One of the most common pain syndromes is associated with the lower back. According to some experts, pain in the lower back is a kind of retribution for mankind for upright posture, when the greatest load falls on the lumbar spine, which bears the main burden of the mass of the human body. Physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, obesity, stress also have a detrimental effect. For many, back pain (lumbodynia) is so common that it becomes a part of everyday life. It can arise only once and disappear without a trace, or it can return again and again, causing considerable suffering.
Many of us, at least once, were worried about the pain in the lower back. Statistics say that this kind of pain occurs in 90% of the population. The lower back can hurt with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, genitals, accompany menstruation in women. But most often, such pains are caused by osteochondrosis - degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine. And among all the numerous pain syndromes of osteochondrosis, back pain occupies a leading position.
Lower back pain can be of a different nature - aching, arising after a long static load while sitting or during sleep, or sharp shooting, which occurs with sudden movement or is caught in an uncomfortable position. All of them are associated with pinching of the nerve roots, as well as spasm, swelling and irritation of the muscles and ligaments in the lumbar spine, which occur with osteochondrosis.
Causes of back pain
The lumbosacral spine is under maximum stress, and the intervertebral discs (pads between the vertebrae) wear out much faster here. There are many causes of osteochondrosis in the lower back, but two main ones are: heavy, prolonged static load and a sharp maximum load, which usually occurs when bending over with heavy lifting. Here are some numbers. According to biomechanics, in the supine position, the intervertebral discs experience a pressure of 50 kg, in the standing position - 100, in the sitting position with a straight back without support - 150, and sitting hunched over - 220.
Now calculate how much you sit in a day . . . And how much of this time hunched over, with a round back . . .
More figures: when the body is tilted forward by only 20 ° without a load in the hands - 150, and with a load of only 10 kilograms (a couple of bags with groceries) - 200 kg, and if it leans even lower, at an angle of 70 °, the load will increase to300 kg. For example, according to biomechanical data, when a person lifts a 50 kg gravity in the forward tilt position, the load on the spine is 700 kg. Now answer yourself the question: Do you lift heavy things? And from the floor? And with a tilt and turn?
Back pain can be divided into primary and secondary pain. As you know, the spine is a series of vertebrae interconnected by elastic tissues - muscles and ligaments. They (in addition to bone tissue) contain nerve endings and can become a source of back pain.
The causes of primary back pain are due to the pathology of the spinal column - dystrophic and functional changes in the joints of the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, muscles, tendons, ligaments.
Secondary syndrome of pain in the lower back is associated with traumatic lesions of the spine, tumor and infectious processes, diseases of internal organs, osteoporosis and other pathologies. This is a kind of alarm signal about malfunctions in the body. Particularly common causes of persistent low back pain are benign and malignant diseases of the pelvic organs (endometriosis, uterine fibroids, dysmenorrhea, lesions of large vessels, kidneys, chronic prostatitis, some diseases of the nervous system).
There are 5 most common causes of low back pain:
Osteochondrosis (dorsopathy)- The most common source of pain in the lower back. Examination reveals degenerative diseases of the spine - osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis. The height of the intervertebral discs decreases, which leads to disturbances in the mechanical balance between the structures of the spinal column - hence the constant, quite tolerable, but periodically increasing pain in the lower back.
Muscle spasm.Did you experience acute lower back pain while performing intense and excessive physical activity that is unusual for you? A predisposing factor is a prolonged static incorrect body position (at the computer, squatting, bent in half during summer cottage work). As a result, muscle spasm develops, limiting the mobility of a certain part of the spine. Tightened muscles become a source of suffering, triggering a vicious cycle of low back pain - muscle spasm - pain. This condition can persist for a long time and causes many unpleasant minutes. Attention! For persistent low back pain, especially if it begins quickly and acutely, consult a doctor in order to identify the diseases that caused it and develop a modern and correct treatment.
Herniated disc, compressing the roots of the spinal cord, is especially common in men over 40 years of age. The first symptom of trouble is lumbodynia in combination with a number of additional signs: pain along the root from the buttock to the foot when coughing, sneezing and laughing, difficulties in bending and extending the spine in the lumbar region (this is especially evident when putting on socks and shoes), increased unpleasantsensations when raising a straight leg lying on your back. This back pain is often referred to as the outdated term sciatica or the colloquial word lumbago. The pain intensifies in an upright position and subsides in a horizontal position.
