Severe back pain in the lower back: possible causes, symptoms, doctor’s consultation and treatment

It is impossible to independently determine the reason for pain in the lower back.Pain in the back and lower back is medically called lumbago.It is felt in the lumbar region, accompanied by muscle spasms and additional unpleasant symptoms.Acute lower back pain is felt for various reasons and can last from a few minutes to a couple of months.As a result, a person begins to get used to sharp pain in the lower back and back.But if you do not seek help from your doctor in time, the person’s health condition will deteriorate greatly, and the chances of recovery will decrease.It is important to consider the causes of lower back pain and treatment.

Description of the lesion

Severe pain in the back and lower back, a feeling of tension and stiffness is a common condition that sooner or later appears in many people.

In most cases, pain syndrome appears in the lower back, since the lumbar spine is characterized by its mobility and takes on half the weight of the human body.Back pain in the lumbar region can occur as a result of lifting heavy objects or turning sharply.

In some cases, unpleasant symptoms in the lumbar region appear over time due to regular exercise or incorrect posture.In some cases, it is not possible to determine the cause of the pain syndrome.The pain is most severe at night, when there is a load on the lower back, or after being in an uncomfortable position for a long time, for example, after a long trip in a car.In most cases, back pain in the lumbar region goes away if a person lies for a while on a hard surface.

Most often, the pain persists for several days or weeks, and after that the person’s general well-being improves, and the condition of the lower back is restored.You can speed up recovery by taking painkillers and optimizing daily physical activity: rest only in the first few days, and then a gradual return to normal.But in some cases, discomfort and discomfort in the lower back indicate the onset of a chronic disease that will require complex treatment.

A person’s mood also plays a special role in this process.Due to pain, the patient’s general condition may deteriorate greatly, but according to statistics, a person who arrives in a good mood recovers faster than one who is depressed.

Main causes of the syndrome

The condition of the back directly depends on the functioning of the bones, nerves, muscles and joints.Most often, finding out exactly the cause of pain is quite difficult.Severe illnesses or injuries to the spinal region occur in rare cases.

In most cases, back pain at the lumbar level appears due to minor injuries, muscle strain, sprained ligaments and muscles, pinched nerves and at the beginning of the inflammatory process.Unpleasant back symptoms can occur suddenly or develop gradually intensifying.Causes of back and lower back pain:

• too sudden movement: tilting or turning to the side;
• lifting and carrying heavy objects, long bending of the body;
• incorrect posture while walking or working at a desk;
• severe muscle strain in the back;
• long rides in a car without rest breaks.

In some cases, pain in this area appears for no particular reason, for example, in the morning after waking up.

Main Factors

There are factors that can cause severe back and lower back pain.Experts identify a large number of them; they can negatively affect the condition of the back.The main ones include:

• Heavy weight - in this case, the spine is greatly overstrained.To determine whether body weight affects the spine, total body mass index should be calculated.
• Smoking – it can negatively affect the tissues of the back, which leads to pain.
• Carrying a child - in this condition, the woman’s spine is subjected to severe stress, which only becomes stronger as the size of the abdomen increases.
• Long-term use of medications that reduce bone density, such as corticosteroids.
• Psycho-emotional overstrain, stress - regular anxiety leads to severe tension in the muscles of the neck and back, which provokes pain.

Major diseases

Diseases that can lead to lower back and back pain include the following:

1. Osteochondrosis and its complications, for example, spinal hernia, is a degenerative process during which intervertebral cartilage is destroyed, which provokes pain.Such diseases appear in older people, especially in those who experience severe stress on their backs.
2. Sprained ligaments and muscles - most often occur after prolonged physical activity or sudden movement.
3. Some types of arthritis are an inflammatory disease of the joints, in which, in addition to pain, stiffness in the joints is felt and there are problems with mobility in the morning
4. Kidney diseases, for example, pyelonephritis, can cause back pain on the right side of the lower back or on the left.

Carrying out diagnostic activities

Severe back and lower back pain can be managed at home by taking special medications that can be purchased at a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription.In-clinic therapy is usually not required.

If back pain radiates to the lumbar region and brings severe discomfort, then the patient should definitely visit a doctor.He will conduct an examination and prescribe treatment.

