Back pain is a fairly common symptom. Everyone has experienced it in one way or another in their life.
Causes, frequency and risk factors of low back pain
Let's see why the lower back can hurt in this country. Often, lower back pain signals that you have:
- osteochondrosis and neuralgia;
- kidney disease;
- acute pancreatitis.
Let's consider each possible reason in more detail.
Lower back pain can occur with various kidney diseases:
- glomerulonephritis - non-infectious kidney damage;
- pyelonephritis - purulent inflammation in the renal pelvis;
- the formation and movement of stones in the kidneys and ureters.
Often, hypothermia, colds, or diet contribute to kidney disease; It's easy to confuse a torn lower back with kidney problems. However, there are symptoms that are characteristic of this type of disease:
- pain not associated with movement and physical activity;
- body temperature often rises to more than 37. 5 degrees;
- a light tap with the edge of the palm in the kidney area causes severe pain;
- there are problems with urination - frequent or too infrequent, painful;
- urine becomes cloudy, discolored.
When someone has kidney problems, the first thing to do is call a doctor. This organ performs a function that is too important in the body to risk. When the doctor comes to your country house, try to lighten the patient's condition.
What can be done:
- lay the patient down or help him take a comfortable position;
- in front of temperature - give antipyretic;
- give sick antispasmodics, for example, no-shpu;
- monitor pressure, temperature;
- provide assistance if necessary if the person needs to turn around.
It is often written that heating compresses or warm baths will help with kidney disease. Remember!
If the pain is caused by pyelonephritis, heating will only worsen the situation, because the inflammation due to heat increases.
All further steps can be prescribed by a doctor after a professional examination.
Injury to the lumbar spine is the most common cause of low back pain.
Back pain happens to almost everyone at least once in a lifetime. It should be noted that pain can occur in any part of your back, but, however, pain in the lumbar spine occurs most often. This is due to the fact that the lumbar vertebrae bear the maximum load from your body weight.
Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor, right after viral infections. You may experience lower back pain after lifting a heavy object, after a sudden movement, after being in one position for a long time, or after a spinal injury. Acute pain in the lumbar spine is most often caused by intervertebral disc displacement and trauma to the spine.
Conditions that can cause back pain:
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
- Intervertebral hernia and intervertebral disc protrusion
- Spondylarthrosis
- Spondylosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Compression fractures due to osteoporosis, multiple myeloma, vertebral hemangioma
- Tumors in the lumen of the spinal canal
Destruction of the lumbar vertebrae in tuberculosis is a rare cause of back pain.
- Spine fracture after injury
- Prolonged muscle tension
- Anatomically narrow spinal canal
- Curvature of the spine (scoliosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis, Scheuermann Mau disease)
- aortic aneurysm
- Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis
- Spinal infections - osteomyelitis, discitis, spinal tuberculosis
- Pyelonephritis, urolithiasis
- Complicated course of pregnancy
- Gynecological diseases (endometriosis, ovarian cysts, ovarian cancer, etc. )
back pain with pancreatitis
Tumors in the lumen of the spinal canal are a common cause of lower back pain.
The pain can be variable: sharp, dull, pulling, burning, may be accompanied by tingling and goosebumps, numbness. The intensity of lower back pain can vary significantly - from mild to unbearable pain that makes it difficult to make even small movements. Pain can be combined with pain in the thigh, pain in the lower part of the leg, pain in the leg.
For lower back pain, don't start with a spine x-ray.
- Reduce physical activity in the first two days after the onset of the attack. This will help reduce the symptoms of the disease and swelling in the area of pain.
- Do not sit forward until the pain has completely subsided.
- Take painkillers only if the pain is unbearable. It is better to make an intramuscular injection than to drink anesthetic drugs. This will protect your stomach wall from direct contact with the anti-inflammatory medication. Try to avoid taking too much medicine. Do not use hormonal drugs for treatment if back pain is not associated with an autoimmune disease.
- Sleep in the fetal position with a pillow between your legs. If you usually sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees
- A common misconception is the idea that you should limit physical activity for long periods of time. Bed rest is not recommended! If you are not experiencing fever, weight loss, urination and defecation, then you should stay active as much as possible. You can reduce your activity only in the first two days after the onset of pain. Start doing light aerobic exercise. Walking on the simulator, swimming will help increase blood flow to your back muscles. Consult your doctor for exercise selection so as not to cause increased pain.
A characteristic symptom of pancreatitis is girdle pain, which starts under the ribs on the left side. Then it spreads to the abdomen and back, forming a ring. Pain in the navel area can also indicate pancreatitis. In the atypical form of this disease, pain in the back, slightly above the waist, is not uncommon - they are usually mistaken for symptoms of pancreatitis.
Back pain in acute pancreatitis is very severe. First aid for pancreatitis includes:
- hunger (sick people should not eat before the exam);
- comfortable position (help the person to take it), peace and comfort;
- drink moderately (you can gradually give plain water);
- situation control (do not leave the patient alone).
There are body positions that help reduce pain: the knee-elbow position and the fetal position.