Spine instabilityIs a typical problem for middle-aged women. It manifests itself as back pain, aggravated by prolonged physical activity and standing. At the same time, there is a feeling of fatigue and a desire to lie down. The disease is caused by damage to the disc or intervertebral joint and often occurs against a background of moderate obesity. It is difficult for such patients not to bend, but to straighten, to make "extra" movements.
Narrow spinal canal.The most common symptom is pain at rest combined with pain when walking. It spreads along the root from the buttock to the foot, while it always hurts, even lying or sitting, to the extent that it is impossible to sit on the "sore" buttock. The syndrome of a narrow spinal canal is a consequence of degenerative changes, proliferation of bone and articular structures of the spine, which leads to infringement of the roots of the spinal nerves.
Also, you have a real chance to experience back pain on your own skin if:
- Overweight
- Are you fond of summer cottage work
- Spend a lot of time driving a car or computer
- Lead a predominantly sedentary (office workers) or stand-up (vendors, waiters, street signers, surgeons) lifestyle
- Overloading yourself in the gym or fitness club. Be extremely careful if you recently started exercising.
- Do dynamic physical labor with a sharp change in body position (especially if your specialty is associated with heavy physical activity)
Additional risk for women:
- You are pregnant or have recently given birth
- Have reached postmenopause, conducive to the development of osteoporosis
What to do for back pain:
And now, based on the above reasons, the same promised tips for those who want to reduce chronic lumbar discomfort, as well as prevent the occurrence of lower back pain.
- Spend less time sitting. And if you still have to, then sit in the correct position.
- If you are sitting for long periods of time, be sure to take breaks every hour in order to do a few movements (extensions, bends, simple walking, etc. ).
- Do not lift heavy items. If you still have to lift them, use the rules for lifting heavy things.
- Tuck up your abdominal muscles as if zipping tight pants. The abdominal muscles support the lumbar spine and by straining the abdomen, you slightly relieve the load on the lower back.
- Exercise regularly for the spine and strengthening the muscle corset. Strong muscles will help you relieve excess stress on your lower back in any position. A flexible spine will help avoid squeezing blood vessels and nerve endings.
- Find yourself a comfortable orthopedic mattress.
Also, for back pain, your doctor will usually recommend:
- A specialist may prescribe muscle relaxants to relieve muscle spasms, as well as diuretics and vascular drugs to reduce nerve root swelling and improve blood circulation in the affected area.
- Relax for 2-5 days. As a rule, we are talking about bed rest on a hard, flat surface.
- Take pain relievers and anti-inflammation medications - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are available in tablets, injection solutions and ointments.
- Wear a special bandage if necessary.
- Take a course of physical therapy to consolidate the positive effect when your well-being improves. Physiotherapy procedures (magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, phonophoresis), as well as massage and physiotherapy exercises relieve muscle tension, improve blood circulation and stop the inflammatory process
- To resort to local therapy with ointments and gels containing analgesic, anti-inflammatory or warming components.
Recently, doctors have at their disposal double-acting agents - analgesic and muscle relaxants (relaxing muscles), which is very important in the treatment of pain syndrome in the pathology of the musculoskeletal system and muscle spasm. These are drugs that have a triple effect - analgesic, muscle relaxant and neuroprotective (protecting nerve cells from damage). In fact, we are talking about a fundamentally new approach to the treatment of back pain.
Whatever the cause of lower back pain, it is impossible to determine it yourself with certainty. If the back does not give rest either day or night, it is better to contact a specialist in a timely manner, who will tell you the tactics of treatment. All these tips will help you prevent and reduce discomfort in the lumbar spine. But if you have acute pain in the lower back and sacrum, do not postpone the visit to the doctor. Give the final diagnosis to a specialist! Low back pain has a variety of causes, not necessarily associated with a pathology of the spine. In case of back pain and lumbago, it is recommended to undergo a computer tomography (shows the condition of the bone tissues of the spine) and magnetic resonance imaging (allows you to assess the condition of soft tissues) tomography. As a rule, the majority of patients recover within 2-3 months, only a small number of patients with complaints of lumbodynia reveal serious diseases.