Low back pain is a well-known symptom for many people. It can appear in a representative of any gender and age. Pain may indicate damage to the musculoskeletal system, spinal cord, kidneys, pelvic organs, or abdominal cavity. It can be weak or very intense, sharp, painful, stinging or shooting. Treatment depends directly on the type of pain and the causes that caused it.
Causes
It is very important to discover in time the etiology of pain. First of all, it is worth mentioning the nature of the pain and the time of its onset. In addition, it is necessary to establish its connection with physical activity, food intake and going to the toilet. It is also important for women to trace the link between the menstrual cycle and the onset of pain.
The reasons for back pain may be as follows:
- Neurological problems. Most often, osteochondrosis and concomitant innervation innervation disorders manifest in this way.
- Skeletal muscle pathology. Myositis is the same common occurrence as osteochondrosis and also causes pain.
- Kidney disease. The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space, i. e. closer to the back than the anterior abdominal wall. This is why kidney disease can be associated with back pain.
- Pathology of internal organs located intraperitoneally. Sometimes, but not often, low back pain is associated with diseases such as appendicitis and cholecystitis.
- Pathology of the pelvic organs. Especially often, such a manifestation of inflammation in the pelvis occurs in women.
Each of the diseases that lead to lower back pain needs to be considered in more detail.
Osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a metabolic pathology of the spine, in which the structure of the intervertebral discs breaks down. It is believed that after the age of 27, this condition is a normal age-related change and occurs in almost everyone.
Problems arise from the fact that the intervertebral disc loses elasticity and the ability to resist stress. At the same time, it begins to go beyond the vertebral bodies. In the vicinity of the vertebral bodies are the nerve roots that emerge from the spinal cord. The disc compresses these nerves and discomfort appears. This complication of osteochondrosis is called radiculitis.
Osteochondrosis can occur in any part of the spine, but most often affects the lumbar region. This is because the load on the spine in this part of it is maximal and the lengthening of the disc is more common.
The nature of the pain that appears with radiculitis caused by osteochondrosis can be different. There are three types of it:
- Lumbago.Also called "lumbago". This is a sharp and very intense pain that appears in the lower back at the time of physical exertion. Such pain is subjectively like a stroke. Makes you stop exercising. However, lumbago resolves fairly quickly, in seconds or minutes.
- Lumbodynia.This pain is less intense, but longer in duration. It also happens during exercises, but not immediately, but gradually. Such pain can develop for several hours. She has an annoying character. Lumbodynia persists for several days and significantly decreases exercise tolerance during this time period.
- Sciatica.Its difference from previous species is that in addition to the back, it also hurts the legs. As a rule, this is a unilateral lesion, but bilateral pain is also possible. Lumioischialgia is of an elongated attractive character. It develops gradually and, as it were, descends from the lower back to the thigh. This pain can lead to temporary lameness. Also passes within a few days.
If osteochondrosis occurs, you should consult a neurologist.
myositis
Almost everyone has experienced pain for this reason. This is exactly what people sound like "through" or "swollen back". The terms are not medical, but the general principle of pain is correctly described.
In this case, exposure to cold air or cold objects in the lumbar region leads to inflammation of the muscles located here. The fact is that the muscular apparatus of the spine is very developed and any pathological process in it can simultaneously damage many anatomical structures.
First, due to inflammation, the muscles themselves are injured. Its fibers grow due to edema and suppress the nerve endings that innervate this muscle. Second, in the vicinity of the muscles are the nerve roots themselves, which here already turn into nerve trunks. Their loss can lead to long-term radiant pain.
Inflammation can move from the muscle to the nerve trunk itself, which will lead to the spread of pain to the upper or lower back or to internal organs. It is also better to treat myositis with a specialist.
Kidney disease
Due to the proximity of the kidneys to the back, the pain when they are touched radiates exactly to the lower back. At the same time, painful sensations can lead to the idea of a certain kidney disease.
Thus, for example, urolithiasis is accompanied by a very sharp unbearable pain in the lower back. Also called colic. Most often it appears after or during urination. Such pain can be so strong that it puts a person in a state of emotional arousal and forces him to take unmotivated actions. For example, during an attack, a person may start running around the room or making other sudden movements. They are justified by the fact that under load the stone changes its position in the urinary tract and the pain decreases.
Also, pain can occur with pyelonephritis. In this case, it is less intense but more prolonged. Pyelonephritis is a purulent inflammation of the calyx-pelvic system of the kidney. In addition to pain, fever, weakness, and maltreatment occur. With pyelonephritis, a positive symptom of Pasternatsky (tapping). The pain can be unilateral or bilateral.
Nephrologists treat renal pathology. It is better not to delay a visit to them to avoid complications.
Diseases of other organs
Pathology of internal organs located intraperitoneally is very rarely associated with back pain. Most often the stomach hurts. However, with inflammation of the atypically located appendicular process, when it is placed so as to be placed behind the cecum, the pain will be in the lower back. This is important to know because in this case there may be no stomach pain at all. The person himself most often does not even know about such an anatomical feature of his organs.
With cholecystitis, pain often appears in the right hypochondrium. However, due to some structural features of the gallbladder, it can also radiate to the lumbar region. Also, this symptom can appear with pancreatitis. In this case, the pain is accompanied by food intake. Most often it occurs after eating fried or fatty foods.
In women, back pain may appear as equivalent to menstrual cramps or inflammation of the reproductive system. For example, this is how adnexitis or oophoritis appears. This symptom often appears during pregnancy. This is due to excessive stress on the spine, possible pyelonephritis or fetal pressure on the nerve endings of the lumbar region.
How to get rid of such pain
First of all, it is necessary to determine the cause of the pain. This can only be done with the help of a proper specialist and after you have passed a series of examinations. Most often, an X-ray, MRI or CT scan of the bones of the spine and spinal canal is needed. You may also need an ultrasound scan of all the organs in which the above pathology may develop.
Osteochondrosis is treated by giving a special position to the back and spine, limiting physical activity and special exercises. Swimming works well even in the spine with this pathology. Pain can be reduced with NSAIDs taken orally or topically.
With miosis, it is also necessary to take NSAIDs and apply to the lumbar region where the pain occurs.
Urolithiasis and pyelonephritis should be treated by a doctor. In the first case, it may be the dissolution of the stones with a drug method or surgical removal. In the second case, antibiotics and uroseptics are prescribed.
Appendicitis is most often treated with surgery. Surgical treatment can also be used for cholecystitis and pancreatitis, but more often these pathological conditions are treated conservatively. NSAIDs, enzymes and bile acid substitutes are prescribed.
Diseases of the pelvic organs are treated by a gynecologist. Such therapy can also be medical or surgical, depending on the type of pathology.
Thus, we can conclude that back pain is a symptom that can occur both with damage to the spine itself and the muscles that surround it, as well as with diseases of various internal organs. You can try to treat the pain yourself by starting with NSAIDs and reducing physical activity. However, it is recommended to consult a doctor for timely detection of pathology.