Today, many people complain that they have back pain in the lumbar region. In fact, this problem is very common. However, women suffer from back pain more often than men.
In this article, we look at the most common causes of low back pain and discuss different ways to treat this condition.
However, before you begin, it should be recalled that medicine is a unique issue that requires a professional approach. Therefore, if your back hurts "seriously" in the lower back, it is better to contact the right doctor.
Causes of back pain in the lower back
First of all, it should be noted that back pain can occur as a result of a person's living conditions, work, and attitude to life.
Possible causes of low back pain include:
- Overweight;
- Weak trunk muscles;
- Hypodynamics;
- Pregnancy;
- High growth;
- Certain professions (driver, office worker);
- Sports;
- Mental disorders;
- A job in which one has to use the torso and often bend.
Some causes of low back pain should not pose a serious health risk. However, there are some that need to be addressed.
Why does my back hurt in the lower back
Doctors say lower back pain can be the result of a medical condition. Therefore, the patient should be diagnosed to reveal a possible disease.
Doctors classify this syndrome into two categories: primary (musculoskeletal morphofunctional disorders with spinal cord injuries) and secondary (lower back pain is provoked by various pathologies).
Now it's a good idea to discuss each category in more detail. Primary pain syndrome can include:
- Osteochondrosis. With osteochondrosis of the human body, bone tissue and cartilage are affected. As a result, this leads to displacement of the intervertebral disc and the vertebrae around it.
- Spondyloarthrosis. In this disease, the intervertebral joints are involved, which reduce the mobility of the spine. People with spondyloarthrosis suffer from back pain in the lower back, usually in the morning.
secondary syndrome includes:
- Scoliosis, as well as some diseases that negatively affect growth.
- Bone damage caused by metabolic disorders such as osteomalacia or osteoporosis.
- Inflammatory processes that did not appear due to infection.
- Tumors of the spine.
- Vertebral fracture. In this case, low back pain can be particularly severe because nerves can sting in these fractures.
- Infectious diseases: tuberculosis, brucellosis and the like.
- Stroke. In this condition, the human body is damaged by cerebrospinal circulation.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Diseases of the internal organs in the small pelvis (kidney, genitourinary system).
Male pathologies
Men may have back pain in the lumbar region for the following reasons:
- Prostatitis, which causes inflammation of the prostate.
- Malignant tumors. They most commonly occur in men who have exceeded the fifty-year threshold.
- Genital hyperplasia, which leads to the growth of certain cells.
Female pathologies
- Genital pathologies (uterine myoma, trichomoniasis).
- Pain during menstruation. In this case, in addition to lower back pain, swelling may also develop.
- Pregnancy. Because there are many changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy, expectant mothers can feel uncomfortable back pain.
Pregnancy low back pain
The causes of low back pain during pregnancy can be attributed to various factors:
- Hormonal changes. During pregnancy, the level of relaxin in girls increases, leading to weakening of the ligaments and joints. Because of this, they may not be able to withstand the additional load.
- Fetal enlargement. The more the fetus grows in the womb, the more the center of gravity shifts. As a result, the entire load falls on the spine.
Discomfort after childbirth
However, lumbar region back pain can occur not only during pregnancy but also after childbirth. The following are the most common causes of pain.
- Some internal organs move sideways during pregnancy. Because of this, the muscles that hold them tense. It should be understood that most organs are precisely connected to the vertebrae. This means that for a while after giving birth, the woman may be bothered by back pain in the lower back.
- Stretching the abdominal muscles. The mother's abdominal muscles are still tense after the baby is born.
- Overweight achieved during pregnancy.
- Bone shift. This occurs very early in labor to protect the fetus from injury. Every woman has a different process of bone repair, so many mothers can have back pain.
- Injuries. During childbirth, some joints may move in women in labor.
- Loads the spine. Interestingly, even normal movements can cause discomfort in girls after childbirth. In addition, they begin to experience pain when breastfeeding or taking a baby.
Remember to see a doctor right away if you have back pain in your lumbar region.
Causes of left pain
The most common causes of left back pain are osteochondrosis and herniated discs.
However, these can often be caused by the following factors:
- Myositis.After prolonged physical exertion or hypothermia, the muscles of the body can become inflamed. In this case, the pain is especially felt during movement.
- Kidney disease.Kidney disease can cause aching and tingling pains.
- Diseases of the digestive system.When the digestive system is disturbed, one feels pain on the left.
- Cardiac pathology.Some people who have had a heart attack or angina pectoris may also experience severe lower back pain. There is also pain under the left shoulder blade.
Not all of this causes inconvenience. As mentioned earlier, when the first symptoms appear, you should see a doctor immediately and determine the source of the pain.
What to do if your back hurts
It should be remembered that in most cases, back pain is a warning sign of some disease.
This will allow us to learn about our illness and start treating it.
Quite a few people do not pay enough attention to such signs. Instead of getting help from your doctor, they are taking some kind of painkiller or injection.
Some, fearing they’re going to the hospital, start self-care, which isn’t always good. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the pain will go away on its own and life will get better again.
The sooner you see a doctor, the faster and cheaper the healing process will be.
If you have doubts about the correctness of a diagnosis or method of treatment, it makes sense to contact more professionals to make a balanced, objective decision.
Methods of treating back pain
An accurate diagnosis is needed before any disease can be treated. The following are the most common causes and treatments for low back pain.
- Intervertebral hernia, osteochondrosis.In this case, the patient should be at rest and avoid lifting loads, especially heavy ones. Today, you can buy special belts at pharmacies to help protect your spine from injury. Physiotherapy also helps with such diseases. In many cases, however, the intervertebral hernia must be surgically removed.
- Diseases of the urogenital system.Complex therapy is appropriate here. Once your doctor has made a diagnosis, you can prescribe the right medications. In this case, the physician pays particular attention to the course and stage of this or that disease, as well as the individual abilities of the patient's body.
- Gastrointestinal disorders.Low back pain can be caused by an ulcer, colitis, or inflamed appendix. The patient should refrain from self-medication and seek medical attention. If you experience acute pain, you should call an ambulance immediately.
- Kidney disease.It is also advisable to call an ambulance here, especially if you experience severe kidney pain. To prevent kidney disease, traditional medicine advises you to drink blueberry or cranberry juice as they contain vitamins and trace elements that help normalize kidney function.
- Cardiac pathology.If you suddenly feel tangible pain under your left shoulder blade and then the pain begins to move in your chest, left arm, and lower back, this is probably an indication of a myocardial infarction. In this case, you should call an ambulance immediately as every minute could cost you your life.
- Postpartum pain.If the problem is related to bone displacement, the doctor may prescribe manual or physical therapy for the patient. It is important to note that massage in such cases should only be performed by an experienced professional. Failure to do so could cause serious harm to the mother’s health. Your doctor may also advise moms to perform physical exercises that will help them repair their bones.
Output
From what has been said, we can conclude that if your back hurts in the lower back, you should see a doctor and only then start treatment.