Suddenly emerging, acute, aching or dull, radiating to the legs, lower back pain, the cause of which can not always be determined immediately, may indicate the development of various diseases. Only an experienced doctor will be able to understand exactly what caused the pain syndrome, having studied the clinical picture, the patient's complaints, as well as the results of studies and analyzes of ultrasound, X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging. But often, even before going to the doctor, a person wants to know in advance what his condition is related to.
The main causes of low back pain
First of all, all the causes of back pain can be divided into two main types:
- Primary (pain is precisely related to the pathology of the spine, intervertebral discs, muscle tissue or joints).
- Secondary (pain occurs with pathologies of the internal organs and is given in the lower back, as well as due to infectious diseases in the body, tumor growth).
Primary causes of back pain
Today, bipolar disorder is called the cause of all diseases of the spine. The load on the spine increases sharply with the upright position of the body, especially in the lower part - the lumbar, which wears out faster.
The main causes of back pain are:
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. Degenerative changes in the spine cause acute pain, inflammation, swelling in the affected area, difficulty moving. Characteristic changes in the cartilage tissue of the spinal discs and the vertebral bodies themselves often cause nerve entrapment, which manifests itself in acute pain.
- Spondylosis. This pathology affects the joint tissue in the area of the spine. In addition to joint pain, a person with spinal joints may experience severe stiffness of movements when it is impossible to straighten or twist.
Back pain caused by osteochondrosis or spondyloarthritis requires urgent, immediate medical attention and of course immediate treatment.
Secondary back pain
A huge number of diseases that are not related to pathological processes in the spine can cause unpleasant back pain.
There are secondary causes of lower back pain, such as:
- curvature of the spine (scoliosis, lordosis, etc. ).
- infections of various origins affecting the intervertebral discs (tuberculosis, etc. ).
- urinary tract infections and the consequences of the flu.
- inflammatory processes in the genital area.
- gastrointestinal diseases (appendicitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, intestinal colic).
- Kidney Disease?
- oncological diseases located in the lumbar region.
- overweight?
- osteoporosis, acute rheumatism, chronic arthritis.
- prolonged standing or sitting position.
- muscular spasm;
- nervous tension, anxiety.
Diseases of the internal organs have their own strong symptoms, which are reflected only in the lower back.
Low back pain occurs in both women and men
The structure of the female body predisposes to the appearance of weight and pain in the lumbar region. This is due to the hormonal background: the menstrual cycle, menopause and pregnancy affect the lumbar region, as the reproductive organs are in close proximity. Gynecological diseases (inflammation of the appendages and uterus) cause radiant lower back pain in women.
Similarly, in men, prostatitis and inflammation of the epididymis cause pain. It happens that men periodically have back pain during continuous work in the cold in a sink or if the work is related to weight lifting. Such causes of back pain require precautionary measures: you must warm your back and wear a special corset.
Muscular sphincters
Separately, I would like to dwell on such a moment as muscle spasms, which are often the cause of lower back pain. Constant lack of physical activity leads to the fact that the back muscles are weak and can not withstand prolonged or increased loads. Therefore, working on your feet or in a sitting position causes back muscle tension and pain.
Stress has the same effect when muscle tension arises as a result of feelings of fear or anger. Convulsions and pain follow, if not eliminated in time.
Associated symptoms
Low back pain, which is caused by spinal cord injury, is most often accompanied by the following symptoms:
- the discomfort can not only cover the back, but also move to the buttocks and lower extremities.
- Movement can be very difficult or completely impossible.
- the affected area is usually inflamed and swollen.
For any of these symptoms, you should seek medical help from a neurologist. If there are other accompanying symptoms, then it is best to contact a therapist who will determine the causes of the back pain and then refer you to a specialist or prescribe treatment.