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

It is impossible to independently determine the cause of pain in the lower back.Back and lower back pain in medicine is called lumbago.It is felt in the lumbar region, accompanied by muscle spasms and additional unpleasant symptoms.Sharp pain in the lower back 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 acute pain in the lower back and back.But if you do not seek help from your doctor in time, the person's health condition will deteriorate significantly and the chances of recovery will decrease.It is important to consider the causes of lower back pain and treatment.

Description of the lesion

Severe pain in the back and lower back, a feeling of tension and stiffness is a common condition that sooner or later appears in many people.

In most cases, the pain syndrome appears in the lower back, because the lumbar spine is characterized by its mobility and takes half of the weight of the human body.Back pain in the lumbar region can occur as a result of lifting heavy objects or turning sharply.

In some cases, unpleasant symptoms in the lumbar region appear over time due to regular exercise or incorrect posture.In some cases, it is not possible 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 a long time in an uncomfortable position, for example after a long car ride.In most cases, back pain in the lumbar region disappears if a person lies for some time on a hard surface.

Most often, the pain lasts for several days or weeks, after which 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 for the first few 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 will require complex treatment.

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

The main causes of the syndrome

The condition of the back depends directly on the functioning of the bones, nerves, muscles and joints.Most often, establishing the exact cause of the pain is quite difficult.In rare cases, severe diseases or injuries to the spinal region occur.

In most cases, back pain at the lumbar level occurs due to minor injuries, muscle strain, sprained ligaments and muscles, pinched nerves and at the beginning of an inflammatory process.Unpleasant back symptoms can appear suddenly or develop gradually, intensifying.Causes of back and lower back pain:

• too sudden a movement: tilting or turning to the side;
• lifting and carrying heavy objects, long bending of the body;
• incorrect posture when walking or working at a desk;
• strong muscle tension in the back;
• long journeys in a car without breaks.

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

Basic factors

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

• 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 negatively affect the tissues of the back, leading to pain.
• Carrying a child - in this condition, a woman's spine is subjected to severe stress, which only becomes stronger as the size of the abdomen increases.
• Long-term use of drugs that reduce bone density, such as corticosteroids.
• Psychoemotional overstrain, stress - regular anxiety leads to strong tension in the muscles of the neck and back, which provokes pain.

Major diseases

Diseases that can lead to lower back and back pain include the following:

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

Carrying out diagnostic activities

Severe back and lower back pain can be controlled at home by taking special medicines that can be bought at the pharmacy without a prescription.Clinical therapy is usually not required.

If the back pain spreads to the lumbar region and brings severe discomfort, then the patient should definitely visit a doctor.He will conduct an examination and prescribe treatment.

If back pain on the left side of the lower back does not allow the patient to rest and move normally, then you should call a doctor at home.

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

1. When did the pain start?
2. Where is pain common?
3. Have you ever had back pain?
4. How is the pain syndrome manifested?
5. For what reason does the pain increase or decrease?

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

In many cases, the pain in the spine is eliminated already 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 illness has led to the lesion, then the doctor refers 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 may join the study of the patient's condition: an osteopath, a chiropractor and a reflexologist.

Basic methods of treatment

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

Main methods of treatment:

• Mobility.Previously, doctors believed that with pain in the lumbar region, it was important to ensure peace.It has now been found 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 interferes with normal movement.In this case, the person should lie on a firm and flat bed.After the condition normalizes, you should gradually return to your normal lifestyle and previous loads, adding more and more mobility every day.Over time, the person will be able to walk normally around the house or visit public places.But he will have to put up with some discomfort and try to avoid anything that could lead to 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 include stress on the lumbar region).Early mobility will help restore the condition and reduce the severity of pain.
• Taking painkillers.When dealing with severe back pain above or directly in the low back, doctors prescribe pain relievers.The products help eliminate pain and inflammation.Depending on the severity of the lesion, the specialist can prescribe different forms of these drugs: 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 some contraindications, so before you start taking them, you should consult a doctor and study the instructions.Painkillers are best taken after a meal with milk.
• Muscle relaxants- drugs that help eliminate muscle spasms and relax muscles.They are prescribed when strong tension in the spinal muscles increases the pain syndrome, for example, during the acute stage of osteochondrosis or disc herniation.Muscle relaxants also have various side effects;for example, it is forbidden to take them while driving a car.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 cold or a bag of frozen vegetables.But you must remember that you should not apply ice to the skin itself, as this can lead to frostbite.A pre-cold object should be wrapped in a towel and then applied to the affected area of the body.You can also alternate between cold and heat treatment by applying ice or a heating pad to the body.
• Choosing a sleeping position.Changing your sleeping position will 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 you need to put a pillow under his knees, this will ensure a natural curve of the spine in the lower back.
• Body relaxation- this is a very important component in the fight against severe pain in the back on the left above the lower back, because with great anxiety and overstrain, 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 about back discomfort for a while.To do this, it is recommended to carry out special breathing exercises and perform a set of simple exercises with alternating tension and relaxation of the muscles of the body.
• Physical activity, compliance with a healthy lifestyle.It is important to eliminate the root cause of severe back and lower back pain to avoid its recurrence.The most common causes of pain in this area include a person being overweight, poor posture, and regular emotional outbursts.In this case, a positive effect can be achieved if you start leading 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, classes are conducted under the guidance of a trainer.Most often, sets of exercises are used that help strengthen the back muscles and ensure straight posture and stretching.
• If the pain syndrome does not disappear within 6 weeks of treatment, then it automatically passes into a chronic stage.In addition to painkillers and muscle relaxants, in this case you should start complex treatment.

