Severe back pain in the lower back: possible causes, symptoms, medical consultation and treatment

It is impossible to independently determine the cause of pain in the lower back.Pain in the back and lower back is medically called lumbago.It is felt in the lower back, accompanied by muscle spasms and additional unpleasant symptoms.Acute lower back pain is felt for various reasons and can last from a few minutes to a few months.As a result, a person begins to get used to sharp pains in the lower back and back.However, if you do not seek help from your doctor in time, the person's health condition will deteriorate greatly and the chances of recovery will decrease.It is important to consider the causes of lower back pain and treatment.

Description of the lesion

Severe pain in the back and lower back, a feeling of tension and stiffness is a common condition that sooner or later appears in many people.

In most cases, pain syndrome occurs in the lower back, as the lumbar spine is characterized by its mobility and takes half the weight of the human body.Back pain in the lower back can occur as a result of lifting heavy objects or turning sharply.

In some cases, unpleasant symptoms in the lower back occur over time due to regular exercise or incorrect posture.In some cases, it is not possible to determine the cause of the pain syndrome.The pain is strongest at night, when there is strain on the lower back, or after lying in an uncomfortable position for a long time, for example after a long car ride.In most cases, back pain in the lower back disappears if a person lies for a while on a hard surface.

Most often, the pain persists for several days or weeks, and then the person's general well-being improves and the condition of the lower back is restored.You can speed up recovery by taking painkillers and optimizing daily physical activity: rest only for the first few days, then a gradual return to normal.But in some cases, discomfort and discomfort in the lower back indicate the beginning of a chronic disease that will require complex treatment.

A person's mood also plays a special role in this process.Due to pain, the patient's general condition can worsen a lot, but according to statistics, a person who arrives in a good mood recovers faster than one who is depressed.

Main causes of the syndrome

The condition of the back depends directly on the function of the bones, nerves, muscles and joints.Most often, it is quite difficult to find out the exact cause of pain.Serious diseases or injuries to the spinal cord occur in rare cases.

In most cases, back pain in the lower back occurs due to minor injuries, muscle tension, sprained ligaments and muscles, pinched nerves and at the beginning of the inflammatory process.Unpleasant back symptoms can occur suddenly or develop gradually more intensively.Causes of back and lower back pain:

• for sudden movement: tilting or turning to the side;
• lifting and carrying heavy objects, long bending of the body;
• incorrect posture while walking or working at a desk;
• severe muscle tension in the back;
• long journeys by car without rest breaks.

In some cases, pain in this area occurs for no particular reason, for example in the morning after waking up.

Main factors

There are factors that can cause severe back and lower back pain.Experts identify a large number of them;they can negatively affect the condition of the back.The main ones include:

• Heavy weight - in this case, the spine is very overstrained.To determine whether body weight affects the spine, the total body mass index must be calculated.
• Smoking - it can adversely affect the tissues in the back, leading to pain.
• Carrying a child - in this condition, the woman's spine is exposed to severe stress, which only becomes stronger when the size of the stomach increases.
• Long-term use of medicines that reduce bone density, such as corticosteroids.
• Psycho-emotional overload, stress - regular anxiety leads to severe tension in the muscles of the neck and back, which causes pain.

Major diseases

Diseases that can lead to lower back pain include the following:

1. Osteochondrosis and its complications, for example, spinal hernia, is a degenerative process in which intervertebral cartilage is destroyed, causing pain.Such diseases occur in elderly people, especially in those who experience severe stress on the back.
2. Sprained ligaments and muscles - most often occur after prolonged physical activity or sudden movement.
3. Some types of arthritis are an inflammatory disease of the joints where, in addition to pain, stiffness is felt in the joints and there are problems with movement in the morning
4. Kidney diseases, for example pyelonephritis, can cause back pain on the right or left side of the lower back.

Performing diagnostic activities

Severe back and lower back pain can be managed at home by taking special medicines that can be bought at the pharmacy without a doctor's prescription.Clinical therapy is usually not required.

If back pain radiates to the lower back and causes severe discomfort, the patient should definitely visit a doctor.He will conduct an examination and prescribe treatment.

