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

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

Description of the lesion

Severe pain in the back and lower back, a feeling of tension and stiffness are common conditions that appear sooner or later in many people.

In most cases, pain syndrome appears in the lower back, since the lumbar spine is characterized by mobility and supports half of the weight of the human body.Back pain in the lumbar region can occur when lifting heavy objects or turning suddenly.

In some cases, unpleasant symptoms in the lumbar region appear over time due to regular exercise or poor posture.In some cases, it is not possible to determine the cause of the pain syndrome.The pain is more intense at night, when there is a load on the lower back or after being in an uncomfortable position for a long time, for example after a long car trip.In most cases, back pain in the lumbar region disappears if a person lies for a while on a hard surface.

Most often, the pain persists for several days or weeks, then the general well-being of the person 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 gradually return to normal.But in some cases, discomfort and discomfort in the lower back indicate the onset 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 general condition of the patient can significantly deteriorate, but according to statistics, a person who arrives in a good mood recovers faster than a depressed person.

Main causes of the syndrome

The condition of the back directly depends on the functioning of bones, nerves, muscles and joints.Most often, it is quite difficult to determine exactly the cause of the pain.Serious illness or injury to the spinal region occurs in rare cases.

In most cases, back pain at the lumbar level appears due to minor injuries, muscle strains, ligament and muscle sprains, pinched nerves and the beginning of the inflammatory process.Unpleasant back symptoms can appear suddenly or intensify gradually.Causes of back and lower back pain:

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

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

Main factors

Certain factors 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 under great strain.To determine whether body weight affects the spine, the total body mass index should be calculated.
• Smoking – this can negatively affect the tissues of the back, leading to pain.
• Carrying a child - in this state, the woman's spine is under significant stress, which only increases as the size of the abdomen increases.
• Long-term use of medications that reduce bone density, such as corticosteroids.
• Psycho-emotional overstrain, stress - regular anxiety leads to strong tension in the neck and back muscles, which causes pain.

Main diseases

Conditions that can lead to lower back and back pain include:

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

Carry out diagnostic activities

Severe back and lower back pain can be managed at home by taking special medications that can be purchased at pharmacies without a doctor's prescription.In-clinic therapy is usually not necessary.

If back pain radiates to the lumbar region and causes severe discomfort, the patient should definitely consult a doctor.He will carry out an examination and prescribe treatment.

If back pain on 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 disease, the doctor will ask the person to sit, stand, walk, alternately raise their legs, and also determine the overall range of motion of the back.He will also need information about possible recent illnesses or injuries, ask about lifestyle, work characteristics, and also ask the following questions:

1. When did the pain start?
2. Where is pain common?
3. Have you ever had back pain?
4. How does pain syndrome manifest?
5. Why does the pain get stronger or weaker?

During the examination, the doctor will try to exclude possible infections and fractures, since 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 done to rule out kidney disease.

In many cases, pain in the spine is eliminated by the third day of treatment.If treatment does not improve the condition and the pain persists for six weeks (chronic process) or if a serious illness led to the lesion, the doctor refers the person to a specialist.In most cases, treatment for lower back and lower back pain is prescribed by a neurologist.In addition, other doctors can join in examining 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 the individual characteristics of the person.In most cases, pain can be relieved with simple medications at home.

Main treatment methods:

• Mobility.Previously, doctors believed that if there was pain in the lumbar region, it was important to ensure peace.It is now established that in patients who start moving earlier, the pain disappears more quickly.Complete rest and bed rest should be observed only in the first days of acute pain, when it is severe and prevents normal movements.In this case, the person should lie down on a hard, flat bed.After the condition returns to normal, you should gradually return to a normal lifestyle and previous loads, adding more and more mobility every day.Over time, the person will be able to walk around the house normally or visit public places.But he will have to endure some discomfort and try to avoid anything that could cause pain again.After a few days, a person can return to work without waiting for the severe pain in the back and lower back to completely disappear (of course, if the person's work does not involve stress on the lumbar region).Early mobility will help restore the condition and reduce the severity of pain.
• Take painkillers.For severe back pain above or directly in the lower back, doctors prescribe painkillers.The products help 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, initial treatment involves injections.After the pain syndrome passes, the administration of drugs is stopped and, if necessary, special tablets or ointments are instituted.These drugs have certain contraindications, so before starting to take them, you should consult a doctor and study the instructions.Pain relievers are best taken after meals with milk.
• Muscle relaxers- medicines that help eliminate muscle spasms and relax 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 relaxers also have different side effects;for example, it is prohibited to take them while driving a car.It is important to consult a doctor beforehand.
• Treatment with hot and cold compresses.In some cases, the 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 remember that you should not apply ice to the skin itself, as this may cause 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 the treatment with cold and heat, applying either ice or a heating pad to the body.
• Choose a sleeping position.Changing your sleeping position will help eliminate tension and pain.If the patient is used to sleeping on his side, then he should bring his legs towards his chest and place a pillow between his legs.If he sleeps on his back, a pillow should be placed under his knees, this will ensure a natural spinal curve in the lower back.
• Body relaxation– this is a very important element in the fight against severe back pain on the left side above the lower back, because with severe anxiety and overwork, the pain syndrome only worsens.As practice shows, people in a good mood recover much faster, and their pain does not become chronic.There are special techniques that help a person relax and forget about back discomfort for a while.To do this, it is recommended to perform special breathing exercises and perform a set of simple exercises with alternating tension and relaxation of the muscles of the body.
• Physical activity, following a healthy lifestyle.It is important to eliminate the root cause of severe back and lower back pain to prevent recurrence.The most common causes of pain in this area include a person's excess weight, poor posture, and regular emotional outbursts.In this case, a positive effect can be achieved if you start leading an active and healthy lifestyle, for example, by walking more or going to the swimming pool.The main thing is to choose the activity that you like the most.In some cases, courses are taught under the guidance of a trainer.Most often, sets of exercises are used to strengthen the back muscles and ensure straight posture and stretching.
• If the pain syndrome does not disappear within 6 weeks after treatment, it automatically passes into the chronic stage.In addition to painkillers and a muscle relaxant, in this case you need to start complex treatment.