If back pain on the left side of the lower back prevents the patient from resting and moving normally, then you should call a doctor at home.

When examining the condition, the doctor will ask the person to sit, stand, walk around, alternately raise his legs, and also determine the overall range of motion in the back.He will also require information about possible recent illnesses or injuries, learn about lifestyle, work characteristics, and also ask the following questions:

1. When did the pain start?
2. Where is pain common?
3. Has your back hurt before?
4. How does pain syndrome manifest itself?
5. For what reason does the pain become stronger or weaker?

During the examination, the doctor will try to exclude possible infection and fracture, since such manifestations occur in rare cases.If there are problems with making a diagnosis, the doctor may send the patient for additional diagnostic measures: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or x-ray of the spine.A urine test is performed to rule out kidney disease.

In many cases, pain in the spine is eliminated already on the third day of treatment.If therapy does not improve the condition, and the pain continues for six weeks (chronic process), or a serious illness has led to the lesion, then the doctor refers the person to a specialist.In most cases, treatment for back and lower back pain is prescribed by a neurologist.In addition, other doctors can join in examining the patient’s condition: an osteopath, a chiropractor, and a reflexologist.

Basic treatment methods

Treatment of pain syndrome will depend on its duration and severity, as well as on the individual characteristics of the person.In most cases, pain can be relieved with simple medications at home.

Main methods of treatment:

• Mobility.Previously, doctors believed that with pain in the lumbar region it was important to ensure peace.It has now been established that in patients who begin to move earlier, pain goes away faster.Complete rest and bed rest should be observed only in the first days of acute pain, when it is severe and prevents normal movement.In this case, the person should lie on a hard and level bed.After the condition returns to normal, you should gradually return to a normal lifestyle and previous loads, adding more and more mobility every day.Over time, the person will be able to walk normally around the house or visit public places.But he will have to put up with some discomfort and try to avoid anything that could lead to pain again.After a few days, a person can return to work without waiting for severe pain in the back and lower back to completely go away (of course, if the person’s work does not involve stress on the lumbar region).Early mobility will help restore the condition and reduce the severity of pain.
• Taking painkillers.When dealing with severe back pain above the lower back or directly in it, doctors prescribe painkillers.The products help eliminate pain and inflammation.Depending on the severity of the lesion, a specialist can prescribe various forms of these medications: injections, tablets, local preparations - ointments, gels and creams against back pain.Most often, initial treatment involves injections.After the pain syndrome passes, the administration of medications is stopped, and if necessary, tablets or special ointments are started.Such drugs have some contraindications, so before you start taking them, you must consult a doctor and study the instructions.Painkillers are best taken after meals with milk.
• Muscle relaxants- drugs that help eliminate muscle spasms and relax muscles.They are prescribed when severe tension in the spinal muscles increases the pain syndrome, for example, during an acute stage of osteochondrosis or a herniated disc.Muscle relaxants also have different side effects; for example, they are prohibited from being taken while driving a car.It is important to consult a doctor first.
• Treatment with warm and cold compresses.In some cases, pain can be eliminated by taking a hot bath or applying heating pads to the painful area of the body.You can also improve your general condition with cold or a bag of frozen vegetables.But you should remember that you should not apply ice to the skin itself, as this can result in frostbite.A previously cold object should be wrapped in a towel and then applied to the affected area of the body.You can also alternate treatment with cold and heat, applying either ice or a heating pad to the body.
• Choosing a sleeping position.Changing your sleeping position will help eliminate tension and pain.If the patient is used to sleeping on his side, then he should pull his legs to his chest and place a pillow between his legs.If he sleeps on his back, then a pillow should be placed under his knees, this will ensure a natural curve of the spine in the lower back.
• Relaxation of the body– this is a very important component in the fight against severe back pain on the left side above the lower back, since with severe anxiety and overexertion the pain syndrome only worsens.As practice shows, people in a good mood recover much faster, and their pain does not become chronic.There are special techniques that help a person relax and forget about the discomfort in the back for a while.To do this, it is recommended to carry out special breathing exercises and perform a set of simple exercises with alternate tension and relaxation of the muscles in the body.
• Physical activity, following a healthy lifestyle.It is important to eliminate the root cause of severe back and lower back pain to avoid its recurrence.The most common causes of pain in this area include excess weight in a person, poor posture, and regular emotional outbursts.In this case, a positive effect can be achieved if you start leading an active and healthy lifestyle, for example, walking more or visiting the pool.The main thing is to choose the activity that you like most.In some cases, classes are conducted under the guidance of a trainer.Most often, sets of exercises are used that help strengthen the back muscles and ensure straight posture and stretching.
• If the pain syndrome does not go away within 6 weeks of treatment, then it automatically goes into the chronic stage.In addition to painkillers and a muscle relaxant, in this case you need to start complex treatment.