Diagnostic methods
First you need to see a neurologist. The doctor will ask you about the nature of your pain, its frequency, recurrence. The doctor will try to determine the cause of the pain and start treatment with simple methods (ice, mild pain relievers, physical therapy and necessary exercises).
MRI in 95% of cases will determine the true cause of back pain.
In most cases, this treatment leads to a reduction in back pain. During the examination, the doctor will determine the exact location of the pain, its radiation, neurological reflexes. Most people with low back pain recover within 4 to 6 weeks. Diagnosis includes magnetic resonance imaging (eng.
MRI) lumbar spine, computed tomography of the lumbosacral spine, X-ray of the spine. Since the most common cause of back pain is a herniated disc in the lumbosacral spine, the first thing you should do is an MRI scan of the lumbar spine.
This study will also help to exclude most causes of pain, such as tumors in the lumen of the spinal canal, spinal tuberculosis, spinal fractures, multiple myeloma, anatomically narrow spinal canal, sponlylolisthesis, various types of spinal curvature, spondylosis and spondylarthrosis.
If your neurologist does not order you to do an MRI, then do it yourself. The power of the MRI machine should be 1 Tesla or more. You should not start the diagnosis with x-rays and computed tomography, these methods are not safe. They can be done in the first place only if a spinal fracture is suspected.
The diagnosis is made based on the patient's complaints, external examination, anamnesis data, and the results of instrumental and biochemical studies. The most informative in the detection of pathology of the musculoskeletal system is radiography. The resulting image clearly depicts the deformed vertebral body and the reduction of the distance between them, as well as the bone growth that is formed (osteophytes).
If hernia protrusion, protrusion, disease of internal organs is suspected, MRI, CT, and ultrasound are performed. These studies make it possible to detect the localization of pathology, to assess the level of the inflammatory process.
Carrying out general clinical blood and urine tests is mandatory. If a systemic disease (gout, rheumatoid arthritis) is suspected, biochemical, serological studies are indicated.
Lower back pain due to osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a disease of the articular cartilage that connects the vertebrae. Due to their pathology, the roots of the spinal cord are pinched, which is the cause of pain. Any person over the age of 30 is at risk for osteochondrosis, and recently this diagnosis is often found in teenagers and very young people.
The main cause of back pain attacks is heavy lifting, prolonged work in an uncomfortable position (for example, weeding or gardening). The development of osteochondrosis is also provoked by long car journeys, when a person is always in a sitting position.
Such lower back pain can overcome almost anyone. You will be able to recognize osteochondrosis with the following symptoms:
- lower back pain, pain radiating to legs;
- pain becomes stronger with movement, change of position, load;
- may be disturbed by burning or shooting pain - "lumbago";
- after staying for a long time in one position, it is difficult and painful to change it;
- the sensitivity of the legs and back decreases, the feeling of "goosebumps" appears;
- cold feet, disturbed sweat.
There is no temperature in osteochondrosis.
Pain in osteochondrosis can overcome at any time.
If you are absolutely sure that it is in the spine, the following steps will help the person:
- woolen belt or woolen scarf in the lumbar region;
- lying on a hard surface: board, table, hard mattress;
- taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- local anti-inflammatory ointment.
If you are not sure about the diagnosis, consult a doctor - taking anti-inflammatory drugs for problems with the stomach or pancreas can make the situation worse.
What not to do
In any case, do not try to "set" your back yourself - this can increase the pain, and even harm your back.
With exacerbation of osteochondrosis, heating procedures are not recommended. Never take a hot or steamy shower in the bathtub. After warming up, a person will feel temporary relief, then the pain will increase significantly. If such pain often bothers you, you should do an MRI (image of the lumbar spine) and consult a neurologist.
Important! If after taking anti-inflammatory drugs you feel relief or complete disappearance of pain, you should not continue physical activity. The patient needs rest - up to bed rest - for some more time.
How to relieve pain if it is neuralgia
Neuralgia is inflammation of the nerves. The symptoms of neuralgic lumbar pain are similar to the signs of osteochondrosis: the back reacts to movement, the patient is afraid to move. But there are also special things:
- pain spreads along the inflamed nerve;
- the nature of the pain is "jerking", it can subside and suddenly appear even at rest;
- skin color and sweating may change, tremors occur in the muscles;
- if you press on the back, pain occurs on both sides of the spine.
It is difficult to cure neuralgic pain, but it is necessary to try to reduce it. Help the sick:
- anti-inflammatory analgesic drugs;
- medicines that relieve spasms;
- complete rest.
With severe neuralgic pain, the patient is better admitted to the hospital. Doctors in the hospital use novocaine blocks for neuralgia.
Remember! Using medicines without medical advice and examination can harm your health.
Timely access to a doctor will prevent serious complications of the disease.
Conditions in which you need to see a doctor:
- Low back pain associated with lower leg pain and leg pain
- Pain prevents you from taking care of yourself
- Pain associated with urinary and fecal incontinence
- A combination of pain in the lower back with numbness in the buttocks, thighs, legs, feet, groin
- If you have had back pain before
- If the pain lasts more than 3 days
- If you take hormones
- If back pain occurs after an injury
- Previously diagnosed with cancer
- If you have recently lost weight for unknown reasons