Sudden, sharp, painful or dull pain in the lower back, the causes of which cannot always be established immediately, can indicate the development of various diseases.Only an experienced doctor can find out what exactly caused the pain syndrome by studying the clinical picture, the patient's complaints, as well as the results of ultrasound, X-ray or MRI examinations and studies.But often, even before going to the doctor, a person wants to know in advance what is causing his condition.
Main causes of lower back pain
First of all, all causes of pain in the lower back can be divided into two main types:
- Primary (pain is associated specifically with pathology of the spine, intervertebral discs, muscle tissue or joints).
- Secondary (pain occurs due to pathologies of internal organs and radiates to the lower back, as well as due to infectious diseases in the body, development of tumors).
Main causes of low back pain
Today, upright walking is called the cause of all spinal problems.The load on the spine increases significantly when the body is in an upright position, especially on the lower part - the lumbar, which wears out faster.
The main underlying causes of low back pain are:
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region.Degenerative changes in the spine cause severe pain, inflammation, swelling in the affected area and difficulty moving.Characteristic changes in the cartilage tissue of the spinal discs and the bodies of the vertebrae themselves often cause pinching of the nerves, which manifests itself as sharp pain.
- Spondyloarthrosis.This pathology affects the joint tissue in the region of the spine.In addition to joint pain, a person with spondyloarthrosis may experience severe stiffness of movements when it is impossible to stand up or turn around.
Pain in the lower back, the cause of which is osteochondrosis or spondyloarthrosis, requires urgent, immediate consultation with a doctor and, of course, immediate treatment.
Secondary lumbar pain
A huge number of diseases that are not related to pathological processes in the spine can provoke unpleasant pain in the back.
There are such secondary causes of low back pain as:
- curvature of the spine (scoliosis, lordosis, etc.);
- infections of various origins affecting the intervertebral discs (tuberculosis, etc.);
- infections of the urinary system and consequences of influenza;
- inflammatory processes in the genital area;
- gastrointestinal diseases (appendicitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, intestinal colic);
- kidney disease;
- oncological diseases localized in the paralumbar region;
- overweight;
- osteoporosis, acute rheumatism, chronic arthritis;
- long periods of standing or sitting;
- muscle spasm;
- nervous tension, stress.
Diseases of internal organs have their own bright symptoms, which are reflected only in the lower back.
Causes of lower back pain in women and men
The structure of the female body predisposes to the appearance of heaviness and pain in the lumbar region.This is due to hormonal levels: the menstrual cycle, menopause and pregnancy affect the lumbar region, as the reproductive organs are located in close proximity.Gynecological diseases (inflammation of the appendages and uterus) cause radiating pain in the lower back in women.
Similarly, prostatitis and inflammation of the epididymis cause pain in men.It happens periodically that men experience back pain when they constantly work in a cold draft or if the work involves lifting heavy objects.Such causes of pain in the lower back require preventive measures: you need to isolate your back and wear a special corset.
Muscle clamps
Separately, I would like to dwell on such a point as muscle spasms, which are often the cause of pain in the lower back.The constant lack of physical activity leads to the fact that the back muscles are weak and cannot withstand prolonged or increased load.Therefore, working on the feet or in a stationary sitting position causes overstrain of the back muscles and pain.
Stress produces the same result when muscle tension occurs as a result of emotions of fear or anger.This is followed by spasm and pain if not eliminated in time.
Associated symptoms
Pain in the lower back, the causes of which lie in damage to the spine, is most often accompanied by the following symptoms:
- unpleasant sensations can affect not only the back, but also spread to the buttocks and lower limbs;
- movement can be very difficult or completely impossible;
- the affected area is usually inflamed and swollen.
If any of these symptoms appear, you should seek medical attention from a neurologist.If there are other accompanying symptoms, then it is better to consult a therapist who will determine the causes of pain in the lower back and then refer you to a specialist or prescribe treatment.