Low back pain: causes, classification, treatment and prevention

man lower back pain

Many people on the planet have experienced lower back pain at least once.According to statistics, only 10% of people do not know what low back pain is.In recent years, low back pain has begun to appear in patients at a young age, not only after strenuous physical activity, but is also related to a variety of diseases.

lower back pain

Species

Isolated cases of low back pain often do not cause concern.Frequent hypothermia, hard work, and heavy lifting may cause damaging changes in the spine.The occurrence of pain is a sign of the development of a pathological process, which must be treated in order to maintain full mobility.

Finding out the nature and intensity of unpleasant sensations will help you figure out why they occur.Accurate determination of the pathology will help develop an effective treatment plan to eliminate pain.

Depending on the duration of the movement, low back pain can be:

  1. Acute - Sudden onset, with high intensity, duration of symptoms not exceeding thirty days, and usually of a painful nature;
  2. Chronic - the patient has been worried for more than six months and the pain persists but is not severe, indicating old processes in the body;
  3. Periodicity - appears in the acute phase and disappears completely with the arrival of the remission phase;
  4. Persistent pain is accompanied by many conditions that require immediate treatment. These may be lesions of the spine, nervous system, vascular injuries, and tumors.

A person may experience pain in one spot or throughout the back.Depending on the location, one can differentiate between localized pain (not extending beyond the lesion) or generalized pain (covering the entire lower back).

Sometimes the pain spreads to the lower limbs, causing forced positioning during activities.This symptom occurs in cases of severe disease of the spine.The nature of the pain reflects gastrointestinal disease or gynecological problems.

reason

Nonpathological causes may include severe low back pain after prolonged physical activity.The buildup of lactic acid in the muscles causes pain that goes away on its own after a few days.

main reason:

  • Dystrophic changes in the cartilage tissue of the lumbosacral spine (osteochondrosis) are complicated by proliferation of bone tissue and loss of elasticity of the flat cartilage.When the intervertebral disc deforms, low back pain can worsen, and a complication is disc herniation.This condition causes pain that worsens and spreads to the buttocks and sometimes the ankle area.
  • Traumatic injuries due to impact or fall.
  • Shortening of one limb is observed in second- and third-degree hip arthropathy, after injury or surgery, individual characteristics at birth, and in high-grade scoliosis.
  • Hypothermia can lead to myositis.Inflammation of the muscle fibers causes widespread, persistent pain.
  • Radiculitis is a neuropathology based on inflammation of the root of one of the spinal nerves.A sudden sharp pain stung the patient, forcing him to bend over.
  • Scoliosis.
  • Thrombophlebitis is when the walls of blood vessels become damaged and blood clots form.With this pathology, painful effects are also observed in the lower limbs.
  • Advanced form of atherosclerosis with circulatory impairment.
  • Inflammatory kidney disease.
  • A gynecological condition in which pain originates in the lower abdomen and spreads to the lower back.
  • Hormonal imbalance in menopausal women.
  • Prostate inflammation in men.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Infectious diseases: tuberculosis, brucellosis, etc.
  • Pancreatitis and cholecystitis can cause referred pain in the lower back.
  • Malignant tumors of the lumbosacral or abdominal cavity.
severe low back pain

diagnostic measures

Understanding the cause of lower back pain is important to achieve permanent pain relief.Diagnosis should be made by an experienced doctor.At the appointment, we take a medical history, listen to complaints, and clarify the patient's genetic profile.

Visualization and palpation are performed to identify areas of deformity on the spine and to locate the most painful areas of the lower back.

To confirm this hypothesis, the following procedure is performed:

  1. Laboratory analysis of blood and urine to determine possible inflammation in the body;
  2. Blood chemistry tests are performed to detect indicators of possible rheumatic factors;
  3. An X-ray of the spine will determine if a hernia or herniation is present;
  4. Ultrasound examination of blood vessels and pelvic organs;
  5. spine computed tomography;
  6. If necessary, arrange for an examination with an infectious disease specialist, rheumatologist, pulmonologist, or gynecologist.

treat

Taking painkillers will have short-term effects, and then the back pain will return.Treatment should include a suite of primary and secondary treatment procedures.

Sudden attacks require immediate help.Actions to help relieve the condition:

  • Take painkillers;
  • Wrap the waist area tightly to create pressure on sore areas;
  • Please contact a medical professional for qualified assistance.

In moments of severe pain, without an accurate diagnosis, it is forbidden to try to keep the sore waist warm to avoid aggravating the inflammation.Therapeutic massage and manual therapy are not recommended during an exacerbation of the condition.

drug

  1. NSAIDs relieve low back pain and eliminate inflammation by regulating body temperature.Only a doctor can prescribe medication.Uncontrolled use of non-hormonal analgesics can irritate the gastric mucosa.Pathological conditions can be prevented by taking a drug that suppresses gastric acid secretion half an hour before NSAIDs.
  2. Glucocorticoids are used to treat severe inflammatory reactions.
  3. Diuretics can relieve swelling by removing excess fluid, thereby reducing pain.
  4. Muscle relaxants relieve spasms and relax skeletal muscles.
  5. Chondroprotectants prevent damage to the spine.
  6. Antibiotics used for inflammation of internal organs.This pharmacological group disrupts the balance of the intestinal microbiota.Probiotics will help prevent the appearance of dysbiosis.
  7. Strengthen blood vessel walls.

topical treatment

Medications used for topical treatment will help relieve pain.Topical ointments and creams may contain active ingredients: NSAIDs, viper, cobra, viper, scorpion venom.

The patch containing a medicated base is suitable for daytime use.Apply the Pepper Patch directly to your waist to achieve even healing effects on sore areas within hours.

Kinesio Tapes are a way to relieve pain.The effects of the paste are immediate; if done correctly, it can remain on the skin for up to 5 days, providing long-lasting pain relief.

Orthopedic products include wearing a rigid lumbosacral corset.Designed for static loading, this bandage provides support to the lumbar area and relieves pain caused by compression.For radiculitis, use a thermal bra made of dog, camel or llama hair.

physical therapy

Lidocaine phonophoresis provides rapid symptom relief by rapidly penetrating a powerful anesthetic into the deep subcutaneous layers.The safe method does not negatively impact the gastrointestinal tract, which is an added advantage.

Massage is effective during pain-free periods.After the course, blood circulation is improved, the muscular system is exercised, and waist mobility is improved.

Acupuncture allows you to target certain points for both therapeutic and preventive purposes.The Kuznetsov applicator is ideal for home use.Plastic needles increase blood flow and trigger a natural pain relief process.

Magnetic therapy is used to treat many conditions, including osteochondrosis, vasculopathy, and gynecological conditions.The pulsed current penetrates 7 centimeters beneath the skin to reach the damaged area.Therapeutic effects are cumulative, achieved at the end of the first session and maintained into the next.

lower back pain

prevention

To keep your lower back healthy, you need to follow well-known rules:

  1. Live an active lifestyle;
  2. Avoid heavy objects during professional activities, sports training and weightlifting;
  3. Wear a lumbosacral corset to withstand dynamic loads when the spine is tense;
  4. Wearing orthotics to provide shock absorption while walking;
  5. Eat correctly and monitor your weight to avoid weight gain that may lead to other diseases;
  6. If you develop suspicious symptoms, seek advice from a medical professional.