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

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

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 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 understand why such symptoms appear, how they can be treated and prevented.

The main causes of pain in the lumbar region

First, let's find out the causes of such unpleasant symptoms.The pain can be primary in pathologies of the spine or secondary in diseases of internal organs.

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

Here they are:

1. Occupational features: heavy physical activity for builders and loaders and heavy lifting for athletes.
2. Long standing in a sitting position.
3. Excess weight and sedentary lifestyle.
4. Poor nutrition and lack of protein, calcium and phosphorus in the body.
5. Bad habits: alcohol and alcohol.

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

Primary factors

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

These include:

1. Osteochondrosis is changes in the cartilage and intervertebral discs, leading to herniation or deformation of the discs.
2. Spondylosis is characterized by the formation of bony pillars in the vertebrae.With this increase, the muscles around the spine spasm, which limits its mobility.The occurrence of lower back injuries.
3. Spondyloarthrosis is the degeneration of articular surfaces in vertebrae, as well as their involvement in the pathological process of ligaments, joints and muscles.In this case, the deformation of the intervertebral discs 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. Intervertebral disc herniation.
6. Radiculopathy is nerve root damage.

Secondary factors

Secondary ones occur with accompanying pathology:

1. Problems with metabolism.
2. Curvature of the spine.
3. When malignant tumors are located near the spine.
4. Infectious diseases: spinal osteomyelitis, tuberculous spondylitis, spinal epidural abscess.
5. Spinal cord 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, the flattening of the arch of the foot.

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

After giving birth, pain can appear as a result of stretching the pelvic muscles, or with increased load on the spine, with frequent holding of the child.

What diseases does such pain signal?

The location of the pain is also important.

So let's look at each case:

• Aching pain on the right and above the lower back can indicate lung pathology.These symptoms are accompanied by shortness of breath, cough and fever.Also for gall bladder or liver problems.At the same time, the nature of the pain is piercing;
• if discomfort is felt above the lower back on the left, then this may be a sign of pancreatitis, myocardial infarction, pericarditis or left pleurisy;
• symptoms of pain in the lumbar region indicate osteochondrosis in this area, intervertebral hernia, as well as compression fractures;
• a symptom of pain under the lower back that radiates to the bottom of the abdomen is a sign of diseases of the pelvic organs.Such diseases include fibroids, endometriosis, prostate pathologies, colon diseases and gynecological infectious diseases.It can also indicate that the kidneys are not working properly.

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.Sharp pain often 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 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.

Features of treatment

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

• drug treatment with analgesics and hormones;
• blockades, which are injections into the intervertebral joints;
• manual techniques;
• physiotherapeutic procedures;
• therapeutic exercises;
• acupuncture.

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

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

Therapeutic blockades are used when other methods do not give the desired effect.Most often, for this purpose, anesthetics are injected into the lumen of the affected joint.

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

Wearing a special corset allows you to limit movements in the waist region.This helps reduce pain in the area of joint inflammation.

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

1. Bed rest on a hard surface for 2-5 days.
2. Wearing a special bandage.
3. Use of anti-inflammatory and sedative drugs.
4. To get rid of muscle spasms, muscle relaxants are prescribed.Special medications are also used to help relax the muscles.
5. Vascular and diuretic drugs are used to improve blood circulation and reduce swelling.
6. All types of gels and ointments are used as local therapy.
7. To consolidate the positive result, physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed.This can be electrophoresis, phonophoresis and magnetic therapy.

Therapeutic exercises and special massage help improve blood circulation, relieve muscle tension and also eliminate the inflammatory process.

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

You can do similar exercises at home and they 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 even have to freeze, but just sweat and go under air conditioning.

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

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

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

A similar 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 get hypothermia, then buy a belt made of dog or sheep wool.

What to do with lower back pain?

This pain appears during intense physical exertion.A sharp pain extending down the leg appears when bearing any weight.

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

To relieve the pain, take a pain reliever.

Remember that if you have these symptoms, you should not take a hot or steamy sauna bath.In this case, dry heat will help more.

For example, a special ointment.It is also worth limiting the intake of salt and liquids for a few days

What will help with a hernia?

With a hernia, sharp and constant pain appears, increasing with every movement.Relief occurs only in a lying position.

You may also feel numbness in your lower back.To reduce pain, you should ensure bed rest and take sedatives.Then you should call a doctor.

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

What should be done for prevention?

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

Here they are:

1. Identification and treatment of comorbidities that may cause lower back pain.
2. Proper nutrition with sufficient amounts of phosphorus, calcium and other vitamins.
3. Vigorous physical activity and heavy lifting should be avoided.In this case, the load must be distributed evenly.Do not make sudden movements.
4. Lead an active lifestyle.Try walking, swimming or doing yoga.
5. Periodically take therapeutic massage courses.
6. When you work 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 belts, posture correctors or bandages.

Such devices are recommended during pregnancy and heavy physical activity.

It is important to control your weight, as heavy body weight increases the load on the spine.Give up bad habits, and also do a preventive examination every year.

Therapeutic gymnastics

To strengthen your back muscles and prevent pain, exercise yourself at home.Physical exercises 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:

• the body leans in different directions.First left and right, and then forward and backward;
• turning the body to the sides;
• in the knee position - in the elbow position, you need to bend your back up and down;
• lying on your back with bent knees, lift the pelvis up;
• from a lying position, the straight legs should be bent at the knees and pulled towards the chest.

Perform 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.