If back pain in the left side of the lower back prevents the patient from resting and moving normally, then you should call a doctor at home.

When examining the condition, the doctor will ask the person to sit, stand, walk around, alternately raise their legs and also determine the overall range of motion in the back.He will also require information about possible recent illnesses or injuries, learn about lifestyle, work skills and also ask the following questions:

1. When did the pain start?
2. Where is pain common?
3. Has your back hurt before?
4. How does pain syndrome manifest itself?
5. For what reason does the pain get stronger or weaker?

During the examination, the doctor will try to rule out possible infection and fracture, as such manifestations occur in rare cases.If there are problems in making a diagnosis, the doctor may send the patient for additional diagnostic measures: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or X-ray of the spine.A urine test is performed to rule out kidney disease.

In many cases, pain in the spine is eliminated already on the third day of treatment.If the therapy does not improve the condition and the pain continues for six weeks (chronic process), or a serious illness has led to the lesion, the doctor refers the person to a specialist.In most cases, treatment for back and lower back pain is prescribed by a neurologist.In addition, other doctors can help examine the patient's condition: an osteopath, a chiropractor and a reflexologist.

Basic treatment methods

Treatment of pain syndrome will depend on its duration and severity, as well as on the individual characteristics of the person.In most cases, pain can be relieved with simple medicines at home.

The main treatment methods:

• Mobility.In the past, doctors believed that with lower back pain it was important to ensure peace.It has now been established that in patients who start moving earlier, the pain goes away faster.Complete rest and bed rest should be observed only in the first days of acute pain, when they are severe and prevent normal movement.In this case, the person must lie on a hard and even bed.After the condition returns to normal, you should gradually return to a normal lifestyle and previous loads, adding more and more mobility each day.Over time, the person will be able to walk normally around the house or visit public places.But he will have to endure some discomfort and try to avoid anything that could lead to pain again.After a few days, a person can return to work without waiting for severe pain in the back and lower back to completely disappear (of course, if the person's work does not involve stress on the lower back).Early mobility will help restore the condition and reduce the severity of the pain.
• Taking painkillers.When dealing with severe back pain above the lower back or directly in it, doctors prescribe painkillers.The products help to eliminate pain and inflammation.Depending on the severity of the lesion, a specialist can prescribe different forms of these medications: injections, tablets, local preparations - ointments, gels and creams for back pain.Most often, the initial treatment involves injections.After the pain syndrome has passed, the administration of drugs is stopped, and if necessary, tablets or special ointments are started.Such drugs have some contraindications, so before you start taking them, you should consult a doctor and study the instructions.Painkillers are best taken after meals with milk.
• Muscle relaxants- medicines that help to remove muscle spasms and relax the muscles.They are prescribed when severe tension in the spinal muscles increases the pain syndrome, for example during an acute stage of osteochondrosis or a herniated disc.Muscle relaxants also have various side effects;for example, they are prohibited from being caught driving a car.It is important to consult a doctor first.
• Treatment with hot and cold compresses.In some cases, pain can be eliminated by taking a warm bath or applying heating pads to the painful area of the body.You can also improve your general condition with cold or a bag of frozen vegetables.But you must remember that you should not apply ice to the skin itself, as this can result in frostbite.A previously cold object should be wrapped in a towel and then applied to the affected area of the body.You can also alternate treatment with cold and heat by applying either ice or a heating pad to the body.
• Choice of sleeping position.Changing your sleeping position will help eliminate tension and pain.If the patient is used to sleeping on his side, he should pull the legs to the chest and put a pillow between the legs.If he sleeps on his back, a pillow must be placed under the knees, this will ensure a natural curve of the spine in the lower back.
• Relaxation of the body– this is a very important component in the fight against severe back pain on the left side above the lower back, as the pain syndrome only worsens with severe anxiety and overexertion.As practice shows, people get into a good mood much faster, and their pain does not become chronic.There are special techniques that help a person relax and forget about the discomfort in the back for a while.To do this, it is recommended to perform special breathing exercises and perform a set of simple exercises with alternate tension and relaxation of the muscles in the body.
• Physical activity, following a healthy lifestyle.It is important to eliminate the root cause of severe back and lower back pain in order to avoid recurrence.The most common causes of pain in this area include being overweight in a person, poor posture, and regular emotional outbursts.In this case, a positive effect can be achieved if you start to lead an active and healthy lifestyle, for example, walking more or visiting the pool.The most important thing is to choose the activity you like best.In some cases, classes are held under the guidance of a trainer.Most often, exercise sets are used to help strengthen the back muscles and ensure straight posture and extension.
• If the pain syndrome does not disappear within 6 weeks of treatment, it automatically passes into the chronic phase.In addition to painkillers and a muscle relaxant, in this case you must start complex treatment.

