Pain in the lumbar region is a clinical sign of pathological changes in various tissues. Muscle spasms and overexertion appear in this way at a young age, and in adulthood - osteochondrosis and its complications. In the elderly, any pain can be considered as a sign of a compression fracture of the vertebral body against the background of the development of osteoporosis.
The causes and methods of treatment of low back pain discussed in the article are factual information. It just gives you an overview of what is happening in your body. But it does not replace the advice of an expert. If you have any discomfort in the lumbar and sacral region, consult a doctor immediately. It is better to make an appointment with a vertebrologist or neurologist. These doctors have the necessary level of professionalism in the treatment of spinal diseases.
For this purpose, we recommend choosing a manual therapy clinic in your area. There are usually doctors with extensive practical experience working with patients suffering from pathologies of the spine and other parts of the musculoskeletal system.
An accurate diagnosis must be made before starting to treat back pain at home. The fact is that the pain syndrome can be triggered by various pathological reactions. The most common types of violations:
- Consequences of traumatic impact on bone tissue - fractures and cracks of vertebral bodies and their processes;
- elongated and microscopic fractures of fibers in ligaments, tendons and paravertebral muscles;
- formation of hematomas after soft tissue damage - put pressure on the nerve fiber;
- inflammation - prolapse of the intervertebral hernia, aseptic reaction to trauma, application of an infectious agent (for example, with tuberculosis of the spine);
- degenerative dystrophic process of destruction of intervertebral discs;
- breaking the fibrous rings of discs;
- tissue ischemia against the background of disturbances in the processes of blood supply and innervation;
- compression (for example, due to instability or displacement of the position of the vertebral bodies).
The spine is an anatomically complex structure. It consists of vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs and end plates. There are longitudinal and transverse ligaments and paravertebral muscles around the spine. The spinal cord is located inside the spinal canal, which is formed by vertebral bodies and arc processes. This is the central structure of the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for the functioning of the entire human body. Innervation is carried out by radical nerves extending from the spinal cord through the lateral cavities of the spinal cord.
The intervertebral disc keeps the vertebral bodies at a certain distance and separates it. And as a result, there is no compression effect on the radical nerves and their branches. They are not inflamed and do not suffer from ischemia due to impaired blood supply. If there is a decrease in the activity of muscle fibers in the area of intervertebral cartilage discs, the quality of diffuse nutrition decreases sharply. And cartilaginous intervertebral discs do not have their own blood vessels. This causes a decrease in height and compression of the nerve fiber and other soft tissues near the spine. Of course, this process is accompanied by severe pain syndrome in the lower back.
Then, let's talk about the potential causes of pain - diseases and risk factors for their development.
The main causes of back pain
So let's start with the fact that there are many large muscles in the lumbar region. Some of them are responsible for bipedal movement, support the body in an upright position and allow various body movements (bending, twisting, turning, etc. ).
These muscles are made up of myocytes. The end of the nerve and its own blood vessel - the capillary to which cell it belongs. With any disturbance of innervation or blood supply, muscle performance is sharply reduced. For example, if a person subjected his back to excessive physical activity, the muscle fiber spasmed. In this case, it can not conduct nerve impulses and has a compressive effect on capillaries. There are foci of ischemic reaction and trigger points (places of inappropriate contraction and relaxation of myocytes). These conditions can pass by themselves. However, in most cases, fibromyalgia pain syndrome can last for several years and requires the help of an experienced chiropractor.
Other potential causes of low back pain include:
- degenerative dystrophic destruction of the cartilage fiber of the intervertebral discs (osteochondrosis);
- complications of osteochondrosis in the form of protrusion and extrusion of intervertebral discs, prolapse of the hernia and its sequestration;
- instability of the position of the discs and vertebral bodies in relation to each other in the form of weakness or deformation of the ligamentous and tendon apparatus;
- displacement of vertebral bodies according to the type of anthelisthesis, retrolisthesis or lateroslisthesis;
- curvature of the spine, posture disorders complicated by flexion and bending of the pelvis, including thoracic scoliosis;
- stenosis of the spinal canal, including prolapse of the dorsal intervertebral hernia or displacement of the vertebral body;
- compression fracture of the vertebral body or cracking of its process;
- elongation and rupture of the longitudinal or transverse ligament;
- deforming spondylosis, in which the amplitude of mobility in the projection of the intervertebral joint may decrease;
- destruction of iliac-sacral joints;
- destruction of the joint between the coccyx and sacrum;
- tumors and infectious pathologies of the tissues of the spinal cord and spinal cord;
- inflammatory processes in the abdominal cavity and pelvic organs;
- piriformis and cauda equina syndrome.
