The modern person, having surpassed the age limit at 25 years of age, starts to periodically feel pain in the lower back, varying in frequency and intensity. Over time, the incidence of unpleasant symptoms increases, the sensations of pain increase. The period of exacerbation is becoming longer and longer. This is a clinical picture of the development of lumbar osteochondrosis - a disease in which there is gradual destruction of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs. They become thinner, deformed, their lumps settle. In advanced cases, in the absence of adequate treatment, low back pain becomes unbearable and interferes with normal movements. At this stage, as a rule, a herniated lumbar disc is diagnosed.
This is a kind of retribution of a person for the upright posture and upright position of the body. During the transition to an upright position, the center of gravity shifted, which we have in the lower back. This means that the entire body weight when walking, running, jumping, bending the trunk and other movements puts pressure on the vertebrae of the lumbar spine. With an insufficiently developed muscular structure of the back and abdominal pressure, there is destruction of the intervertebral discs, the appearance of osteophytes and other pathological formations. And these are common causes of back pain.
Other Causes of Back Pain
In addition to osteochondrosis and its complications, there are other causes of low back pain. First, several lesions must be excluded, as a result of which both the integrity of the cartilaginous lining and the vertebral body can be affected. They can be vertebral fractures, spinous process fractures, spinal compression fractures with displacement of spinal cord structures.
Back injuries can be caused by frontal and tangential impacts, falls from heights and traffic accidents. Often with injuries, athletes who are professionally involved in weightlifting sports apply for a consultation.
In women, low back pain can be caused by pelvic inflammatory disease. Among them is the annex. Second is the cystic disease of the ovary, which causes distension and lower back pain, which gets worse at certain times in the menstrual cycle. After the age of 45, it is not uncommon for low back pain in women to be caused by tumoral processes - uterine fibroids, cancer of the ovaries and cervix.
In both sexes, there are causes of low back pain, such as inguinal hernia and kidney disease: pyelonephritis, polycystic, amyloidosis, glomerulonephritis. To rule out kidney pathology, it is necessary to consult a nephrologist and pass urine tests according to Nechiporenko, according to Zimnitsky. Helps to differentiate diagnosis from renal ultrasound.
In some cases, the cause of pain in the upper lumbar region is intercostal neuralgia or herpes zoster. The first condition can be distinguished by palpation of the intercostal spaces. Typically, in intercostal neuralgia, this causes a marked increase in pain and is characterized by unilateral localization. With shingles, visible rashes in the form of small blisters filled with a clear liquid.
The most dangerous causes of back pain can be tuberculosis and sarcoma. These illnesses leave little chance of recovery. They are sometimes disguised at an early stage as ankylosing spondylitis, in which there is also stiffness of movement and severe pain in the lower back in the morning. Then all symptoms disappear.
Lower back pain: what to do?
If the lumbar region hurts - what to do in this case, which doctor to look for help? You can make an appointment with a therapist who, after careful examination, will make an initial diagnosis and prescribe additional tests. Mandatory are: general analysis of urine, general blood test, ultrasound of the kidneys and urinary tract, exclusion of tumoral processes in the abdominal cavity. An appointment with a neurologist, a gynecologist (for women) and a phthisiatrician may then be indicated. To clarify the location of the destructive process in the spine, X-ray methods and CT scans can be used.
The prescription of treatment depends on the diagnosis. With osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, complete treatment is only possible with manual therapy methods. In the initial phase, pain is relieved with the aid of traction, traction, osteopathy and therapeutic massage. Doctors then strive to restore cartilage structure. To improve the regeneration processes, reflexology, acupuncture and the introduction of minimal doses of drugs into biologically active points of the human body can be used.
After physiological mobility is restored, the complex rehabilitation treatment must be continued. Includes physiotherapy and massage. You should also listen to expert advice on how to organize food, work and rest, how to organize your work and where you sleep. In some cases, it may be necessary to temporarily use a brace to support the spine.