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 clinically called low back pain.It is felt in the lower back, accompanied by muscle spasms and additional unpleasant symptoms.Acute low 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 pains in the lower back and back.But if you do not seek help from your doctor in time, the person's health condition will worsen greatly and the chances of recovery will decrease.It is important to consider the causes of low back pain and treatment.

Description of the injury

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

In most cases, the pain syndrome appears in the lumbar region, as the lumbar spine is characterized by mobility and supports half the weight of the human body.Back pain in the lower back can occur as a result of lifting heavy objects or making sudden turns.

In some cases, unpleasant symptoms in the lower back appear 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 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 journey.In most cases, back pain in the lower back disappears if the person lies for some time on a hard surface.

Most often, the pain persists for several days or weeks, and after that 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 and then a gradual 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 the pain, the patient's general condition can worsen significantly, but according to statistics, those who arrive in a good mood recover faster than those who are depressed.

Main causes of the syndrome

The condition of the back directly depends on the functioning of bones, nerves, muscles and joints.Most of the time, finding out exactly the cause of the pain is quite difficult.Serious illnesses or injuries to the spinal region occur in rare cases.

In most cases, back pain at the lumbar level appears due to small injuries, muscle tension, torsion of ligaments and muscles, compressed nerves and the beginning of the inflammatory process.Unpleasant back symptoms can occur suddenly or gradually intensify.Causes of back and lower back pain:

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

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

Main factors

There are factors that can cause severe pain in the back and lower back.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 overloaded.To determine whether body weight affects the spine, the total body mass index must be calculated.
• Smoking – can negatively affect the back tissues, which causes pain.
• Carrying a child - in this condition, the woman's spine is exposed to severe stress, which only becomes stronger 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 muscles of the neck and back, which provokes pain.

Main diseases

Conditions that can cause lower back and back pain include the following:

1. Osteochondrosis and its complications, for example, spinal hernia, is a degenerative process during which the intervertebral cartilage is destroyed, which causes pain.These diseases appear in elderly people, especially those who experience severe back stress.
2. Sprained ligaments and muscles - most often occur after prolonged physical activity or sudden movements.
3. Some types of arthritis are an inflammatory disease of the joints, in which, in addition to pain, there is stiffness in the joints and mobility problems 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.

Carrying out diagnostic activities

Severe pain in the back and lower back can be treated at home with special medications that can be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription.Medical therapy is usually not necessary.

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

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

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

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

During the examination, the doctor will try to exclude possible infections and fractures, as such manifestations occur in rare cases.If there are problems in the diagnosis, the doctor may refer 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, back pain is eliminated on the third day of treatment.If therapy does not improve the condition and the pain persists for six weeks (chronic process), or if a serious illness has caused the injury, the doctor refers the person to a specialist.In most cases, treatment for back and lower back pain is prescribed by a neurologist.Also, other doctors can take part 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 person's individual characteristics.In most cases, pain can be relieved with simple home medications.

Main treatment methods:

• Mobility.Previously, doctors believed that with pain in the lower back it was important to ensure peace.It has now been 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 few days of acute pain, when it is intense and prevents normal movement.In this case, the person must lie down on a hard, level bed.After the condition returns to normal, you should gradually return to your normal lifestyle and previous loads, adding more and more mobility every day.Over time, the person will be able to walk normally around the house or visit public places.But he will have to put up with 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 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 intensity of pain.
• Taking painkillers.When dealing with severe back pain, above the lower back or directly in it, doctors prescribe painkillers.The products help eliminate pain and inflammation.Depending on the severity of the injury, the specialist may prescribe various forms of these medications: injections, tablets, local preparations - ointments, gels and creams against back pain.Most often, initial treatment involves injections.After the pain syndrome passes, the administration of medications is stopped and, if necessary, special tablets or ointments are started.These medicines have some contraindications, so before you start taking them, you should consult a doctor and study the instructions.Pain relievers are best taken after meals with milk.
• Muscle relaxants- medicines that help eliminate muscle spasms and relax muscles.They are prescribed when severe tension in the spinal muscles increases pain syndrome, for example, during an acute stage of osteochondrosis or herniated disc.Muscle relaxants also have different side effects;for example, they are prohibited from being taken while 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 hot bath or applying heating pads to the painful area of the body.You can also improve your general condition with a cold or a bag of frozen vegetables.But remember that you should not apply ice to your own skin as this could 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 cold and heat treatment by applying ice or a heating pad to your body.
• Choosing a sleeping position.Changing your sleeping position will help eliminate tension and pain.If the patient usually sleeps on their side, they should pull their legs up to their chest and place a pillow between their legs.If he sleeps on his back, a pillow should be placed under his knees, this will ensure a natural curve of the spine in the lower back.
• Body relaxation– this is a very important component in combating severe back pain on the left side, above the lower back, as with a lot of anxiety and excessive effort the pain syndrome only worsens.As practice shows, people in a good mood recover much faster and the 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 body's muscles.
• Physical activity, following a healthy lifestyle.It is important to eliminate the root cause of severe back and lower back pain to prevent its recurrence.The most common causes of pain in this area include being overweight, 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, walking more or going to the pool.The main thing is to choose the activity that you like most.In some cases, classes are taught under the guidance of a trainer.Most often, sets of exercises are used that help strengthen the back muscles and ensure straight posture and stretching.
• If the pain syndrome does not disappear within 6 weeks of treatment, it will automatically pass into the chronic stage.In addition to painkillers and muscle relaxants, in this case it is necessary to start a complex treatment.