These are just a few of the possible causes of back pain. Remember that only an experienced doctor can make an accurate diagnosis on the basis of examination and additional clinical examinations. Therefore, you should not engage in diagnosis and treatment yourself. This can have sad consequences for your body.
Be sure to contact an experienced doctor, who will determine the causes of back pain and prescribe a treatment that will allow you to repair damaged tissue without harming your health.
What are the symptoms to look out for?
Each disease that causes back pain triggers the appearance of additional symptoms. In order not to waste time, you should pay attention to them and contact a specialist who treats such diseases.
So let's start with the most common. This is osteochondrosis and its consequences. With such a disease, in addition to pain, there is stiffness of movements, muscle tension in the lumbar region. Difficulty sitting or standing for long periods of time. I want to take a binding position. With such manifestations, it is worth making an appointment with a vertebrologist.
If the pain spreads to the lower extremities, to the groin area, to the anterior abdominal wall, if there is an intestinal disorder, if there are areas of skin contact, then it is advisable to consult a neurologist. This indicates the formation of a compressed nerve fiber. Only a neurologist will be able to determine the extent of nerve damage and how quickly and safely this compression can be removed.
Treatment is performed by a traumatologist when there is back and lower back pain due to tissue integrity disorders. After restoring the integrity of the tissues, it is necessary to undergo a rehabilitation course with a manual therapist. Therefore, if there is a traumatic effect and then there is a pain syndrome, first go to the emergency room.
If you experience frequent urination, fever, muscle aches, headaches, you should contact your local therapist to rule out pathology of the urinary system. If possible, make an appointment with a nephrologist.
In women, back pain can be associated with damage to the genitals, so it is necessary to consult a gynecologist. Men are advised to consult an andrologist or urologist. It is always worthwhile not to damage the tissues of the rectum and lower parts of the large intestine.
If you feel back pain in the lumbar region, an x-ray of the lumbosacral region is prescribed. On top of this, the doctor looks for indirect symptoms of osteochondrosis, deforming spondylosis, disc protrusion, etc. An MRI scan is required to confirm or deny the diagnosis. According to him, the doctor diagnosed intervertebral hernia, stenosis of the spinal canal, etc. can make a diagnosis. Ultrasound and colonoscopy are performed to rule out pathology of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis.
Treatment of low back pain
It is necessary to start treatment of low back pain in the lower back by eliminating the negative impact factor. If this is a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc, then it is necessary to stop the compression of the nerve fibers and soft tissues surrounding the spine. The easiest way to achieve this effect is during the manual traction procedure of the spine. Already after the second session, patients feel significantly relieved. However, this does not mean complete recovery.
A full course of treatment should be performed to fully restore the damaged cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs. This may include the following types of therapeutic effects:
- massage of the back and lower back muscle frame - allows you to normalize the tone of muscle fibers, restore function, increase capillary blood supply and trophism;
- In the treatment of pain in the lower back, osteopathy allows to eliminate infiltrative swelling of soft tissues by strengthening the processes of microcirculation of blood and lymph fluid;
- reflexology begins the process of regeneration using the hidden resources of the human body;
- Therapeutic exercises and kinesitherapy in the treatment of low back pain occupy a place of pride, allowing to fully restore the function of all muscles;
- Physiotherapy is used to improve metabolism at the cellular level.
We recommend treating low back pain in manual therapy clinics. The doctors there have gained a great deal of practical experience in treating such patients. If you have back pain, never treat yourself. This is dangerous for your health.