Pain in the lumbar region is a clinical symptom of pathological changes in various tissues. At a young age, muscle spasms and overstrain appear in this way, at a more mature age - osteochondrosis and its complications. In older people, any pain can be considered a sign of a vertebral body compression fracture against the background of osteoporosis.
The causes and methods of treating low back pain discussed in the article are fact -finding information. It just gives an overview of what might be going on inside your body. But it does not replace expert advice. If you experience any discomfort in the lumbar and sacral areas, seek medical attention immediately. It is best to make an appointment with a vertebrologist or neurologist. These doctors have the level of professional competence required in the treatment of spinal diseases.
For this purpose, we recommend that you choose a manual therapy clinic at your place of residence. Usually doctors work there who have extensive practical experience in working with patients suffering from pathology 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 various pathological reactions. The most common types of violations are:
- as a result of traumatic effects on bone tissue - fractures and fractures of the vertebral body and its processes;
- microscopic stretching and rupture of fibers in ligaments, tendons and paravertebral muscles;
- the formation of hematomas after soft tissue injury - they put pressure on nerve fibers;
- inflammation - may be due to prolapse of intervertebral hernia, aseptic response to trauma, the introduction of infectious agents (for example, with spinal tuberculosis);
- degenerative dystrophic process of destruction of the intervertebral disc;
- ruptured fibrous ring of disc;
- tissue ischemia against the background of disturbances in the process of blood supply and conservation;
- compression (e. g. , due to instability of the position of the vertebral body or its displacement).
The spine is a complex anatomical structure. It consists of a vertebral body, an intervertebral disc, and a separating end plate. Around the spine are the longitudinal and transverse ligaments, the paravertebral muscles. Inside the spinal canal, which is formed by the vertebral body and the arcutaneous process, 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 radicular nerves extending from the spinal cord through lateral openings in the vertebral body.
The intervertebral disc holds the vertebral body at a certain distance, which is separated. And thanks to this, there is no effect of compression on the radicular nerve and its branches. They are not inflamed and do not suffer from ischemia due to impaired blood supply. If in the area of the intervertebral cartilaginous disc there is a decrease in muscle fiber activity, then the quality of diffuse nutrition decreases sharply. And cartilaginous intervertebral discs do not have blood vessels of their own. This gives rise to a decrease in their height, compression of nerve fibers and other soft tissues near the spine. Naturally, this process is accompanied by a strong 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 cause of lower 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 movements, supporting the body in an upright position, and allowing a variety of body movements (tilt, turn, turn, etc. ).
These muscles are made up of myocytes. In which cell do the nerve endings and their own blood vessels - capillaries - fit. With any violation of conservation or blood supply, muscle performance decreases dramatically. For example, if a person subjectes his lower back to excessive physical activity, then the muscle fibers become cramped. In this condition, it is unable to conduct nerve impulses and has a compressive effect on the capillary blood vessels. There is a focus of ischemic response and a trigger point (where mismatched myocyte contraction and relaxation occur). This condition may go away on its own. But in most cases, fibromyalgic pain syndrome can persist for several years and requires the help of an experienced chiropractor.
Other potential causes of back pain include:
- degenerative dystrophic destruction of cartilaginous fibers of the intervertebral disc (osteochondrosis);
- complications of osteochondrosis in the form of protrusion and extrusion of the intervertebral disc, hernia prolapse and its resorption;
- instability of the position of the disc and vertebral body relative to each other in the form of weakness or deformity of the ligaments and tendons;
- vertebral body displacement according to type of antelisthesis, retrolisthesis or lateroslisthesis;
- curvature of the spinal column, violations of posture, including thoracic scoliosis, complicated by twisting and tilting of the pelvic bones;
- spinal canal stenosis, including due to prolapse of the dorsal intervertebral hernia or displacement of the vertebral body;
- compression fractures of the vertebral body or fissures of the process;
- stretching and rupture of longitudinal or transverse ligaments;
- deformity of spondylarthrosis, in which the amplitude of mobility in the projection of the intervertebral joint may be reduced;
- destruction of the iliac-sacral joint;
- destruction of the joint between the coccyx and the sacrum;
- tumors and infectious pathologies of the spinal cord tissue and spinal column;
- inflammatory processes in the abdominal cavity and in the pelvic organs;
- piriformis and cauda equina syndrome.
