Back pain is a fairly common symptom. Everyone has experienced this in one way or another in their lives.
Causes, frequency and risk factors of low back pain
Let's see why the back can hurt in the country. Most often, lower back pain indicates that:
- osteochondrosis and neuralgia;
- kidney disease;
- pancreatitis in the acute stage.
Let's look at each possible reason in more detail.
Lower back pain can occur with various kidney diseases:
- glomerulonephritis - non-infectious kidney damage;
- pyelonephritis - purulent inflammation in the renal pelvis;
- the formation and movement of stones in the kidneys and ureters.
Often, hypothermia, colds, or diet contribute to kidney disease; It's easy to mistake a torn lower back for kidney problems. However, there are symptoms that are characteristic of this type of disease:
- pain is not associated with movements and physical activity;
- body temperature often rises above 37. 5 degrees;
- light tapping with the edge of the palm causes severe pain in the kidney area;
- there are problems with urination - frequent or too rare, painful;
- the urine becomes cloudy and changes color.
If someone has kidney problems, they should first call a doctor. This organ performs too important a function in the body to risk. While the doctor arrives at your country house, try to alleviate the patient's condition.
What can be done:
- lay the patient down or help him to take a comfortable position;
- in the presence of temperature - give an antipyretic;
- give sick anticonvulsants such as no-shpu;
- monitors pressure, temperature;
- to provide assistance if necessary if the person needs to turn around.
It is often written that warming compresses or warm baths help with kidney diseases. Remember!
If the pain is caused by pyelonephritis, warming up only worsens the situation, as the heat-induced inflammation increases.
All further measures can be prescribed by the doctor after a professional examination.
The most common cause of lower back pain is an injury to the lumbar spine.
Low back pain occurs to almost everyone at least once in their life. It should be noted that pain can occur in any part of the back, but most often pain occurs in the lumbar spine. This is due to the fact that the lumbar vertebrae bear the maximum load from your body weight.
Back pain is the second most common reason for seeing a doctor, right after viral infections. Lower back pain can occur after lifting a heavy object, after a sudden movement, after staying in one position for a long time or after a spinal injury. Acute pain in the lumbar spine is most often caused by displacement of the intervertebral disc and trauma to the spine.
Conditions that can cause back pain include:
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
- Intervertebral hernia and protrusion of the intervertebral disc
- Spondylarthrosis
- Spondylosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Compression fracture due to osteoporosis, multiple myeloma, vertebral hemangioma
- Tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal
Destruction of the lumbar vertebra in tuberculosis is a rare cause of low back pain.
- Spinal fracture after injury
- Prolonged muscle tension
- Anatomically narrow spinal canal
- Curvature of the spine (scoliosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis, Scheuermann's disease, Mau)
- aortic aneurysm
- Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis
- Spinal infections - osteomyelitis, discitis, spinal tuberculosis
- Pyelonephritis, urolithiasis
- The complicated course of pregnancy
- Gynecological diseases (endometriosis, ovarian cyst, ovarian cancer, etc. )
back pain with pancreatitis
A tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal is a common cause of lower back pain.
The pain can be varied: sharp, dull, pulling, burning, may be accompanied by tingling and goosebumps, numbness. Low back pain can vary in intensity from mild to excruciating pain that makes even a small movement difficult. The pain can be combined with pain in the thigh, lower leg and foot.
If you have lower back pain, don't start with a spine x-ray.
- Reduce physical activity for the first two days after the onset of the attack. This helps to reduce the symptoms of the disease and the swelling in the area of pain.
- Do not sit forward until the pain is completely gone.
- Only take painkillers if the pain is unbearable. It is better to give an intramuscular injection than to drink anesthetic medicine. This protects the stomach wall from direct contact with the anti-inflammatory drug. Try to avoid taking too many medications. Do not use hormonal drugs for treatment if lower back pain is not associated with an autoimmune disease.
- Sleep in the fetal position with a pillow between your legs. If you usually sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees
- A common misconception is that physical activity should be restricted for long periods of time. Bed rest is not recommended! If you do not have fever, weight loss, involuntary urination and defecation, then stay active as long as possible. You can reduce your activity only in the first two days after the onset of pain. Start doing some light aerobic exercise. Swimming while walking on the simulator improves blood flow to the back muscles. Consult your doctor about choosing exercises to avoid exacerbating pain.
The characteristic symptom of pancreatitis is girdle pain that begins under the ribs on the left side. It then spreads to the stomach and back, forming a ring. Pain in the navel area can also indicate pancreatitis. In atypical forms of the disease, it is not uncommon to have back pain, slightly above the waist - it is usually mistaken for something other than a symptom of pancreatitis.
Back pain in acute pancreatitis is very severe. First aid for pancreatitis includes:
- hunger (the sick person cannot eat before the examination);
- comfortable position (help the person pick up), peace and comfort;
- moderate drinking (you can gradually give ordinary water);
- condition control (do not leave the patient alone).
There are body positions that help reduce pain: the knee-elbow position and the fetal position.
