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

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

According to biologists, such symptoms are the result of our upright posture, where the load mainly falls on the lumbar region, and is not distributed evenly throughout the spine.Pain in the lower back can indicate a very serious problem not only with the spine, but also with internal organs.

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

If such symptoms are not observed, then for an accurate diagnosis you should consult a therapist.Let's think about why such symptoms occur, how they can be dealt with and prevented.

The main cause of pain in the lumbar region

First, let's find out the cause of the unpleasant symptoms.Pain can be primary in spinal pathology or secondary in diseases of internal organs.

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

Here they are:

1. Characteristics of the profession: heavy physical activity for builders and loaders and weight lifting for athletes.
2. Prolonged in a sitting position.
3. Overweight and an inactive lifestyle.
4. Poor nutrition and lack of protein, calcium and phosphorus in the body.
5. Bad habits: alcohol and spirits.

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

The main factor

The main factor is associated with the degenerative-dystrophic process in the spine.

These include:

1. Osteochondrosis is a change in cartilage and intervertebral disc, leading to herniation or disc deformation.
2. Spondylosis is characterized by the formation of bone spurs on the vertebrae.With this growth, the muscles around the spine spasm, which limits its mobility.The appearance of injuries in the lower back.
3. Spondyloarthrosis is the degeneration of the articular surfaces in the vertebrae, as well as their involvement in pathological processes of ligaments, joints and muscles.In this case, deformation of the intervertebral disc occurs, and the mobility of the spine is limited.
4. Spondylolisthesis is manifested by displacement of the vertebrae, as a result of which the lumen of the spinal canal changes.
5. Herniated intervertebral disc.
6. Radiculopathy is damage to the nerve roots.

Secondary factors

The secondary occurs with concomitant pathology:

1. Metabolic problems.
2. Curvature of the spinal column.
3. When the malignant tumor is located near the spine.
4. Infectious diseases: spinal osteomyelitis, tuberculous spondylitis, spinal epidural abscess.
5. Spinal cord injury.
6. Autoimmune disease.
7. Painful symptoms that are psychogenic in nature.
8. Diseases of the digestive system.
9. Diseases of the pelvic organs.
10. Menstrual pain.

Also, problems with the spine can be affected by flat feet, that is, flattening the arches of the feet.

Pregnancy can also cause pain.In the early stages, it appears when progesterone affects the ligaments and muscles, also when there is a threat of miscarriage or during an ectopic pregnancy.

After childbirth, pain may appear due to stretching of the pelvic muscles, or with increased load on the spine, often carrying the child in your arms.

What disease does such pain indicate?

The location of the pain is also important.

So, let's look at each case:

• aching pain on the right side and above the lower back may indicate lung pathology.These symptoms are accompanied by shortness of breath, cough and fever.Also about gallbladder or liver problems.At the same time, the nature of the pain is stabbing;
• if discomfort is felt above the lower back on the left side, then this may be a sign of pancreatitis, myocardial infarction, pericarditis or left-sided pleurisy;
• symptoms of pain in the lumbar region indicate osteochondrosis in this region, intervertebral hernia, as well as compression fractures;
• symptoms of pain under the lower back radiating to the lower abdomen are signs of pelvic organ disease.These diseases include fibroids, endometriosis, prostate pathology, colon diseases and infectious gynecological diseases.This may also indicate that the kidneys are out of order.

Which doctor will help?

Often, lower back pain occurs temporarily.Only in rare cases, such symptoms indicate a complex disease.

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

In other cases, you can seek help from a surgeon, urologist, or chiropractor, who will make a more accurate diagnosis and prescribe how to treat such a problem.

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

Treatment features

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

• drug treatment with analgesics and hormones;
• block, which is an injection into the intervertebral joint;
• manual techniques;
• physiotherapeutic procedures;
• therapeutic exercises;
• acupuncture.

