Any pain is a signal of a problem in the body.Back pain occurs as a symptom of the reflection of diseases of internal systems and individual organs, especially with degenerative-dystrophic musculoskeletal changes.Lower back pain may be a reason to consult a neurologist, orthopedic surgeon, vertebrologist, gastroenterologist, urologist and gynecologist.
Pain pain - discord
In addition to injuries due to injuries, possible causes of lower back pain may include the following diseases:
- spine;
- internal organs of the pelvis and gastrointestinal tract;
- muscles.
Lower back pain varies significantly in strength and duration, they can:
- sharp and painful;
- permanent or periodic;
- localized at one point, for example, on the right or left side, or moving when the pain is the result of pathological projection of the peritoneal and pelvic organs.
What could it be?
To make a diagnosis, you need to determine the nature, location and frequency of the pain, measure the temperature (a high temperature indicates the presence of inflammation and/or infection), analyze the accompanying symptoms of the disease (vomiting, tongue coating, diarrhea, redness or rash on the skin) and seek medical advice.
Note!The higher the temperature, the more likely the cause of the pain is infectious, for example, with herpes zoster, which is characterized by girdling pain in the lower back and characteristic skin rashes.
After a conversation with the patient and his external examination to confirm the diagnosis, if necessary, the doctor may prescribe blood and urine tests, as well as:
- computed tomography;
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- ultrasound examination of internal organs;
- X-ray.
1. Spine problems
Spinal problems, characterized by chronic low back pain, accompanied by limited movement from several hours to several weeks and no increase in temperature.The most well-known low back pain syndromes are:
- radiculitis- damage to the nerve root of the spinal cord, often inflammatory.Suffers mainly from the cord formed by the roots and located between the vertebrae.Often does not have an acute onset.It may be a secondary symptom of another disease, such as osteochondrosis or tuberculosis of the spine;
- lumbago (lumbago)- sudden and acute pain attacks when lifting something heavy, with awkward movements or hypothermia.Accompanied by stiffness and constant tension in the lower back muscles for a long time.It may be the result of several diseases, in addition to osteochondrosis, for example, displacement of the intervertebral disc in the lumbar region;
- sciatica (inflammation, compression of the sciatic nerve).Paroxysmal pain in the lower back often moves to the sacrum and the back of the legs.In women, it may be the result of chronic inflammation of the appendages.
Note!When the nerve roots of the spinal cord are damaged, pain from the lower back can spread to the legs, one or both, accompanied by numbness and "pins and needles" sensations.
The most common diseases that cause back pain are:
- Lumbar osteochondrosis, which is manifested by loosening of joint cartilage and bone tissue with nerve involvement in the pathogenesis and pain due to pinching of nerve roots extending from the spinal cord.
- Spondylosis- dystrophic changes (gradual thinning) of the lumbar vertebrae, ligaments weaken and bone growth occurs, narrowing the spinal canal.As a result, bone growth begins to compress the nerve roots, causing excruciating pain, which may be accompanied by weakness and numbness in the legs.May cause vertebral displacement.Displacement of vertebrae and intervertebral discs in the lumbar region can cause pathology of the vertebrae located below and interfere with the function of the rectum and bladder.
- Ankylosing spondylitisaffecting the intervertebral joints responsible for spinal mobility, or synovial joints.It manifests itself as pain in the joints and spine, eye damage, proliferation of the connective tissue of the spinal joints, stiffness and complete loss of mobility of the lumbar joints.
- Prominence(protrusion of intervertebral cartilage without violating its integrity), and then intervertebral disc herniation (protrusion with violation of cartilage integrity, nerve root compression), which leads to loss of joint function.Lower back pain can spread to the legs.
- Narrowing of the spinal canal (stenosis)due to chronic inflammation, it can cause compression of the nerves and spinal cord that pass through them.This disease is accompanied by pain and spasms in the back that appear after long walks and spinal claudication syndrome.In a sitting or lying position, the pain calms down, but when physical activity resumes, it gets stronger again.
- Scoliosis (curvature of the spine).In complicated cases, with protective spasms of the back muscles against the background of osteochondrosis of the spine with a herniated intervertebral disc in the lumbar region, pain in the lumbar region may occur.
Good to know!When a vertebra is moved, it is important to determine the cause of the problem: as a result of an injury or as a result of a degenerative process.In the second case, permanent adjustment of the vertebrae with the help of a chiropractor can worsen the situation, leading to the final destruction of the vertebral processes and pinched nerves.
Lower back pain can be caused by non-infectious chronic inflammation of the joints involving ligaments, muscles, and spinal cartilage in the pathogenesis due to autoimmune processes.
2. Infection, myositis, tumor
The lower back is the largest part of the spine, subject to the maximum load.The inflammatory process in this area is accompanied by bone pain, fatigue, headache, limited mobility, and fever.
Can be caused by infectious diseases affecting the vertebrae and intervertebral discs (tuberculosis, epidural abscess, etc.);
Acute spasmodic pain in the lower back when bending occurs when stretching or inflammation (myositis) of muscles and ligaments, as a result of hypothermia, excessive physical exercise.They appear suddenly and remain at rest;they can spread to the sacrum and back of the leg, making it difficult to bend and turn from side to side.
Lower back pain can also be the result of tumors in the vertebrae, spinal cord, nerve fibers or in the retroperitoneal space.
3. Internal organ problems
Pathology of internal organs often manifests as lumbar pain of a girdle nature, which indicates extensive damage to nerve fibers.
Among the main diseases of internal organs, characterized by pain in the lower back:
- pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).Pain in the lower back is acute, often girdle-like, and/or in the upper abdomen.Possible repeated vomiting, diarrhea, coating on the tongue, drop in blood pressure;
- other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (intestinal obstruction or inflammation, ulcerative colitis).With appendicitis with an atypical course, disturbing pain in the lower back may be accompanied by a single vomiting;
- inflammatory kidney disease.Pain in the lower back is nagging, aching - with inflammation of the kidney (pyelonephritis), sharp, cramping - with renal colic (caused by the movement of stones from the renal pelvis to the ureter).With lower back pain, an additional sign of kidney or bladder disease is frequent urination.Urine is cloudy, sometimes mixed with blood.Possible fever, weakness, chills, headache, swelling, difficulty urinating;
- inflammation of the reproductive system.It hurts in the lower abdomen (with appendicitis in women), in the anus (with prostatitis in men), and radiates to the lower back.Pain accompanied by general intoxication (weakness, headache, fever), spotting (in women).
In addition, pain can radiate to the lumbar region due to adhesions (scars) formed after surgery, as well as spinal cord blood circulation disorders (can cause stroke) or metabolism (gout).
Back pain and pregnancy
Pregnancy worsens the manifestation of diseases in the mother's body.Due to changes in hormone levels and increased stress, pathology especially often appears in the second half of pregnancy.In addition to the pain that accompanies the threat of premature birth, the causes of lower back pain in pregnant women can be:
- intervertebral disc herniation;
- radiculitis;
- pancreatitis;
- pyelonephritis;
- urolithiasis (kidney stones).
Lower back pain may indicate a problem with the spine, and may also be a symptom of urological, gynecological or gastroenterological diseases.It usually appears when the spinal nerves are irritated and nerve roots are pinched.In order not to make the situation worse, to establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment, you should contact a therapist, who will determine the pathological area and refer you to the appropriate specialist for treatment.