Severe lower back pain: possible causes, symptoms, doctor's consultation and treatment

It is impossible to independently determine the cause of pain in the lower part.Pain in the back and lower back is medically called Lumbago.It is felt in the lumbar region, accompanied by muscle spasms and additional unpleasant symptoms.Acute back pain is 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 part and back.But if you do not seek help from your doctor in time, a person's health will deteriorate, and the chances of recovery will decrease.It is important to consider the cause of lower back pain and treatment.

Description of the wound

Severe pain in the back and lower back, feelings of tension and stiffness are common conditions that sooner or later appear in many people.

In most cases, the pain syndrome appears in the lower back, because the lumbar spine is characterized by its mobility and takes half the weight of the human body.Back pain in the lumbar region can occur as a result of lifting heavy objects or moving significantly.

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

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

A person's mood also plays a special role in this process.Because of the pain, the patient's general condition may deteriorate, but according to statistics, a person who arrives in a good mood recovers faster than a depressed person.

The main cause of the syndrome

The condition of the back directly depends on the function of the bones, nerves, muscles and joints.Often, knowing exactly the cause of pain is quite difficult.Severe disease or injury to the spinal region occurs in rare cases.

In most cases, back pain at the lumbar level appears due to minor injuries, muscle tension, injured ligaments and muscles, pinched nerves and at the beginning of the inflammatory process.Unpleasant back symptoms can occur suddenly or develop gradually.Causes of back pain and back pain:

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

In some cases, pain in this area seems to have no specific cause, for example, in the morning after waking up.

The main factor

There are factors that can cause back pain and severe back pain.Experts identify a large number of them;They can affect the condition of the back.The main ones include:

• Heavy Weight - In this case, the spine is very overweight.To determine whether body weight affects the spine, the total body mass index should be calculated.
• Smoking - It can affect the back tissue, which leads to pain.
• Carrying a child - In this situation, the woman's spine is subjected to severe pressure, which only becomes stronger because the size of the belly increases.
• Long-term use of medications that reduce bone density, such as corticosteroids.
• Psycho-Emotional Overstrain, Stress - Normal anxiety leads to severe tension in the muscles of the neck and back, which causes pain.

Primary disease

Diseases that can cause back and back pain include the following:

1. Osteochondrosis and its complications, for example, spinal hernia, is a degenerative process in which the intervertebral cartilage is destroyed, which causes pain.Such diseases appear in older people, especially in those who experience severe pressure on their back.
2. Sprained ligaments and muscles - most often occur after prolonged physical activity or sudden movements.
3. Some types of arthritis are inflammatory diseases of the joints, where, in addition to pain, stiffness in the joints is felt and there are problems with mobility in the morning
4. Kidney disease, for example, pyelonephritis, can cause back pain on the right side of the lower back or on the left side.

Conduct diagnostic activities

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

If the back pain radiates to the lumbar region and brings severe discomfort, then the patient will definitely visit the doctor.He will conduct an examination and prescribe treatment.

If back pain on the left side of the lower back prevents the patient from resting and moving normally, then you should contact the doctor at home.

When examining the condition, the doctor will ask the person to sit, stand, walk around, alternately raise his legs, and also determine various movements in the back.He will also need information about possible illnesses or recent injuries, learn about lifestyle, work characteristics, and also ask the following questions:

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

During the examination, the doctor will try to exclude the possibility of infection and fracture, because such manifestations occur in rare cases.If there are problems with making a diagnosis, the doctor can send the patient for additional diagnostic measures: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or X-ray of the spine.A urine test is done to rule out kidney disease.

In many cases, the pain in the spine was eliminated on the third day of treatment.If the therapy does not improve the situation, and the pain continues for six weeks (chronic process), or a serious illness has led to the lesion, then the doctor refers the person to a specialist.In most cases, treatment for back pain and back pain is prescribed by a neurologist.In addition, other doctors may participate in examining the patient's condition: osteopaths, chiropractors, and reflexologists.

