Low back pain occurs very often. Patients said, "I have pain in lower back", "pinched waist", "cross in back". If the pain is reckless, I can say, "aching back", "pull back", "aching loins". Sometimes the pain is described as burning sensation in the lower back.
The lower back is called the lower back - from the place where is the end of the ribs to the coccyx. Perhaps a separate word, which relate to the belt is necessary to specify the place where it hurts. After all, if pain in the back, in most cases, the pain was back.
That can be a pain
Most back pain occurs suddenly and sharply, acute. In this case we are talking about lumbago (obsolete folk name cross). The pain is described as sharp, "shooting". The movement is committed, sometimes even impossible, to straighten the back. On each move, the pain increases.
The pain can last only a few minutes, and can take a lot of time (several days). It is possible that the attack took place, and the pain more about yourself remember, but often the pain returns and the person gets used to the lower back can hurt.
Lower back pain can be not only sharp (sharp), it can be a bear to pull the character and be chronic. A mild but constant pain in loins, sometimes aggravated by, for example, during physical exertion, infectious diseases, colds, etc., are called the lumbar region. Sometimes there is no pain directly, but is stored in the lower back stiffness the patient is experiencing discomfort.
Causes of pain in the low back
Lower back pain can occur for a variety of reasons, but the statistics is the following:
- in 90% of cases the pain is caused by problems with the spine and back muscles;
- 6% cause of pain is a kidney disease;
- 4% - diseases of other internal organs (urinary system, colon).
Share of the spine represent the majority of all cases, pain in the back, and it is not a coincidence. In humans, the centre of gravity of the body is only at the level of the waist, and walking the entire burden almost entirely falls on the lumbar vertebrae (in animals that move on four feet, this is not a problem). And when a man sits down, the lumbar vertebrae and the sacrum are faced with the same force of pressure which the diver presses 170-meter layer of water. Of course, this area is particularly vulnerable.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, causing pain in the low back:
- pinch the sciatic nerve. The nerve roots extending from the spinal cord are squeezed by the adjacent vertebrae. When this happens, a sharp, shooting pain. Typically, jamming of the roots becomes possible due to the degenerative changes in the spine (osteochondrosis): the intervertebral discs that separate the vertebrae with each other is destroyed, the difference between the vertebrae narrows and the sudden movement (tilt, rotation) can lead to a pinched nerve branch;
- sciatica (sciatica). In a pinch the nerve roots can become inflamed. Inflammation of the nerve roots is called sciatica (from lat. radicula - "root"); indicates inflammation of the sciatic nerve is sometimes used a special name - sciatica. With the defeat of the sciatic nerve, can lumboischalgia - pain in the low back that spreads to the thighs and leg in the context of the sciatic nerve;
- herniated disc - protrusion of part of the intervertebral disc into the spinal canal. Formed as a result of injuries or degenerative changes of the spine (osteochondrosis);
- myositis of the lumbar muscles. Myositis is an inflammation of the skeletal muscles. The cause of myositis lumbar muscles can be hypothermia or sudden tension.
Also back pain can occur as a result of such diseases as multiple sclerosis, degenerative sacroiliitis, osteoporosis.
The prevention of back pain
The occurrence of low back pain is often triggered by careless attitude to their own health. Pain can be caused by:
- a longer stay in the same position (for example, sedentary work);
- poor posture;
- the low mobility;
- excessive physical activity.
All these factors contribute to the development of the disease, which is manifested by pain in the lower back. The risk of pain can be reduced if you follow the following tips for doctors:
- follow the carriage;
- avoid awkward posture at a work session. It is desirable that the knee was slightly higher than the hip joints. Use a low chair or stand on his own two feet. Make a small pillow between your lower back and the seat back;
- when sedentary work must from time to time to get up to move around. Do it every hour, five-minute breaks; how to lift weights
- it is desirable to sleep on a pillowtop mattress (elastic and tough enough);
- to lift weights is necessary due to the flexion of the knees, not the back. This means that you must sit down, bending their knees and then straighten them while maintaining a straight line back;
- the shift of the load must be evenly distributed between both hands to carry the whole load in one hand (one heavy bag);
- every day you should do a set of exercises for strengthening the muscles of the abdomen and back.
Lower back pain kidney disease
When back pain it is important to determine what causes the pathology of the musculoskeletal system or diseases of the kidney (and other organs). Diagnostics must be carried out by a doctor. However, there is evidence to suggest that pain can cause problems with the kidneys or (and) other organs of the urogenital system. The manifestation of these symptoms, it is advisable to consult a doctor and urologist. Kidney disease (or more broadly to the treatment of diseases of the genital and urinary tract), may be suspected, if the pain is accompanied by:
- General aggravation of disease (lethargy, drowsiness, weakness, fatigue);
- swelling of the eyelids, of the face. Swelling is particularly pronounced in the morning after waking up and incentives for the evening;
- the increase in body temperature, chills, sweating;
- loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting;
- increased or painful urination;
- changes in the properties of the urine (can become more concentrated color, or vice versa - a colorless, contain mucus or blood);
- increase in blood pressure.
Also an important sign that lower back pain caused by problems of the internal organs, and not the musculoskeletal system, which is its independence from the position of the body: the change of the body position and limb pain is not amplified and not reduced. However, with a long stay in a standing position in the pathology check the pain may worsen. It has a value and localization of pain. If you have kidney disease, the pain is often noticed on one side (because usually only has one kidney). Kidney pain may not be limited to the lower part of the back, and will be expanded in the context of the ureter, in the groin, external genitals, inner thighs.
Pain in the lower back: what to do?
Lower back pain is a symptom of the disease that requires treatment. Therefore, it is essential to consult a doctor. But in the case of a sudden attack of acute pain ("lumbago" typical sciatica), we first need to ease the pain. Doctors advise:
- use slightly warm. Tie the waist woolen scarf or woolen belt;
- such pain;
- you must take a posture that allows you to relax the back muscles. It is recommended to lie on your back on a hard, flat surface (Cardboard); the leg should be raised and bent at the knees, why it is necessary for them to put a folded blanket or pillow. (On the floor to go undesirable, you can blow out a draft).
The proposed position is not a dogma. The patient should feel relief, so there are also other possible positions; for example, lying on the Deck, to put on knees bent legs, holding between them a cushion. You can try to lie on your stomach and stretch your legs, place pillows under the ankle joints. If the sharpness of the pain, which was removed, this does not mean that the doctor is no longer needed. Without proper treatment, the seizures will recur, and the situation deteriorating.
What doctor to address with a complaint of pain in the low back?
When pain in the back, it is best to consult with a therapist, because first of all it is necessary to identify the disease, what organs causes pain. According to the results of the inspection, it may be necessary to consult with a medical specialist. May be granted:
- please consult a neurologist for assessing the spine, back muscles and the nervous system;
- ask your doctor urologist in the case of suspected urinary tract diseases;
- consultation of the gynecologist - in case of suspicion or presence of chronic diseases of the organs of the female reproductive system;
- General investigations of blood and urine to confirm or exclude the inflammatory nature of the disease;
- radiography of the spine ;
- Ultrasound of the hip joints ;
- also other studies.