Severe back pain in the lower back: possible causes, symptoms, medical consultation and treatment

It is impossible to independently determine the cause of pain in the lower back.Back and back pain is medically known as lumbago.It is felt in the lumbar region, accompanied by muscle spasms and other unpleasant symptoms.Acute lower back pain can be felt for a variety of reasons and can last from a few minutes to a few months.As a result, a person begins to get used to sharp pain in the lower back and back.But if you don't seek help from your doctor in time, the person's health deteriorates to a great extent, and the chances of recovery decrease.It is important to consider the causes and treatment of low back pain.

Description of the lesion

Severe back and lower back pain, feeling tense and stiff is a common condition that many people experience sooner or later.

In most cases, the pain syndrome appears in the lower back, as the lumbar spine is characterized by its mobility and takes half the weight of the human body.Lower back pain can occur as a result of lifting heavy objects or making sharp turns.

In some cases, unpleasant symptoms appear in the lumbar region 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 most severe at night, when there is a load on the lower back, or in an uncomfortable position for a long time, for example, after a long car ride.In most cases, back pain in the lumbar region goes away if a person lies on a hard surface for a while.

Most often, the pain lasts for several days or weeks, after which the person's general well-being improves and the condition of the lower back is restored.You can speed up recovery by taking painkillers and optimizing your daily physical activity: rest only in the first few days, then gradually return to normal.But in some cases, discomfort and discomfort in the lower back indicates the development of a chronic disease that requires complex treatment.

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

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, it is quite difficult to find out exactly the cause of the pain.In rare cases, serious diseases or injuries occur in the spinal region.

In most cases, lower back pain occurs due to minor injuries, muscle tension, ligament and muscle strains, pinched nerves and the beginning of the inflammatory process.Unpleasant back symptoms can appear suddenly or develop gradually.Causes of back and lower back pain:

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

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

Major factors

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

• Heavy weight - in this case, the spine is heavily overloaded.To determine whether body weight affects the spine, the total body mass index must be calculated.
• Smoking - can negatively affect the tissues of the back, causing pain.
• Carrying a child - in this condition, the woman's spine is subjected to strong stress, which only increases when the size of the abdomen increases.
• Long-term use of medicines that reduce bone density, such as corticosteroids.
• Psycho-emotional overload, stress - regular anxiety leads to severe tension in the muscles of the neck and back, which causes pain.

Major diseases

Diseases that cause lower back pain are:

1. Osteochondrosis and its complications, such as spina bifida, are a degenerative process in which the intervertebral cartilages are destroyed, causing pain.Such diseases occur in older people, especially those who experience severe stress on their backs.
2. Ligament and muscle ficam - most often occurs after prolonged physical activity or sudden movement.
3. Some types of arthritis are inflammatory diseases of the joints, in which, in addition to pain, stiffness of the joints can be felt and movement problems occur in the morning.
4. Kidney diseases, such as pyelonephritis, can cause back pain on the right or left side of the waist.

Carrying out diagnostic activities

Severe back and lower back pain can also be treated at home by taking special medicines that can be bought at the pharmacy without a doctor's prescription.In-clinic therapy is usually not necessary.

If the back pain radiates to the lumbar region and causes severe discomfort, the patient should definitely consult a doctor.He will conduct an examination and prescribe treatment.

If the patient cannot rest and move normally due to back pain on the left side of the lower back, they should call a doctor at home.

When examining the condition, the doctor asks the person to sit, stand, walk, alternately raise the leg, and determine the general range of motion of the back.It also asks for information about any recent illnesses or injuries, learns about lifestyle, job characteristics, and asks the following questions:

1. When did the pain start?
2. Where is the pain common?
3. Has your back hurt before?
4. How is pain syndrome manifested?
5. For what reason does the pain get stronger or weaker?

During the examination, the doctor tries to rule out possible infection and fracture, since such manifestations occur in rare cases.If there are problems with establishing a diagnosis, the doctor may send the patient for additional diagnostic measures: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or spinal X-ray.A urine test is performed to rule out kidney disease.

In many cases, the pain in the spine disappears already on the third day of treatment.If the therapy does not improve your condition and the pain persists for six weeks (chronic process), or a serious illness led to the lesion, the doctor will refer the affected 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 be involved in the examination of the patient's condition: chiropractor, chiropractor and reflexologist.