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.Previously, doctors believed that with pain in the lumbar region, it was important to ensure peace.It has now been established that in patients who start moving earlier, the pain disappears faster.Rest and complete 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 situation returns to normal, you should gradually return to your normal lifestyle and previous load, adding more movement every day.Over time, the person will be able to walk normally around the house or visit public places.But he has to be patient with the discomfort and try to avoid anything that could cause more pain.After a few days, a person can return to work without waiting for the severe pain in the back and lower back to go away completely (of course, if the person's work does not involve pressure in the lumbar region).Early mobility will help restore the condition and reduce the severity of the pain.
• Take painkillers.When dealing with severe back pain above the lower back or directly in it, the doctor prescribes painkillers.This product helps relieve 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 against back pain.Often, initial treatment involves injections.After the pain syndrome passes, the administration of drugs is stopped, and if necessary, special tablets or ointments are started.Such drugs have several contraindications, so before you start taking them, you must consult a doctor and study the instructions.Painkillers are best taken after meals with milk.
• Muscle relaxants- Medicines that help relieve muscle spasms and relax muscles.They are prescribed when severe tension in the spinal muscles increases the pain syndrome, for example, during the stage of acute osteochondrosis or herniated disc.Muscle relaxants also have different side effects;For example, they are forbidden to be taken while driving a car.It is important to consult a doctor first.
• Treatment with warm and cold compresses.In some cases, the pain can be eliminated by taking a hot bath or applying a heating pad to the painful area of the body.You can also improve your general condition with a cooler or a bag of frozen vegetables.But you should remember that you can not apply ice to the skin itself, because this can cause inflammation.Cold objects should be previously wrapped in a towel and then applied to the affected area.You can also alternate treatment with cold and heat, applying either ice or heating pads to the body.
• Choose a sleeping position.Changing your sleeping position will help eliminate tension and pain.If the patient is used to sleeping on his side, then he should pull his legs to his chest and put a pillow between his legs.If he sleeps on his back, then a pillow should be placed under his knees, this will ensure the natural curve of the spine in the lower back.
• Body relaxation- This is a very important component in the fight against severe back pain on the left side above the lower back, because with severe anxiety and excess pain syndrome only worsens.As practice shows, people in a good mood recover faster, and their pain does not become chronic.There are special techniques that help a person to relax and forget the discomfort in the back for a while.To do this, it is recommended to carry out special breathing exercises and perform a set of simple exercises with alternate tension and relaxation of the muscles in the body.
• Physical activity, following a healthy lifestyle.It is important to eliminate the cause of back pain and severe back pain to prevent recurrence.The most common causes of pain in this area include being overweight, poor posture, and frequent emotional outbursts.In this case, a positive effect can be achieved if you start leading an active and healthy lifestyle, for example, walking more or visiting the pool.The main thing is to choose the activity that you like the most.In some cases, classes are conducted under the guidance of a trainer.Often, exercise sets are used that help strengthen the back muscles and ensure straight posture and stretch.
• If the pain syndrome does not disappear within 6 weeks of treatment, then it automatically enters the chronic stage.In addition to painkillers and muscle relaxants, in this case, you need to start a complex treatment.

Treatment for chronic pain

In this situation, the doctor prescribes the following measures to the patient:

• Manual therapy is carried out by a chiropractor or osteopath and includes the use of various methods of therapy, massage, and mobilization.
• Alexander technique - helps eliminate severe tension in the muscles, teaches a person how to correctly assume the position of the body in various situations and move.This technique will help you learn to maintain body balance and straight posture.
• Acupuncture sessions are an ancient Chinese treatment method, in which thin needles are inserted into various parts of the body, which help reduce pain and normalize a person's condition.
• Taking antidepressants.Such drugs are prescribed to patients when painkillers and other treatment techniques do not bring positive results.Doctors advise taking tricyclic antidepressants in small quantities.Such drugs were initially created to relieve depression and problems with the nervous system, but they can also work to suppress certain types of pain.
• A session with a psychiatrist.A positive effect from such a procedure can be achieved when other treatment methods do not help.Severe back pain in the lumbar region is a real condition.The way one treats it can make it stronger or, conversely, significantly weaken it.Cognitive behavioral therapy can help get rid of back pain in the lumbar region on the right or left side by changing your attitude towards it.According to statistics, people who have undergone psychotherapy sessions experience less severe pain.In this case, a person becomes motivated to lead an active lifestyle and exercise regularly, which leads to a decrease in pain.

Carry out operations

Often, surgery is only used when all other methods of treating back pain and back pain have not produced any results.This operation 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 directly depends on the type of pain syndrome and the cause of its occurrence.

For example, in the case of a herniated spine, the doctor prescribes a discectomy.Currently, doctors are able to perform surgery through minimal incisions using specialized microsurgical instruments.Such an operation is complex, but it is characterized by minimal trauma.

Spinal fusion is a complex and relatively rare surgical intervention.The results do not always meet expectations.For example, after surgery, a person may continue to experience severe back pain below the lower back.

With spinal fusion, the mobility of the entire spine is significantly reduced, because during the operation several vertebrae that cause pain are tied to each other in one position by implanting living bone tissue between them.At the end of the recovery period, the bones are completely united, and when a person moves, they do not affect the nerve endings located near them.It helps suppress severe back pain in the lumbar region on the left and right side.Before deciding to undergo surgery, the patient should receive information about all possible complications and positive effects of therapy from the neurosurgeon.