Diagnostic methods
First you need to see a neurologist. The doctor asks questions about the nature, frequency, and recurrence of the pain. The doctor tries to determine the cause of the pain and begins treatment with simple methods (ice, mild pain relievers, physical therapy and necessary exercises).
In 95% of cases, MRI determines the true cause of back pain.
In most cases, these treatments lead to a reduction in back pain. During the examination, the doctor determines the exact location, irradiation, and neurological reflexes of the pain. Most people with lower back pain recover within 4-6 weeks. Diagnosis includes magnetic resonance imaging (eng.
MRI) of the lumbar spine, computed tomography of the lumbosacral spine, X-ray of the spine. Since the most common cause of low back pain is a herniated disc in the lumbosacral spine, the first thing you should do is get an MRI of the lumbar spine.
This test also helps rule out most causes of pain, such as a tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal, spinal tuberculosis, spinal fracture, multiple myeloma, anatomically narrow spinal canal, sponyllolisthesis, various curvatures of the spine, spondylosis and spondylarthrosis.
If your neurologist hasn't ordered an MRI for you, get one yourself. The power of the MRI machine should be 1 Tesla or more. The diagnosis should not be started with X-rays and computer tomography, these methods are not safe. Primarily, they can only be performed if a spinal fracture is suspected.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of the patient's complaints, external examination, anamnesis data, and the results of instrumental and biochemical tests. Radiography is the most informative in detecting pathologies of the locomotor system. The images obtained in this way clearly show the deformed vertebral bodies and the reduction of the distance between them, as well as the formed bone growths (osteophytes).
MRI, CT and ultrasound are performed in case of hernia protrusion, protrusion, or suspected diseases of internal organs. These tests make it possible to detect the localization of the pathology and assess the extent of the inflammatory process.
A general clinical blood and urine test is mandatory. If a systemic disease (gout, rheumatoid arthritis) is suspected, biochemical and serological tests are necessary.
Back pain caused by osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a disease of the articular cartilage that connects the vertebrae. Due to their pathology, the roots of the spinal cord are pinched, which is the cause of pain. Any person over the age of 30 is at risk of osteochondrosis, and recently this diagnosis is often found in adolescents and very young people.
The main cause of an attack of back pain is heavy lifting, prolonged work in an uncomfortable position (for example, weeding or gardening). The development of osteochondrosis is also provoked by long car journeys, when a person is constantly in a sitting position.
Such back pain can overtake almost everyone. Recognition of osteochondrosis is possible based on the following symptoms:
- the lower part of the back hurts, the pain radiates to the leg;
- the pain becomes stronger with movement, change of position, load;
- burning or shooting pains may bother you - "lumbago";
- after a long stay in one position it is difficult and painful to change;
- the sensitivity of the legs and buttocks decreases, the sensation of "goosebumps" appears;
- the legs are cold, the sweating bothers me.
There is no temperature in osteochondrosis.
The pain of osteochondrosis can prevent you at any time.
If you are absolutely sure that the problem is in the spine, the following measures will help a person:
- woolen belt or woolen scarf in the lumbar region;
- lie on a hard surface: board, table, hard mattress;
- taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- local anti-inflammatory ointments.
If you are not sure about the diagnosis, consult a doctor - taking anti-inflammatory drugs for stomach or pancreatic problems can make the situation worse.
What not to do
Do not try to "adjust" your back under any circumstances - this can increase the pain and even damage your back.
With the exacerbation of osteochondrosis, heating procedures are not recommended. Under no circumstances should you take a hot bath or steam in the bath. After warming up, a person feels a temporary relief, and then the pain increases significantly. If such pain often bothers you, get an MRI (image of the lumbar spine) and see a neurologist.
Important! If you feel relief or complete disappearance of pain after taking anti-inflammatory drugs, do not resume physical activity. The patient still needs rest for a while - until bed rest.
How to relieve pain if you have neuralgia
Neuralgia is an inflammation of the nerves. The symptoms of neuralgic lumbar pain are similar to the signs of osteochondrosis: the back reacts to movements, the patient is afraid to move. But there are also specific points:
- the pain spreads along the inflamed nerve;
- the nature of the pain is "jerking", it can subside even at rest and appear suddenly;
- skin color and sweating may change, tremors occur in the muscles;
- if you press on the back, the pain occurs on both sides of the spine.
Neuralgic pains are difficult to cure, but you should try to relieve them. Help the patient:
- pain-relieving anti-inflammatory drugs;
- anticonvulsant drugs;
- complete rest.
In case of severe neuralgic pain, the patient should be hospitalized. Doctors in the hospital use novocaine blockades for neuralgia.
Remember! If you use medicines without medical advice and examination, you can put your health at risk.
Timely access to a doctor avoids serious complications of the disease.
Conditions in which you should see a doctor:
- Lower back pain associated with lower leg pain and leg pain
- Pain prevents you from taking care of yourself
- Pain associated with urinary and fecal incontinence
- Lumbar pain and numbness in the buttocks, thighs, legs, feet, groin
- If you have had back pain before
- If the pain lasts more than 3 days
- If you are taking hormones
- If the back pain occurs after an injury
- Previously diagnosed with cancer
- If you have recently lost weight for unknown reasons