Pain in the lumbar region is a clinical symptom of pathological changes in various tissues. At a young age, muscle spasms and overload appear like this, at a more mature age - osteochondrosis and its complications. In older people, any pain can be considered 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 cognitive information. It just gives a general idea of what might be going on in your body. But it does not replace the advice of a specialist. In case of complaints in the lumbar and sacral region, consult a doctor immediately. It is best to make an appointment with a vertebrologist or neurologist. These doctors have the necessary level of professional competence in the treatment of diseases of the spine.
To this end, we recommend that you choose a manual therapy clinic in your place of residence. Usually doctors work there who have extensive practical experience in working with patients suffering from pathologies of the spine and other parts of the musculoskeletal system.
Before starting to treat low back pain at home, it is necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis. The fact is that pain syndrome can be provoked by a variety of pathological reactions. The most common types of violations are:
- the consequences of a traumatic effect on bone tissues: fractures and cracks of the vertebral bodies and their processes;
- microscopic strains and ruptures of fibers of ligaments, tendons and paravertebral muscles;
- the formation of hematomas after a soft tissue injury - they put pressure on the nerve fiber;
- inflammation - may be due to the prolapse of the intervertebral hernia, aseptic reaction to trauma, the introduction of an infectious agent (for example, with tuberculosis of the spine);
- degenerative dystrophic process of destruction of the intervertebral discs;
- ruptures of fibrous rings of discs;
- tissue ischemia against the background of disturbances in the processes of blood supply and innervation;
- compression (for example, due to the instability of the position of the vertebral bodies or their displacement).
The spine is an anatomically complex structure. It consists of the vertebral bodies, the intervertebral discs and the separating end plates. Around the spine there are longitudinal and transverse ligaments, paravertebral muscles. Within the spinal canal, formed by the vertebral bodies and arcuate processes, is the spinal cord. This is the central structure of the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for the functioning of the entire human body. Innervation is performed due to the radicular nerves extending from the spinal cord through the lateral openings of the vertebral bodies.
The intervertebral disc holds the vertebral bodies at some distance, which it separates. And thanks to this, there is no compression effect on the root nerves and their branches. They do not become inflamed and have no ischemia due to reduced blood circulation. If in the area of the intervertebral cartilaginous discs there is a decrease in the activity of the muscle fiber, the quality of diffused nutrition is drastically reduced. And cartilaginous intervertebral discs do not have their own blood vessels. This causes a decrease in their height, compression of the nerve fiber and other soft tissues near the spine. Naturally, this process is accompanied by a severe pain syndrome in the lumbar region.
Next, let's talk about the potential causes of pain: diseases and risk factors for their development.
The main reasons for back pain
So, let's start with the fact that in the lumbar region there are a lot of large muscles. Some of them are responsible for bipedal locomotion, support the body in an upright position and allow various body movements (inclinations, twists, turns, etc. ).
These muscles are made up of myocytes. To which cell does the nerve end fit and its own blood vessel - the capillary. With any violation of innervation or blood supply, the performance of the muscle is significantly reduced. For example, if a person has subjected their lower back to excessive physical activity, the muscle fiber has had a spasm. In this state, it is unable to conduct nerve impulses and has a compressive effect on the capillary blood vessels. There are foci of ischemic reaction and trigger points (places where a contraction and relaxation of mismatched myocytes occurs). These conditions can go away on their own. But in most cases, fibromyalgia pain syndrome can persist for several years and require 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 the intervertebral discs, prolapse of a hernia and its sequestration;
- instability of the position of the discs and vertebral bodies relative to each other in the form of weakness or deformity of the ligament and tendon apparatus;
- displacement of vertebral bodies by type of antelisthesis, retrolisthesis or lateroslistesis;
- curvature of the spine, violation of posture, including thoracic scoliosis, complicated by twisting and tilting of the pelvic bones;
- stenosis of the spinal canal, including due to prolapse of the dorsal intervertebral hernia or displacement of the vertebral body;
- compression fracture of the vertebral body or fissure of its process;
- lengthening and rupture of the longitudinal or transverse ligament;
- deforming spondyloarthrosis, in which the amplitude of mobility in the projection of the intervertebral joint may decrease;
- destruction of the iliac-sacral joints;
- destruction of the joint between the coccyx and the sacrum;
- tumor and infectious pathologies of the tissues of the spinal cord and spine;
- inflammatory processes in the abdominal cavity and pelvic organs;
- piriformis and cauda equina syndrome.
