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 mainly falls on the lumbar region, and is not distributed evenly throughout the spinal column.Pain in the lower back can signal very serious problems not only with the spine, but also with 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 figure out why such symptoms occur, how they can be dealt with and prevented.

The main causes of pain in the lumbar region

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

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

Here they are:

1. Features of the profession: heavy physical activity for builders and loaders and heavy lifting for athletes.
2. Prolonged stay 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 spirits.

Even by reducing the impact of these factors, you will significantly improve 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 changes in cartilage and intervertebral discs, leading to herniation or deformation of the discs.
2. Spondylosis is characterized by the formation of bone spurs on the vertebrae.With this growth, the muscles around the spine spasm, which limits its mobility.The appearance of injuries in the lower back.
3. Spondyloarthrosis is the 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 limited.
4. Spondylolisthesis is manifested by displacement of the vertebrae, as a result of which the lumen of the spinal canal changes.
5. Herniated intervertebral discs.
6. Radiculopathy is damage to the nerve root.

Secondary factors

Secondary ones occur with concomitant pathologies:

1. Problems with metabolism.
2. Curvature of the spinal column.
3. When malignant tumors are located near the spine.
4. Infectious diseases: spinal osteomyelitis, tuberculous spondylitis, spinal epidural abscess.
5. Spinal 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 affects the ligaments and muscles, also when there is a threat of miscarriage or during an ectopic pregnancy.

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

What diseases does such pain signal?

The location of pain is also important.

So, let's look at each case:

• aching pain on the right and above the lower back may indicate lung pathology.These symptoms are accompanied by shortness of breath, cough and fever.Also about gallbladder or liver problems.At the same time, 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 indicate osteochondrosis in this area, intervertebral hernias, as well as compression fractures;
• a pain symptom below the lower back that radiates to the lower abdomen is a sign of diseases of the pelvic organs.Such diseases include fibroids, endometriosis, prostate pathologies, colon diseases and infectious gynecological diseases.This may also indicate that the kidneys are not in order.

Which doctor will help?

Most often, lower 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 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 causes of 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, physiotherapeutic methods are used in addition to the main treatment.

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 lumbar 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. The use of anti-inflammatory and painkillers.
4. To get rid of muscle spasms, muscle relaxants are prescribed.Special medications are also used to help relax the muscles.
5. To improve blood circulation and reduce swelling, vascular and diuretic drugs are used.
6. All kinds 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 exercise and special massage help improve blood circulation, relieve muscle tension, and also eliminate the inflammatory process.

If 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 the air conditioning.

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 up or get up.

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

First of all, you need to warm your back.A warming 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.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 hypothermic, then purchase a belt made of dog or sheep wool.

What to do with lumbar pain?

This pain occurs during intense physical exertion.A sharp pain extending to the leg appears when carrying any weights.

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

To ease the pain, take a pain reliever.

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

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

What will help with a hernia?

With a hernia, sharp and constant pain occurs, increasing with any movement.Relief occurs only in a supine position.

You may also feel numbness in the lower back.To reduce pain, you need to ensure bed rest and take painkillers.Then you need to call a doctor.

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

What to do for prevention?

Don’t wait for severe pain to appear, but start taking preventive measures.

Here they are:

1. Identification and treatment of concomitant diseases that can cause lower back pain.
2. Proper nutrition with sufficient amounts of phosphorus, calcium and other vitamins.
3. Strenuous physical activity 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.Try walking, swimming or yoga.
5. Take therapeutic massage courses periodically.
6. When working sedentarily, 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 large body weight increases the load on the spine.Get rid of bad habits, and also undergo a preventive examination every year.

Therapeutic gymnastics

To strengthen your back muscles and prevent pain, exercise yourself at home.Physical 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 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 your knees bent, lift the pelvis upward;
• from a lying position, straightened legs need to be bent at the knees and pulled towards the chest.

Perform each exercise 8-10 times.

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