Back pain is a fairly common symptom. Everyone has experienced it in one way or another in their life.
Causes, frequency and risk factors for low back pain
Let's take a look at why the lower back can hurt on the spot. Most often, back pain signals that you have:
- osteochondrosis and neuralgia;
- kidney disease;
- pancreatitis in the acute phase.
Let's consider each of the possible reasons in more detail.
Back pain can occur with various kidney diseases:
- glomerulonephritis - non-infectious kidney damage;
- pyelonephritis - purulent inflammation in the renal pelvis;
- the formation and movement of stones in the kidneys and ureters.
Often, hypothermia, cold, or diet contribute to kidney disease; It's easy to mistake a torn back for kidney problems. However, there are symptoms that are characteristic of this type of disease:
- pain is not accompanied by movement and physical activity;
- body temperature often rises to more than 37. 5 degrees;
- light blow with the edge of the palm in the kidney area causes severe pain;
- there are problems with urination - frequent or very rare, painful;
- urine becomes cloudy, changes color.
When a person has kidney problems, the first thing you should do is call a doctor. This organ performs a very important function in the body to endanger it. While the doctor is coming to your house, try to relieve the patient's condition.
What can be done:
- lay the patient down or help him to take a comfortable position;
- in the presence of fever - give an antipyretic;
- give a sick antispasmodic, for example, no-shpu;
- monitor pressure, temperature;
- offer help if necessary if the person needs to return.
It is often written that heating compresses or warm baths will help with kidney diseases. You remember!
If the pain is caused by pyelonephritis, heating will only make the situation worse, as the heat increases the inflammation.
All further measures can be prescribed by the doctor after a professional examination.
Lumbar spine injury is the most common cause of low back pain.
Low back pain happens to almost everyone at least once in their life. It should be noted that pain can be in any part of the back, but, however, pain in the spine occurs more often. This is due to the fact that the lumbar vertebrae carry the maximum load from your body weight.
Lower back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor, right after viral infections. You may experience lower back pain after lifting a heavy object, after a sudden movement, after staying in one position for a long time or after a spinal injury. Acute pain in the spine is most often caused by intervertebral disc displacement and trauma to the spine.
Conditions that can cause back pain:
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
- Intervertebral hernia and intervertebral disc protrusion
- Spondylarthrosis
- spondilosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Compression fracture due to osteoporosis, multiple myeloma, vertebral hemangioma
- Tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal
Lumbar vertebra destruction in tuberculosis is a rare cause of low back pain.
- Fracture of the spine after injury
- Prolonged muscle tension
- Anatomically narrow spinal canal
- Curvature of the spine (scoliosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis, Scheuermann's Mau disease)
- aortic aneurysm
- Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis
- Spinal infections - osteomyelitis, discitis, tuberculosis of the spine
- Pyelonephritis, urolithiasis
- Complicated course of pregnancy
- Gynecological diseases (endometriosis, ovarian cyst, ovarian cancer, etc. )
back pain with pancreatitis
A tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal is a common cause of back pain.
The pain can be different: sharp, dull, pulling, burning, can be accompanied by tingling sensations and goose bumps, numbness. The intensity of back pain can vary significantly - from mild to unbearable pain that makes it difficult to perform even a small movement. The pain can be combined with pain in the thigh, pain in the lower part of the leg, pain in the leg.
For back pain, don't start with a spine x-ray.
- Reduce physical activity in the first two days after the onset of an attack. This will help reduce the symptoms of the disease and swelling in the area of pain.
- Do not sit forward until the pain is completely gone.
- Take pain relievers only if the pain is unbearable. It is better to give an intramuscular injection than to drink an anesthetic drug. This will protect the stomach walls from direct contact with the anti-inflammatory drug. Try to avoid taking too many medications. Do not use hormonal drugs for treatment if the lower back pain is not associated with an autoimmune disease.
- Sleep in the fetal position with a pillow between your legs. If you usually sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees
- A common misconception is the idea that you should limit physical activity for a long time. Bed rest is not recommended! If you do not have fever, weight loss, involuntary urination and bowel movements, then you should stay active as long as you can. You can reduce your activity only in the first two days after the onset of pain. Start doing some light aerobic exercise. Walking on the simulator, swimming will help improve blood flow to the back muscles. Consult your doctor about the choice of exercises so as not to cause an increase in pain.
A characteristic symptom of pancreatitis is lower back pain, which starts under the ribs on the left. Then it spreads to the stomach and back, forming a ring. Pain in the navel area can also indicate pancreatitis. In atypical forms of the disease, pain in the back, just above the waist, is not unusual - they are usually mistaken for anything except a symptom of pancreatitis.
Back pain in acute pancreatitis is very severe. First aid for pancreatitis includes:
- hunger (the patient should not eat before the examination);
- comfortable position (help the person to take it), calmness and comfort;
- moderate drinking (you can gradually give ordinary water);
- condition control (do not leave the patient alone).
There are body positions that help reduce pain: the knee-elbow position and the fetal position.
Diagnostic methods
First you need to see a neurologist. The doctor will ask you questions about the nature of your pain, its frequency, recurrence. The doctor will try to determine the cause of the pain and start treatment with simple methods (ice, mild pain relievers, physical therapy and necessary exercises).
