Severe back pain in the lower back: possible causes, symptoms, doctor's consultation and treatment

It is impossible to independently determine the cause of pain in the lower back.Pain in the back and lower back in medicine is called lumbago.It is felt in the lumbar region, accompanied by muscle spasms and additional unpleasant symptoms.Acute back pain is felt for various reasons and can last from a few minutes to several months.As a result, a person begins to get used to sharp pains in the lower back and back.But if you do not seek help from your doctor in time, the person's health condition will worsen and the chances of recovery will decrease.It is important to consider the causes of back pain and treatment.

Description of the lesion

Severe pain in the back and lower back, a feeling of tension and stiffness is a common condition that sooner or later appears in many people.

In most cases, the pain syndrome appears in the lower back, since the lumbar spine is characterized by its mobility and takes half the weight of the human body.Back pain in the lumbar region can occur as a result of lifting heavy objects or turning hard.

In some cases, unpleasant symptoms in the lumbar region appear over time due to regular exercise or wrong posture.In some cases, it is not possible to determine the cause of the pain syndrome.The pain is stronger at night, when there is a load on the lower back or after being in an uncomfortable position for a long time, for example, after a long car ride.In most cases, back pain in the lumbar region goes away if a person lies for a while on a hard surface.

Most often, the pain continues for several days or weeks, and after that the general well-being of the person improves and the condition of the lower back is restored.You can speed up recovery by taking painkillers and optimizing daily physical activity: rest only in the first days and then a gradual return to normality.But in some cases, discomfort and discomfort in the lower back indicate the beginning of a chronic disease that will require complex treatment.

A person's mood also plays a special role in this process.Due to the pain, the general condition of the patient can worsen, but according to statistics, a person who comes in a good mood recovers faster than one who is depressed.

The main causes of the syndrome

The condition of the back depends directly on the functioning of the bones, nerves, muscles and joints.More often than not, it is quite difficult to find out exactly the cause of the pain.Serious diseases or injuries in the spinal region occur in rare cases.

In most cases, lower back pain occurs due to minor injuries, muscle strain, sprained ligaments and muscles, pinched nerves and at the beginning of the inflammatory process.Unpleasant back symptoms can appear suddenly or develop gradually and intensify.Causes of back and back pain:

• very sudden movement: tilting or turning to the side;
• lifting and holding heavy objects, long bending of the body;
• incorrect posture while walking or working at a desk;
• severe muscle strain in the back;
• long trips in a car without breaks.

In some cases, pain in this area appears for no particular reason, for example, in the morning after waking up.

Main Factors

There are factors that can cause severe back and back pain.Experts identify a large number of them;they can negatively affect the condition of the back.The main ones include:

• Heavy weight - in this case, the spine is very overloaded.To determine whether body weight affects the spine, the total body mass index should be calculated.
• Smoking – can adversely affect the tissues of the back, which leads to pain.
• Carrying a child - in this condition, the woman's spine is subjected to severe stress, which becomes stronger when the size of the abdomen increases.
• Long-term use of medications that decrease bone density, such as corticosteroids.
• Psycho-emotional tension, stress - regular anxiety leads to strong tension in the muscles of the neck and back, which provokes pain.

The main diseases

Diseases that can lead to back and back pain include the following:

1. Osteochondrosis and its complications, for example, spinal hernia, is a degenerative process during which the intervertebral cartilage is destroyed, which provokes pain.Such diseases appear in the elderly, especially in those who experience severe stress on the back.
2. Sprained ligaments and muscles - most often occur after prolonged physical activity or sudden movements.
3. Some types of arthritis are an inflammatory disease of the joints, in which, in addition to pain, stiffness is felt in the joints and there are problems with mobility in the morning.
4. Kidney diseases, for example, pyelonephritis, can cause back pain on the right side of the lower back or on the left.

Carrying out diagnostic activities

Severe back and back pain can be managed at home by taking special medications that can be purchased at a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription.Clinic therapy is usually not required.

If the back pain radiates to the lumbar region and causes severe discomfort, then the patient should definitely visit a doctor.He will perform an examination and prescribe treatment.