Additional treatment

When dealing with acute and chronic lower back pain, other alternative treatment methods can be used, the effect of which has not been proven in medical practice.The main non-traditional treatment methods include:

• Laser treatment - minimal power laser affects the inflamed areas of the body and leads to tissue regeneration;
• Treatment with interference currents - the lower back is exposed to medium and low frequency currents, which cause an increase in the production of endorphins (pain relieving hormones), as well as active recovery of damaged tissue;
• Ultrasound Treatment - In this case, ultrasonic waves are used aimed at the back surface: it ensures tissue recovery and active healing, which relieves pain;
• Nerve electrical stimulation through the skin - electrodes glued to the surface of the skin deliver electrical impulses of a certain strength, which cause 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, bolsters, and corsets are used to maintain the condition of the spine;
• traction of the spine using special devices and training sets;
• Special injections into the spine - drugs are injected into the intervertebral space.

Specialists may also send patients to "pain school," where people are taught to manage pain, do special exercises, and lead an active, healthy life.Such institutions deal mainly with group therapy, relaxation and psychology.

Preventive measures

A healthy and strong back is the best solution to avoid any pain.Therefore, the most effective prevention will be regular physical activity in a rational amount, correct posture, and also avoid lifting heavy objects.

If a person experiences temporary back pain that radiates to the lumbar region, then he should take the following preventive measures:

• Lose excess weight, if any: A large number of extra pounds can affect the condition of the lower back, causing additional pressure;
• Use the right and comfortable shoes with low heels, which will help evenly distribute the load on the feet and avoid overstraining the spine when moving;
• It is also important to stop moving suddenly, as this can cause muscle strain;
• Learn to deal with stress, depression, nerve damage, stop worrying too much, because all this can cause pain.

Types of exercises for the back

A set of exercises is a good way to prevent and relieve back pain, but if the pain lasts longer than 6 months, then it is very important to consult a doctor before starting the exercises.

Walking and strengthening swimming will help improve the condition of the muscles and support the spine without burdening it, which eliminates the possibility of sprains.Pilates and Yoga will help strengthen your back muscles and develop their flexibility, but they should be done under the strict supervision of a professional trainer.

The most common simple exercises for back pain that can be done at home:

1. Wall Squats - To do this, you need to straighten up, place your feet shoulder width apart.Next, squat until the body is in a 90 degree bend position.
2. Raise alternating legs.To do the exercise, you need to lie on the floor and start raising your legs one by one without bending them.This exercise is repeated 5 times.
3. Pelvic lift.This exercise is performed in a supine position.First, the knees bend, and then the pelvis rises with tension in the abdominal muscles.When doing the exercise, it is important to keep your back straight.Repeat 5 times.

At first, the exercises are carried out several times a day, over time the number of approaches increases to six, depending on how the person himself feels.This complex helps warm up and strengthen the back muscles.Often, people injure their lower back during everyday activities, for example, when lifting heavy objects or cleaning the house.Warming up your muscles thoroughly before doing work will help prevent injury.

Pain due to osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disease of the articular cartilage that connects the vertebrae.Due to this disease, it pinches the root of the spinal cord, which causes pain.People over the age of 30 are particularly susceptible to this condition, and recently lesions are often diagnosed in young people.

The main cause of pain in the back and back is lifting heavy objects, boring work in an uncomfortable position (for example, in the garden).Osteochondrosis can occur as a result of long trips without stopping, when a person is constantly sitting.

No one is immune from such diseases.It can be identified by the following symptoms:

• back pain;
• Pain in the lower part, right side back pain (or left), pain radiating to the leg;
• The pain only increases with a change of position and load on the lower part;
• A person may experience a strong burning sensation and painful lumbago;
• After staying for a long time in an uncomfortable position, it is difficult to change it due to severe discomfort;
• The sensitivity of the back and legs decreases, the feeling of goosebumps occurs;
• Problems with sweating appear, the lower legs become cold.

If a person is convinced that the pain syndrome comes from the spine, then he should perform the following therapeutic measures:

• Use a special woolen belt or scarf, tying it behind the back;
• lying on a hard, flat surface;
• start taking anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Apply anti-inflammatory ointment for back pain in the lumbar region.

It is important to remember 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 of the cause of pain in the back and lower back, then it is important for him to see a doctor - taking anti-inflammatory drugs for diseases of the stomach and pancreas is very dangerous, because they can only worsen the overall condition.

What is prohibited?

If not, the patient tries to "straighten" his own back - this can only increase the pain syndrome and also cause great harm.In the case of acute osteochondrosis, you should not take warm baths or visit baths and saunas.

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