Back pain in the lumbar region - causes and treatment

Various diseases can cause back pain in the lumbar region.

The main diseases that cause back pain are injuries to the joints in the spine or the hip joint.

Most often, this symptom is due to diseases of the lumbosacral spine.

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 joint or internal organs near the lower back.

If your back hurts in the lumbar region, the reasons may be as follows:

• pain may occur as a result of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine;
• painful sensations may be due to intervertebral hernia;
• ankylosing spondylitis;
• bead displacement;
• rheumatism;
• inflammation of the back muscles (myositis);
• inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
• spinal fractures;
• osteoarthritis of the hip and other diseases of the spine and hip joints.

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

• making sharp turns;
• sudden weight gain;
• when you play 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 exacerbated bladder diseases;
• diseases of the genital organs;
• rectal problems.

Most often, back pain with osteochondrosis is:

• pain;
• exploding;
• pulling;
• sometimes the pain burns.

Often, the pain in the lumbar region in this case disappears while standing or lying down and intensifies when you are sitting, especially on a hard surface, with coughing and exercise.

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, manifested by dystrophy and deformity of the intervertebral discs.

The group at high risk of developing lumbosacral osteochondrosis includes:

• overweight people;
• leading an inactive lifestyle;
• having inappropriate attitude.

Also, this disease can develop with excessive exertion on professional athletes and even with improper exercise at home.

Frequent stress and lack of sleep can contribute to the development of osteochondrosis.

People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and other inflammatory diseases of the joints often get osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

Treatment of sacro-lumbar spine osteochondrosis aims at slowing down the process of destruction of intervertebral discs, restoring nerve root functions and eliminating pain.

To do this, apply:

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

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

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

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

There are several other methods for treating osteochondrosis:

1. Manual therapy helps to restore the functions of the lumbar spine and its anatomical structure. Massage for osteochondrosis helps strengthen the muscles of the lower back and improve metabolic processes in tissues.
2. Physiotherapy is performed after the acute period of the disease has been interrupted with the help of medication. The most useful for osteochondrosis will be: electrophoresis, paraffin therapy, phonophoresis and magnetotherapy. To achieve a tangible effect, it is recommended to perform 3 courses with 10 physiotherapy procedures with a two-week break between them.
3. One of the most effective methods for treating osteochondrosis is physiotherapy exercises. Physical education should be performed after proper consultation with a physician and, preferably, under the supervision of a specialist. A set of exercises created specifically for the treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis will help strengthen the back muscles, which will ease some of the load from the intervertebral discs.
4. Spa treatment (radon bath, therapeutic mud, etc. ) has a good effect on osteochondrosis.

If you ignore the symptoms of osteochondrosis and do not seek medical help, then this will lead to 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.

When carrying weights and playing sports, care should be taken not to lengthen your back further and damage your spine.

Back pain with intervertebral hernia

Spinal hernia, or intervertebral hernia, is a disease in which the intervertebral disc deforms, the outer part of the disc rupturing at the same time as the inner part of the disc protrudes outside the vertebral body.

Lumbago

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

Lumbago is the sudden onset of acute back pain at the time of physical exertion, lifting weights.

Back pain in this case has a tearing, stabbing, shooting character. It is accompanied by a sharp prolapse of the intervertebral disc and irritation of the nerve endings located in the annulus fibrosus.

A reflex is triggered, as a result of which the lumbar muscle tone increases a lot. The patient freezes in a monotonous position, can not direct his back and turn.

This manifestation of spinal disc herniation is most commonly found in men aged 30-40 years.

Sciatica

Sciatica (sciatica) - irritation of the sciatic nerve due to constriction of the hernial extension of the spinal roots.

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

These symptoms usually appear on one side, according to the position of the disc herniation.

Symptoms of back pain with intervertebral hernia

Table - Symptoms for disc herniation

The main symptoms	Features
Long-term pain in the lumbar region.	It can take up to several months. They wear a painful, attractive, spicy character.
Dysfunction of the pelvic organs.	Urinary incontinence or retention. Defecation violation. In men, a hernia can affect potency.
Weakness of the leg muscles, a decrease in their tone, a decrease in reflexes.	Compression of motor nerves in the spinal roots.
Paralysis (complete lack of movement) or paresis (partial lack of movement) in the legs.	Compression and spinal cord injury.
Pale skin, increased sweating, white or red spots.	Compression of nerves in the spinal roots, which regulate blood vessels, sweat glands and other autonomic functions.

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

Identification of disc herniation

Statistics for detecting intervertebral hernias:

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

Reasons for the development of intervertebral hernia

A disc herniation develops due to:

1. Degenerative changes in vertebrae and intervertebral discs. Disc herniation is often a complication of osteochondrosis.
2. Delayed spinal cord injuries: compressive vertebral fractures, subluxation.
3. Increased load on the spine: with constant work sitting or standing in a monotonous posture, improper carrying of weights, excessive physical exertion, overtraining in athletes.
4. Sedentary lifestyle.
5. Infectious diseases in which the spine is affected.
6. Overweight.
7. Congenital spinal malformations.
8. Vibration action. Most often this is due to industrial hazards. Under the influence of vibrations, the structure of the intervertebral disc is disturbed, it weakens.
9. Poor posture, scoliosis.

Treatment of disc herniation

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 disc herniation are intended to relieve back pain.

Hernia is mainly treated with the following drugs:

• non-steroidal pain relievers;
• steroid hormones.

Physiotherapy for intervertebral hernias is used according to the doctor's instructions.

There are other methods of treating intervertebral hernia without surgery:

1. Manual therapy. The chiropractor is trying to eliminate the disc herniation with his hands.
2. Kinesitherapy. This is a type of physiotherapy exercise. Normalizes muscle tone, restores blood circulation and increases tissue regeneration.
3. Hirudotherapy.
4. Cryotherapy. This is a low temperature treatment technique. Liquid nitrogen is placed on the affected area. This improves blood circulation to the tissues.

Disc herniation 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 caused by compression of a spinal cord hernia).

Treatment of back pain with blockade

Hernia repair is a procedure aimed at numbing the affected area and relieving muscle spasm.

The blockage is performed by injecting anesthetics.

The therapeutic effect of the blockade is characterized by:

• rapid pain relief - relief comes in 1-2 minutes;
• elimination of muscle spasm, which intensifies painful sensations;
• relieving inflammation, especially with corticosteroid administration;
• reduction of soft tissue edema, which causes tightening of nerve fibers.

Contraindications to blockade:

• an infectious lesion of the spine;
• ethe;
• mental illness;
• cardiovascular failure stage 2-3;
• weakness;
• blood clotting disorders;
• kidney and liver damage;
• tendency to convulsions;
• pregnancy.

Diagnosis 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 may prescribe spinal examinations with the help of:

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

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

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