These are just some of the possible causes of pain in the lower back. Remember that only an experienced doctor can make an accurate diagnosis based on an examination and further clinical examinations. Therefore, you should not engage in self-diagnosis and treatment. This can lead to sad consequences for your body.
Be sure to contact an experienced doctor, he will determine the reasons why the lower back hurts and prescribe a treatment that will allow you to restore damaged tissues without harming your health.
What are the symptoms to watch out for?
Any disease that causes low back pain causes additional symptoms to appear. It is on them that you should pay attention so as not to waste time and contact the specialist who deals with the treatment of 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 fatigue in the lumbar region. Difficulty sitting or standing for a long time. I want to take a forced position. With such manifestations, it is worth making an appointment with a vertebrologist.
If the pain spreads along the lower limbs, radiates in the groin area, in the anterior abdominal wall, there is an intestinal disorder, there are areas of numbness of the skin, then it is advisable to visit a neurologist. This means that a pinched nerve fiber has occurred. Only a neurologist will be able to determine at what level the nerve has been damaged and how this compression can be removed quickly and safely.
Treatment in the event that the back and lower back ache due to a violation of the integrity of the tissues is carried out by a traumatologist. After having restored the integrity of the tissues, it is necessary to undergo a rehabilitation process with a manual therapist. Therefore, if a traumatic effect has occurred, and a pain syndrome has subsequently appeared, first contact the emergency room.
If frequent urination, fever, body aches, headaches occur, it is necessary to contact the local therapist to exclude the pathology of the urinary system. If possible, make an appointment with a nephrologist.
In women, back pain can be associated with damage to the genital organs, so consultation with a gynecologist is required. Men are advised to visit an andrologist or urologist. It is also worth always to exclude tissue damage of the rectum and lower sections of the large intestine.
In case of back pain in the lumbar region, an X-ray image of the lumbosacral region is prescribed. On it, the doctor can see indirect signs of osteochondrosis, deforming spondyloarthrosis, protrusion of the disc, etc. An MRI exam is needed to confirm or refute the diagnosis. According to his conclusion, the doctor can establish the diagnosis of intervertebral hernia, stenosis of the spinal canal, etc. To exclude the pathology of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis, ultrasound and colonoscopy are performed.
Treatment of back pain in the lumbar region
It is necessary to begin the treatment of back pain in the lumbar region by eliminating the negative influencing factor. If it is a question of a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc, then it is necessary to stop the compression of the nerve fiber and soft tissues surrounding the spine. The easiest way to achieve this is during the manual spine traction procedure. Already after the 2nd session, patients feel significant relief from their condition. But this does not mean a complete recovery.
To completely restore the damaged cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs, it is necessary to carry out a full course of treatment. It can include the following types of therapeutic effects:
- massage of the muscle structure of the back and lower back - allows you to normalize the tone of the muscle fiber, restore its performance, increase capillary blood supply and trophism;
- osteopathy in the treatment of pain in the lumbar region allows to eliminate the infiltrative swelling of the soft tissues by enhancing the processes of microcirculation of the blood and lymphatic fluid;
- reflexology initiates regeneration processes using the hidden reserves of the human body;
- therapeutic exercises and kinesitherapy in the treatment of back pain in the lumbar region occupy a place of honor, allow you to fully restore the performance of all muscles;
- physiotherapy is used to improve metabolism at the cellular level.
It is recommended to treat low back pain in manual therapy clinics. Doctors have accumulated extensive practical experience in treating such patients. If you have back pain, in no case do not treat yourself. This is dangerous for your health.