If back pain on the left side of the back prevents the patient from resting and moving normally, then you should call a doctor at home.

During the examination of the condition, the doctor will ask the person to sit, stand, walk around, raise the legs alternately and also determine the general range of motion in the back.He will also ask for information about possible recent illnesses or injuries, learn about lifestyle, work characteristics and also ask the following questions:

1. When did the pain start?
2. Where is the pain common?
3. Have you had back pain before?
4. How does the pain syndrome appear?
5. For what reason does the pain become stronger or weaker?

During the examination, the doctor will try to exclude possible infection and fracture, since such manifestations occur in rare cases.If there are problems with establishing the diagnosis, the doctor can send the patient for additional diagnostic measures: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or x-ray of the spine.A urine test is performed to rule out kidney disease.

In many cases, the pain in the spine is already eliminated on the third day of treatment.If the therapy does not improve the condition and the pain continues for six weeks (chronic process), or a serious illness has led to the lesion, then the doctor refers the person to a specialist.In most cases, treatment for back and back pain is prescribed by a neurologist.In addition, other doctors may join in examining the patient's condition: an osteopath, a chiropractor and a reflexologist.

Basic treatment methods

The treatment of the pain syndrome will depend on its duration and severity, as well as on the individual characteristics of the person.In most cases, the pain can be relieved with simple home remedies.

Main methods of treatment:

• Mobility.Previously, doctors believed that with pain in the lumbar region it was important to ensure peace.It has now been proven that in patients who start moving earlier, the pain goes away faster.Complete rest and bed rest should be observed only in the first days of acute pain, when it is strong and prevents normal movement.In this case, the person should lie on a firm and level bed.After the condition returns to normal, you should gradually return to a normal lifestyle and previous loads, adding more and more mobility every day.Over time, the person will be able to walk normally around the house or visit public places.But he will have to endure some discomfort and try to avoid anything that could lead to pain again.After a few days, a person can return to work without waiting for the severe pain in the back and lower back to completely go away (of course, if the person's work does not involve stress in the lumbar region).Early mobility will help restore the condition and reduce the severity of the pain.
• Taking sedatives.When dealing with severe back pain over the lower back or directly in it, doctors prescribe pain relievers.The products help eliminate pain and inflammation.Depending on the severity of the lesion, a specialist can prescribe different forms of these medications: injections, tablets, local preparations - ointments, gels and creams against back pain.Most often, initial treatment involves injections.After the pain syndrome passes, the administration of medications is stopped and, if necessary, special tablets or ointments are started.Such drugs have some contraindications, so before you start taking them, you should consult a doctor and study the instructions.Painkillers are best taken after eating with milk.
• Muscle relaxants- drugs that help eliminate muscle spasms and relax muscles.They are prescribed when severe tension in the muscles of the spine increases the pain syndrome, for example, during an acute stage of osteochondrosis or a disc herniation.Muscle relaxants also have various side effects;for example, they are prohibited from taking while driving a car.It is important to consult a doctor first.
• Treatment with warm and cold compresses.In some cases, the pain can be eliminated by taking a hot bath or applying heating pads to the painful area of the body.You can also improve your general condition with a cold or a bag of frozen vegetables.But you must remember that you should not apply ice to the skin itself, as this can result in frostbite.A cold object must first be wrapped in a towel and then applied to the affected area of the body.You can also alternate between cold and heat treatment, applying either ice or a heating pad to the body.
• Choosing a sleeping position.Changing your sleeping position will help eliminate tension and pain.If the patient is used to sleeping on his side, then he should pull his legs to his chest and put a pillow between his legs.If he sleeps on his back, then a pillow should be placed under the knees, this will ensure a natural curve of the spine in the lower back.
• Relaxation of the body- this is a very important component in the fight against severe back pain on the left side above the lower back, since with severe anxiety and overwork, the pain syndrome only worsens.As practice shows, people in a good mood recover much faster and their pain does not become chronic.There are special techniques that help a person relax and forget about back discomfort for a while.To do this, it is recommended to perform special breathing exercises and perform a set of simple exercises with alternating tension and muscle relaxation in the body.
• Physical activity, following a healthy lifestyle.It is important to eliminate the root cause of severe back and back pain to avoid its recurrence.The most common causes of pain in this area include being overweight, poor posture, and regular emotional outbursts.In this case, a positive effect can be achieved if you start leading an active and healthy lifestyle, for example, walking more or visiting the pool.The main thing is to choose the activity that you like the most.In some cases, classes are conducted under the guidance of a trainer.Most often, groups of exercises are used that help strengthen the back muscles and ensure proper posture and alignment.
• If the pain syndrome does not go away within 6 weeks of treatment, then it automatically goes into the chronic phase.In addition to painkillers and a muscle relaxant, in this case you should start complex treatment.

