Any pain is a sign of problems in the body.Back pain occurs as a reflex symptom of diseases of internal systems and individual organs, mainly with musculoskeletal degenerative-dystrophic changes.Lower back pain may be a reason to consult a neurologist, orthopedic surgeon, vertebrologist, gastroenterologist, urologist and gynecologist.
Pain of pain - discord
In addition to injuries resulting from injuries, possible causes of lower back pain may include the following illnesses:
- spine;
- internal organs of the pelvis and gastrointestinal tract;
- muscles.
Low back pain varies significantly in strength and duration, and can be:
- sharp and painful;
- permanent or periodic;
- located at one point, for example, on the right or left, or in movement when the pain is the result of a projection of the pathology of the peritoneal and pelvic organs.
What could it be?
To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to determine the nature, location and frequency of the pain, measure the temperature (a high temperature indicates the presence of inflammation and/or infection), analyze the symptoms that accompany the disease (vomiting, lining of the tongue, diarrhea, redness or rash on the skin) and consult a doctor.
Observation!The higher the temperature, the more likely the cause of the pain is infectious, for example with shingles, which is characterized by pain in the lower back and characteristic rashes.
After conversation with the patient and his external examination to confirm the diagnosis, if necessary, the doctor may prescribe blood and urine tests, as well as:
- computed tomography;
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- ultrasound examination of internal organs;
- X-ray.
1. Back problems
Back problems, characterized by chronic low back pain, are accompanied by limited mobility lasting several hours to several weeks and without an increase in temperature.The most well-known low back pain syndromes are:
- radiculitis- damage to the nerve roots of the spinal cord, often of an inflammatory nature.They suffer mainly from the cords formed by the roots and located between the vertebrae.Most of the time it does not have an acute onset.It may be a secondary symptom of another disease, such as osteochondrosis or spinal tuberculosis;
- low back pain (lumbago)- an attack of sudden and sharp pain when lifting something heavy, with awkward movements or hypothermia.Accompanied by stiffness and constant tension in the lumbar muscles for a long time.It can be a consequence of various diseases, in addition to osteochondrosis, for example, displacement of intervertebral discs in the lumbar region;
- sciatica (inflammation, compression of the sciatic nerve).Paroxysmal pain in the lower back often moves to the sacrum and the back of the legs.In women, it may be a consequence of chronic inflammation of the appendages.
Observation!When the nerve roots of the spinal cord are damaged, pain in the lower back can spread to one or both of the legs, accompanied by numbness and “pins and needles” sensations.
The most common diseases that cause low back pain are:
- Lumbar osteochondrosis, which is manifested by loosening of the cartilage and bone tissue of the joints with the involvement of nerves in the pathogenesis and pain due to pinching of the nerve roots extending from the spinal cord.
- Spondylosis- dystrophic change (gradual thinning) of the lumbar vertebrae, the ligaments weaken and bone growth occurs, narrowing the spinal canal.As a result, bone growths begin to compress the nerve roots, causing severe pain, which may be accompanied by a feeling of weakness and numbness in the legs.It can lead to displacement of the vertebrae.Displacement of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs in the lumbar region can cause pathology of the vertebrae located below and disrupt the functioning of the rectum and bladder.
- Ankylosing spondylitisaffects the intervertebral joints responsible for spinal mobility, or synovial joints.It manifests as pain in the joints and spine, eye injuries, proliferation of connective tissue in the joints of the spine, stiffness and total loss of mobility in the lumbar joints.
- Boss(protrusion of the intervertebral cartilage without violating its integrity) and then hernia of the intervertebral disc (protrusion with violation of the integrity of the cartilage, compression of the nerve roots), leading to the loss of joint function.Lower back pain can radiate to the legs.
- Narrowing of the spinal canal (stenosis)due to chronic inflammation, it can cause compression of the nerves and spinal cord that pass through it.The disease is accompanied by back pain and cramps that appear after long walks and spinal claudication syndrome.In the sitting or lying position, the pain decreases, but when physical activity is resumed it intensifies again.
- Scoliosis (curvature of the spine).In complicated cases, with protective spasm of the back muscles against the background of spinal osteochondrosis with a herniated intervertebral disc in the lumbar region, pain in the lumbar region may occur.
Good to know!When the vertebrae are displaced, it is important to determine the cause of the problem: as a result of injury or as a result of degenerative processes.In the second case, regular adjustment of the vertebrae with the help of a chiropractor can aggravate the situation, leading to the final destruction of the vertebral processes and compression of the nerves.
Low back pain can be caused by chronic non-infectious inflammation of the joints involving ligaments, muscles and spinal cartilage in the pathogenesis due to autoimmune processes.
2. Infections, myositis, tumors
The lumbar region is the most massive part of the spine, subject to maximum loads.Inflammatory processes in this area are accompanied by bone pain, fatigue, headache, difficulty moving and fever.
It can be caused by infectious diseases that affect the vertebrae and intervertebral discs (tuberculosis, epidural abscess, etc.);
Acute spasmodic pain in the lower back when bending occurs during stretching or inflammation (myositis) of muscles and ligaments, due to hypothermia, excessive physical exertion.They appear suddenly and remain at rest;they can spread to the sacrum and back of the legs, making it difficult to bend and rotate from side to side.
Low back pain can also be a consequence of a tumor in the vertebrae, spinal cord, nerve fibers or the retroperitoneal space.
3. Internal organ problems
Pathologies of internal organs often manifest themselves as lumbar pain of a girdle nature, which indicates extensive damage to nerve fibers.
Among the main diseases of internal organs, characterized by pain in the lower back:
- pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).Pain in the lower back is sharp, often circular in nature and/or in the upper abdomen.Possible repeated vomiting, diarrhea, coating on the tongue, decreased blood pressure;
- other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (intestinal obstruction or inflammation, ulcerative colitis).With atypical course appendicitis, dull pain in the lower back may be accompanied by a single vomiting;
- inflammatory kidney diseases.Pain in the lower back is dull, aching - with inflammation of the kidneys (pyelonephritis), sharp, cramping - with renal colic (due to the movement of a stone from the renal pelvis into the ureter).With lower back pain, an additional sign of kidney or bladder disease will be frequent urination.The urine is cloudy, sometimes mixed with blood.Possible fever, weakness, chills, headache, swelling, difficulty urinating;
- inflammation of the reproductive system.It hurts in the lower abdomen (with inflammation of the appendages in women), in the anus (with prostatitis in men) and radiates to the lower back.The pain is accompanied by general intoxication (weakness, headache, fever), spotting (in women).
Furthermore, pain can radiate to the lower back due to adhesions (scars) formed after operations, as well as circulatory disorders of the spinal cord (can cause stroke) or metabolism (gout).
Low back pain and pregnancy
Pregnancy aggravates the manifestations of existing diseases in the mother's body.Due to changes in hormonal levels and increased stress, pathologies appear more frequently in the second half of pregnancy.In addition to the pain that accompanies the threat of premature birth, the cause of lower back pain in a pregnant woman may be:
- intervertebral disc herniation;
- radiculitis;
- pancreatitis;
- pyelonephritis;
- urolithiasis (kidney stones).
Low back pain can indicate back problems and can also be a symptom of a urological, gynecological or gastroenterological disease.Most often, they appear when spinal nerves are irritated and nerve roots are compressed.In order not to aggravate the situation, establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment, you should contact a therapist, who will determine the area of pathology and direct you to the appropriate specialist for treatment.