In clinical practice, back pain is a fairly common syndrome. It affects the lumbar spine, and the patient feels "low back" pain. This is how degenerative, musculoskeletal and dystrophic pathologies manifest themselves in the form of osteonecrosis or spondylolisthesis.
Low back pain - causes and symptoms
In medicine, the following causes of back pain are traditionally distinguished:
- Infectious and inflammatory processes in the spine;
- Muscle cramps or pinched nerves;
- The formation of a herniated disc;
- Spinal or spinal metastases;
- Scoliosis, scoliosis, kyphosis;
- Circulatory disorders (with stroke, paralysis);
- Gastrointestinal pathology (atypical manifestations of appendicitis, obstruction of the biliary tract and intestine);
- Diseases of the kidneys, reproductive organs;
- In some cases, during the late stages of pregnancy, women may feel discomfort in the lumbar spine area.
Low back pain can be acute or persistent (chronic). They can also "wander, " i. e. arise in another organ, but lead to the lower back.
Acute pain is sudden, it is penetrating, can impede movement and afflicts the lower extremities and hips. The patient is forced to position the body and limit movement.
Acute pain is diagnosed when:
- stretch the long muscles of the back;
- fracture of the spine and herniation of the discs;
- facial syndrome (nerve root clamp, no vertebral disc displacement);
- epidural abscess (the patient requires immediate hospitalization because of the high risk of spinal cord compression);
- Dystrophic anomalies of the hip joint.
Chronic low back pain is characterized by loss of sensitivity, "low back pain" in the gluteal muscles, weakness of the lower extremities, the formation of alveoli.
Patients may experience postural disturbances, interruptions, and foot deformities.
Chronic back pain occurs when:
- bone necrosis;
- ankylosing spondylitis;
- metastatic and intradural tumors.
Diagnosis and treatment of back pain
The actual cause of back pain can be diagnosed with CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), X-ray, or ultrasound of internal organs. The first two methods provide a comprehensive assessment of the condition of the bones and soft tissues, X-rays reveal bone integrity and the presence of tumors, and ultrasound examination reveals diseases. of organs and their systems.
The course of treatment is prescribed only by the attending physician, and depending on the diagnosis, it may include: oral pain medication, hormonal medication, a course of physical therapy or manual therapy, therapy. exercise method. If the pain is caused by a displaced disc or growing against a background of osteonecrosis, wearing a rigid immobilizer bra will be effective. It significantly reduces the lumbosacral zone, preventing muscle overactivity and the formation of spasms. The good therapeutic effect is due to blocking drugs - drugs injected specifically into the disc joints. They relieve pain and relax muscles.
In severe cases, surgery may be required. It is very important not to self-medicate, but to seek professional medical help promptly.
During the rehabilitation period, you need to regularly perform physiotherapy exercises, undergo massage and physiotherapy sessions. This will help relieve muscle tension, improve blood flow, and relieve tightness.
General recommendations for pain in the lumbar-sacral spine:
- Observe the bed. In this case, the bed must have a flat, hard surface. It is strictly forbidden to exclude soft mattresses.
- Wear a support band. It is especially important for pregnant women in the third trimester.
- Pain relievers are allowed.
- rub the back with ointments with warming and anti-inflammatory components. In any case, you should not apply cold excessively; It is best to wear a warm woolen scarf or belt when the pain is severe.
Low back pain during pregnancy
If we talk about lower back pain during pregnancy, then they are related to the change of center of gravity of the woman's body due to the development and growth of the fetus. In addition, due to hormonal changes (overproduction of relaxin), the hip-sacral joints become stretched, disturbing the balance. An enlarged abdomen and excessive curvature of the spine increase pressure on the lower back. Constantly overloaded muscles will become the main cause of pain.
The risk group includes girls before pregnancy who have problems with hip musculoskeletal development, postural impairment, osteonecrosis and spinal pathologies of a neurological nature. Pain does not appear earlier than the second trimester and approximately from the fifth or sixth month. It can be reduced by strengthening the muscles with a special set of exercises. And the earlier you start exercising your back muscles, the easier it is to have a healthy baby.