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 the man for walking upright, when the greatest burden falls on the lumbar spine, which carries the main burden of the mass of the human body. Physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, obesity and stress also have a detrimental effect. For many, back pain (lumbodynia) is so common that it becomes part of everyday life. It may appear only once and disappear without a trace, or it may return repeatedly, causing considerable suffering.
Many of us at least once, but worried about pain in the lower back. Statistics say that this type of pain occurs in 90% of the population. The lower back can ache with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, genitals, which accompany menstruation in women. But most of the time, these pains are caused by osteochondrosis - degenerative dystrophic changes in the spine. And among all the numerous painful syndromes of osteochondrosis, back pain occupies a leading position.
Low back pain can be of a different nature - pain, arising after a long static load while sitting or during sleep, or strong shooting, which occurs with a sudden movement or is caught in an uncomfortable position. They are all associated with pinching of the nerve roots, as well as the spasm, swelling, and irritation of the muscles and ligaments of the lumbar spine that occur with osteochondrosis.
Causes of Back Pain
The lumbosacral spine is under maximum stress and the intervertebral discs (cushions between the vertebrae) wear out much more quickly here. There are many causes of osteochondrosis in the lower back, but two main ones are: prolonged, heavy static loading and a marked maximum load, which usually occurs when bending to lift weights. Here are some numbers. According to biomechanics, in the supine position, the intervertebral discs undergo a pressure of 50 kg, in the standing position - 100, in the sitting position with the back straight without support - 150, and in a stooped sitting position - 220.
Now calculate how much you sit in a day. . . And how much of that curved time, with a rounded back. . .
More figures: when the body is leaning forward only 20° without a load in the hands - 150, and with a load of only 10 kilos (a pair of bags with groceries) - 200 kg, and leaning even lower in an angle of 70°, the load will increase to 300 kg. For example, according to biomechanical data, when a person lifts a 50 kg weight in the forward leaning position, the load on the spine is 700 kg. Now answer the question for yourself: Do you lift heavy things? And from the ground? And with a tilt and rotation?
Back pain can be divided into primary and secondary. 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 low back pain are due to spinal pathology - dystrophic and functional changes in the joints of the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, muscles, tendons, ligaments.
Secondary low back pain syndrome is associated with traumatic spinal injuries, tumor and infectious processes, internal organ diseases, osteoporosis, and other pathologies. This is a kind of alarm signal about malfunctioning of the body. Particularly common causes of persistent low back pain are benign and malignant diseases of Organs pelvic organs (endometriosis, uterine fibroids, dysmenorrhea, damage to large vessels, kidneys, chronic prostatitis, some diseases of the nervous system).
There are 5 most common causes of back pain:
Osteochondrosis (dorsopathy)- The most common source of pain in the lower back. The 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 vertebral column - hence the constant, quite tolerable, but periodically increasing pain in the lower back.
Muscle spasm.Did you experience acute lower back pain when performing intense and excessive physical activities that are not common for you? The predisposing factor is a prolonged static incorrect position of the body (at the computer, crouched, bent in half while working in a summer cottage). As a result, muscle spasm develops, limiting the mobility of a particular part of the spine. Tense 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 cause many unpleasant minutes. Attention! For persistent low back pain, especially if it starts quickly and acutely, see a doctor to identify the underlying conditions and develop modern and correct treatment.
Disc herniation, compressing the roots of the spinal cord, is especially common in men over 40 years of age. The first symptom of a problem is lumbodynia in combination with a number of additional signs: pain along the root, from buttock to foot when coughing, sneezing and laughing, difficulty bending and extending the spine in the lower back (this is especially evident when wearing socks and shoes), increased the unpleasant sensations when lifting a straight leg lying on its back. This back pain is often called the outdated term sciatica or the colloquial word lumbago. Pain intensifies in the vertical position and decreases in the horizontal position.
spinal instabilityIt's a typical problem for middle-aged women. It manifests as back pain, aggravated by prolonged physical activity and standing. At the same time, there is a feeling of tiredness and wanting to lie down. The disease is caused by damage to the disc or the intervertebral joint and often occurs in a context of moderate obesity. It is difficult for these patients not to bend over, but straighten up, 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 buttocks to the feet, but it always hurts, even lying down or sitting, to the point where it is impossible to sit on the "sore" buttock. Narrow spinal canal syndrome is a consequence of degenerative changes, proliferation of bone and joint structures in the spine, which leads to infraction of spinal nerve roots.
Also, you have a real chance of experiencing back pain in your own skin if:
- Overweight
- Do you like working in summer cottages?
- Spend a lot of time driving a car or computer
- Lead a predominantly sedentary lifestyle (office workers) or stand-up (salespeople, waiters, street signs, surgeons)
- Overloading yourself at the gym or fitness club. Be very careful if you have recently started exercising.
- Do dynamic physical work with a sudden change in body position (especially if your specialty is associated with heavy physical activity)
Additional risk for women:
- Are you pregnant or have recently given birth
- Arrived post-menopause, conducive to the development of osteoporosis
What to do for back pain:
And now, for the reasons above, the same advice promises for those who want to reduce chronic low back discomfort, in addition to preventing the occurrence of low back pain.
- Spend less time sitting. And if it's still necessary, sit in the right position.
- If you are sitting for long periods of time, be sure to take breaks every hour to do various movements (extensions, bends, simple walking, etc. ).
- Do not lift heavy items. If you have to lift them, follow the rules for lifting heavy things.
- Contract your abdominal muscles as if zipping tight pants. Your abdominal muscles support your lower back, and by stretching your abdomen, you lighten the load on your lower back a little.
- Exercise regularly for the spine and strengthen the muscular corset. Strong muscles will help relieve excess stress on your lower back in any position. A flexible spine will help to avoid compressing blood vessels and nerve endings.
- Find a comfortable orthopedic mattress.
Also, for back pain, your doctor will usually recommend:
- A specialist can prescribe muscle relaxants to relieve muscle spasms, as well as diuretics and vascular medications to reduce nerve root swelling and improve blood circulation to the affected area.
- Relax for 2 to 5 days. As a rule, we are talking about bed rest on a flat, hard surface.
- Take pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are available in pills, injectable solutions and ointments.
- Use a special bandage if necessary.
- Take a physiotherapy course 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
- Use local therapy with ointments and gels containing analgesic, anti-inflammatory or heating components.
Recently, doctors have available dual action agents - analgesics and muscle relaxants (muscle relaxants), very important in the treatment of pain syndrome in the pathology of the musculoskeletal system and muscle spasm. They 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 treating back pain.
Whatever the cause of lower back pain, it is impossible to determine with certainty. If your back does not give you rest day or night, it is better to consult a specialist in advance, who will tell you the tactics of the treatment. All of these tips will help you to prevent and reduce discomfort in your lower back. But if you have severe pain in your lower back and sacrum, don't put off visiting your doctor. Give the final diagnosis to a specialist! Low back pain has a variety of causes, not necessarily associated with spinal pathology. In case of back pain and low back pain, it is recommended to perform a computed tomography (shows the state of the bone tissues of the spine) and magnetic resonance (allows to assess the state of the soft tissues) tomography. As a rule, most patients recover within 2-3 months, only a small number of patients with complaints of lumbodynia show serious illness.