Low back pain can be associated with a variety of reasons - for example, muscle damage, bowel pathology, protrusion and herniated vertebral discs. It is impossible to determine the exact cause on your own. Therefore, if discomfort occurs, it is necessary to undergo diagnostics and follow the doctor's recommendations. In most cases, medications and procedures are used for treatment. But surgery may also be necessary.
Lower back hurts: reasons
Lower back pain can be associated with the spine, muscles, nervous and other systems. The most common reasons are:
- Traumatic injuries of the lumbar or other parts of the spine.
- Damage to muscle tissue or severe tension.
- Hernia, protrusion.
- Curvature.
- Neuropathy
- Inflammatory processes of vertebral tissues.
- Pinched nerve.
- Pathologies of the intestines, stomach, liver and other digestive organs (in this case, pain is also given to the lumbar region).
- Poisoning, intoxication.
- Excretory system pathologies - kidney failure, pyelonephritis, cystitis, kidney stones, ureters.
- Diseases of the uterus - cyst, fibroids, inflammatory processes.
What to do if your lower back hurts
It is impossible to reliably determine the source of pain at home. Therefore, in the event of extraneous sensations, it is recommended to consult a doctor. If diagnosed early, the treatment will be successful and fast. You need to contact such specialists:
- Surgeon or traumatologist - if pain is associated with recent herbs, including sports or household herbs.
- Neurologist - painful sensations of an acute, shooting character. May be accompanied by problems with sensitivity in the legs, loss of mobility. Symptoms such as goose bumps on the surface of the abdomen or on the legs are also observed.
- Gastroenterologist - long pulling pain mainly on one side of the lumbar region. Also, the sensations can be aching, accompanied by too frequent or difficult urination.
- Gynecologist - in this case, pain is observed both from one and from two sides. Moreover, they are accompanied by weakness, increase during walking and running, during menstruation, and also during pregnancy.
In rare cases, when the cause of the pain is objectively clear, you should not worry. So, if extraneous sensations are associated with a long stay in one position, physical activity, it is not necessary to consult a doctor. But if the pain persists for several days or is of an acute nature, it is necessary to get an appointment as soon as possible and undergo a diagnosis.
Lower back pain: diagnosis
Diagnostics are prescribed by a doctor after examination, examination of complaints and medical history. The need for a specific procedure depends on what symptoms accompany the pain:
- Spine X-ray - hernias, protrusions, back injuries, posture problems.
- MRI of the lower back - for hernias, curvatures, injuries, as well as suspected neoplasm.
- CT scan of the lower back - the same indications as with MRI.
- Ultrasound - suspicion of pathology of the intestines and other organs located in the abdominal cavity.
- Colonoscopy, gastroscopy - these studies are carried out in case of suspicion of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, the doctor not only examines the organs, but can also take a tissue sample (biopsy) for further research.
- Intestinal MRI is performed to more closely examine the gastrointestinal tract in order to confirm or verify a previously made diagnosis.
Treatment methods
Methods, duration, treatment regimen are determined by the doctor depending on the diagnosis. In most cases, medication is indicated, for example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is also possible to attend massage sessions, conduct physiotherapy procedures.
If the diagnosis involves only surgical treatment, an operation is performed. This is necessary, for example, in the presence of hernias, peptic ulcer and other pathologies.
Prevention of back pain
Low back pain can be associated with working conditions and lifestyle. It is on the lumbar region that the main physical activity falls. This is especially dangerous when constantly lifting weights, receiving sports or household injuries.
For prevention, it is recommended:
- Exercise regularly.
- If the work is connected with physical labor, learn how to properly lift weights and not overload the back.
- If the work is associated with a long stay in a sitting position, regularly get up, walk, change your posture.
- Avoid hypothermia of the back, dress for the weather.
- Keep your back straight when sitting and during posture.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Do not abuse alcohol, smoking or other bad habits.
If the pains recur quite often, and even more so are of an acute nature, you should immediately consult a doctor. It is important to understand that treatment often lasts several months, especially when recovering from surgery. In this case, it is worth adjusting your lifestyle, if necessary, changing your job.