Treatment of chronic pain

In this condition, doctors prescribe the following measures to patients:

• Manual therapy is performed by a chiropractor or osteopath and includes the use of various methods of therapy, massage and mobilization.
• Alexander technique - helps to eliminate heavy tension in the muscles, teaches a person how to correctly take the position of the body in different situations and move.This technique will help you learn to maintain body balance and proper posture.
• Acupuncture sessions are an ancient Chinese method of treatment, during which thin needles are inserted into various parts of the body, which help reduce pain and normalize a person's condition.
• Taking antidepressants.Such drugs are prescribed to the patient when painkillers and other treatment techniques do not bring a positive result.Doctors advise taking tricyclic antidepressants in small amounts.Such remedies were originally designed to relieve depression and problems with the nervous system, but they can also work to suppress certain types of pain.
• Session with a psychiatrist.A positive effect from such a procedure can be achieved when other treatment methods do not help.Severe back pain in the lumbar region is a real condition.The way a person handles it can make it stronger or, conversely, significantly weaken it.Cognitive behavioral therapy can help eliminate back pain in the right or left lumbar region by changing your attitude towards it.According to statistics, people who have undergone psychotherapy sessions experience much less severe pain.In this case, a person is motivated to lead an active lifestyle and to exercise regularly, which leads to a decrease in pain.

Performing the operation

Most often, surgery is used only when all other methods of treating back and back pain do not give any effect.Surgery is used when the pain syndrome is so strong or constant that it prevents the patient from working or even resting.The chosen method of surgical intervention will directly depend on the type of pain syndrome and the cause of its occurrence.

For example, in case of a spinal hernia, the doctor prescribes a discectomy.Currently, doctors are able to perform surgery through a minimal incision using specialized microsurgical instruments.Such operations are complex, but they are characterized by minimal trauma.

Spinal fusion is a complex and quite rare surgical intervention.Its results do not always meet expectations.For example, after surgery, a person may still have severe back pain down the back.

With spinal fusion, the overall mobility of the spine is significantly reduced, since during the operation several vertebrae that cause pain are connected to each other in one position by implanting living bone tissue between them.At the end of the rehabilitation period, the bones are completely fused and when a person moves, they do not affect the nerve endings located near them.It helps suppress severe back pain in the left and right lumbar region.Before deciding to undergo surgery, the patient should receive information from the neurosurgeon about all possible complications and positive effects of the therapy.

Additional treatments

When dealing with acute and chronic back pain, other alternative methods of treatment can be used, the effect of which has not been proven in medical practice.The main non-traditional methods of treatment include:

• laser treatment - minimal power lasers affect the inflamed area of the body and lead to tissue regeneration;
• treatment with interference currents - the lower back is exposed to medium and low frequency currents, which provokes an increase in the production of endorphins (hormones that relieve pain), as well as active restoration of damaged tissues;
• Ultrasound treatment - in this case, an ultrasonic wave aimed at the surface of the back is used: it ensures tissue restoration and active healing, which eliminates pain;
• electrical stimulation of nerves through the skin - electrodes that are attached to the surface of the skin give electrical impulses of a certain power, which provoke the active production of endorphins and help stop the transmission of pain signals along the spine to the brain;
• lumbar supports - for this, pillows, supports and special corsets are used to maintain the condition of the spine;
• traction of the spine using specialized equipment and sets of exercises;
• injection of special injections into the spine - medications are injected into the intervertebral spaces.