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

When treating disc herniation due to osteochondrosis, physiotherapeutic methods are used in addition to the main treatment.

Therapeutic restrictions are used when other methods do not give the desired effect.Often, for this purpose, anesthetic is injected into the lumen of the affected joint.

Acupuncture is recommended for disc protrusion, osteochondrosis or hernia.If the pain radiates to the legs, then physiotherapy is also used.

Wearing 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 recommend the following:

1. Rest on a hard surface for 2-5 days.
2. Wear a special bandage.
3. Use of anti-inflammatory and pain relievers.
4. To relieve muscle spasms, muscle relaxants are prescribed.Special medications are also used to help relax the muscles.
5. To improve blood circulation and reduce swelling, vascular drugs and diuretics are used.
6. All types of gels and ointments are used as local therapy.
7. To consolidate positive results, physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed.This can be electrophoresis, phonophoresis and magnetic therapy.

Therapeutic exercises and special massages help improve blood circulation, relieve muscle tension, and also eliminate inflammatory processes.

If the pain in the lumbar region is not associated with a complex disease, then yoga classes will help alleviate the situation.

You can do similar exercises at home and it won't take much time.

Pain due to hypothermia

Did you know that a common cause of back pain is hypothermia?At the same time, you don't need to freeze, but just sweat and go under the air conditioner.

In this case, the hot surface of the body will come into contact with the cold air flow.And the next day it's hard to straighten up or get up.

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

First of all, you need to warm up your back.Warming ointment is suitable for this.If there is no medicine, then ordinary alcohol will also be useful.After rubbing, the lower back should be wrapped in something warm.

The same procedure is carried out every day.If the pain is severe, you should seek help from a doctor.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain.

If you often suffer from hypothermia, buy a belt made of dog or sheep fur.

What to do with back pain?

This pain occurs during vigorous physical exercise.A sharp pain that spreads to the leg appears when carrying any load.

The same symptoms are characteristic of lumbosacral radiculitis, which is called lumbago or lumbago.In such a situation, you need to lie down on a hard surface.

To reduce pain, take painkillers.

Remember that if you experience these symptoms, you should not take a hot shower or steam in a sauna.In this case, dry heat will be more helpful.

For example, special ointment.It's also worth limiting your salt and fluid intake for a few days

What will help with a hernia?

With a hernia, sharp and constant pain occurs, increasing with any movement.Relief occurs only in the supine position.

You may also feel numbness in the lower back.To reduce pain, you need to ensure bed rest and take painkillers.Then you need to contact the doctor.

In the acute period, serious and qualified treatment is required.

What should be done for prevention?

Do not wait for severe pain to appear, but start preventive measures.

Here they are:

1. Identification and treatment of concomitant diseases that can cause lower back pain.
2. Proper nutrition with sufficient amounts of phosphorus, calcium and other vitamins.
3. Strenuous physical activity and heavy lifting should be avoided.In this case, the load should be distributed equally.Do not make sudden movements.
4. Live an active lifestyle.Try walking, swimming or yoga.
5. Take a course of therapeutic massage regularly.
6. When working inactively, take breaks every hour and do exercise.
7. The bed should be comfortable, for example, with an orthopedic mattress.

For prevention, you can wear a special elastic belt, posture correction or bandage.

Such devices are recommended during pregnancy and heavy physical activity.

It is important to control your weight, because a large body weight increases the load on the spine.Get rid of bad habits, and also undergo preventive examinations every year.

Therapeutic gymnastics

To strengthen your back muscles and avoid pain, exercise yourself at home.Physical exercise should be done regularly.

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

In such a complex, you can use the following movements:

• body leaning in different directions.First left and right, and then forward and backward;
• turning the body to the side;
• in the knee position - in the elbow position, you need to bend your back up and down;
• lie on your back with bent knees, lift the pelvis up;
• from a lying position, the straightened leg should be bent at the knee and pulled towards 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 normalize your well-being and improve your health.