Treatment for chronic pain

In this condition, doctors prescribe the following measures to patients:

• Manual therapy is carried out by a chiropractor or osteopath and includes the use of various methods of therapy, massage, and mobilization.
• Alexander Technique - helps eliminate severe tension in the muscles, teaches a person how to correctly assume body position in various situations and move.This technique will help you learn to maintain body balance and straight posture.
• Acupuncture sessions are an ancient Chinese method of treatment, during which thin needles are inserted into various parts of the body, which help reduce pain and normalize a person’s condition.
• Taking antidepressants.Such drugs are prescribed to the patient when painkillers and other treatment techniques do not bring a positive result.Doctors advise taking tricyclic antidepressants in small quantities.Such remedies are initially created to get rid of depression and problems with the nervous system, but they can also work to suppress certain types of pain.
• Session with a psychiatrist.A positive effect from such a procedure can be achieved when other treatment methods do not help.Severe back pain in the lumbar region is a real condition.The way a person treats it can make it stronger or, conversely, significantly weaken it.Cognitive behavioral therapy can help eliminate back pain in the lumbar region on the right or left by changing your attitude towards it.According to statistics, people who have undergone psychotherapy sessions experience much less severe pain.In this case, a person becomes motivated to lead an active lifestyle and exercise regularly, which leads to a decrease in pain.

Carrying out the operation

Most often, surgery is used only when all other methods of treating back and lower back pain do not produce any effect.The operation is used when the pain syndrome is so strong or constant that it prevents the patient from working or even resting.The chosen method of surgical intervention will directly depend on the type of pain syndrome and the cause of its occurrence.

For example, in case of a herniated spine, the doctor prescribes a discectomy.Currently, doctors are able to perform surgery through a minimal incision using specialized microsurgical instruments.Such operations are complex, but they are characterized by minimal trauma.

Spinal fusion is a complex and quite rare surgical intervention.Its results do not always meet expectations.For example, after surgery, a person may continue to have severe back pain below the lower back.

With spinal fusion, the overall mobility of the spine is significantly reduced, since during the operation several vertebrae that provoke pain are fastened to each other in one position by implanting living bone tissue between them.At the end of the rehabilitation period, the bones are completely fused, and when a person moves, they do not affect the nerve endings that are located near them.It helps suppress severe back pain in the lumbar region on the left and right.Before deciding to undergo surgery, the patient should receive information about all possible complications and positive effects of therapy from the neurosurgeon.

Additional Treatments

When dealing with acute and chronic lower back pain, other alternative treatment methods can be used, the effect of which has not been proven in medical practice.The main non-traditional methods of treatment include:

• laser treatment - minimum power lasers affect the inflamed area of the body and lead to tissue regeneration;
• treatment with interference currents - the lower back is exposed to medium and low frequency currents, which provokes increased production of endorphins (pain-relieving hormones), as well as active restoration of damaged tissues;
• ultrasound treatment - in this case, an ultrasonic wave is used aimed at the surface of the back: it ensures tissue restoration and active healing, which eliminates pain;
• electrical stimulation of nerves through the skin - electrodes that are glued to the surface of the skin deliver electrical impulses of a certain strength, which provoke the active production of endorphins and help stop the transmission of pain signals along the spine to the brain;
• lumbar braces - for this, special pillows, bolsters, and corsets are used to maintain the condition of the spine;
• spinal traction using specialized devices and sets of exercises;
• injecting special injections into the spine - medications are injected into the intervertebral spaces.

