A person can be considered healthy until one day they feel pain in their back. Almost any disease makes itself felt, radiating to this area.
In addition, such sensations do not allow you to live and work at the same pace. What can back pain indicate and what is their nature?
Causes of back pain
Much depends on the type of lifestyle a person leads. Excessive addiction to fatty foods can also cause back pain. But the main causes of back pain are:
- spinal disorders;
- diseases of the genitourinary system;
- natural aging;
- too high loads;
- pregnancy.
Lumbar functions
The vertebrae located in the lumbar region have 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 takes on a very important function: the upright posture.
In addition to body weight, other loads are placed on the lumbar spine. Athletes lift heavy weights, women try to bring huge bags from the market.
The intervertebral discs provide cushioning, but without proper care, the spine begins to change. This creates severe pain.
After sleep, the intervertebral discs are again saturated with fluid and are ready for work. But if back pain becomes a constant companion, you should immediately consult a doctor.
With severe pathologies, even during sleep, the vertebrae do not diverge and access to nutrients is impossible.
Diseases of the spine
If the lower back hurts for no apparent reason, the reason most likely lies in spinal diseases. First there is osteochondrosis.
It develops against the background of general exhaustion caused by malnutrition, obesity, muscular corset dystrophy.
Excess weight adds a load to the spine, the vertebrae begin to exert pressure on each other with more force. The intervertebral discs collapse under pressure and don't have enough ruptures to fill with fluid.
In addition, if a person does not eat properly, the metabolism is disturbed and as a result 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 under too much stress. Due to unpreparedness, they freeze, while accumulating lactic acid in themselves.
- Without adequate relaxation (for example a massage), the muscles cannot contract. Being in constant tension, she does not allow the blood to flow properly towards her.
- Without getting the required amount of nutrients, the muscles simply break down.
Subsequently, the spine is involved in the process. Bones alone cannot bear a person's weight. Ligaments and muscles help them.
But, when the muscles are absent, all the weight falls on the vertebrae. Under pressure, the intervertebral disc protrudes into the holes and can compress the nerve processes.
With lumbar osteochondrosis, the patient experiences pain in the lower back, which radiates to the leg. Most often, the sciatic nerve is damaged and each step responds with an electric shock.
If you do not treat such a disease, you can completely lose sensitivity in the lower limbs. The same condition is observed with displacement of the vertebrae, lordosis, scoliosis, etc.
The main difference between spinal injuries is increased pain after movement, as well as a feeling of relief after rest and sleep. Relieving the condition slightly helps to "stretch" the spine. It must be done before bed.
Diseases of the genitourinary system
Pain in the lower back can appear with diseases of the ovaries in women, kidneys. In this case, symptoms can appear after hypothermia.
With inflammation of the ovaries, a woman experiences sensations similar to menstrual syndrome. Pain in the lower back becomes a permanent and pulling character.
If the lower back hurts severely, such as a knife, piercing, to the left or right of the spine, this indicates inflammation of the kidneys.
In this case, pyelonephritis or glomerulonephritis is possible. The doctor prescribes tests, performs an examination. If kidney stones are found, they are removed with a laser.
natural aging
People over 30 complain of back pain. It could be pain due to wear on the vertebrae. The aging rate of the spine is related to a person's lifestyle.
If he didn't go overboard in the gym, but played sports, the pain will become chronic very soon.
The vertebral section makes itself felt first, as it bears the greatest load. Many scientists argue that back pain is our punishment for the ability to keep our back straight.
Without adequate prevention, under the weight of the body, the intervertebral discs are destroyed, the vertebrae are displaced and twisted.
Loads too high
There is an opinion that it is simply necessary to go to the gym once a week and bring yourself to exhaustion in order to look good and be healthy.
But for any cargo you need to prepare. Before training, you need to do a full warm-up of stretching exercises.
And gradually increase the amount of exercise. Thus, it will be much more effective to do daily exercises.
With sudden loads, for example, in weightlifters, gymnasts, there is a high probability of sprain, protrusion of the disc, etc.
Pregnancy
Back pain during pregnancy is almost a physiological condition. As the fetus grows, they can become stronger, numbness appears after sleep in the limbs. This is due to the sudden weight gain.
Now the spine must contain not only the mass of the mother, but also the unborn child, which grows in a large amount of water.
Pregnant women often complain that their lower back hurts in the morning. You can avoid this if you sleep on an orthopedic mattress and pillow. And during the day, a special bandage will help relieve the load, which unloads the lower back.
As a rule, such back pain disappears after childbirth. If they persist for a month, you should see a doctor.
Low Back Pain Diagnosis
This type of pain is not difficult to diagnose. It is enough for the doctor to listen to the description of the patient's pain, to find out whether it appears after sleep, has an increasing or constant character, whether there is an electric shock syndrome. And subsequently, the doctor can identify the main possible cause of the pain.
The basis of any treatment is gymnastics, which helps to strengthen the muscles, and massage, to relax the latter.