The specialist can also send the patient to a "pain school", in which people are taught to independently cope with pain, perform special exercises and lead an active and healthy life.Such institutions mainly deal with group therapy, relaxation and psychology.

Preventive measures

A healthy and strong back is the best solution to avoid any pain.It is for this reason that the most effective prevention will be regular physical activity in a rational measure, correct posture, as well as avoiding lifting heavy objects.

If a person has temporary back pain that radiates to the lumbar region, then he should take the following preventive measures:

• get rid of excess weight, if present: a large number of extra kilograms can negatively affect the condition of the lower back, causing additional stress;
• use correct and comfortable shoes with low heels, which will help evenly distribute the load on the feet and avoid overloading the spine when moving;
• it is also important to stop moving suddenly, as this can cause muscle strain;
• learn to cope with stress, depression, nervous breakdown, do not worry too much, as all this can provoke pain.

Types of exercises for the back

An exercise group is a good method of preventing and relieving back pain, but if the pain lasts for more than 6 months, then it is very important to consult a doctor before starting the exercises.

Walking and strengthening swimming will help improve the condition of the muscles and support the spine without overloading it, which eliminates possible sprains.Pilates and yoga will help strengthen the back muscles and develop their flexibility, but they must be performed under the strict supervision of a professional trainer.

The most common simple exercises for back pain that can be performed at home:

1. Squats on the wall - to do this you need to stand up, put your feet shoulder width apart.Then, perform a squat until the body is in a 90-degree bent position.
2. Alternating leg raises.To perform the exercise, you need to lie on the floor and start lifting your legs one at a time without bending them.The exercise is repeated 5 times.
3. Lifting the pelvis.The exercise is performed in a lying position.First, the knees are bent, and then the pelvis is lifted with tension in the abdominal muscles.When performing the exercise, it is important to keep your back straight.Repeat 5 times.

At first, the exercises are performed several times a day, over time the number of approaches increases to six, depending on how the person feels.This complex helps to warm up and strengthen the back muscles.Most often, people injure their lower back while performing everyday activities, for example, when lifting heavy objects or cleaning the house.Warming up your muscles thoroughly before performing work will help prevent injuries.

Pain due to osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disease of the articular cartilage that connects the vertebrae.Because of this disease, compression of the roots of the spinal cord occurs, which provokes pain.People over 30 years of age are particularly susceptible to this condition, and recently the lesion is often diagnosed in young people.

The main cause of pain in the back and lower back is lifting heavy objects, monotonous work in an uncomfortable position (for example, in the garden).Osteochondrosis can occur as a result of a long journey without stopping, when a person is constantly sitting.

No person is immune from such a disease.It can be identified by the following symptoms:

• back pain;
• pain in the lower back, pain on the right side of the back (or on the left), the pain radiates to the leg;
• pain intensifies only with changes in position and load on the lower back;
• a person may experience a strong burning sensation and painful lumbago;
• after a long stay in an uncomfortable position, it is difficult to change it due to severe discomfort;
• the sensitivity of the buttocks and legs decreases, a feeling of goosebumps appears;
• Problems with sweating appear, the lower limbs get cold.

If a person is sure that the pain syndrome comes from the spine, then he should perform the following therapeutic measures:

• use a wool belt or a special scarf, tying it around the lower back;
• lie down on a firm and flat surface;
• start taking anti-inflammatory drugs;
• apply anti-inflammatory ointments for back pain in the lumbar region.

It is important to remember that pain relievers should not be taken on an empty stomach, as they irritate the mucous membrane and can cause ulcers and gastritis.If a person is not sure about the cause of pain in the back and lower back, then it is important for him to see a doctor - taking anti-inflammatory drugs for diseases of the stomach and pancreas is very dangerous, as they can only worsen the general situation.

What is prohibited?

In no case should the patient try to "straighten" the back by himself - this can only increase the pain syndrome and also cause great harm.In case of an acute form of osteochondrosis, you should not take warm baths or visit baths and saunas.

After warming up, a person may feel an improvement in his condition and relief from pain, but after that the health condition will only worsen.If the pain occurs frequently in the back area, it is important to perform an MRI and seek help from a neurologist.