About 80 percent of adults experience low back pain, and if you have a problem too, know that you are not alone. This can be fixed. The main thing is to understand the origin of the pain, but there can be many factors. We have compiled the main causes of low back pain that can cause back problems. How to alleviate the disease? There are ways.
Back pain can appear at any age and with any physical condition. So, there is a dull, constant or intermittent pain, and there is a sudden sharp attack, after which it is difficult for a person to move. Pain can appear suddenly due to lifting heavy objects, it can develop with age due to changes in the spine or as a result of an accident. A sedentary lifestyle is also a major cause of low back pain. Especially when the daily routine is not diluted with physical activity (training, swimming pool, fitness, yoga).
In most cases, low back pain is acute and short-lived or less severe, but lasts from a few days to a couple of weeks. In such cases, a person still does not lose her activity, the ability to move and serve herself in everyday life.
Subacute pain is pain that persists after an acute period and lasts for 4 to 12 weeks. If after this period the pain still persists, it is called chronic. Sometimes treatment can help relieve chronic low back pain. But in some cases, the pain persists despite medical and surgical treatment.
So low back pain, the causes of which are often age-related and associated with wear and tear on the joints, discs and bones of the spine, or mechanical pain:
1. Sprains
This can cause severe back pain. Stretching occurs due to wrong twisting or lifting. And also from lifting heavy objects or excessive stretching. These conditions can cause spasms in the back muscles, which also cause pain.
2. Intervertebral disc wear
One of the most common causes of back pain. One manifestation of this is the loss of integrity of the disc, cracks appear. In a healthy young back, the discs allow the lower body to bend, bend, and twist. But over the years, the elasticity of the discs decreases and they lose their shock absorption capacity.
3. Hernia
It can appear due to lifting a large load, poor posture, an accident, a sports injury, etc. There is fluid in the center of the lumbar disc; For a variety of reasons, it can come out and irritate the nearby nerve root. There are many nerve fibers in the wall of the disc, and a ruptured wall can cause severe pain.
4. Radiculopathy
This condition occurs due to compression, inflammation, and / or damage to the spinal root. What's more, pressure on a nerve root causes pain, numbness, or a tingling sensation that spreads to other parts of the body connected to that nerve. The problem can arise if the central spinal canal narrows or a hernia pinches the nerve root.
5. Sciatica
Compression of the sciatic nerve, which travels through the buttocks and runs down the back of the leg. This compression causes a shock or burning pain in the lower back, combined with pain in the buttocks. And also in exceptional cases, when the nerve is compressed between the disc and the adjacent bone, a person may feel numbness and severe weakness in the legs. By the way, this condition appears due to a tumor or cyst that presses on the sciatic nerve or its roots.
6. Spinal stenosis
In the case of this disease, in addition to low back pain, a person may experience numbness or weakness in the legs when walking. And also with loss of sensitivity.
7. Scoliosis and other skeletal disorders
People do not usually experience special problems with curvature of the spine until middle age.
Low back pain is rarely associated with serious medical conditions. But you still need to be aware of its existence in order to have time to consult a doctor in a timely manner. Beating the diseases listed below is only possible with medical help. This:
1. Infections
These are not causes of low back pain, but can affect the vertebrae (osteomyelitis), the intervertebral discs (discitis), or the sacroiliac joints (sacroiliitis).
2. Tumors
Sometimes a tumor appears on the back (and in certain stages, of course, there will be pain and other symptoms), but most of the time it is metastases that have spread due to cancer to other parts of the body.
3. Cauda equina syndrome
A disease that is sometimes accompanied by a ruptured disc. This is because the disc material is pressed into the spinal canal and compresses the bundle of the lumbar and sacral nerve roots. In connection with this ailment, a person may have problems urinating and bowels.
4. Abdominal aortic aneurysm
This occurs when a large blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs becomes abnormally dilated. Additionally, low back pain can be a sign that the aorta has become enlarged and there is a risk of rupture.
5. Kidney stones
Stones can cause severe pain in the lower back (usually on one side).
Other factors and causes that can cause low back pain:
- Inflammatory diseases of the joints.For example, arthritis, spondylitis, spinal inflammation.
- Osteoporosis.It is a bone disease that is accompanied by a decrease in bone density and strength, which can lead to vertebral fractures.
- Endometriosis.A female disease that can be accompanied by pain in the pelvis and lower back.
- Fibromyalgia.Pain syndrome, accompanied by muscle pain and fatigue. It is chronic.
What to do with back pain?
First, you need to have a good understanding of the causes of pain. What can help one disease will not produce (and perhaps even aggravate) another. And in some cases, urgent hospitalization is required. That is why be sure to listen to the signals from the body and, if necessary, consult a doctor or take appropriate action.
Ways to deal with low back pain:
1. You can give your back a rest after a certain period of time
Many back problems can be solved (or alleviated) by avoiding strenuous activities. But resting more than a few days is not recommended, as prolonged inactivity can make treatment difficult.
2. Limited activity
This means staying active but avoiding actions and attitudes that increase pain. For example, if prolonged sitting in the car or at the desk makes the pain worse, set a timer to get up every 20 minutes and gently walk or stretch. Minimizing activities and positions that make pain worse will help prevent or relieve painful cramps and speed the healing process.
3. Hot / cold therapy
A warm bath, heating pads, and a body wrap are good for relaxing tight muscles and improving blood flow. If your back pain is due to inflammation, you can try applying ice or cold compresses to reduce swelling. It is important to protect the skin during the procedures to avoid tissue damage.
4. Painkillers
The most common over-the-counter medications are anti-inflammatory medications that relieve back pain caused by inflammation of the nerves or muscles. And also in some cases, a pain reliever can help. B vitamins, muscle relaxants, various gels, and ointments are effective.
5. Physiotherapy
This is usually part of the treatment of low back pain. Stretching is helpful - the more mobile the muscles, the better the back can move without injury. It is recommended to start small: stretch your lower back, glutes, thighs and legs muscles for 20-30 seconds and stop stretching if it hurts.
You also need to strengthen the abdominal, thigh and gluteal muscles that support your spine. Low-impact aerobic exercise increases blood flow and promotes injury healing without spinal concussion. For example, you can exercise on stationary bikes and elliptical trainers, walk, and swim.
In fact, any exercise that keeps your heart cycle healthy for a long time is beneficial for your body. Regular physical activity is essential to maintaining freedom of movement and flexibility for a healthy spine.