Low back pain is a well-known symptom. It can appear to represent any gender and age. Pain may indicate damage to the musculoskeletal system, spinal cord, kidneys, pelvic organs, or abdominal cavity. It can be weak or very intense, sharp, painful, stabbing or shooting. Treatment directly depends on the type of pain and its cause.
Reason
It is very important to find the cause of the pain in time. First of all, it is necessary to note the nature of the pain and the time of its appearance. In addition, it is necessary to establish its association with physical activity, food intake and defecation. It is important for women to find a link between the menstrual cycle and the onset of pain.
The reasons that lower back pain occurs can be as follows:
- Nervous problems. Usually, osteonecrosis and endothelium-related disorders of the lumbar region are manifested in this way.
- Musculoskeletal disease. Myositis occurs as frequently as osteonecrosis and is also painful.
- Kidney disease. The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space, i. e. closer to the posterior than the anterior abdominal wall. This is why kidney disease can accompany back pain.
- Pathology of internal organs located in the peritoneum. Sometimes, but not often, low back pain is associated with conditions such as appendicitis and cholecystitis.
- Pathology of the pelvic organs. In particular, such a small pelvic inflammatory disease often occurs in women.
Each disease that leads to lower back pain needs to be considered in more detail.
Bone tumor
Osteoma is a metabolic pathology of the spine in which the structure of the intervertebral discs is disrupted. It is believed that after the age of 27, this condition is a normal age-related change and occurs in most people.
Problems arise because the discs lose their elasticity and ability to resist stress. At the same time, he begins to extend beyond the vertebral bodies. In the vicinity of the vertebral body are the roots of nerves that arise from the spinal cord. The disc compresses these nerves and discomfort occurs. This complication of osteonecrosis is called rhabdomyolysis.
Osteoma can occur in any part of the back, but most often it affects the low back. This occurs because the load on the spine in this part is maximal and disc protrusion is more common.
The nature of pain that occurs with osteonecrotic pulpitis can vary. There are three types of it:
- Back pain.It is also known as "low back pain". This is a sharp and very intense pain that occurs in the lower back with exertion. Pain is so subjective as an arrow shot. It makes you stop exercising. However, low back pain will resolve quickly enough, within seconds or minutes.
- Asthenia.This pain is less intense but lasts longer. It also happens during exercise, but not immediately, but gradually. Such pain can develop over several hours. She has a nagging character. The paralysis continued for several days and significantly reduced exercise tolerance during this period.
- Sciatica body pain.Its difference from previous species is that in addition to the lower back, the legs also hurt. As a rule, this is a unilateral lesion, but bilateral pain can also occur. Migraine headaches are long-lasting. It develops gradually and as such, goes from the lower back down to the thighs. This pain can lead to a temporary limp. It will also pass in a few days.
If you have osteonecrosis, you should consult a neurologist.
Myositis
Almost everyone has experienced pain for this reason. This is exactly what people sound like "through" or "inflated back". The terms are not medical, but the general principles of pain are accurately described.
In this case, the exposure of cold air or cold objects to the lower back will lead to inflammation of the muscles located here. The fact is that the musculoskeletal apparatus of the back is very well developed, and any pathological process in it can simultaneously injure several anatomical structures.
First, due to inflammation, the muscles themselves hurt. Its fibers increase due to edema and compression of the nerve endings inside this muscle. Second, in the vicinity of the muscles are the nerve roots themselves, which here have turned into nerve trunks. Their failure can lead to lasting, pervasive pain.
Inflammation can travel from the muscle to the nerve stem, leading to pain radiating to the lower or lower back or internal organs. It is also better to treat myositis with a specialist.
Kidney disease
Because the kidneys are located near the back, pain when they are affected is transmitted precisely to the lower back. At the same time, painful sensations can lead to the idea of a certain kidney disease.
So, for example, urolithiasis accompanied by an unbearable sharp pain in the lower back. It is also known as colic. It most commonly occurs after or during urination. Such pain can be so intense that it puts a person in a state of emotional arousal and forces them to perform unmotivated actions. For example, during a seizure, a person may start running around the room or make other sudden movements. They are proven by the fact that under load, the stone changes its position in the urinary tract, and pain is reduced.
In addition, pain may occur with pyelonephritis. In this case, it is less intense, but longer lasting. Pyelonephritis is a purulent inflammation of the calyx-pelvis system of the kidney. In addition to pain, fever, weakness, and malaise are present. With pyelonephritis, an active symptom of Pasternatsky (typing). The pain can be unilateral or bilateral.
Nephrologists treat kidney disease. It is better not to delay their visit to avoid complications.
Diseases of other organs
Pathology of internal organs located in the peritoneum is very rarely accompanied by back pain. Abdominal pain more often. However, with the inflammation of the abnormally localized appendicitis, when it is deployed so that it is posterior to the cecum, the pain will be in the lower back. It is important to know because in this case there may not be an upset stomach. The person himself is often not even aware of such an anatomical feature of his organs.
With cholecystitis, the pain usually occurs in the right hypogastric region. However, due to some structural features of the gallbladder, it can also radiate to the lumbar region. In addition, this symptom may appear with pancreatitis. In this case, the pain was related to food intake. Happens more often after eating fried or fatty foods.
In women, lower back pain can occur with menstrual cramps or inflammation of the reproductive system. For example, this is how appendicitis or salpingitis manifests. This symptom usually occurs during pregnancy. The cause is due to excessive stress on the spine, possibly pyelonephritis or from the pregnancy pressing on the nerve endings of the lumbar region.
How to get rid of such pain
First of all, it is necessary to determine the cause of the pain. This can only be done with the help of a suitable professional and after passing a series of examinations. Usually, an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan of the bones of the spine and spinal canal is needed. You may also need an ultrasound of all the organs where the disease may develop.
Osteochondrosis is treated by giving a special position to the back and spine, limiting physical activity, and special exercises. Swimming also has a good impact on the spine with this disease. Pain can be reduced with oral or topical NSAIDs.
With myositis, it is also necessary to take an NSAID and apply it to the lower back where the pain occurs.
Urinary stones and pyelonephritis should be treated by a doctor. In the first case, it is possible to dissolve the stone by drug method or surgical removal. In the latter case, antibiotics and oral medications are prescribed.
Appendicitis is usually treated with surgery. Surgical treatment can also be used for cholecystitis and pancreatitis, but these conditions are usually treated more conservatively. NSAIDs, enzymes, and bile acid substitutes are prescribed.
Diseases of the pelvic organs are treated by a gynecologist. Such therapy can also be medical or surgical, depending on the type of pathology.
Thus, we can conclude that lower back pain is a symptom that can occur with both damage to the spine and its surrounding muscles, and diseases of various internal organs. You can try to self-treat the pain by starting with an NSAID and reducing physical activity. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor to detect the disease in time.