A modern person, who has crossed the age limit of 25, occasionally begins to feel pain in the lower back, of varying frequency and intensity. Over time, the frequency of unpleasant symptoms increases, the feeling of pain increases. The period of exacerbation is getting longer. This is the clinical picture of the development of lumbar osteochondrosis - a disease in which there is a gradual destruction of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs. They become thinner, deformed, their protrusion retracts. In advanced cases, in the absence of appropriate treatment, the pain in the lower back becomes unbearable and interferes with normal movements. At this stage, a lumbar disc herniation is usually diagnosed.
This is a kind of revenge of the person for the upright posture and vertical position of the body. During the transition to the upright position, the center of gravity shifted, which we have in the lumbar region. This means that the entire weight of the body when walking, running, jumping, bending the torso and other movements puts pressure on the vertebrae of the lumbar spine. With an underdeveloped muscular framework of the back and abdominal press, the intervertebral discs are destroyed, osteophytes and other pathological formations appear. And these are the common causes of back pain.
Other causes of back pain
Apart from osteochondrosis and its complications, there are other causes of lower back pain. First of all, various injuries should be ruled out, which can damage the integrity of the cartilage lining and the vertebral body. These can be vertebral fractures, spinous process fractures, spinal compression fractures with displacement of spinal cord structures.
Lumbar injuries can be caused by frontal and tangential impacts, falls from heights and traffic accidents. Athletes who are professionally engaged in weightlifting often apply for an appointment with injuries.
In women, lower back pain can be caused by pelvic inflammatory disease. Leading among them is adnexitis. In second place is cystic ovarian disease, which causes traction and pain in the lower back, which worsens at certain periods of the menstrual cycle. After the age of 45, it is not uncommon for lower back pain in women to occur due to tumor processes - uterine fibroids, oncological ovarian neoplasms and cervix.
In both sexes there are causes of lower back pain such as inguinal hernia and kidney disease: pyelonephritis, polycystic, amyloidosis, glomerulonephritis. To rule out renal pathology, it is necessary to consult a nephrologist and pass urine tests according to Nechiporenko, according to Zimnitsky. It helps to differentiate the diagnosis of kidney ultrasound.
In some cases, the cause of pain in the upper lumbar region is intercostal neuralgia or shingles. The first condition can be distinguished by palpation of the intercostal spaces. Usually, with intercostal neuralgia, it causes a sudden increase in pain and is characterized by unilateral localization. In shingles, a visible rash on the skin in the form of small blisters filled with clear fluid.
Tuberculosis and sarcoma can be more dangerous causes of back pain. These diseases leave little chance of recovery. Sometimes they are disguised in the initial phase as ankylosing spondylitis, in which stiffness of movement and severe pain in the lower back in the morning also occur. Then all the symptoms disappear.
Lower back pain: what to do?
If your lower back hurts - what to do in this case, which doctor to seek help from? You can make an appointment with a therapist, who, after a careful examination, will make the initial diagnosis and prescribe additional examinations. The following are obligatory: general analysis of urine, general analysis of blood, ultrasound of the kidneys and urinary tract, exclusion of tumor processes in the abdominal cavity. Then consultations with a neurologist, gynecologist (for women) and a phthisiologist can be scheduled. X-ray and tomographic examination methods can be used to clarify the localization of the destructive process in the spine.
Prescribing treatment depends on the diagnosis. In osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, complete cure is possible only by manual therapy methods. In the initial phase, the pain is alleviated with the help of traction, osteopathy and therapeutic massage. Then doctors make efforts to restore the structure of the cartilage. Reflexology, acupuncture and the introduction of minimal doses of drugs into biologically active points on the human body can be used to enhance the regeneration process.
After the restoration of physiological mobility, it is necessary to continue with the complex of rehabilitation treatment. Includes physical therapy and massage. You should also listen to the recommendations of experts on the organization of diet, work and rest, the organization of your work and place to sleep. In some cases, it may be necessary to temporarily use a prosthesis to support the spine.