Low back pain - causes and treatment

Various diseases can cause back pain in the lower back.

The main diseases that cause back pain are joint injuries of the spine or thigh joint.

This symptom is often associated with lumbosacral spine disease.

The spine is mobile, which causes more damage to this particular area.

Causes of low back pain

Low back pain is a signal that there is a problem in the body in the spine, thigh joint or internal organs close to the lumbar region.

If you have back pain, the reasons may be:

• pain may occur as a result of lumbosacral lumbar osteochondrosis;
• painful sensations may be caused by an intervertebral hernia;
• ankylosing spondylitis;
• vertebral displacement;
• rheumatism;
• inflammation of the back muscles (myositis);
• inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
• spinal fracture;
• osteoarthritis of the hip joint and other diseases of the spine and hip joints.

Pain in the lower back may also be due to muscle tension or muscle spasm. If you make sudden movements with a load on the waist, muscle spasms can occur:

• make sharp turns;
• sudden weight lifting;
• while playing sports.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar-sacral spine

Low back pain in lumbar-sacral osteochondrosis may be associated with the following symptoms:

• increased urination;
• urinary incontinence;
• chronic and often aggravated diseases of the bladder;
• diseases of the genital organs;
• rectal problems.

Low back pain is often associated with osteochondrosis:

• painful;
• explosion;
• towing;
• sometimes the pains burn.

Often, the pain in the lower back disappears when standing or lying down, and is exacerbated by sitting and coughing and physical exertion, especially on a hard surface.

Causes of back pain with lumbosacral osteochondrosis

The lumbar spine is characterized by great mobility and can withstand heavy loads on a daily basis.

This is the main reason for the development of lumbar osteochondrosis, which manifests itself with dystrophy and deformation of the intervertebral discs.

The group at high risk of developing lumbosacral osteochondrosis includes:

• overweight people;
• lead an inactive lifestyle;
• having the wrong posture.

Also, the disease can develop in professional athletes with excessive stress and even improper exercise at home.

Frequent stress and lack of sleep can contribute to the development of osteochondrosis.

People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and other inflammatory diseases of the joints often suffer from osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

Treatment of sacro-lumbar osteochondrosis aims to slow down the process of destruction of intervertebral discs, restore the function of nerve roots and relieve pain.

To do this, apply:

• medicines;
• hand therapy;
• physiotherapy methods;
• physiotherapy;
• surgical methods.

The following drugs are used in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar-sacral osteochondrosis:

• chondroprotectors (to restore cartilage tissue);
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• immunomodulators;
• steroid hormones;
• vitamin complexes.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroid hormones should be used with extreme caution because they have many contraindications and side effects.

There are several other ways to treat osteochondrosis:

1. Manual therapy helps to restore lumbar function and anatomical structure. Massage for osteochondrosis helps to strengthen the lower back muscles and improve metabolic processes in tissues.
2. Physiotherapy is performed after the cessation of the acute phase of the disease with the help of drugs. It will be most useful for osteochondrosis: electrophoresis, paraffin therapy, phonophoresis and magnetotherapy. It is recommended to conduct 3 courses of 10 physiotherapy procedures with an interval of two weeks between them to achieve the felt effect.
3. One of the most effective ways to treat osteochondrosis is physiotherapy exercises. Physical training should be carried out after appropriate consultation with a doctor and preferably under the supervision of a specialist. A series of exercises designed specifically for the treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis will help strengthen the back muscles, which will relieve some of the load on the intervertebral discs.
4. Spa treatment (radon baths, therapeutic mud, etc. ) has a good effect on osteochondrosis.

If you ignore the symptoms of osteochondrosis and do not seek medical help, it will lead to the development of the disease and soon the back pain will become so severe that you still need to see a doctor for help.

Prevention of osteochondrosis

For the health of the spine, you need to eat properly, monitor your posture and lead an active lifestyle.

When carrying weights and playing sports, care should be taken not to stretch your back too much and not to damage your spine.

Low back pain with intervertebral hernia

A spinal hernia or intervertebral hernia is a disease in which the intervertebral disc is deformed and the outer part of the disc is torn off at the same time as the inner part of the disc protrudes beyond the spinal cord.

Lumbaqo

Low back pain in the lumbar region often occurs with lumbago.

Lumbago is a sudden appearance of severe back pain during physical exertion, weight lifting.

In this case, back pain is characterized by tearing, stabbing, shooting. It is associated with acute prolapse of the intervertebral disc and irritation of nerve endings located in the annulus fibrosus.

A reflex is triggered, which greatly increases the tone of the lumbar muscles. The patient freezes in a monotonous state, unable to straighten his back and turn.

