According to WHO statistics, more than 85% of the world’s population suffers from different types of osteochondrosis.
Such data prove that almost every able-bodied person has experienced discomfort in their back at least once in their life. The lumbosacral region suffers particularly often due to high loads. But in addition to degenerative processes in the spine, many pathologies can cause discomfort in it. Back pain in the lumbar region is associated with impaired kidney and liver function and inflammation of the central nervous system. Moreover, it may indicate the development of cancer and urogenital infections.
Causes of back pain in the lumbar region
Dozens of factors can cause discomfort in the lower back. The vast majority of them lead to the development of life-threatening diseases. Therefore, at the first signs of back pain in the lumbar region, you should go to the hospital to find out the causes. The most common pathologies that cause such symptoms, according to doctors, are:
- arthritis;
- osteochondrosis;
- gastrointestinal disorders;
- intervertebral hernia.
Convulsions are often observed as a result of hypothermia. The sciatic nerve is the largest in our body. It can be pinched by hypothermia, which can cause severe pain. In addition, common factors contributing to the discomfort in the lumbosacral region are:
- tension;
- passive lifestyle;
- weight-lifting;
- injury;
- poor nutrition.
Back pain in the lumbar region may indicate urolithiasis. Ignoring such a pathology is life-threatening. In addition, the same symptom is observed in severe sexually transmitted diseases. It is worth noting that such unpleasant feelings do not always indicate illness. A spasm of the lumbar region is considered normal if it occurs for the following reasons:
- pregnancy;
- age of change;
- menstruation.
But even in such cases, when the pain appears, it is better to consult a specialist. After all, persistent seizures usually indicate the development of an inflammatory process and are often accompanied by harmful blood circulation. Overweight people are more likely to suffer from this symptom than others.
Diagnostics
In total, there are more than 40 causes that can cause pain in the back and lumbar region. Even an experienced physician cannot determine the pathology that caused such a symptom without a series of tests. Usually, due to lumbar discomfort, doctors use the following diagnostic methods to make a diagnosis:
Basic methods for diagnosing belt back pain in the lumbar region
| Diagnostic technology | Accuracy |
| Lumbar X-ray | 87-92% |
| Lumbar MRI | 97% |
| Ultrasound of pelvic organs | 85-90% |
| Blood and urine tests | 92% |
| Electron neuromyography | 88-94% |
In addition, symptoms of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and urogenital system may require endoscopic examination of the intestine or uterus. If the presence of tumors is suspected, a biochemical blood test is also performed.
Which doctor should I see?
When the first discomfort appears in the lumbosacral region, you should contact a therapist immediately. It provides a reference for a number of initial tests and tells you which specialist to turn to for further treatment. The following doctors can usually help with these symptoms:
- Surgeon
- Neurologist
You may also need a nephrologist, gastroenterologist, or traumatologist. Specialists quickly determine the most likely causes of back pain in the lumbar region. Preliminary diagnosis should be confirmed by test results and medical history. Despite their diverse professional profiles, each of them asks a number of questions:
- Has the patient had a back injury in recent months?
- Was the patient hypothermic?
- Did one of the patient’s relatives suffer from degenerative diseases of the spine?
- What kind of life does a person live?
- Does the patient have chronic illnesses or allergies?
In addition, the doctor is sure to clarify how long ago there have been discomfort in the lower back, asking what actions will increase the cramping? Based on the information received, you will be able to determine the nature of the disease and the most effective ways to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms.
Treatment
To alleviate patients ’seizures, doctors use both conservative medication and physiotherapy procedures. In some cases, such as when the discomfort is caused by pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, experts even prescribe a diet. Most often, the treatment of back pain in the lumbar region involves taking the following types of medications:
- non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- antispasmodics;
- general and local analgesics;
- vitamins.
It is also worth noting that if the discomfort is related to degenerative processes in the bone tissue, it is impossible to eradicate the disease without taking chondroprotectors. The physiotherapy procedures to be used to treat lumbar region back pain are as follows:
- UHF;
- relaxing baths;
- electrophoresis;
- laser therapy.
Massages and specially designed therapeutic exercises are also recommended. Such procedures help relieve inflammation and strengthen the back muscles, which contributes to the patient’s rapid recovery.
Traditional treatment methods
Sometimes the effect of a course prescribed by a specialist can be increased with natural remedies. But it should only be used after approval by your doctor. For the most popular traditional treatment methods:
- Incense and apple cider vinegar compression.Mix the ingredients in a one-to-one ratio, soak a woolen cloth in them, and place on the sore back to quickly relieve inflammation.
- Dandelion alcoholic infusion.Mix 0, 5 liters of dandelions with 500 ml of vodka. It helps to warm your back well.
- Broth.Mix 3 teaspoons of parsley root with 500 ml of water. Bring to a boil and take it 3 times a day to prevent osteochondrosis.
Prophylaxis
As you know, it is better to avoid the problem than to fix it. Therefore, a number of preventative measures must be followed to prevent back pain. The most important are:
- increasing the amount of calcium-rich foods in the diet;
- get rid of excess weight;
- long walks or jogging daily (avoiding a sedentary lifestyle);
- exclusion from the diet of smoked meats, which increase the load on the liver and contribute to the development of degenerative processes in bone tissue.
If, nevertheless, back pain in the lumbar region has not been avoided, the causes of this phenomenon should be found as soon as possible.