Back pain in the lumbar region: causes and treatment.

Several diseases can cause back pain in the lower back.

The main diseases that cause back pain are joint injuries of the spine or the hip joint.

Most often, this symptom is due to diseases of the lumbosacral spine.

The lumbar spine is mobile, causing more frequent injuries in this particular area.

Causes of back pain in the lumbar region.

Back pain is a sign that there is a problem in the body with the spine, hip joint, or internal organs near the lower back.

If your back hurts in the lumbar region, the reasons may be as follows:

• pain can occur as a result of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine;
• painful sensations may be due to an intervertebral hernia;
• ankylosing spondyloarthritis;
• displacement of the vertebrae;
• rheumatism;
• inflammation of the back muscles (myositis);
• inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
• spinal fracture;
• osteoarthritis of the hip joint and other diseases of the spine and hip joints.

Also, pain in the lower back may appear due to a muscle strain or muscle spasm. Muscle spasm can occur if you make sudden movements with a load on the lower back:

• making sharp turns;
• sudden weight lifting;
• when playing sports.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine

With lumbosacral osteochondrosis, back pain in the lumbar region can be combined with symptoms such as:

• increased urination;
• urinary incontinence;
• chronic and often exacerbated bladder diseases;
• diseases of the genital organs;
• rectal problems

Most often, back pain with osteochondrosis is:

• pain;
• very full;
• traction;
• Sometimes the pain burns

Often the pain in the lumbar region in this case disappears when standing or lying down and intensifies when sitting, especially on a hard surface, with coughing and physical exertion.

Causes of back pain with lumbosacral osteochondrosis.

The lumbar spine is characterized by great mobility and can withstand heavy loads on a day-to-day basis.

This is the main reason for the development of lumbar osteochondrosis, which is manifested by dystrophy and deformation of the intervertebral discs.

The group at high risk of developing lumbosacral osteochondrosis includes:

• Overweight people;
• lead an inactive lifestyle;
• having a wrong posture.

In addition, this disease can develop with excessive effort in professional athletes and even with inadequate exercise at home.

Frequent stress and lack of sleep can contribute to the development of osteochondrosis.

People with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and other inflammatory joint diseases often get osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine.

Treatment of osteochondrosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the sacro-lumbar spine is aimed at slowing down the process of destruction of the intervertebral discs, restoring the functions of the nerve roots and eliminating pain.

To do this, apply:

• medicines;
• manual therapy;
• physiotherapy methods;
• physiotherapy;
• surgical methods.

In the treatment of osteochondrosis of lumbar-sacral osteochondrosis, such drugs are used as:

• chondroprotectors (to restore cartilage tissue);
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• immunomodulators;
• steroid hormones;
• vitamin complexes.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroid hormones need to be used very carefully as they have many contraindications and side effects.

There are several more methods of treating osteochondrosis:

1. Manual therapy helps restore the functions of the lumbar spine and its anatomical structure. Massage for osteochondrosis helps to strengthen the muscles of the lower back and improves metabolic processes in the tissues.
2. Physiotherapy is carried out after the acute period of the disease has stopped with the help of drugs. The most useful for osteochondrosis will be: electrophoresis, paraffin, phonophoresis and magnetotherapy. To achieve a tangible effect, it is recommended to conduct 3 courses of 10 physiotherapy procedures with a two-week break between them.
3. One of the most effective methods of treating osteochondrosis is physical therapy exercises. Physical education should be carried out after proper consultation with a doctor and preferably under the supervision of a specialist. A set of exercises specifically designed for the treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis will help to strengthen the muscles of the back, which will relieve some of the load on the intervertebral discs.
4. Spa treatment (radon baths, therapeutic mud, etc. ) has a good effect on osteochondrosis.

If you ignore the symptoms of osteochondrosis and do not seek medical help, this will entail the development of the disease, and soon the back pain will become so severe that you will still have to consult a doctor for help.

Prevention of osteochondrosis.

For spinal health, you need to eat right, control your posture, and lead an active lifestyle.

When lifting weights and playing sports, care must be taken not to overextend the back and damage the spine.

Back pain with intervertebral hernia.

A spinal hernia, or intervertebral hernia, is a disease in which the intervertebral disc is deformed, the outer part of the disc rupturing simultaneously with the bulge of the inner part of the disc outside the vertebral body.

Lumbago

Back pain in the lumbar region often presents with low back pain.

Lumbago is the sudden appearance of acute low back pain at the time of physical exertion, lifting weights.

The back pain in this case has a heartbreaking, stabbing and triggering character. It is associated with acute prolapse of the intervertebral disc and irritation of the nerve endings found in the annulus fibrosus.

A reflex is triggered, as a result of which the tone of the lumbar muscles increases considerably. The patient freezes in a monotonous position, he cannot straighten his back and turn.

