Back pain in the lumbar region - causes and treatment

Various diseases can cause back pain in the lumbar region.

The main disease that causes back pain is a joint injury to the spine or hip joint.

Often, these symptoms are caused by lumbosacral spine disease.

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

Causes of back pain in the lumbar region

Back pain is a signal that there is a problem in the body with the spine, hip joints, 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 sensation may be caused by intervertebral hernia;
• ankylosing spondylitis;
• vertebral displacement;
• joint pain;
• inflammation of the back muscles (myositis);
• inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
• vertebral fractures;
• arthrosis of the hip joint and other diseases of the spine and hip joints.

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

• make 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 worsening diseases of the bladder;
• genital disease;
• rectal problems.

Most often, back pain with osteochondrosis is:

• pain;
• broken;
• attract;
• there are times when the pain burns.

Often, the pain in the lumbar region in this case disappears while standing or lying down and intensifies when sitting, especially on hard surfaces, 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 daily basis.

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

Groups at high risk for developing lumbosacral osteochondrosis include:

• overweight people;
• living an inactive lifestyle;
• have an incorrect posture.

Also, the disease can develop with excessive energy in professional athletes and also with improper 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 diseases of the joints often fall ill with osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the sacro-lumbar spine aims to slow down the process of destruction of the intervertebral disc, restore nerve root function and eliminate pain.

To do this, use:

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

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

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

It is necessary to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroid hormones with caution, as they have many contraindications and side effects.

There are several other methods to treat osteochondrosis:

1. Manual therapy helps restore the function of the lumbar spine and its anatomical structure. Massage for osteochondrosis helps 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 is stopped with the help of medications. The most useful for osteochondrosis are: electrophoresis, paraffin therapy, phonophoresis and magnetotherapy. To achieve a significant effect, it is recommended to carry out 3 courses of 10 physiotherapy procedures with a break of two weeks between them.
3. One of the most effective methods of treating osteochondrosis is physiotherapy training. Physical education should be carried out after consultation with a doctor and, preferably, under the supervision of a specialist. A set of exercises designed specifically for the treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis will help strengthen the back muscles, which will relieve some of the load from the intervertebral disc.
4. Spa treatments (radon baths, therapeutic mud, etc. ) have a beneficial effect on osteochondrosis.

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

Prevention of osteochondrosis

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

While carrying weights and playing sports, care must be taken not to stretch your buttocks excessively and damage the spine.

Back pain with intervertebral hernia

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

Lumbago

Often, back pain in the lumbar region occurs with lumbago.

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

Back pain in this case has the character of tearing, stabbing, shooting. It is associated with acute prolapse of the intervertebral disc and irritation of nerve endings located in the fibrous annulus.

Reflexes are triggered, as a result of which the tone of the lumbar muscles increases significantly. The patient froze in a dull position, unable to straighten his back and turned away.

Manifestations of this lumbar spine hernia disc are most often found in men aged 30-40 years.

Sciatica

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

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

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

Symptoms of back pain with intervertebral hernia

Table - Symptoms for herniated discs

The main symptoms	Oddity
Long -term pain in the lumbar region.	Can last up to several months. They wear characters that are sick, attractive and burning.
Pelvic organ dysfunction.	Incontinence or urinary retention. Defecation violations. In men, hernias can affect potency.
Weakness of leg muscles, decrease in their tone, decrease in reflexes.	Compression of motor nerves at the roots of the spine.
Paralysis (complete 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 spots.	Nerve compression in the roots of the spine, which controls blood vessels, sweat glands and other autonomic functions.

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

Identification of herniated discs

Statistics for intervertebral hernia detection:

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

Causes of the development of intervertebral hernia

Herniated discs develop due to:

1. Degenerative changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. Herniated discs are often a complication of osteochondrosis.
2. Delayed spinal injuries: vertebral compression fractures, subluxation.
3. Increased load on the spine: with constant work sitting or standing in a boring posture, carrying improper loads, doing excessive physical exercise, excessive training in athletes.
4. Sedentary lifestyle.
5. Infectious diseases in which the spine is affected.
6. Overweight.
7. Congenital malformations of the spine.
8. Vibration action. Often this is due to industrial hazards. Under the influence of vibration, the structure of the intervertebral disc is disrupted, it becomes weak.
9. Poor posture, scoliosis.

Treatment of herniated discs

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

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

Medications for herniated discs are intended to relieve back pain.

Hernias are treated primarily with the following medications:

• non -steroidal painkillers;
• steroid hormones.

Physiotherapy for intervertebral hernias is used as directed by a physician.

There are other methods for the treatment of intervertebral hernia without surgery:

1. Manual therapy. The chiropractor tried to remove the hernia disc with his hands.
2. Kinesotherapy. This is a type of physiotherapy exercise. It normalizes muscle tone, restores blood circulation, and enhances tissue regeneration.
3. Hirudotherapy.
4. Cryotherapy. This is a low temperature treatment technique. Liquid nitrogen is placed in the affected area. This increases blood circulation in the tissues.

Hernia 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 continued conservative treatment;
• severe neurological disorders: decreased sensitivity, muscle tone and strength, paralysis and paresis;
• urinary incontinence, impotence in men (if it is caused by compression of the spinal cord hernia).

Treatment of back pain with restrictions

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

The block is performed by injecting an anesthetic.

The therapeutic effect of restriction is characterized by:

• quick pain relief - relief comes in 1-2 minutes;
• elimination of muscle spasms, which increase the painful sensation;
• relieving inflammation, especially with the administration of corticosteroids;
• reduction of soft tissue edema, which results in pinching of nerve fibers.

Contraindications to restrictions:

• infectious lesions of the spine;
• fever;
• mental illness;
• stage 2-3 cardiovascular failure;
• weakness;
• blood clotting disorders;
• renal and hepatic damage;
• tendency to seizures;
• pregnancy.

Diagnostics of the disease for back pain

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

The doctor can prescribe a spinal examination with the help of:

• computed tomography;
• X-ray of the lumbosacral spine;
• magnetic resonance imaging;
• electroneuromyography;
• vascular dopplerography, etc.

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

Therefore, almost always the cause of back pain is vertebral displacement, muscle spasm or intercostal neuralgia.