Basic treatment methods

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

The main methods of treatment:

• Mobility.In the past, doctors believed that it was important to ensure peace with pain in the lumbar region.It has now been established that patients who start moving earlier have faster pain relief.Complete rest and bed rest should be observed only in the first days of acute pain, when it is severe and prevents normal movement.In this case, the person should lie on a hard and level 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 you have to tolerate 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 back and lower back pain to completely disappear (of course, if the person's work does not involve stress on the lumbar region).Early mobility helps to restore the condition and reduce the severity of pain.
• Taking painkillers.When dealing with severe back pain in or directly in the lower back, doctors prescribe pain relievers.The products help eliminate pain and inflammation.Depending on the severity of the lesion, the specialist can prescribe various forms of these drugs: injections, tablets, local preparations - ointments, gels and creams for back pain.Initial treatment most often involves injections.After the pain syndrome passes, the administration of drugs is stopped and, if necessary, tablets or special ointments are started.Such drugs have some contraindications, so before you start taking them, consult your doctor and study the instructions.Painkillers are best taken after a meal, with milk.
• Muscle relaxants- medicines that help to eliminate muscle spasms and relax the muscles.They are prescribed when severe tension of the spinal muscles increases the pain syndrome, for example, in the acute stage of osteochondrosis or during disc herniation.Muscle relaxants also have various side effects;for example, it is forbidden to take them while driving.It is important to consult a doctor first.
• Treatment with cold and warm compresses.In some cases, the pain can be eliminated with a hot bath or heating pads on the painful body area.You can also improve the general condition with cold or a bag of frozen vegetables.But remember not to apply ice to the skin itself, as this can cause frostbite.The previously cold object should be wrapped in a towel and then applied to the affected area of the body.You can alternate the treatment with cold and heat, placing ice or a heating pad on the body.
• Choosing a sleeping position.Changing your sleeping position helps relieve tension and pain.If the patient is used to sleeping on his side, pull his legs to his chest and place a pillow between his legs.If you sleep on your back, you should put a pillow under your knees, this ensures the natural curvature of the spine in the lower back.
• Relaxation of the body- this is a very important component in the fight against severe back pain on the left side, above the waist, because with severe anxiety and overexertion, the pain syndrome only increases.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 relax and forget about the back discomfort for a while.For this, it is recommended to perform special breathing exercises and perform simple exercises with alternating tension and relaxation of the muscles of the body.
• Physical activity, following a healthy lifestyle.It is important to eliminate the root cause of severe back and lower back pain in order to avoid its recurrence.The most common cause of pain in this area is a person's excess weight, poor posture, and regular emotional outbursts.In this case, a positive effect can be achieved if you start to lead an active and healthy lifestyle, for example, walking more or visiting the pool.The most important thing is to choose the activity that you like the most.In some cases, the classes are held under the guidance of a trainer.Most often, they use sets of exercises that help strengthen the back muscles and ensure straight posture and stretching.
• If the pain syndrome does not go away within 6 weeks after the treatment, it automatically goes into the chronic stage.In addition to pain relievers and muscle relaxants, a complex treatment should be started in this case.

Treatment of chronic pain

In this case, doctors prescribe the following measures for patients:

• Manual therapy is performed by a chiropractor or osteopath and includes various therapeutic methods, massage and mobilization.
• Alexander technique - helps to eliminate severe muscle tension, teaches a person how to correctly assume the body position in different situations and move.This technique helps to learn body balance and upright posture.
• Acupuncture treatment is an ancient Chinese treatment method in which thin needles are inserted into various parts of the body to help reduce pain and normalize a person's condition.
• Taking antidepressants.Such drugs are prescribed to the patient if painkillers and other treatment techniques do not bring positive results.Doctors advise you to take small amounts of tricyclic antidepressants.Such remedies were initially created to eliminate depression and nervous system problems, but they can also suppress certain types of pain.
• Meeting with a psychiatrist.The positive effect of such a procedure can be achieved when other treatment methods do not help.Severe back pain in the lumbar region is a real condition.How a person handles it can strengthen it or, on the contrary, significantly weaken it.Cognitive behavioral therapy can help eliminate back pain in the right or left lumbar region by changing the way you think about it.According to statistics, people who undergo psychotherapy sessions experience much less severe pain.In this case, the person becomes motivated to lead an active lifestyle and exercise regularly, which leads to a reduction in pain.

