Any pain is a signal of problems in the body.Back pain occurs as a symptom reflecting diseases of internal systems and individual organs, primarily degenerative-dystrophic changes of the musculoskeletal system.Lower back pain can be a reason to consult a neurologist, orthopedic surgeon, vertebrologist, gastroenterologist, urologist and gynecologist.
Pain pain - discord
In addition to injuries caused by injuries, possible causes of back pain may include the following diseases:
- spine;
- internal organs of the pelvis and gastrointestinal tract;
- muscles.
Back pain varies significantly in intensity and duration and may include:
- sharp and painful;
- permanent or periodic;
- localized in one point, for example, on the right or left, or moves when the pain is the result of the projection of the pathology of the peritoneal and pelvic organs.
What could have happened?
To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to determine the nature, location and frequency of pain, measure the temperature (a high temperature indicates the presence of inflammation and/or infection), analyze the accompanying symptoms of the disease (vomiting, mucous membrane of the tongue, diarrhea, redness of the skin or rash) and consult a doctor.
Note!The higher the temperature, the more likely the cause of the pain is infectious, for example, with herpes zoster, which is characterized by girdle pain in the lower back and characteristic skin rashes.
After a conversation with the patient and his external examination to confirm the diagnosis, if necessary, the doctor may prescribe blood and urine tests, as well as:
- computed tomography;
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- ultrasound examination of internal organs;
- x-ray.
1. Spine problems
Spinal problems characterized by chronic back pain are accompanied by limited mobility and increased temperature for several hours to several weeks.The most popular back pain syndromes:
- radiculitis- damage to the nerve roots of the spinal cord, often inflammatory in nature.They mainly suffer from cords that originate from the roots and are located between the vertebrae.Often there is no acute onset.It can be a secondary symptom of another disease, such as osteochondrosis or spinal tuberculosis;
- lumbago- sudden and sharp pain attack when lifting something heavy, clumsy movement or hypothermia.It is accompanied by stiffness and constant tension in the lower back muscles for a long time.In addition to osteochondrosis, it can be the result of several diseases, for example, displacement of intervertebral discs in the lumbar region;
- sciatica (inflammation, compression of the sciatic nerve).Paroxysmal pain in the lower back often passes to the sacrum and the back of the legs.In women, this may be the result of chronic inflammation of the appendages.
Note!When the nerve roots of the spinal cord are damaged, one or both may radiate to the legs, accompanied by pain, numbness, and "pins and needles" from the back.
The most common diseases that cause back pain are:
- Lumbar osteochondrosis, which is manifested by pain due to loosening of the cartilage and bone tissue of the joints with the involvement of the nerves in the pathogenesis and compression of the nerve roots extending from the spinal cord.
- Spondylosis- dystrophic change of lumbar vertebrae (gradual thinning), ligaments weaken and bone growth occurs, spinal canal narrows.As a result, bone growths begin to squeeze the nerve roots, causing excruciating pain, which can be accompanied by weakness and numbness in the legs.May cause displacement of vertebrae.Displacement of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs in the lumbar region can cause pathology in the vertebrae below and disrupt the function of the rectum and bladder.
- Ankylosing spondylitisit affects the intervertebral joints or synovial joints, which are responsible for the mobility of the spine.It manifests itself as pain in the joints and spine, eye damage, increased connective tissue of the spinal joints, stiffness of the lumbar joints, and complete loss of mobility.
- Protrusion(protrusion of the intervertebral cartilage without breaking its integrity), and then intervertebral disc rupture (protrusion with a violation of the integrity of the cartilage, compression of the nerve roots), leading to loss of joint function.Lower back pain can spread to the legs.
- Narrowing of the spinal canal (stenosis)due to chronic inflammation, it can cause compression of the nerves and the spinal cord that passes through it.The disease is accompanied by back pain and cramps that appear after a long walk and spinal claudication syndrome.The pain subsides when sitting or lying down, but re-intensifies when physical activity is resumed.
- Scoliosis (curvature of the spine).In complicated cases, pain in the lumbar region may occur with protective spasm of the back muscles against the background of spinal osteochondrosis with a herniated intervertebral disc.
Good to know!When the vertebrae are displaced, it is important to determine the cause of the problem: as a result of injury or as a result of degenerative processes.In the second case, regular adjustment of the vertebra with the help of a chiropractor can aggravate the situation, leading to the final destruction of the vertebral processes and compressed nerves.
The cause of back pain can be a non-infectious chronic inflammation of the joints, which includes ligaments, muscles and spinal cartilage in pathogenesis due to autoimmune processes.
2. Infections, myositis, tumors
The lower back is the most massive part of the spine, which is subjected to maximum loads.Inflammatory processes in this area are accompanied by bone pain, fatigue, headache, limitation of mobility, fever.
It can be caused by infectious diseases affecting the vertebrae and intervertebral discs (tuberculosis, epidural abscess, etc.);
Acute spasmodic pain in the lumbar region during bending occurs during stretching or inflammation (myositis) of muscles and ligaments due to hypothermia, excessive physical exertion.They appear suddenly and remain at rest;they can spread to the sacrum and back of the legs, making it difficult to bend and turn from side to side.
Lower back pain can also be the result of a tumor in the vertebra, spinal cord, nerve fibers or retroperitoneal space.
3. Problems of internal organs
Pathologies of internal organs often manifest as a girdle-like back pain, which indicates extensive damage to nerve fibers.
Among the main diseases of internal organs characterized by pain in the lumbar region:
- pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).Pain in the lower back is sharp, often radiating and/or in the upper abdomen.Possible repeated vomiting, diarrhea, coating on the tongue, decrease in blood pressure;
- other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (intestinal obstruction or inflammation, ulcerative colitis).With appendicitis with an atypical course, nagging pain in the lower back can be accompanied by a single vomiting;
- inflammatory kidney diseases.Pain in the lower back is nagging, aching - with inflammation of the kidneys (pyelonephritis), sharp, cramping - with renal colic (due to the movement of stones from the renal pelvis to the urethra).With lumbar pain, an additional symptom of kidney or bladder disease will be frequent urination.Urine is cloudy, sometimes mixed with blood.Possible fever, weakness, chills, headache, swelling, difficulty urinating;
- inflammation of the reproductive system.It hurts in the lower abdomen (with inflammation of the appendages in women), in the anus (with prostatitis in men) and radiates to the lower back.Pain is accompanied by general intoxication (weakness, headache, fever), spots (in women).
In addition, due to adhesions (scars) formed after operations, as well as circulatory disorders of the spinal cord (can be caused by insula) or metabolism (gout), pain can spread to the lower back.
Back pain and pregnancy
Pregnancy aggravates the manifestations of diseases existing in the mother's body.Due to changes in hormonal levels and increased stress, pathologies appear especially often in the second half of pregnancy.In addition to the pain accompanied by the threat of premature birth, the cause of back pain in a pregnant woman can be:
- intervertebral disc herniation;
- radiculitis;
- pancreatitis;
- pyelonephritis;
- urolithiasis (kidney stones).
Lower back pain can indicate problems with the spine and can also be a sign of urological, gynecological or gastroenterological diseases.It often appears when spinal nerves are irritated and nerve roots are compressed.In order not to aggravate the situation, to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an effective treatment, you should contact a therapist, who will determine the area of the pathology and send you to the appropriate specialist for treatment.