Chronic pain treatment

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

• Manual therapy is carried out by a chiropractor or osteopath and includes the use of various therapy, massage and mobilization methods.
• Alexander technique - helps eliminate severe muscle tension, teaches a person how to correctly adopt body position in various situations and move.This technique will help you learn to maintain body balance and an upright posture.
• Acupuncture sessions are an ancient Chinese treatment method, during which thin needles are inserted into various parts of the body, which helps reduce pain and normalize a person's condition.
• Take antidepressants.These drugs are prescribed to the patient when painkillers and other treatment techniques do not bring a positive result.Doctors advise taking tricyclic antidepressants in small quantities.Such remedies are initially created to get rid of depression and nervous system problems, but they can also help remove 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 back pain in the lumbar region is a real condition.The way a person treats him can make him stronger or, conversely, weaken him considerably.Cognitive behavioral therapy can help eliminate back pain in the right or left lumbar region by changing your attitude towards them.According to statistics, people who have undergone psychotherapy sessions experience much less intense pain.In this case, a person becomes motivated to lead an active lifestyle and exercise regularly, which leads to a reduction in pain.

Carrying out the operation

Most often, surgery is only used when all other methods of treating back and lower back pain fail to produce any effect.The operation is used when the pain syndrome is so strong 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 cause of its occurrence.

For example, in the event of a spinal herniation, 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 quite rare surgical procedure.Its results do not always meet expectations.For example, after surgery, a person may continue to experience severe lower back pain.

With spinal fusion, the overall mobility of the spine is significantly reduced, because during the operation, several pain-causing vertebrae are fixed to each other in one position by implanting living bone tissue between them.By the end of the rehabilitation period, the bones are completely fused and when a person moves, they do not affect the nerve endings located nearby.It helps to remove severe back pain in the left and right lumbar region.Before deciding to undergo surgery, the patient must receive information from the neurosurgeon about all possible complications and the positive effects of treatment.

Additional treatments

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

• laser treatment - lasers of minimal power 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 causes increased production of endorphins (analgesic hormones), as well as active restoration of damaged tissues;
• ultrasound treatment - in this case, an ultrasound wave is used, directed towards the surface of the back: 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 cause the active production of endorphins and help stop the transmission of pain signals along the spine to the brain;
• lumbar devices - for this, special pillows, bolsters and corsets are used to maintain the condition of the spine;
• spinal traction using specialized devices and exercise sets;
• injection of special injections into the spine - drugs are injected into the intervertebral spaces.

The specialist may also send the patient to a "pain treatment school", in which people learn to manage pain independently, perform special exercises and lead an active and healthy lifestyle.These institutions mainly deal with group therapy, relaxation and psychology.

Prevention 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 rational quantities, correct posture, but also avoiding lifting heavy objects.

If a person suffers from temporary back pain that radiates to the lumbar region, then he or she should take the following preventive measures:

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

Types of back exercises

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

Strength walking and 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 flexibility, but they should be practiced 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, you need to straighten up, put your feet shoulder-width apart.Next, perform a squat until the body is in a 90-degree bent position.
2. Alternate legs rise.To perform the exercise, you need to lie down 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 while lying down.First, the knees bend, then the pelvis rises under the effect of the tension of the abdominal muscles.When performing the exercise, it is important to keep your back straight.Repeat 5 times.

At first, the exercises are performed several times a day, over time the number of approaches increases up to six, depending on how the person himself feels.This complex helps warm up and strengthen the back muscles.Most often, people injure their lower back during everyday activities, such as lifting heavy objects or cleaning the house.Warming up your muscles properly before performing work will help prevent injuries.

Pain due to osteochondrosis

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

The main cause of back and lower back pain is heavy lifting, monotonous work in an uncomfortable position (eg in the garden).Osteochondrosis can occur as a result of a long, non-stop trip, when a person is constantly sitting.

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

• back pain;
• lower back pain, back pain on the right (or left) side, pain radiates down the leg;
• pain only increases 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 significant discomfort;
• the sensitivity of the buttocks and legs decreases, a feeling of goosebumps appears;
• Sweating problems appear, the lower limbs become cold.

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

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

It is important to remember that painkillers should not be taken on an empty stomach, as they irritate the mucous membranes 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 consult a doctor - taking anti-inflammatory drugs for diseases of the stomach and pancreas is very dangerous, as they can only aggravate the overall situation.

What is prohibited?

In no case should the patient try to “straighten” his back on his own - this can only aggravate the pain and cause serious harm.In case of acute form of osteochondrosis, you should not take hot baths or visit baths and saunas.

After warming up, a person may feel an improvement in his condition and relief from pain, but after that his condition will only worsen.If pain occurs frequently in the back area, it is important to perform an MRI and seek help from a neurologist.