Treatment of chronic pain

In this condition, doctors prescribe the following measures for patients:

• Manual therapy is performed by a chiropractor or osteopath and includes the use of various methods of therapy, massage and mobilization.
• Alexander technique - helps to eliminate severe tension in the muscles, teaches a person how to correctly take body position in various situations and move.This technique will help you learn to maintain body balance and straight posture.
• Acupuncture sessions are an ancient Chinese treatment method in which thin needles are inserted into various parts of the body, which help reduce pain and normalize a person's condition.
• Taking antidepressants.Such drugs are prescribed to the patient when painkillers and other treatment techniques do not give a positive result.Doctors recommend taking tricyclic antidepressants in small amounts.Such remedies are primarily created to get rid of depression and problems with the nervous system, but they can also work to suppress certain types of pain.
• Session with a psychiatrist.A positive effect of such a procedure can be achieved when other treatment methods do not help.Severe lower back pain is a real condition.The way a person treats it can make it stronger or, conversely, significantly weaken it.Cognitive behavioral therapy can help eliminate lower back pain on the right or left side by changing your attitude towards it.According to statistics, people who have undergone psychotherapy sessions experience much less severe pain.In this case, a person is motivated to lead an active lifestyle and exercise regularly, which leads to a decrease in pain.

Performing the operation

Most often, surgery is only used when all other methods of treating back and lower back pain have no effect.The operation is used when the pain syndrome is so severe or constant that it prevents the patient from working or even resting.The chosen method of surgical intervention will directly depend on the type of pain syndrome and the reason for its occurrence.

For example, in the case of a herniated spine, the doctor prescribes a discectomy.Currently, doctors are able to perform surgery through a minimal incision using specialized microsurgical instruments.Such operations are complex, but they are characterized by minimal trauma.

Spinal fusion is a complex and rather rare surgical procedure.Its results do not always live up to expectations.For example, after surgery, a person may continue to have severe back pain below the lower back.

With spinal fusion, the overall mobility of the spine is significantly reduced, as several vertebrae that cause pain are fixed together in one position during surgery by implanting living bone tissue between them.At the end of the rehabilitation period, the bones are completely fused, and when a person moves, they do not affect the nerve endings located near them.It helps suppress severe back pain in the lower left and right.Before the patient decides to undergo surgery, the patient should receive information about all possible complications and positive effects of the treatment from the neurosurgeon.

Additional treatments

When dealing with acute and chronic lower back pain, other alternative treatment methods can be used, the effectiveness of which has not been proven in medical practice.The main non-traditional treatment methods include:

• laser treatment - minimal power lasers affect the inflamed area of the body and lead to tissue regeneration;
• treatment with interference currents - the lower back is exposed to medium and low-frequency currents, which provokes increased production of endorphins (pain-relieving hormones), as well as active recovery of damaged tissue;
• ultrasound treatment - in this case, an ultrasound wave directed at the surface of the back is used: it ensures tissue restoration and active healing, which eliminates pain;
• electrical stimulation of nerves through the skin - electrodes glued to the surface of the skin deliver electrical impulses of a certain strength, which provoke the active production of endorphins and help stop the transmission of pain signals along the spine to the brain;
• lumbar braces - for this, special pillows, bolsters and corsets are used to maintain the condition of the spine;
• spinal traction using specialized devices and sets of exercises;
• injection of special injections into the spine - medicine is injected into the intervertebral spaces.

