A person may consider himself healthy until one day he feels pain in his back. Almost every disease makes itself felt, radiates to this region.
In addition, such feelings do not allow us to live and work in the same rhythm. What can back pain indicate and what is their nature?
Causes of back pain
A lot depends on the lifestyle of a person. Even excessive addiction to fatty foods can cause back pain. But the main causes of back pain are:
- diseases of the spine;
- diseases of the genitourinary system;
- natural aging;
- very high loads;
- pregnancy.
Functions of the back
The vertebra located in the lumbar region has the most massive structure. They are strong and big.
This is due to the fact that the main part of the load falls here. The lower back performs a very important function - upright posture.
In addition to body weight, other loads are placed on the back. Athletes lift heavy weights, women try to bring huge bags from the market.
Intervertebral discs provide cushioning, but without proper care, the spine begins to shift. This causes severe pain.
After sleep, the intervertebral discs are saturated with fluid again and are ready for work. However, if back pain becomes a constant companion, you should immediately consult a doctor.
With severe pathologies, even during sleep, the vertebra does not separate and it is impossible to get nutrients.
Diseases of the spine
If the back hurts for no reason, it is most likely caused by diseases of the spine. Osteochondrosis is in the first place.
It develops against the background of general exhaustion caused by malnutrition, obesity, dystrophy of the muscular corset.
Excess weight adds load to the spine, the vertebrae begin to press against each other with more force. Intervertebral discs collapse under pressure and there is not enough break to fill with fluid.
Moreover, if a person does not eat properly, then the metabolism is disturbed and, accordingly, the nutrition of the intervertebral discs is disturbed.
Muscular dystrophy can develop due to constant stress, heavy loads and a sedentary lifestyle. The development mechanism is very simple.
- Muscles are overstressed. Due to lack of preparation, they freeze while accumulating lactic acid in themselves.
- Muscles cannot contract without proper relaxation (such as massage). Because it is in constant tension, it does not allow the blood to flow properly.
- Without adequate nutrition, muscles simply break down.
After that, the spine is involved in the process. Bones alone cannot bear the weight of a person. Ligaments and muscles help them.
But in the absence of muscles, the entire load falls on the spine. Under pressure, the intervertebral disc protrudes into the holes and can compress the nerve processes.
A patient with lumbar osteochondrosis feels pain in the lower back, radiating to the leg. Often the sciatic nerve is damaged and every step responds with an electric shock.
If you do not treat such a disease, you can completely lose sensitivity in the lower extremities. The same situation is displacement of vertebrae, lordosis, scoliosis, etc.
The main difference between spinal lesions is increased pain after movement, as well as a feeling of relief after rest and sleep. Easing the situation a little helps to "stretch" the spine. This should be done before going to bed.
Diseases of the genitourinary system
Pain in the lower back can appear in women with diseases of the kidneys, ovaries. In this case, symptoms may appear after hypothermia.
With inflammation of the ovaries, a woman experiences feelings similar to menstrual syndrome. Pain in the lower back becomes a permanent character.
If the lower back hurts sharply, like a knife or piercing, on the left or right side of the spine, it indicates inflammation of the kidneys.
In this case, pyelonephritis or glomerulonephritis is possible. The doctor prescribes tests and conducts an examination. If kidney stones are detected, they are removed with a laser.
natural aging
People over 30 years old complain of back pain. This may be pain due to wear of the vertebra. The degree of aging of the spine is related to a person's lifestyle.
If he hasn't overdone it in the gym, if he's been exercising, the pain will soon become chronic.
The spinal section is the first to feel itself, as it bears the greatest load. Many scientists claim that back pain is our punishment for our inability to keep our backs straight.
Without proper prevention, under the weight of the body, the intervertebral discs are destroyed, the vertebrae are displaced and twisted.
Very high loads
There is an idea that in order to look good and be healthy, you need to go to the gym once a week and exhaust yourself.
But you need to prepare for any load. Before training, you should do warm-up, full stretching exercises.
And gradually increase the amount of exercise. Thus, doing daily exercises will be much more effective.
With sudden loads, for example, in weightlifters, gymnasts, sprain, disc herniation, etc. the probability is high.
Pregnancy
Back pain during pregnancy is almost a physiological condition. With the growth of the fetus, they can become stronger, numbness appears in the limbs after sleep. This is due to sudden weight gain.
Now the spine must hold not only the mass of the mother, but also the future baby, which grows in a large amount of water.
Pregnant women often complain that their back hurts in the morning. You can prevent this if you sleep on an orthopedic mattress and pillow. And during the day, a special bandage will help ease the load that relieves the lower back.
As a rule, such back pain disappears after childbirth. If it lasts for a month, you should consult a doctor.
Diagnosis of back pain
Diagnosing this type of pain is not difficult. It is enough for the doctor to listen to the description of the pain from the patient, to find out whether it appears after sleep, whether it is increasing or constant, and whether there is an electric shock syndrome. And then the doctor can determine the main possible cause of the pain.
The basis of any treatment is gymnastics, which helps to strengthen the muscles, and massage, which relaxes the latter.