Sudden, sharp, aching or dull pain in the lower back, the causes of which cannot always be determined immediately, may indicate the development of various diseases.Only an experienced doctor can understand what exactly caused the pain syndrome, studying the clinical picture, the patient's complaints, as well as the results of ultrasound, X-ray or MRI studies and tests.But often, even before going to the doctor, a person wants to know in advance what is the cause of his condition.
Main causes of low back pain.
First of all, all causes of low back pain can be divided into two main types:
- Primary (pain is specifically associated with pathology of the spine, intervertebral discs, muscle tissue or joints).
- Secondary (pain arises due to pathologies of internal organs and radiates to the lumbar area, as well as infectious diseases in the body, the development of tumors).
Main causes of low back pain.
Today, walking upright is considered the cause of all spinal problems.The load on the spine increases considerably with the upright position of the body, especially in the lower section, the lumbar, which wears out the fastest.
The main primary causes of low back pain are:
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region.Degenerative changes in the spine cause acute pain, inflammation, swelling in the affected area, and difficulty moving.Characteristic changes in the cartilaginous tissue of the vertebral discs and in the vertebral bodies themselves often cause nerve impingement, which manifests itself as acute pain.
- Spondylarthrosis.This pathology affects the joint tissue in the spinal column area.In addition to joint pain, a person with spondylarthrosis may experience severe stiffness of movements, when it is impossible to straighten or turn.
Low back pain, the cause of which is osteochondrosis or spondyloarthrosis, requires an urgent and immediate consultation with a doctor and, of course, immediate treatment.
Secondary low back pain
A large number of diseases not associated with pathological processes in the spine can cause unpleasant pain in the back.
There are secondary causes of low back pain such as:
- curvature of the spine (scoliosis, lordosis, etc.);
- infections of various origins that affect the intervertebral discs (tuberculosis, etc.);
- urinary system infections and effects of influenza;
- inflammatory processes in the genital area;
- gastrointestinal diseases (appendicitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, intestinal colic);
- nephropathy;
- oncological diseases located in the paralumbar region;
- overweight;
- osteoporosis, acute rheumatism, chronic arthritis;
- long periods of standing or sitting;
- muscle spasm;
- nervous tension, stress.
Diseases of internal organs have their own vivid symptoms, which are reflected only in the lower back.
Causes of low back pain in women and men.
The structure of the female body predisposes to the appearance of heaviness and pain in the lumbar region.This is due to hormonal levels: the menstrual cycle, menopause and pregnancy affect the lumbar region, since the reproductive organs are very close.Gynecological diseases (inflammation of the appendages and uterus) cause radiating pain in the lower back in women.
Similarly, prostatitis and inflammation of the epididymis cause pain in men.It happens that men periodically experience back pain when they constantly work in the cold, in drafty conditions or if the work involves heavy lifting.These causes of lower back pain require preventive measures: it is necessary to isolate the back and wear a special corset.
muscle clamps
On the other hand, I would like to dwell on moments such as muscle spasms, which are often the cause of lower back pain.The constant lack of physical activity leads to the fact that the back muscles are weak and cannot withstand prolonged or increased loads.Therefore, working standing or in a stationary sitting position causes excessive tension on the back muscles and pain.
Stress leads to the same result when muscle tension occurs as a result of emotions of fear or anger.This is followed by spasms and pain if they are not eliminated in time.
Associated symptoms
Low back pain, the causes of which lie in damage to the spine, is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- unpleasant sensations can affect not only the back, but also spread to the buttocks and lower extremities;
- movement may be very difficult or completely impossible;
- The affected area usually becomes inflamed and swollen.
If any of these symptoms occur, you should seek medical help from a neurologist.If there are other accompanying symptoms, it is better to consult a therapist who will determine the causes of low back pain and then refer you to a specialized specialist or prescribe treatment.