MRI will determine the true cause of back pain in 95% of cases.
In most cases, these treatments lead to a reduction in back pain. During the examination, the doctor will determine the exact position of the pain, its radiation, neurological reflexes. Most people with low back pain recover within 4 to 6 weeks. Diagnosis includes magnetic resonance imaging (eng.
MRI) of the lumbar spine, computed tomography of the lumbosacral spine, X-ray of the spine. Since the most common cause of low back pain is a herniated disc in the lumbosacral spine, the first thing you should do is an MRI scan of the lumbar spine.
This study will also help to exclude most causes of pain, such as a tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal, tuberculosis of the spine, fracture of the spine, multiple myeloma, anatomically narrow spinal canal, sponlylolisthesis, types ofdifferent curvatures of the spine, spondylosis and spondylarthrosis.
If your neurologist has not ordered an MRI, then do it yourself. The power of the MRI machine must be 1 Tesla or more. You should not start the diagnosis with X-rays and computed tomography, these methods are unsafe. They can only be done in the first instance if a fracture of the spine is suspected.
The diagnosis is established on the basis of the patient's complaints, his external examination, anamnesis data and the results of instrumental and biochemical studies. The most informative in detecting pathologies of the musculoskeletal system is radiography. The resulting images clearly visualize the deformed vertebral bodies and a decrease in the distance between them, as well as the formed bone growths (osteophytes).
If a hernial protrusion, protrusion, disease of internal organs is suspected, MRI, CT and ultrasound are performed. These studies make it possible to detect the localization of the pathology, to assess the degree of the inflammatory process.
Carrying out general clinical blood and urine tests is mandatory. If a systemic disease is suspected (gout, rheumatoid arthritis), biochemical and serological studies are indicated.
Pain in the lower back due to osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a disease of the articular cartilage that connects the vertebrae. Due to their pathology, the roots of the spinal cord are compressed, which is the cause of the pain. Every person over 30 is at risk for osteochondrosis, and recently this diagnosis is often found in teenagers and very young people.
The main cause of an attack of back pain is heavy lifting, prolonged work in an uncomfortable position (for example, weeding or gardening). The development of osteochondrosis is also provoked by long car trips, when a person is constantly in a sitting position.
Such pain in the lower back can overcome almost anyone. You will be able to recognize osteochondrosis by the following symptoms:
- the lower back hurts, the pain radiates to the legs;
- pain becomes stronger with movement, change of position, load;
- may be bothered by burning or shooting pains - "lumbago";
- after a long stay in one position, it is difficult and painful to change it;
- the sensitivity of the legs and buttocks decreases, a "goosegun" feeling appears;
- feet are cold, sweating is disturbed.
There is no fever in osteochondrosis.
Pain in osteochondrosis can overcome at any time.
If you are absolutely sure that the issue is in the spine, the following measures will help the person:
- woolen belt or woolen scarf in the waist region;
- lie down on a firm surface: board, table, firm mattress;
- taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- topical anti-inflammatory ointment.
If you are not sure about the diagnosis, consult a doctor - taking anti-inflammatory drugs for problems with the stomach or pancreas can make the situation worse.
What not to do
In no case do not try to "set" the back yourself - this can increase the pain, and even damage the back.
With worsening osteochondrosis, heating procedures are not recommended. In no case should you take a hot or steamy bath in the bathroom. After warming up, a person will feel temporary relief, then the pain will increase significantly. If such pain bothers you often, you should have an MRI (image of the spine) and consult a neurologist.
Important! If after taking anti-inflammatory drugs you feel relief or complete disappearance of pain, you should not resume physical activity. The patient needs rest - even bed rest - for some time.
How to relieve pain if it is neuralgia
Neuralgia is inflammation of a nerve. The symptoms of lumbar neuralgic pain are similar to the signs of osteochondrosis: the back reacts to movements, the patient is afraid to move. But there are also specific points:
- pain spreads along the inflamed nerve;
- the nature of the pain is "throbbing", it can subside and appear suddenly even at rest;
- skin color and sweating may change, muscle tremors occur;
- if you press on the back, the pain appears on both sides of the spine.
It is difficult to cure neuralgic pains, but it is necessary to try to relieve them. Help the sick:
- analgesic anti-inflammatory drugs;
- drugs that relieve spasm;
- complete rest.
With severe neuralgic pain, the patient is better hospitalized. Doctors in the hospital use novocaine blocks for neuralgia.
You remember! Using medicines without medical advice and examination can endanger your health.
Timely access to a doctor will avoid serious complications of the disease.
Conditions in which you should go to the doctor:
- Lower back pain accompanied by leg pain and leg pain
- Pain prevents you from taking care of yourself
- Pain associated with urinary and fecal incontinence
- Combination of pain in the lower back with numbness in the buttocks, thighs, legs, feet, hips
- If you have had back pain before
- If the pain lasts more than 3 days
- If you are taking hormones
- If back pain occurs after an injury
- Previously diagnosed with cancer
- If you have recently lost weight for unknown reasons