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

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 mainly falls on the lumbar region, and is not evenly distributed throughout the spinal column. 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 acute and accompanied by a fever, then 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 dealt with and prevented.

The main causes of lower back pain

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

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

Here they are:

1. Features of the profession: heavy physical activity for builders and loaders and weight lifting for athletes.
2. Prolonged sitting.
3. Overweight and sedentary lifestyle.
4. Improper nutrition and lack of protein, calcium and phosphorus in the body.
5. Bad habits: alcohol and alcoholic beverages.

Even by reducing the impact of these factors, you will noticeably alleviate 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 cartilage and intervertebral discs that leads to herniated discs or disc deformations.
2. Spondylosis is characterized by the formation of bony growths on the vertebrae. With such an overgrowth, a spasm of the muscles around the spine occurs, which limits its mobility. The appearance of injuries in the lower back.
3. Spondyloarthrosis is a degeneration of the articular surfaces in the vertebrae, as well as their involvement in the pathological process of ligaments, joints and muscles. In this case, deformation of the intervertebral discs occurs, and the mobility of the spine is also limited.
4. Spondylolisthesis is manifested by the displacement of the vertebrae, as a result of which the lumen of the spinal canal changes.
5. Herniated intervertebral discs.
6. Radiculopathy is a nerve root injury.

Secondary factors

Secondary ones arise with concomitant pathologies:

1. Metabolic problems.
2. Curvature of the spinal column.
3. When located near the spine of malignant formations.
4. Infectious diseases: spinal osteomyelitis, tuberculous spondylitis, spinal epidural abscess.
5. Spine injuries.
6. Autoimmune diseases.
7. Painful symptoms of a psychogenic 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 of the arch of the foot.

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

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

What diseases does such pain signalize?

The localization of pain is also important.

So, let's look at each case:

• aching pain on the right and above the lower back may indicate a pathology of the lungs. These symptoms are accompanied by shortness of breath, cough, and fever. Also about problems of the gallbladder or liver. In this case, the nature of the pain is stabbing;
• if discomfort is felt above the lower back on the left, then this may be a sign of pancreatitis, myocardial infarction, pericarditis, or left-sided pleurisy;
• pain symptoms in the lumbar region signal osteochondrosis in this area, intervertebral hernias, as well as compression fractures;
• a symptom of pain below the lower back, which radiates to the lower abdomen, is a sign of diseases of the pelvic organs. 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?

Most often, back pain occurs temporarily. Only in rare cases do such symptoms signal complex diseases.

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

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

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

Treatment features

Depending on the causes of back pain, the doctor prescribes the following therapy options:

• drug treatment 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 against the background of osteochondrosis, physiotherapeutic methods are used in addition to the main treatment.

Healing blockades are used when other methods do not give the desired effect. Most often, 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.

Wearing a special corset allows you to restrict movement in the lumbar spine. This helps to reduce pain in the area of joint inflammation.

For back pain, the doctor may give the following recommendations:

1. Bed rest 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 medications are also used to help relax the muscles.
5. To improve blood circulation and reduce edema, vascular and diuretic drugs are used.
6. All kinds of gels and ointments are used as local therapy.
7. To consolidate the positive result, physiotherapy procedures are prescribed. This can be electrophoresis, phonophoresis and magnetotherapy.

Physiotherapy exercises and special massage help improve blood circulation, relieve muscle tension, and eliminate inflammation.

If the pain in the lumbar region is not associated with complex diseases, then yoga will help alleviate the condition.

You can do these exercises at home, and they do not take much time.

Hypothermia pain

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

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

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

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

A similar procedure is carried out every day. In case of severe pain, it is worth seeking help from a doctor. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain.

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

What to do with lumbar lumbago?

This pain occurs with intense physical exertion. A sharp pain passing into the leg appears when wearing any weights.

A similar symptom is characteristic of lumbosacral radiculitis, which is called lumbago or lumbago. In such a situation, you must lie on a hard surface.

Take a pain reliever to relieve pain.

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

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

What will help with a hernia?

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

Numbness in the lumbar region may also be felt. To relieve pain, bed rest and pain reliever should be taken. Then you need to call a doctor.

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

What to do for prevention?

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

Here they are:

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

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

Such devices are recommended for pregnancy and heavy physical exertion.

It is important to control your weight, as a large body weight increases the load on the spine. Get rid of bad habits, and get a routine check-up every year.

Physiotherapy

Exercise yourself at home to strengthen your back muscles and prevent pain. 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 tilts in different directions. First left and right, and then back and forth;
• turns of the body to the sides;
• in the knee - in the elbow position, you need to bend your back up and down;
• lying on your back with legs bent at the knees, the pelvis is lifted up;
• from a prone position, straightened legs need to be bent at the knees and pulled to the chest.

Do each exercise 8-10 times.

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