This manifestation of lumbar disc herniation is most common in men aged 30-40 years.

Sciatica

Sciatica (sciatica) - irritation of the sciatic nerve as a result of pinching the hernia protrusion of the spinal roots.

Sciatica causes burning, tingling, and numbness that spreads from the lower back to the back of the foot.

These symptoms usually occur on one side, depending on the condition of the herniated disc.

Symptoms of low back pain with intervertebral hernia

Table - Symptoms for herniated discs

The main symptoms	Features
Long-term pain in the lumbar region.	It can last up to several months. They have a painful, aching, burning character.
Pelvic dysfunction.	Escape or urinary retention. Disorders of defecation. In men, hernia can affect potency.
Weakness of leg muscles, decreased their tone, decreased reflexes.	Compression of motor nerves in the spinal cord.
Paralysis of the legs (incomplete movement) or paresis (partial lack of movement).	Compression and damage to the spinal cord.
Pale skin, increased sweating, white or red spots.	Compression of nerves in the spinal cord that regulate blood vessels, sweat glands and other vegetative functions.

With an intervertebral hernia, in most cases, pathological changes develop in the lower back.

Identification of herniated discs

Statistics for the detection of intervertebral hernias:

• 48% of herniated discs occur between the last vertebra (fifth) and the sacrum.
• 46% are between the fourth and fifth vertebrae.

Causes of the development of intervertebral hernias

Disc herniation develops for the following reasons:

1. Degenerative changes in the spine and intervertebral discs. Disc herniation is often a complication of osteochondrosis.
2. Delayed spinal injuries: vertebral compression fractures, subluxation.
3. Increased loads on the spine: sitting or standing in a monotonous position with constant work, improper weight lifting, excessive physical strength, excessive training in athletes.
4. Sedentary lifestyle.
5. Infectious diseases affecting the spine.
6. Overweight.
7. Congenital defects of the spine.
8. Vibration movement. This is often due to industrial hazards. Under the influence of vibration, the structure of the intervertebral disc is disrupted and weakened.
9. Poor posture, scoliosis.

Treatment of disc herniations

According to statistics, in most cases with intervertebral hernia, all symptoms disappear 6 weeks after the first attack and remission occurs.

The body can recover on its own after 24 weeks. Therefore, there are not always indications for surgery.

Medications for herniated discs are aimed at relieving back pain.

Hernias are mainly treated with the following drugs:

• non-steroidal analgesics;
• steroid hormones.

Physiotherapy for intervertebral hernias is used as directed by a physician.

There are other methods of non-surgical treatment of intervertebral hernias:

1. Manual therapy. The chiropractor tries to remove the herniated disc with his hands.
2. Kinesitherapy. This is a kind of physiotherapy exercise. Normalizes muscle tone, restores blood circulation and enhances tissue regeneration.
3. Hirudotherapy.
4. Cryotherapy. This is a low temperature treatment method. Liquid nitrogen is applied to the affected area. It improves blood circulation in the tissues.

Disc herniation surgery

Surgical treatment of an intervertebral hernia is prescribed in the following cases:

• severe back pain in the lumbar region that does not last long, despite ongoing conservative treatment;
• severe neurological disorders: decreased sensitivity, muscle tone and strength, paralysis and paresis;
• urinary incontinence, impotence in men (if it is caused by compression of the spinal cord hernia).

Treatment of low back pain with block

Hernia repair is a procedure aimed at healing the injured area and relieving muscle spasms.

The block is performed by injecting anesthetics.

The therapeutic effect of the blockade is characterized by:

• rapid analgesia - relief comes within 1-2 minutes;
• elimination of muscle spasms that intensify painful sensations;
• to eliminate inflammation, especially with the use of corticosteroids;
• reduction of soft tissue edema causing compression of nerve fibers.

Contraindications to blockade:

• infectious lesion of the spine;
• temperature;
• mental illness;
• stage of cardiovascular insufficiency 2-3;
• weakness;
• blood clotting disorders;
• kidney and liver failure;
• prone to seizures;
• pregnancy.

Diagnosis of low back pain

If you have back pain, then the first step is to see a doctor and get tested.

The doctor can schedule spinal examinations with the help of:

• computed tomography;
• radiography of the lumbosacral spine;
• magnetic resonance imaging;
• electron electromyography;
• vascular dopplerography, etc.

Examination and palpation of the lumbar region and spine are mandatory. Consultation with a neurologist or vertebrologist is required.

Thus, almost always the cause of low back pain is vertebral displacement, muscle spasm or intercostal neuralgia.