Lower back pain in English-language sources call pain in the lower back (low back pain). Pain often contributes to tension in the lumbar spine, limitation of motion and antalgic scoliosis. Acute back pain can last from several days to several weeks.
Causes, incidence and risk factors for low back pain
Lower back pain occurs in almost every man at least once in life. It should be noted that pain can be in any part of Your back, but, however, pain in the lumbar spine occurs most frequently. This is due to the fact that the lumbar vertebrae bear the maximum load from the weight of Your body.
Lower back pain is second by the number of visits to physician immediately after a viral infections.
You may feel pain in the lower back after lifting heavy weights, sudden movements, after finding for a long time in one position or after a spinal injury.
Sharp pain in the lumbar spine most often caused by displacement of intervertebral disk and spinal cord injury.
The causes of back pain:
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
- Intervertebral hernia and protrusion of intervertebral disc
- Spondiloarthrosis
- Spondylosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Compression fracture due to osteoporosis, multiple myeloma, hemangioma vertebra
- A tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal
- Fracture of the spine after injury
- Prolonged muscle tension
- Anatomically narrow spinal canal
- Curvature of the spine (scoliosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis, disease Chairman UIA)
- Aortic aneurysm
- Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis
- Spinal infection - osteomyelitis, discitis, tuberculosis of the spine
- Pyelonephritis, urolithiasis
- Complicated course of pregnancy
- Gynecological diseases (endometriosis, ovarian cyst, ovarian cancer etc.)
The symptoms of low back pain (pain in the lower back)
The pain can be varied: sharp, dull, pulling , burning, may be accompanied by tingling and formication, numbness.
The intensity of back pain can vary greatly from mild to unbearable pain that interferes to make the slightest movement. The pain can be combined with pain in the hip, pain in shins, pain in the foot.
Diagnosis of lower back pain
First, You need to consult a doctor-neurologist. The doctor will ask You questions about the nature of Your pain, its frequency of repetition. The doctor will try to determine the cause of the pain and begin the treatment of simple methods (ice, moderate pain relievers, physical therapy and necessary exercise).
In most cases, such treatments reduce back pain. During the examination the doctor will determine the exact location of the pain, its radiating, neurological reflexes. Most people with pain in the lumbar spine recover within 4-6 weeks.
Diagnosis includes magnetic resonance imaging (eng. MRI) of the lumbar spine, computed tomography of the lumbar-sacral spine, x-rays of the spine.
Since the most common cause of back pain is Intervertebral hernia lumbar-sacral spine, the first thing You need to do an MRI of the lumbar spine. This study will also help eliminate most causes of pain, such as tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal, tuberculosis of the spine, spinal fracture, multiple myeloma, anatomically narrow spinal canal, spondylolisthesis, different kind of curvature of the spine, spondylosis and spondylosis. If Your neurologist has not given You an MRI, do it yourself. The power of the MRI machine should be 1 Tesla or more.
Don't start diagnosis with x-ray and computed tomography, these methods are unsafe. You can make them in the first place only in cases of suspected fracture of the spine.
Here are some tips on what to do when back pain:
- Reduce physical activity for the first two days after the attack. This will help reduce the symptoms of the disease and swelling in the area pain.
- Do not sit, bend forward until the pain has fully subsided.
- Take painkillers only in case of unbearable pain. It is better to make an intramuscular injection than drinking the anesthetic. This will protect the wall of Your stomach from direct contact with an anti-inflammatory agent. Try to avoid excessive intake of drugs. Do not use to treat hormonal, if low back pain is not associated with autoimmune disease.
- Sleep in the fetal position, put a pillow between your legs. If You usually sleep on your back, put a pillow under the knees
- A common misconception is the idea that You have to limit physical activity for a long time. Bed rest is not recommended!!! If You do not have fever, weight loss, involuntary urination and defecation, You should stay active as much as you can stand it. You can reduce your activity only for the first two days after the occurrence of pain. Start doing light aerobic exercise. Walking on the treadmill, swimming can help to improve blood flow to the muscles of Your back. Consult your doctor for the selection of exercises so as not to cause amplification of the pain syndrome.
Forecast:
Most people feel much better after the first week of treatment. After 4-6 weeks, a significant proportion of patients the pain disappears completely.
In some cases you should immediately consult a doctor:
- Lower back pain combined with pain in the lower leg and foot pain
- The pain does not allow You to service the
- The pain is combined with urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence
- The combination of pain in the lower back with numbness in the buttock, thigh, leg, foot, groin
- If You have already had back pain before
- If the pain lasts more than 3 days
- If You are taking hormones
- If the pain appeared after the injury
- Had previously been diagnosed with cancer
- If You lost weight recently for unclear reasons