Executing the operation

Most often, surgical intervention is used only when other treatment methods for back and lower back pain do not bring any effect.Surgery is used when the pain syndrome is so strong or constant that it prevents the patient from working or even resting.The chosen method of surgical intervention depends directly on the type of pain syndrome and the cause of its occurrence.

For example, in the case of a herniated disc, the doctor prescribes a discectomy.Currently, doctors can perform surgery through minimal incisions using special microsurgical instruments.Such operations are complex, but characterized by minimal trauma.

Spinal fusion is a complex and rather rare surgical procedure.Its results do not always meet expectations.For example, after surgery, a person may still have severe back pain in the lower back.

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

Additional treatments

In the treatment of acute and chronic back pain, other alternative treatment methods can also be used, the effectiveness of which has not been proven in medical practice.The main non-traditional treatment methods are:

• 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 medium and low-frequency currents, which increases the production of endorphins (pain-relieving hormones) and the active restoration of damaged tissues;
• ultrasound treatment - in this case, an ultrasound wave is used, which is directed to the surface of the back: it ensures tissue restoration and active healing, which eliminates pain;
• electrical stimulation of nerves through the skin - electrodes glued to the surface of the skin emit electrical impulses of a certain strength, which trigger 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, cushions and corsets are used to maintain the condition of the spine;
• traction of the spine using special tools and exercises;
• injection of special injections into the spine - drugs are injected into the intervertebral spaces.

The specialist can also send the patient to a "pain management school", where people are taught to cope with pain independently, perform special exercises, and live an active and healthy life.Such institutions mainly deal with group therapy, relaxation and psychology.

Preventive measures

A healthy and strong back is the best way to avoid pain.That is why the most effective prevention is a regular, rational amount of physical activity, correct posture, and 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 present: a large number of extra pounds can negatively affect the condition of the lower back, causing additional stress;
• use suitable and comfortable shoes with low heels, which help to evenly distribute the load on the feet and avoid overloading the spine during movement;
• it is also important to stop moving suddenly, because this can cause muscle tension;
• learn to manage stress, depression, nervous breakdowns, stop worrying too much, as all this can cause pain.

Types of back exercises

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

Strengthening walking and swimming improves the condition of the muscles and supports the spine without overloading it, which eliminates possible sprains.Pilates and yoga strengthen the back muscles and improve their flexibility, but they should be done under the strict supervision of a professional trainer.

The most common simple exercises to treat back pain that you can do at home are:

1. Wall squat - for this, you need to straighten up, place your feet shoulder-width apart.Then perform squats until the body is in a 90-degree bent position.
2. Alternating leg raises.To perform this exercise, you need to lie on the floor and start raising your legs one by one without bending them.The exercise is repeated 5 times.
3. Pelvic lifts.The exercise is performed in a lying position.First the knees bend, then the pelvis rises with the tension of the abdominal muscles.When performing the exercise, it is important that your back is straight.Repeat 5 times.

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

Pain caused by osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disease of the articular cartilage that connects the vertebrae.Thanks to this disease, the roots of the spinal cord are pinched, which causes 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 back and back pain is lifting heavy objects, monotonous work in an uncomfortable position (for example, in the garden).Osteochondrosis can occur as a result of a long, non-stop journey, when a person is constantly sitting.

No one is immune from such a disease.It can be identified based on the following symptoms:

• back pain;
• pain in the lower back, the right side of the back hurts (or the left), the pain radiates to the leg;
• the pain only increases with a change in position and load on the lower back;
• a person may experience a strong burning sensation and painful lumbago;
• after being in an uncomfortable position for a long time, it is difficult to change due to severe discomfort;
• the sensitivity of the buttocks and legs decreases, a feeling of goosebumps appears;
• Sweating problems appear, the lower limbs get cold.

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

• use a special woolen belt or scarf and tie it on the lower back;
• lie down on a hard and smooth surface;
• start taking anti-inflammatory drugs;
• apply anti-inflammatory ointments for back pain in the lumbar region.

It is important to note that painkillers 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 what is causing the back and lower back, it is important to consult a doctor - taking anti-inflammatory drugs for stomach and pancreatic diseases is very dangerous, as they can only worsen the general situation.

What is forbidden?

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

After warming up, a person may feel an improvement in his condition and a reduction in pain, but after that, the health condition only worsens.If the pain often occurs in the back area, it is important to get an MRI and seek help from a neurologist.