Causes and treatment of back pain in the lumbar region: what to do if it gives in the leg

back pain in the lumbar region

It turns out that back pain in the lumbar region is very common.

According to biologists, such a symptom is a consequence of our upright posture, in which the load falls mainly on the lumbar region and is not evenly distributed throughout the spine. Pain in the lower back can signal very serious problems not only with the spine, but also with the internal organs.

If the pain is severe and accompanied by fever, call an ambulance.

If such symptoms are not observed, then for an accurate diagnosis it is worth contacting a therapist. Let's see why these symptoms occur, how they can be treated and prevented.

The main causes of lower back pain

First, let's find out the reasons for these unpleasant symptoms. The pain can be primary with pathologies of the spine or secondary with diseases of internal organs.

Along with the reasons, it is important to identify the factors that increase the pain syndrome.

lower back pain

Here is:

  1. Characteristics of the profession: heavy physical activity for manufacturers and loaders and weightlifting for athletes.
  2. Prolonged sitting.
  3. Overweight and sedentary lifestyle.
  4. Inadequate nutrition and lack of protein, calcium and phosphorus in the body.
  5. Bad habits: alcohol and alcoholic beverages.

Even by reducing the effect of these factors, you will significantly mitigate your condition and the health of your spine.

Primary factors

Primary factors are associated with degenerative-dystrophic processes in the spine.

These include:

  1. Osteochondrosis is a change in the cartilage and intervertebral discs that leads to disc herniation or disc deformities.
  2. Vertebration is characterized by the formation of growth bones in the vertebrae. With this development, a spasm of the muscles around the spine occurs, which restricts its mobility. The appearance of injuries in the lower back.
  3. Arthritis is a degeneration of the articular surfaces in the vertebrae, as well as their involvement in the pathological process of the joints, joints and muscles. In this case, deformity of the intervertebral discs occurs and the mobility of the spine is also limited.
  4. Spinal slippage is manifested by the displacement of the vertebrae, as a result of which the lumen of the spinal canal changes.
  5. Herniated discs.
  6. Rhizopathy is a nerve root injury.

Secondary factors

Secondary ones appear with simultaneous pathologies:

  1. Metabolic problems.
  2. Curvature of the spine.
  3. When it is located near the spine of malignant formations.
  4. Infectious diseases: osteomyelitis of the spine, tuberculous spondylitis, epidural abscess of the spine.
  5. Injuries to the spine.
  6. Autoimmune disease.
  7. Painful symptoms of a psychogenic nature.
  8. Diseases of the digestive system.
  9. Diseases of the pelvic organs.
  10. Period pain.

Also, problems with the spine can be affected by flat feet, ie flattening of the arch of the foot.

Pregnancy can also cause pain. In the early stages, they occur when progesterone is exposed to ligaments and muscles, also with the threat of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

After childbirth, the pain may occur as a result of stretching of the pelvic muscles or with increased stress on the spine, with frequent transport of the baby in your arms.

What diseases does this pain signal?

Locating the pain is also important.

So let's look at each case:

  • pain in pain in the right and above the lower back may indicate pathology of the lungs. These symptoms are accompanied by shortness of breath, cough and fever. Also for gallbladder or liver problems. In this case, the nature of the pain stabs.
  • If you feel discomfort above the lower back on the left, then this may be a sign of pancreatitis, myocardial infarction, pericarditis or left side pleurisy.
  • Symptoms of lumbar pain include osteochondrosis in this area, intervertebral hernias, and compression fractures.
  • A symptom of lower back pain, which is transmitted to the lower abdomen, is a sign of pelvic diseases. Such diseases include fibroids, endometriosis, prostate pathology, colon disease and infectious gynecological diseases. It may also indicate that the kidneys are out of order.

Which doctor will help?

Doctor treating back pain

Most of the time, back pain occurs temporarily. Only in rare cases do these symptoms signal complex illnesses.

In any case, it is worth knowing which doctor can help in such a situation. Often, severe pain occurs with increased physical activity.

In other cases, you can seek help from a surgeon, urologist or even a chiropractor who will make a more accurate diagnosis and prescribe instead of treating a similar problem.

In addition, with such pain, you may need to consult a traumatologist, orthopedist, gastroenterologist, infectious disease specialist, proctologist or gynecologist.

Characteristics of treatment

Depending on the cause of the back pain, your doctor may prescribe the following treatment options:

  • medication with analgesics and hormones.
  • blockades, which are injections into the intervertebral joints.
  • manual techniques
  • physiotherapy procedures;
  • physiotherapy;
  • acupuncture.

