straighten" the back on his own - this can only increase the pain syndrome and also cause great damage.During the acute form of osteochondrosis, you should not take warm baths or visit baths and saunas.

After warming up, a person may feel better and get rid of pain, but after that, the health condition will only worsen.If the pain occurs frequently in the back, it is important to have an MRI and seek the help of a neurologist.