The specialist can also send the patient to a “pain treatment school”, in which people are taught to independently cope with pain, perform special exercises, and lead an active and healthy life.Such institutions deal primarily with group therapy, relaxation and psychology.

Prevention measures

A healthy and strong back is the best solution to avoid any pain.It is for this reason that the most effective prevention will be regular physical activity in a rational amount, correct posture, and also the avoidance of lifting heavy objects.

If a person has temporary back pain that radiates to the lumbar region, then he should take the following preventive measures:

• get rid of excess weight, if present: a large number of extra pounds can negatively affect the condition of the lower back, causing additional stress;
• use correct and comfortable shoes with low heels, which will help evenly distribute the load on the foot and avoid overstraining the spine when moving;
• it is also important to stop moving suddenly, as this can cause muscle strain;
• learn to deal with stress, depression, nervous breakdowns, stop worrying too much, as all this can provoke pain.

Types of exercises for the back

A set of exercises is a good method of preventing and relieving lower back pain, but if the pain lasts longer than 6 months, then it is very important to consult a doctor before starting exercises.

Walking and strengthening swimming will help improve muscle condition and support the spine without overloading it, which eliminates possible sprains.Pilates and yoga will help strengthen your back muscles and develop their flexibility, but they should be performed under the strict supervision of a professional trainer.

The most common simple exercises for back pain that can be performed at home:

1. Wall squats - to do this you need to straighten up, place your feet shoulder-width apart.Next, perform a squat until the body is in a 90-degree bend position.
2. Alternating leg raises.To perform the exercise, you need to lie on the floor and begin to raise your legs one by one without bending them.The exercise is repeated 5 times.
3. Pelvic lifts.The exercise is performed in a supine position.First, the knees bend, and then the pelvis rises with tension in the abdominal muscles.When performing the exercise, it is important to keep your back straight.Repeat 5 times.

At first, the exercises are carried out several times a day, over time the number of approaches increases to six, depending on how the person himself feels.This complex helps to warm up and strengthen the back muscles.Most often, people injure their lower back while doing everyday activities, for example, when lifting heavy objects or cleaning the house.Warming up your muscles thoroughly before performing work will help prevent injury.

Pain due to osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disease of the articular cartilage that connects the vertebrae.Due to this disease, pinching of the spinal cord roots occurs, which provokes pain.People over 30 years of age are especially susceptible to this condition, and recently the lesion is often diagnosed in young people.

The main cause of pain in the back and lower back is lifting heavy objects, monotonous work in an uncomfortable position (for example, in the garden).Osteochondrosis can occur as a result of a long trip without stopping, when a person is constantly sitting.

No person is immune from such a disease.It can be identified by the following symptoms:

• back pain;
• pain in the lower back, the right side of the back ache (or the left), the pain radiates to the leg;
• the pain only intensifies with changes in position and load on the lower back;
• a person may experience a strong burning sensation and painful lumbago;
• after a long stay in an uncomfortable position, it is difficult to change it due to severe discomfort;
• the sensitivity of the buttocks and legs decreases, a feeling of goosebumps occurs;
• Problems with sweating appear, the lower extremities get cold.

If a person is sure that the pain syndrome comes from the spine, then he should perform the following therapeutic measures:

• use a special woolen belt or scarf, tying it around the lower back;
• lie down on a hard and flat surface;
• start taking anti-inflammatory drugs;
• apply anti-inflammatory ointments for back pain in the lumbar region.

It is important to remember that painkillers should not be taken on an empty stomach, as they irritate the mucous membrane and can cause ulcers and gastritis.If a person is not sure of the cause of pain in the back and lower back, then it is important for him to see a doctor - taking anti-inflammatory drugs for diseases of the stomach and pancreas is very dangerous, since they can only aggravate the overall situation.

What is prohibited?

In no case should the patient try to “straighten” his back on his own - this can only increase the pain syndrome and also cause great harm.In case of an acute form of osteochondrosis, you should not take warm baths or visit baths and saunas.

After warming up, a person may feel an improvement in his condition and relief from pain, but after that the state of health will only worsen.If pain occurs frequently in the back area, it is important to perform an MRI and seek help from a neurologist.