It often happens that the patient goes to the doctor to find out why the back hurts in the lumbar region. Very often, such a pain syndrome is faced by those who spend a lot of time in their summer cottage, their own garden. Constantly repairing the house and sparing no effort on the plot, people thereby undermine their health. A day or two of hard work and it's no longer possible to stand up without excruciating pain. However, in some cases, pain indicates the presence of other pathologies. To determine the appropriate treatment strategy, you must first understand the underlying cause of the pain.
Possible factors: is it serious?
In order to find a good treatment for a problem, you must first identify its cause. The back in the lumbar region hurts on the left, right or even causes pain in the waist if a person has impaired kidney function and health, osteochondrosis has developed and neuralgia is observed. There is a possibility of acute pancreatitis. Each described condition requires a thorough approach to treatment and it is recommended to consult a doctor. Trying to choose a course of therapy for yourself, you can harm your health, the condition will worsen even more. If you come to the doctor, at the reception he will assess the symptoms, formulate a preliminary diagnosis and send him to tests that will confirm or refute the assumption.
Kidneys hurt
If the back hurts a lot in the lumbar region, there is a possibility of pyelonephritis. The term refers to the formation of foci of inflammation in the organ. If the disease is non-infectious, glomerulonephritis can be diagnosed. Sometimes the pain syndrome indicates the appearance of stones in the kidneys and ducts. The processes of their generation, as well as movement, cause quite strong discomfort.
Often the disease develops against the background of hypothermia, it can be preceded by a cold. It is noted that people who follow strict diets are more likely to suffer from kidney diseases. In many respects, the symptoms of kidney pathologies and the condition called "back tear" are similar. There are a number of specific symptoms that allow you to more accurately identify the pathology. If the kidneys are sick, the sensations do not depend on the load, activity, movements. Many people have a fever, the urine becomes cloudy, the shade changes. Some note an increased desire to urinate, the process itself is accompanied by pain. There is a light tapping with the edge of the hand near the kidneys, the area will react with severe soreness.
How to help yourself?
If the back of a man, woman, child has pain in the lower back, if there is reason to suspect kidney disease, it makes sense to contact the local doctor, call him at home. Kidneys are extremely important elements for the functioning of the human body, so unjustified risks are unacceptable. While waiting for the arrival of a specialist, you can try to alleviate the symptoms of the disease. The patient is laid down or seated so that he is as comfortable as possible, he is given means to reduce heat if the temperature exceeds 38 degrees. To make the pain a little less, you can take antispasmodic medicine. If the patient needs to change position, he should be assisted. It is also wise to monitor blood pressure and body temperature.
It happens that people are convinced that they know for sure, if the back hurts in the lumbar region, what to do: you should immediately apply a warm compress or put the sufferer in a hot bath. In case of kidney diseases, such procedures are strictly prohibited. Any warming will drastically worsen the patient's condition. If a person has developed pyelonephritis, this activates the inflammatory focus. The patient's task is to wait for the arrival of a professional. The doctor will examine the sufferer and recommend further action.
Pancreatitis
If the back hurts in the lumbar region, in a man, woman, child, the cause may be pancreatitis. Pathology can be suspected if the pain is bypassed, while creating a feeling that it comes from the left half of the body, the area of the hypochondrium. It is possible to cover the back, abdomen - this forms rings of pain. For some, pancreatitis causes severe pain near the navel. If the pathology proceeds atypically, the patient has back pain - the lower back and a little higher. This nature of the localization of the pain syndrome often causes an incorrect initial diagnosis.
If we assume pancreatitis, it is necessary to call a doctor. While waiting for a specialist, you will have to completely refuse food - during the inflammatory process, food can dramatically worsen the condition. The caregiver should help the sufferer into a comfortable position; as far as possible, provide comfort and peace of mind to a person. You can drink some water without additives, but drinking is only allowed in moderation. It is recommended not to leave the patient, constantly monitoring the change in condition until the arrival of a specialist. It is believed that the pain is slightly less if you curl up in a position characteristic of the embryo.
Osteochondrosis
If the back in the lower back is very inflamed, the cause is probably a disease of the cartilage of the joints connecting the elements of the spine. The pathological process is associated with pinching of the nerve roots - this is what becomes the source of pain. According to doctors, the probability of developing the disease is high for each of our compatriots over 30 years of age. In recent years, osteochondrosis is increasingly diagnosed in young people and is found in adolescents.
To provoke an attack of pain, you can lift a heavy object, stay in a forced, uncomfortable position for a long time. The probability of developing pathology is higher if a person drives a car for a long time, sits a lot and moves little in everyday life. It is possible to suspect osteochondrosis if the pain syndrome spreads to the leg while nagging is felt in the lower back. If you try to move, the pain increases. This accompanies any load and a simple change in body position. Shooting, burning pain sensations are possible. It is possible to replace osteochondrosis if the buttocks and legs are characterized by reduced sensitivity, and if a stable posture is maintained for a long time, it becomes difficult to change. For many, the thermoregulation of the limbs is disturbed, the feet sweat profusely, the feeling of cold is disturbing.
