Back Pain in the Lumbar Region - Causes and Treatment

Several diseases can cause back pain in the lower back.

The main diseases that cause back pain are spinal or hip joint injuries.

Most of the time, this symptom is due to diseases of the lumbosacral spine.

The lumbar spine is mobile, which causes more frequent injuries in that specific area.

Causes of back pain in the lower back

Back pain is a sign that there is a problem in the body with the spine, hip joint, or internal organs near the lower back.

If your back hurts in your lower back, the reasons could be as follows:

• pain can occur as a result of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine;
• painful sensations can be caused by intervertebral hernia;
• ankylosing spondylitis;
• displacement of vertebrae;
• rheumatism;
• inflammation of the back muscles (myositis);
• sciatic nerve inflammation;
• spinal fracture;
• arthrosis of the hip joint and other diseases of the spine and hip joints.

Also, pain in the lower back may appear due to muscle tension or muscle spasm. Muscle spasm can occur if you make sudden movements with a load on your lower back:

• making sharp turns;
• sudden weight lifting;
• when playing sports.

Lumbosacral spine osteochondrosis

With lumbosacral osteochondrosis, back pain in the lower back can be combined with symptoms such as:

• increased urination;
• urinary incontinence;
• chronic and often exacerbated diseases of the bladder;
• diseases of Organs genitals;
• rectal problems.

Most of the time, back pain with osteochondrosis is:

• sore;
• bursting;
• pull;
• sometimes the pain is burning.

Often the pain in the lower back in this case disappears when standing or lying down and intensifies when sitting, especially on a hard surface, with coughing and physical exertion.

Causes of Back Pain with Lumbosacral Osteochondrosis

The lumbar spine is characterized by great mobility and can support heavy loads in everyday life.

This is the main reason for the development of lumbar osteochondrosis, manifested by dystrophy and deformation of the intervertebral discs.

The high-risk group of developing lumbosacral osteochondrosis includes:

• overweight people;
• leading an inactive lifestyle;
• have inappropriate posture.

Furthermore, this disease can develop with excessive exertion in professional athletes and even with inadequate exercise at home.

Frequent stress and lack of sleep can contribute to the development of osteochondrosis.

People who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and other inflammatory joint diseases often get sick with osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine.

Osteochondrosis Treatment

The treatment of osteochondrosis of the sacrolumbar spine aims to slow down the process of destruction of the intervertebral discs, restoring the functions of the nerve roots and eliminating pain.

To do this, apply:

• medicines;
• manual therapy;
• physical therapy methods;
• physiotherapy;
• surgical methods.

In the treatment of osteochondrosis of lumbosacral osteochondrosis, these medications are used as:

• chondroprotective (to restore cartilage tissue);
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• immunomodulators;
• steroid hormones;
• vitamin complexes.

It is necessary to use NSAIDs and steroid hormones very carefully, as they have many contraindications and side effects.

There are several other methods for treating osteochondrosis:

1. Manual therapy helps restore the functions of the lumbar spine and its anatomical structure. Massage for osteochondrosis helps to strengthen the muscles of the lower back and improve metabolic processes in the tissues.
2. Physiotherapy is performed after the interruption of the acute period of the disease, with the help of medication. The most useful for osteochondrosis are: electrophoresis, paraffin, phonophoresis and magnetotherapy. To obtain a tangible effect, it is recommended to carry out 3 cycles of 10 physiotherapy procedures with an interval of two weeks between them.
3. One of the most effective methods of treating osteochondrosis is physical therapy exercises. Physical education should be carried out after proper consultation with a physician and, preferably, under the supervision of a specialist. A set of exercises designed specifically for the treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis will help to strengthen the back muscles, which will relieve some of the load on the intervertebral discs.
4. Spa treatment (radon baths, therapeutic mud, etc. ) has a good effect on osteochondrosis.

If you ignore the symptoms of osteochondrosis and do not seek medical help, it will lead to the development of the disease and soon the back pain will become so severe that you will still need to see a doctor for help.

osteochondrosis prevention

For spinal health, you need to eat properly, monitor your posture, and lead an active lifestyle.

When carrying weights and playing sports, care should be taken not to stretch your back too much and damage your spine.

Back pain with intervertebral hernia

Spinal hernia, or intervertebral hernia, is a disease in which the intervertebral disc is deformed, the outer part of the disc being ruptured simultaneously with the protrusion of the inner part of the disc outside the vertebral body.

Lumbago

Back pain in the lower back often occurs with the lumbago.

Lumbago is the sudden onset of acute lower back pain during physical exertion, weight lifting.

Back pain, in this case, is lacerating, stabbing and shooting. It is associated with marked prolapse of the intervertebral disc and irritation of the nerve endings located in the annulus fibrosus.

