The lumbar spine is the part of the back that carries the heaviest loads, supporting the weight of a person's body and all the weights that they lift during the day. This is why the strength of the lower back muscle corset and health are of so great importance to everyone's life and mobility. When the lower back is aching, understanding the causes of the pain in order to find effective ways to get rid of it is imperative.
In order to understand what to do if your back hurts in the lumbar region, the first thing to do is to find out why this happened. It is better to do this with the help of a qualified specialist who, based on all the symptoms, will be able to identify the cause of the dysfunction of the lumbar spine and prescribe an effective treatment.
Lower back pain cannot be tolerated, it can seriously affect a person's further mobility. Experts also advise against fixing the problem yourself, as it can make the situation much worse.
The spine is a complex system made up of many interconnected elements. The harmonious functioning of each of them ensures good mobility of the entire body.
Even if the lower back doesn't hurt all the time, from time to time you shouldn't think that the pain will go away on its own. Painful sensations are always a syndrome that indicates the presence of a disorder. Ignoring it means allowing the disease to develop and progress.
Causes of Back Pain
If you consider all the possible causes that can be causing lumbar pain, then you can figure out what to do next. Most often, back pain can be caused by:
- Spinal diseases - scoliosis, osteochondrosis, osteoporosis, spondylosis;
- pinched nerves;
- Intervertebral hernia;
- excessive load on the spine;
- Hypothermia or cold of the lower back;
- passive lifestyle, poor blood circulation in the back;
- diseases of the internal organs in the lumbar area;
- Pain during pregnancy.
It is very rare for back pain to appear separately from other symptoms and not be accompanied by other manifestations. Most of the time, a person will experience some additional disturbance or changes in body functions. Based on the nature of the pain and its accompanying symptoms, the doctor can determine the cause and prescribe what to do next.
For example, if severe acute pain is accompanied by a frequent urge to urinate, this may indicate a condition that corresponds to the essence of renal colic. It is a sign of the development of urolithiasis in the body.
It is very important to tell the specialist exactly when the back pain first began to bother, how exactly the discomfort is expressed in the back, so that the doctor can understand the problem and prescribe what to do next.
How to alleviate the condition
When the lower back is diseased, it is imperative to consult a neurologist. Especially if the painful sensations do not go away for several days and intensify with movement or exertion. Often times, treating a problem in the lumbar area involves using medications that reduce inflammation and restore function to the spine. In some cases, pain medication use is required to relieve muscle spasms and understand the causes of the condition.
Other ways to get rid of lower back pain include:
- physiotherapeutic procedures;
- Massage or manual therapy;
- Taking vitamins and calcium to restore bone density;
- physical therapy.
Exercise is the most common treatment for lower back pain because exercising can quickly and effectively resolve the problem. For each individual case, the doctor may prescribe different exercises that are most suitable for the treatment of a particular disease. The basic rule of the patient is to do everything as the specialist told and follow all recommendations for a speedy recovery.
The newest method of treating back disorders is acupuncture, which is performed according to ancient Chinese traditions. This method allows you to get rid of muscle spasms, activate blood circulation and normalize the activity of the spine. In rare cases of advanced disease, the doctor will prescribe surgery to get rid of the problem that has arisen in the lower back.
After the operation, the patient is prescribed therapeutic and prophylactic gymnastics, the main purpose of which is to restore the comfortable work of the lower back. However, it must be done under the supervision and strict supervision of a doctor in order to gradually restore the activity and strength of the muscles. If the pain returns, charging should be stopped. Often, the postoperative period is accompanied by the intake of vitamins or dietary supplements that will help the body recover from illness.
Prevention of lower back diseases
If you have back pain, the first thing you should see is a doctor. However, it is much easier to make sure that pain is never bothering you. To do this, you need to follow some simple rules that can be called a healthy lifestyle.
First, moderate but regular physical activity guarantees a strong muscular corset of the back, which makes the transfer of weights and loads easier and easier.
Second, a proper diet rich in vitamins and microelements enables all organs and parts of the body, especially the spine, to be strong and function normally for many years.
Thirdly, a comfortable place to sleep and an orthopedic mattress that ensures the correct distribution of body weight during sleep or rest.
When you start exercising, it is necessary to gradually increase the load and number of exercises so that the muscles get used to the work. You can practice any sport that is fun: running, fitness, swimming, even walking in the fresh air brings noticeable benefits for the body. If you take care of yourself and your body, a person can forget about any pain for a long time.