These are just some of the possible causes of pain in the lumbar region. Remember that only an experienced physician can make an accurate diagnosis based on additional clinical examinations and examinations. Therefore, you should not engage in self -diagnosis and treatment. This can lead to tragic consequences for your body.
Be sure to contact an experienced doctor, he or she will determine the reason why the lower back hurts and prescribe a treatment that will allow you to restore the damaged tissue without endangering your health.
What are the symptoms to look out for?
Every disease that causes low back pain gives rise to the appearance of additional symptoms. It is to them that you should pay attention not to waste time and contact a specialist who deals with the treatment of the disease.
So, let's start with the most common. This is osteochondrosis and its consequences. With such diseases, in addition to pain, there is stiffness of movement, muscle tension in the lumbar region. Difficulty sitting or standing for long periods of time. I want to take a forced position. With such manifestations, it is reasonable to make an appointment with a vertebrologist.
If the pain spreads along the lower part of the leg, radiates to the groin area, the anterior abdominal wall, there are intestinal disorders, there are numb areas of the skin, then it is advisable to visit a neurologist. This means that pinched nerve fibers have occurred. Only a neurologist will be able to determine to what extent the nerve is damaged and how this compression can be removed quickly and safely.
Treatment in case of back and lower back pain due to violation of tissue integrity is carried out by a traumatologist. After restoring tissue integrity, it is necessary to undergo a course of rehabilitation with a manual therapist. Therefore, if there are traumatic effects and after that the pain syndrome appears, then first of all call the emergency room.
If you have frequent urination, fever, muscle aches, headache, you should contact your local therapist to rule out pathology of the urinary system. If possible, make an appointment with a nephrologist.
In women, lower back pain may be associated with damage to the genitals, so consultation of a gynecologist is necessary. Men are advised to visit an andrologist or urologist. It is also always worth excluding damage to the tissues of the rectum and lower part of the large intestine.
If you experience back pain in the lumbar region, X-ray images of the lumbosacral area are prescribed. On it, doctors can see indirect signs of osteochondrosis, deformed spondylarthrosis, disc protrusion, etc. MRI examination is required to confirm or deny the diagnosis. According to his conclusion, the doctor can prescribe the diagnosis of intervertebral hernia, spinal canal stenosis, etc. To exclude pathology of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis, ultrasound and colonoscopy were performed.
Treatment of back pain in the lumbar region
It is necessary to begin treatment of back pain in the lumbar region by eliminating the negative influencing factors. If this is a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc, then it is necessary to stop the compression of nerve fibers and soft tissues that surround the spinal space. The easiest way to achieve this effect is during a manual pulling procedure of the spine. Already after the 2nd session, patients felt significant relief from their condition. But this does not mean full recovery.
To fully restore damaged cartilage tissue on the intervertebral disc, a full course of treatment should be carried out. It may include the following types of therapeutic effects:
- skeletal massage of the muscles of the back and lower back - allows you to normalize the tone of muscle fibers, restore their performance, increase capillary blood supply and trophism;
- osteopathy in the treatment of pain in the lumbar region allows you to eliminate the infiltrative swelling of soft tissues by improving the process of microcirculation of blood and lymph fluid;
- reflexology initiates the process of regeneration by using the hidden reserves of the human body;
- therapeutic exercises and kinesitherapy in the treatment of back pain in the lumbar region take pride of place, allowing you to fully restore the performance of all muscles;
- Physiotherapy is used to increase metabolism at the cellular level.
We recommend treating low back pain in a manual therapy clinic. Doctors there have accumulated extensive practical experience in treating such patients. If you have back pain, do not treat yourself. This is dangerous for your health.