If conservative treatment does not help, then surgery is used.

In the treatment of disc herniation in the context of osteochondrosis, physiotherapeutic methods are used in addition to the main treatment.

Treatment exclusions are used when other methods do not give the desired result. Most of the time, anesthetics are injected into the lumen of the affected joint for this.

Acupuncture is recommended for disc protrusions, osteochondrosis or hernias. If the pain radiates to the leg, then physical therapy is also used.

acupuncture for the treatment of back pain

The use of a special corset allows you to limit movement in the lumbar region. This helps reduce pain in the area of joint inflammation.

For back pain, your doctor may make the following recommendations:

  1. The bed rests on a hard surface for 2-5 days.
  2. Wearing a special bandage.
  3. The use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
  4. To get rid of muscle spasm, muscle relaxants are prescribed. Special drugs are also used to relax the muscles.
  5. To improve blood circulation and reduce swelling, vascular and diuretic drugs are used.
  6. All kinds of gels and ointments are used as a topical treatment.
  7. To consolidate the positive result, physiotherapy procedures are prescribed. This can be electrophoresis, phonophoresis and magnetotherapy.

Physical therapy and special massage help to improve blood circulation, relieve muscle tension and eliminate inflammation.

If low back pain is not associated with complex diseases, then yoga will help alleviate the condition.

You can do these exercises at home and do not need much time.

Hypothermia

Did you know that hypothermia is a common cause of back pain? In this case, you do not even need to freeze, but just sweat and go under the air conditioner.

In this case, the hot surface of the body will come in contact with a stream of cold air. And the next day it will be difficult to straighten or stand up.

In such a situation, the pain becomes constant and aching.

First of all, you need to warm your back. A heating type ointment is suitable for this. If there is no cure, then regular alcohol will also be helpful. After rubbing, the lower back should be wrapped in something warm.

A similar process takes place daily. In case of severe pain, it is worth seeking medical help. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain.

If you are often hypothermic, get a belt of dog or sheep wool.

What to do with the lumbar lumbar region?

back pain in the lumbar region

Such pain occurs with intense physical exercise. A severe pain in the leg occurs when wearing any weight.

A similar symptom is characteristic of lumbar rhizolitis, called low back pain or lumbar pain. In such a situation, you should lie on a hard surface.

Take a painkiller to relieve the pain.

Remember that with such signs, you can not take a hot bath or steam bath. In this case, the dry heat will help more.

For example, a special ointment. It is also worth limiting your salt and fluid intake for several days.

What will help hernia?

With a hernia, there is an intense and constant pain that increases with any movement. Relief comes only in the supine position.

Numbness may also be felt in the lower back. For pain relief, bed rest and pain relief should be taken. Then you should call a doctor.

During the acute period, serious and specialized treatment is required.

What should you do to prevent it?

Do not expect serious pain to occur, but start taking precautions.

Here is:

  1. Identification and treatment of concomitant diseases that can cause back pain.
  2. Proper nutrition with adequate amounts of phosphorus, calcium and other vitamins.
  3. Heavy exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided. In this case, the load must be evenly distributed. Do not make sudden movements.
  4. Live an active lifestyle. Go for walking, swimming or yoga.
  5. Take therapeutic massage classes from time to time.
  6. When you are sitting, take a break every hour and do some exercise.
  7. The bed should be comfortable, for example with an orthopedic mattress.

For prevention, you can wear special elastic straps, posture correctors or bandages.

Such devices are recommended for pregnancy and intense physical exercise.

It is important to control your weight, as a large body weight increases the load on the spine. Get rid of bad habits and also do a regular checkup every year.

Physiotherapy

therapeutic gymnastics for lumbar pain

Exercise at home to strengthen your back muscles and avoid pain. Exercise should be done regularly.

A well-designed set of exercises will help improve posture, increase muscle tone and activate blood circulation.

In such a band, you can use the following moves:

  • the body tilts in different directions. First left and right and then back and forth.
  • body turns to the sides.
  • on the knee - in the position of the elbow, you should bend your back up and down.
  • Lying on your back with your legs bent at the knees, the pelvis is raised.
  • from a prone position, the straight legs should bend at the knees and be pulled to the chest.

Do each exercise 8-10 times.

Do not ignore the symptoms of pain in the lumbar region, go to the doctor and take preventive measures that will help you normalize your well-being and enhance your health.