About 80 percent of adults experience back pain and if you have any problems, know that you are not alone. This is adjustable. The main thing is to understand the origin of the pain, but there can be many factors. We have compiled the main causes of low back pain that can cause back problems. How to alleviate the disease? There are ways.
Back pain can occur at any age and with any physical condition. So there is a dull, constant or periodic pain and there is a sudden acute attack, after which it is difficult for a person to move. The pain may appear suddenly due to severe elevation, it may develop with age due to changes in the spine or as a result of an accident. A sedentary lifestyle is also an important cause of low back pain. Especially when the daily routine is not diluted with physical activity (exercise, swimming pool, gym, yoga).
In most cases, low back pain is acute and short-lived or less severe, but lasts from a few days to two weeks. In such cases, a person still does not lose his activity, the ability to move and serve himself in everyday life.
Subacute pain is pain that persists after an acute period and lasts 4 to 12 weeks. If after this period the pain still persists, it is called chronic. Sometimes, treatment can help relieve chronic low back pain. But in some cases, the pain persists despite medical and surgical treatment.
So back pain, the causes of which are often age-related and associated with wear and tear on joints, discs and bones of the spine or mechanical pain:
1. Breakdown
This can lead to severe back pain. Stretching occurs due to improper turning or lifting of something. And also due to heavy lifting or excessive stretching. These conditions can cause spasms in the back muscles, which also cause pain.
2. Wearing the intervertebral disc
One of the most common causes of back pain. A manifestation of this is the loss of disk integrity, cracks appear. In a young and healthy spine, the discs allow the lower back to bend, not split and twist. But over the years, the elasticity of the discs decreases and they lose their ability to absorb shocks.
3. Hernia
May appear due to lifting a heavy load, poor behavior, an accident, sports injury, etc. There is fluid in the center of the lumbar disc; for various reasons, it can come out and irritate the nerve root that is nearby. There is a lot of nerve fiber in the disc wall, and a broken wall can cause severe pain.
4. Radiculopathy
This condition occurs due to compression, inflammation and / or damage to the spinal cord. Furthermore, pressure on a nerve root results in pain, numbness, or a tingling sensation that spreads to other parts of the body associated with that nerve. The problem can occur if the central spinal canal narrows or a hernia presses on the nerve root.
5. Shiatiku
Compression of the sciatic nerve, which travels through the buttocks and extends below the back of the leg. This compression causes shock or burning pain in the lower back, combined with pain in the buttocks. And also in exceptional cases, when the nerve is squeezed between the disc and the adjacent bone, a person may feel numbness and severe weakness in the legs. By the way, this condition manifests itself due to a tumor or cyst that presses on the sciatic nerve or its roots.
6. Spinal stenosis
In the case of this disease, in addition to back pain, a person may experience numbness or weakness in the legs when walking. And also with the loss of sensitivity.
7. Scoliosis and other skeletal disorders
People usually do not experience special problems with curvature of the spine until middle age.
Low back pain is often not associated with serious medical conditions. But you still need to be aware of their existence in order to have time to consult a doctor in a timely manner. Defeating the diseases listed below is only possible with medical help. This:
1. Infections
These are not causes of low back pain, but can affect the vertebrae (osteomyelitis), intervertebral discs (discs), or sacroiliac joints (sacroiliitis).
2. Tumors
Sometimes a tumor appears in the spine (and at certain stages, of course there will be pain and other symptoms), but more often these are metastases that have spread due to cancer to other parts of the body.
3. Cauda Equa Syndrome
The disease is sometimes accompanied by a ruptured disc. This is because the disc material is pressed into the spinal canal and compresses the bundle of lumbar and sacral nerve roots. In connection with this disease, a person may have problems with urination and intestines.
4. Abdominal aortic aneurysm
This occurs when the large blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs expands abnormally. In addition, low back pain can be a signal that the aorta is enlarged and there is a risk of rupture.
5. Kidney stones
Stones can cause severe pain in the lower back (usually on one side).
Other factors and causes that can cause back pain:
- Inflammatory diseases of the joints.For example, arthritis, spondylitis, inflammation of the vertebrae. Osteoporosis
- This is a bone disease that is associated with a decrease in bone density and strength, which can lead to vertebral fractures.
- Endometriosis.A female disease that can be accompanied by pain in the pelvis and lower back.
- Fibromyalgia.Pain syndrome, accompanied by pain and muscle fatigue. It is chronic.
What to do with back pain?
First, you need to understand the causes of pain. What can help one condition will not make (and perhaps even make worse) another. And in some cases, urgent hospitalization is required. This is why make sure you listen to the body's signals and, if necessary, consult a doctor or take appropriate measures.
Ways to treat low back pain:
1. You can give your back a break after a certain period of time
Many back problems can be solved (or alleviated) by avoiding strenuous activities. However, it is not recommended to rest for more than a few days, as too long inactivity can make treatment difficult.
2. Limited activity
This means staying active but avoiding actions and attitudes that increase pain. For example, if long periods of sitting in the car or on the desk aggravate the pain, then set a timer to get up every 20 minutes and walk or lie down gently. Minimizing activities and positions that aggravate pain will help prevent or alleviate painful cramps and speed up the healing process.
3. Cold / heat therapy
A warm bath, warm pillows, body wraps are suitable to relax tense muscles and improve blood flow. If your back pain is due to inflammation, you can try applying ice or cold compresses to reduce swelling. Importers are important to protect the skin during procedures to prevent tissue damage.
4. Pain medications
The most common over-the-counter medications are anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve back pain caused by swollen nerves or muscles. And also in some cases, an analgesic can help. B vitamins, muscle relaxants, various gels and ointments are effective.
5. Physiotherapy
It is usually part of the treatment for low back pain. Stretching is beneficial: the more mobile the muscles, the better the back can move without injury. It is recommended to start small - stretch the muscles of the lower back, buttocks, thighs, legs for 20-30 seconds and stop stretching if it hurts.
You also need to strengthen the muscles in the abdomen, thighs and buttocks that support the spine. Low-impact aerobic exercise increases blood flow and promotes healing of spinal cord injuries without injury. For example, you can exercise on stationary bikes and elliptical trainers, walk and swim.
In fact, any exercise that keeps the heart cycle healthy for a long time is beneficial to the body. Regular physical activity is essential to maintain freedom of movement and flexibility of a healthy spine.