A reflex is triggered, as a result of which the tone of the lower back muscles is greatly increased. The patient freezes in a monotonous position, cannot straighten the back and turn around.

This manifestation of herniated lumbar spine disc is most often found in men aged 30-40 years.

Sciatica

Sciatica (sciatica) - irritation of the sciatic nerve due to pinching of the herniated protrusion of the spinal roots.

Sciatica causes pain, burning, tingling, and numbness that spreads from the lower back to the back of the leg.

These symptoms usually occur on one side, depending on the position of the herniated disc.

Symptoms of back pain with intervertebral hernia

Table - Symptoms for herniated disc

The main symptoms	Peculiarities
Long-lasting pain in the lower back.	It can last for several months. They have a sore, pulling, burning character.
Pelvic organ dysfunction.	Incontinence or urinary retention. Violation of defecation. In men, hernia can affect potency.
Weakness of leg muscles, decreased tone, decreased reflexes.	Compression of the motor nerves in the spinal roots.
Paralysis (complete lack of movement) or paresis (partial lack of movement) in the legs.	Compression and damage to the spinal cord.
Pale skin, increased sweating, white or red patches.	Compression of the nerves in the spinal roots, which regulate blood vessels, sweat glands, and other autonomic functions.

In intervertebral hernia, in most cases, pathological changes occur in the lumbar spine.

Identification of herniated discs

Statistics for the detection of intervertebral hernias:

• 48% of disc herniations occur between the last (fifth) lumbar vertebra and the sacrum.
• 46% are between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae.

Reasons for the development of intervertebral hernia

A herniated disc develops due to:

1. Degenerative changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. Herniated disc is often a complication of osteochondrosis.
2. Delayed spinal injuries: compression fractures of the vertebrae, subluxation.
3. Increased loads on the spine: with constant work sitting or standing in a monotonous posture, improper carrying of weights, excessive physical exertion, overtraining in athletes.
4. Sedentary lifestyle.
5. Infectious diseases in which the spine is affected.
6. Overweight.
7. Congenital malformations of the spine.
8. Vibrating action. Most of the time this is due to industrial hazards. Under the influence of vibration, the structure of the intervertebral disc is disturbed, it becomes weakened.
9. Bad posture, scoliosis.

Herniated Disc Treatment

According to statistics, in most cases of intervertebral hernia, all symptoms disappear 6 weeks after the first attack and remission occurs.

The body is able to recover spontaneously after 24 weeks. Therefore, there are not always indications for surgical intervention.

The medicine for herniated disc is intended to relieve back pain.

Hernia is mainly treated with the following medications:

• non-steroidal analgesics;
• steroid hormones.

Physical therapy for intervertebral hernias is used as directed by a physician.

There are other methods of treating intervertebral hernias without surgery:

1. Manual therapy. The chiropractor is trying to eliminate the herniated disc with his hands.
2. Kinesiotherapy. This is a type of physical therapy exercises. It normalizes muscle tone, restores blood circulation and increases tissue regeneration.
3. Hirudotherapy.
4. Cryotherapy. This is a low temperature treatment technique. Liquid nitrogen is placed in the affected area. This improves blood circulation in tissues.

Herniated Disc Surgery

Surgical treatment of intervertebral hernia is prescribed in the presence of:

• severe back pain in the lower back that does not last long despite ongoing conservative treatment;
• severe neurological disorders: decreased sensitivity, muscle tone and strength, paralysis and paresis;
• urinary incontinence, impotence in men (if caused by compression of a spinal cord hernia).

Back Pain Treatment With Blockage

Hernia repair is a procedure that aims to numb the affected area and relieve muscle spasm.

Blocking is accomplished with the injection of anesthetics.

The therapeutic effect of the block is characterized by:

• quick pain relief - relief comes in 1-2 minutes;
• elimination of muscle spasm, which intensifies painful sensations;
• alleviating inflammation, especially with the administration of corticosteroids;
• reduction of soft tissue edema, which causes pinching of nerve fibers.

Contraindications for blocking:

• an infectious spinal injury;
• fever;
• mental disease;
• stage 2-3 cardiovascular failure;
• weakness;
• blood clotting disorders;
• kidney and liver failure;
• tendency to convulsions;
• pregnancy.

Diagnosis of Back Pain Illness

If your back hurts in your lower back, the first step is to see a doctor and get an exam.

The doctor can prescribe spinal exams with the help of:

• computed tomography;
• Lumbosacral spine x-ray;
• magnetic resonance imaging;
• electroneuromyography;
• vascular dopplerography, etc.

An examination and palpation of the lower back and spine is mandatory. Consultation with a neurologist or vertebrologist is required.

Thus, the cause of low back pain is almost always displacement of the vertebrae, muscle spasm or intercostal neuralgia.