Case characteristics and first aid
If the back, lower back, spine hurts, while there is no temperature and the manifestations are similar to those described above, if there is no doubt that the cause of the pain is the spine, you can give yourself first aid with simple means. The affected area is covered with a warm woolen scarf or tied with a warming scarf and placed to lie on a firm, flat surface. In the absence of effectiveness of such measures, it is possible to smear the lower back with non-hormonal ointments to ease the course of the inflammatory process. The doctor can prescribe systemic treatment with non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs. As a rule, drugs containing meloxicam, ibuprofen are prescribed.
Do not take analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs on an empty stomach. The active components contained in the drugs irritate the gastric mucosa, can cause ulcer disease, gastritis.
If there is no exact certainty that the cause of the pain is precisely in osteochondrosis, it is necessary to visit a doctor for diagnosis. Unwarranted self-medication with non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs will certainly lead to a worsening of the condition. This will be especially pronounced if the patient has a disease of the pancreas, a disorder in the gastrointestinal tract.
Safety first
If the back hurts in the lumbar region, what to treat, the doctor will say. You can not try to "adjust" the spine, this will worsen the pain, there is a possibility of serious damage to the back. If osteochondrosis has passed into the acute phase, heating should be avoided. Hot baths are not allowed. We will have to give up saunas and baths. Warming up at first gives a feeling of relief, but soon the pain comes with a new force. If symptoms indicating osteochondrosis appear frequently, you should make an appointment with a neurologist. The doctor will give you a referral for an MRI. Such a picture will allow you to assess the condition of the lumbar spine and determine how best to deal with the main cause of the pain.
If osteochondrosis has caused pain during physical exertion, while a person has taken anesthesia or a drug to stop inflammatory activity, the condition will probably improve a lot soon. Even if the pain is completely gone, you should not return to your previous activity again. Rest should be provided to the sick back for some time. The best option is bed rest.
Neuralgia
There are a huge number of different manifestations of how the lower back hurts - when lying on the back, walking, bending over. In some cases, the cause of this is an inflammatory process affecting the nerve fibers. It is possible to assume neuralgia by manifestations similar to the symptoms of osteochondrosis described above. With any physical activity, the back immediately reacts with pain, even a slight movement is difficult for the patient, and the need for movement creates fear. There are a number of characteristics that allow one to suspect what exactly caused the pain and to distinguish neuralgia from pinched nerve endings that provide sensitivity to the spine.
With osteochondrosis, a person is subconsciously afraid to move, because the back causes pain with every action. Neuralgia also has this characteristic, but the pain will spread along the nerve that caused it, and the sensations themselves are described by sufferers as a twinge. Perhaps unpredictable relief of the condition and return of soreness when a person is calm, motionless. Sometimes convulsions appear against the background of neuralgia, muscle pains and a change in the shades of the skin are disturbing. In some, the work of the sweat-producing glands is disturbed. With pressure on the back, the pain immediately covers both halves of the body symmetrically.
Auxiliary functions
If your back or lower back hurts a lot, only a qualified doctor will tell you what to do. The pain syndrome caused by neuralgia is quite difficult to rule out, at the same time it is necessary to take measures to improve the patient's condition, since constant pain can provoke mental deviations. To relieve the pain somewhat, the doctor will prescribe non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs. In some cases, they prefer to stop at drugs containing ibuprofen, meloxicam. Rest is shown to the patient.
If the patient goes to the doctor because his back hurts a lot, the lower back, what to do should be decided by a qualified specialist. Based on the specifics of the case, hospitalization may be recommended. This measure is used if the sensations are very strong. In a hospital setting, those in need will be blocked with novocaine.
Features and pains
It also happens that a person breaks his back and his lower back hurts. What to do in such a situation, the doctor will also tell you. This will depend on the severity of the damage. Sometimes rest is enough, in other cases the help of a surgeon is necessary. It is known that soreness often accompanies a period of rest after a long workout or an unjustifiably heavy load. Pain can be caused by awkward, unsuccessful movements. It is known that people who are under stress often complain of pain, as well as those who, due to the nature of their work, sit for a long time, especially in front of a computer. The back often hurts in those who exercise too actively, spend a long time standing, suffer from excess weight. Pain in the lower back almost always accompanies pregnancy and worries for some time after the birth of the child.
There are also situations when in general you do not need to understand what to do: the back hurts in the lumbar region, but quite weakly, over time everything disappears by itself. If the attack is one-time, not very strong, preceded by an obvious cause (for example, prolonged work in a summer cottage), you just need to take a break and wait for the pain to disappear. If the pain appears in attacks, periods, anxiety for a long time, you should consult a doctor, since it is impossible to determine on your own what provokes the sensations.