Treatment for chronic pain

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

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

Carrying out the operation

Most often, surgery is used only when all other methods of treating back and lower back pain have no 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 case of a spinal hernia, 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 characterized by minimal trauma.

Spinal fusion is a complex and quite rare surgical intervention.Your results don't always meet expectations.For example, after surgery, a person may continue to experience severe back pain below the lower back.

With spinal fusion, the overall mobility of the spine is significantly reduced, as during the operation several vertebrae that cause pain are fixed to each other in one position, 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 next to them.Helps to suppress severe back pain in the lower back on the left and right.Before deciding on surgery, the patient must receive information from the neurosurgeon about all possible complications and positive effects of the therapy.

Additional Treatments

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

• laser treatment - minimum power lasers affect the inflamed area of the body and lead to tissue regeneration;
• treatment with interference currents - the lumbar region is exposed to medium and low frequency currents, which causes an increase in the production of endorphins (pain-relieving hormones), as well as active restoration of damaged tissues;
• ultrasonic treatment - in this case, an ultrasonic wave aimed at the surface of the back is used: it guarantees tissue restoration and active healing, which eliminates pain;
• electrical stimulation of nerves through the skin - electrodes glued to the surface of the skin emit electrical impulses of a certain intensity, which provoke the active production of endorphins and help stop the transmission of pain signals along the spine to the brain;
• lumbar apparatus - for this, special pillows, cushions 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 - medicines are injected into the intervertebral spaces.

The specialist may also refer the patient to a “pain management school,” where people are taught how to deal with pain independently, perform special exercises, and lead an active, healthy life.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 the regular practice of physical activity in a rational amount, correct posture and also avoiding lifting heavy objects.

If a person has temporary back pain that radiates to the lower back, he or she should take the following preventative 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;
• wear correct and comfortable shoes with low heels, which will help to evenly distribute the load on the foot and prevent excessive strain on the spine during movements;
• 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 of this can cause pain.

Types of back exercises

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

Walking and strengthening swimming help improve muscular condition and support the spine without overloading it, which eliminates possible sprains.Pilates and yoga help strengthen your back muscles and develop your flexibility, but they must be performed under the strict supervision of a professional trainer.

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

1. Wall squats - to do this you need to straighten up and place your feet shoulder-width apart.Then do a squat until your body is in a 90-degree bent position.
2. Alternating leg raises.To perform the exercise, you need to lie on the floor and start lifting your legs one by one, without bending them.The exercise is repeated 5 times.
3. Pelvic lifts.The exercise is performed in a supine position.First, the knees bend 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.

At first, the exercises are performed several times a day, over time the number of approaches increases to six, depending on how the person himself feels.This complex helps to warm up and strengthen the back muscles.Most often, people injure their lower back during everyday activities, for example, when lifting heavy objects or cleaning the house.Warming up your muscles well 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, the roots of the spinal cord are pinched, which causes pain.People over 30 are especially 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 journey without stopping, when a person is constantly sitting.

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

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

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

• wear a special woolen belt or scarf, tying it at the lower back;
• lie down on a hard, flat surface;
• start taking anti-inflammatories;
• apply anti-inflammatory ointments for back pain in the lower back.

It is important to remember that painkillers should not be taken on an empty stomach, as they irritate the mucosa 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 general situation.

What is prohibited?

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

After warming up, the person may feel an improvement in their condition and relief from pain, but after that their health only worsens.If pain occurs frequently in the back region, it is important to undergo an MRI and seek help from a neurologist.