Treatment of chronic pain

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

• Manual therapy is carried out by a chiropractor or osteopath and involves the use of various methods of therapy, massage and mobilization.
• Alexander Technique - helps to remove strong muscle tension, teaches a person how to correctly take a body position in various situations and move.This technique will help you learn to maintain body balance and straight posture.
• Acupuncture sessions are an ancient Chinese method of treatment, during which thin needles are inserted into various parts of the body, which helps to reduce pain and normalize the person's condition.
• Taking antidepressants.Such drugs are prescribed to the patient when painkillers and other treatment techniques do not give a positive result.Doctors advise that tricyclic antidepressants be taken in small amounts.Such drugs were originally created to relieve depression and nervous system problems, but they can also work to suppress certain types of pain.
• A session with a psychiatrist.A positive effect of such a procedure can be achieved when other methods of treatment do not help.Severe back pain in the lumbar region is a real condition.The way a person treats it can strengthen it or, conversely, significantly weaken it.Cognitive behavioral therapy can help eliminate back pain in the lumbar region on the right or left side by changing your attitude towards 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.

Conducting the operation

Most often, the operation is used only when all other methods of treating back and lower back pain do not give any effect.The operation is used when the pain syndrome is so strong or constant that it does not allow the patient to work or even rest.The chosen method of surgical intervention will depend directly on the type of pain syndrome and the cause of its occurrence.

For example, in the case of a spinal hernia, the doctor prescribes a discectomy.Currently, doctors can perform surgery through a minimal incision using specialized microsurgical instruments.Such operations are complex, but characterized by minimal trauma.

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

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

Additional treatments

When dealing with acute and chronic back pain, other alternative methods of treatment 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 lead to tissue regeneration;
• treatment with interference currents - the lower back is exposed to currents of medium and low frequency, which provokes increased 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 - the electrodes, which are glued to the surface of the skin, deliver electrical impulses of a certain strength, which provoke the active production of endorphins and help stop the transmission of pain signals along the spine to the brain;
• lumbar braces - for this, special pillows, pads and corsets are used to maintain the condition of the spine;
• spinal traction using specialized devices and sets of exercises;
• injection 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 learn to manage pain independently, perform special exercises and lead an active and healthy life.Such institutions mainly deal with group therapy, relaxation and psychology.

Prevention measures

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

If a person has temporary back pain that radiates to the lumbar region, he should take the following preventive measures:

• get rid of excess weight, if any: a large number of extra pounds can negatively affect the condition of the lower back, causing additional stress;
• use correct and comfortable shoes with low heels, which will help to evenly distribute the load on the leg and avoid overstraining the spine during movement;
• it is also important to stop moving suddenly, as this can cause muscle tension;
• learn to deal with stress, depression, nervous breakdowns, stop worrying too much as all these can cause pain.

Types of back exercises

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

Walking and strengthening swimming will help improve the condition of the muscles and support the spine without overloading it, which eliminates possible sprains.Pilates and yoga will help you strengthen your back muscles and develop their flexibility, but they should be performed under the strict supervision of a professional trainer.

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

1. Squatting on a wall - to do this, you need to stand up, put your feet shoulder width apart.Then perform a squat until the body is bent 90 degrees.
2. Alternating leg raises.To perform the exercise, you need to lie on the floor and start lifting your legs one by one without bending them.The exercise is repeated 5 times.
3. Pelvic lift.The exercise is performed in a lying position.First, the knees are bent, and then the pelvis rises with tension in the abdominal muscles.When performing the exercise, it is important to keep your back straight.Repeat 5 times.

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

Pain due to osteochondrosis

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

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

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

• back pain;
• pain in the lower back, pain in the right side of the back (or left), the pain radiates to the leg;
• pain intensifies only with changes in position and load on the lower back;
• a person may experience a strong burning sensation and painful lumbago;
• after a long stay in an uncomfortable position, it is difficult to change due to strong discomfort;
• the sensitivity of the buttocks and legs decreases, a sensation of goosebumps appears;
• There are problems with sweating, the lower limbs get cold.

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

• use a special woolen belt or scarf, tying it around the lower back;
• lie down on a firm 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 pain relievers should not 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 pain in the back and lower back, then it is important that he consult a doctor - taking anti-inflammatory drugs for diseases of the stomach and pancreas is very dangerous, as they can only worsen the overall situation.

What is prohibited?

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

After warming up, a person may feel an improvement in his condition and relief of pain, but after that the health condition will only worsen.If the pain occurs frequently in the back area, it is important to do an MRI and seek help from a neurologist.