Causes: primary and secondary
Primary pain is observed if there is a disease of the spine. Such a syndrome is possible if a person has developed spondyloarthrosis, spondylosis. Possible hernia or protrusion. Secondary pain syndrome accompanies fractures, tumor processes, prolonged muscle tension. Such pain can be caused by diseases (kyphosis, arthritis, tuberculosis), there is a possibility of narrowing of the spinal canal, osteomyelitis and a malignant process. Pain in the lower back is possible with ovarian cysts, endometriosis. The doctor must clarify all the factors in the case by checking the patient's condition to know what to do. Back pain in the lumbar region in people suffering from cystitis, in patients with scoliosis and arthrosis. Scheuermann-Mau disease can provoke pain. In some women, the soreness indicates complications in carrying the fetus.
Should we rush to the doctor?
There are certain signs of pain that indicate the need to get qualified help as quickly as possible. So, if when walking, the lower back reacts with pain, coughing, sneezing leads to a worsening of the sensation, while the sensations spread to the lower limbs, you should make an appointment with a neurologist. It will also help if the lower back hurts, the sensations are dull, the back hurts, the pain spreads to the legs, it is more noticeable when coughing and moving. Probably, such symptoms indicate sciatica, but a person needs the most timely help from a doctor, so you should not delay contacting the clinic.
The traumatologist can tell you what to do if your back hurts in the lower back, if the sensations occurred against the background of stretching muscles or lifting too heavy an object. For such reasons, as well as pain due to hypothermia and exposure to drafts, it is first necessary to use creams that activate blood flow for three days at home. If the condition does not improve during this period, you should make an appointment with a doctor.
Measures and time
For three days, you can try to help yourself with back pain, lumbago. According to doctors who know exactly what to do if the back hurts in the lower back, such symptoms are more often observed by those who, due to their activity, are forced to work hard. The pain usually goes away on its own within a few days after exercise, although in rare severe cases it can last for weeks. To relieve the condition, it is necessary to use analgesics, rest. It is necessary to experimentally establish in which position the pain is the weakest. The first two days you should ensure bed rest. If the sensations do not pass after three days, they are recorded with a doctor.
Possible pain syndrome against the background of myositis. Such a pathological process is usually preceded by hypothermia or severe muscle tension. The area reacts with stiffness, sensations are sharp, especially strong when trying to move. The doctor will also best tell you what to do if your lower back hurts for this reason. Doctors advise to first take a warm shower, find suitable warm clothes and completely abandon any physical activity. The first three days, use ointments that relieve the inflammatory process, relieve pain. If the sensations have not disappeared, make an appointment with a doctor.
Chronic and radiating pain
What to do if the back hurts in the lower back due to spondylosis, the doctor will say only after a careful assessment of the patient's condition. The disease manifests itself with a strong, acute pain syndrome, the lower back hurts, the legs become weak and numb. In such cases, you should immediately make an appointment with a neurologist.
Ankylosing spondylitis can provoke pain. A possible cause is a metabolic breakdown or oncological pathology. With none of these options, it will not be possible to help yourself, you should consult a qualified specialist and a detailed examination of the body.
It also happens that a person is sure that the pain is localized in the lumbar spine, but the real reason is the malfunction of the internal organ. Radiating pain is possible if the pathology is localized in the pelvis, gastrointestinal tract and kidneys. Often the pain gives in the lower back with cancer. It is impossible to postpone the visit to the doctor if the syndrome lasts more than three days, if it was preceded by an injury, if in addition to the lumbar region, the foot and the lower part of the leg hurt. In the event that the pain is accompanied by numbness in the limbs, inguinal area, it is also impossible to delay contact with the clinic.
How do I check?
If your back hurts in the lumbar region in the morning, this can be considered a sufficient reason to contact a specialist. First, you can go to your local therapist. The doctor will give directions for tests and instrumental studies, will refer to a highly qualified doctor based on the details of the case. The most accurate diagnosis is usually made by a neurologist. To do this, you need to get the results of the MRI, EKG and ultrasound. Blood and urine samples are checked in the laboratory. In some cases, it is necessary to examine the puncture of the spinal cord, if malignant diseases are suspected, tissue samples are taken for biopsy.
How will they be treated?
Many people are afraid to go to the doctor if their back hurts in the lumbar region in the morning, because they believe that the doctor will immediately send them to surgery. Today there are many effective methods for treating various diseases of the spine. There is a method using waves and magnetic fields. Administering a medication designed to treat joints may help. Rehabilitation simulators have been developed that quickly restore mobility. In case of severe pain and the need to stop inflammation and spasm, the doctor will make a blockade.
Drug treatment for back pain includes oral medications and injections. Often such treatment is combined with physiotherapy - this increases effectiveness. Prescribe drugs to relieve swelling, relieve stiffness, eliminate the inflammatory focus. Since all such drugs have a wide list of contraindications and possible side effects, self-medication with them is strictly prohibited.