The specialist may also send the patient to a "pain management school", where people are taught to manage pain independently, perform special exercises and live an active and healthy life.Such institutions deal primarily with group therapy, relaxation and psychology.

Preventive measures

A healthy and strong back is the best solution to avoid any pain.It is for this reason that the most effective prevention will be regular physical activity in a rational amount, correct posture and also avoiding lifting heavy objects.

If a person has temporary back pain radiating to the lumbar region, he should take the following preventive measures:

• get rid of excess weight, if present: a large number of extra pounds can negatively affect the condition of the lower back, causing additional stress;
• wear correct and comfortable shoes with low heels, which will help evenly distribute the load on the foot and avoid overloading the spine when moving;
• it is also important to stop moving suddenly, as this can cause muscle tension;
• learn to deal with stress, depression, nervous breakdowns, stop worrying too much as all these can cause pain.

Types of exercises for the back

A set of exercises is a good method to prevent and relieve lower back pain, but if the pain lasts longer than 6 months, then it is very important to consult a doctor before starting exercises.

Walking and strengthening swimming will help improve muscle condition and support the spine without overloading it, eliminating possible sprains.Pilates and yoga will help strengthen your back muscles and develop their flexibility, but they should be done under the strict supervision of a professional trainer.

The most common simple exercises for back pain that can be done at home:

1. Wall squats - to do this, stand up straight, place your feet shoulder-width apart.Then perform a squat until the body is in a 90-degree bend position.
2. Alternating leg lifts.To perform the exercise, lie on the floor and start raising your legs one by one without bending them.The exercise is repeated 5 times.
3. Pelvic lift.The exercise is performed in a lying position.First the knees are bent, and then the pelvis rises with tension in the abdominal muscles.When performing the exercise, it is important to keep your back straight.Repeat 5 times.

Initially, the exercises are performed several times a day, over time the number of approaches increases to six, depending on how the person feels.This complex helps to warm up and strengthen the back muscles.Most often, people injure their lower back while doing everyday activities, for example when lifting heavy objects or cleaning the house.Warming up your muscles thoroughly before doing work helps prevent injury.

Pain due to osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disease of the articular cartilage that connects the vertebrae.Due to this disease, pinching of the spinal cord roots occurs, which causes pain.People over the age of 30 are particularly susceptible to this condition, and recently the lesion is often diagnosed in young people.

The main cause of pain in the back and lower back is lifting heavy objects, monotonous work in an uncomfortable position (for example in the garden).Osteochondrosis can occur as a result of a long walk without stopping, when a person is constantly sitting.

No one is immune to such a disease.It can be identified by the following symptoms:

• back pain;
• pain in the lower back, right side of the back pain (or left), the pain radiates to the leg;
• the pain intensifies only with changes in position and load on the lower back;
• a person may experience a strong burning sensation and painful lumbago;
• after a long stay in an uncomfortable position, it is difficult to change it due to severe discomfort;
• the sensitivity of the buttocks and legs decreases, a feeling of goosebumps appears;
• Problems with sweating arise, the lower extremities become cold.

If a person is sure that the pain syndrome comes from the spine, he should perform the following therapeutic measures:

• use a special woolen belt or scarf, tie it around the lower back;
• lie down on a hard and flat surface;
• start taking anti-inflammatory drugs;
• apply anti-inflammatory ointments for lower back pain.

It is important to remember that painkillers should not be taken on an empty stomach, as they irritate the mucous membrane and can cause ulcers and gastritis.If a person is not sure of the cause of pain in the back and lower back, it is important for him to see a doctor - taking anti-inflammatory drugs for diseases of the stomach and pancreas is very dangerous, as they can only worsen the overall situation.

What is prohibited?

In no case should the patient try to "correct" the back on his own - this can only increase the pain syndrome and also cause great harm.In case of an acute form of osteochondrosis, you should not take hot baths or visit baths and saunas.

After warming up, a person can feel an improvement in his condition and relief from pain, but after that the state of health will only worsen.If pain often occurs in the back area, it is important to have an MRI scan and seek help from a neurologist.