This manifestation of herniated discs of the lumbar spine is most often found in men between the ages of 30 and 40.

Sciatica

Sciatica (sciatica) - irritation of the sciatic nerve due to pinching of the hernial protrusion of the spinal roots.

Sciatica causes pain, burning, tingling, and numbness that spreads from the lower back to the back of the leg.

These symptoms usually occur on one side, depending on the position of the herniated disc.

Symptoms of back pain with intervertebral hernia.

Table - Symptoms of herniated discs

The main symptoms	Peculiarities
Prolonged pain in the lumbar region.	It can last up to several months. They have a painful, tight and fiery character.
Pelvic organ dysfunction.	Incontinence or urinary retention. Violation of defecation. In men, a hernia can affect potency.
Weakness of the leg muscles, decreased tone, decreased reflexes.	Compression of the motor nerves in the spinal roots.
Paralysis (total lack of movement) or paresis (partial lack of movement) in the legs.	Compression and damage to the spinal cord.
Pale skin, increased sweating, white or red patches.	Compression of the nerves in the spinal roots, which regulate blood vessels, sweat glands, and other autonomic functions.

With intervertebral hernia, in most cases, pathological changes develop in the lumbar spine.

Identification of herniated discs

Statistics for the detection of intervertebral hernias:

• 48% of herniated discs occur between the last (fifth) lumbar vertebra and the sacrum.
• 46% are between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae.

Reasons for the development of intervertebral hernia.

A herniated disc develops due to:

1. Degenerative changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. Herniated disc is often a complication of osteochondrosis.
2. Postponed injuries to the spine: compression fractures of the vertebrae, subluxation.
3. Increased loads on the spine: with constant work sitting or standing in a monotonous posture, inadequate load of weights, excessive physical effort, overtraining in athletes.
4. Sedentary lifestyle.
5. Infectious diseases in which the spine is affected.
6. Over weight.
7. Congenital malformations of the spine.
8. Vibration action. Most of the time this is due to industrial hazards. Under the influence of vibration, the structure of the intervertebral disc is disturbed, weakens.
9. Bad posture, scoliosis.

Herniated disc treatment

According to statistics, in most cases of intervertebral hernia, all symptoms disappear 6 weeks after the first attack and remission occurs.

The body can spontaneously recover after 24 weeks. Therefore, there are not always indications for surgical intervention.

Medications for herniated discs are intended to relieve back pain.

Hernia is mainly treated with the following drugs:

• non-steroidal pain relievers;
• steroid hormones.

Physical therapy for intervertebral hernias is used as directed by a doctor.

There are other methods of treating intervertebral hernias without surgery:

1. Manual therapy. The chiropractor is trying to remove the herniated disc with his hands.
2. Kinesitherapy. This is a type of physical therapy exercises. Normalizes muscle tone, restores blood circulation and increases tissue regeneration.
3. Hirudotherapy.
4. Cryotherapy. This is a low temperature treatment technique. Liquid nitrogen is placed on the affected area. This improves blood circulation in the tissues.

Herniated Disc Surgery

Surgical treatment of intervertebral hernia is prescribed in the presence of:

• severe back pain in the lumbar region that does not go away for a long time, despite ongoing conservative treatment;
• Serious neurological disorders: decreased muscle sensitivity, tone and strength, paralysis and paresis;
• urinary incontinence, impotence in men (if caused by compression of a spinal cord hernia).

Treatment of back pain with blockage.

Hernia repair is a procedure that aims to numb the affected area and relieve muscle spasm.

The block is done by injecting anesthetics.

The therapeutic effect of the blockade is characterized by:

• quick pain relief - relief comes in 1-2 minutes;
• elimination of muscle spasm, which intensifies painful sensations;
• relieve inflammation, especially with the administration of corticosteroids;
• reduction of soft tissue edema, which causes pinching of nerve fibers.

Contraindications for blockage:

• an infectious lesion of the spine;
• fever;
• Mental illness;
• stage 2-3 of cardiovascular failure;
• soft spot;
• blood clotting disorders;
• kidney and liver failure;
• tendency to seizures;
• the pregnancy.

Back pain disease diagnosis.

If your back hurts in the lumbar region, the first step is to see a doctor and undergo an examination.

The doctor may prescribe examinations of the spine with the help of:

• computed tomography;
• Lumbosacral spine X-ray;
• magnetic resonance imaging;
• electroneuromyography;
• Vascular dopplerography, etc.

An examination and palpation of the lumbar region and the spine is mandatory. Consultation of a neurologist or vertebrologist is required.

Thus, the cause of low back pain is almost always displacement of the vertebrae, muscle spasm, or intercostal neuralgia.