Lumbar pain is one of the worst conditions that can be presented, as the lumbar spine has the greatest stress compared to the rest of the spine, making the lower back the most susceptible to injury. Most often, back pain is a symptom of osteochondrosis, as well as radiculitis and other serious diseases.
Why does my lower back hurt?
Most often, low back pain occurs after intense exercise, as well as if you are in one position for a long time or due to uncomfortable movement. The main risk factors that can cause low back pain:
- constant driving or due to a sedentary lifestyle, computer work;
- if the work is associated with a constant load on the waist, stress;
- too intense workouts in the gym;
- also possible low back pain due to pregnancy or recent birth;
- large weight.
Low back pain usually goes away on its own when you leave it alone. However, if the lower back hurts constantly or the pain comes periodically, this may already be a sign of the disease. Without proper treatment, back pain can lead to quite serious consequences - including spinal surgery.
What diseases can cause low back pain
Low back pain is divided into primary and secondary. Primary pain syndrome directly causes spinal disease:
- in most cases it can be osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine (one third of all cases);
- it can also be an intervertebral hernia;
- protrusion of the intervertebral disc;
- spondylolisthesis, spondylosis, spondyloarthritis.
Secondary pain syndrome usually occurs not because of the spine, but because of some other problems in the body that cause low back pain:
- these may be fractures due to osteoporosis;
- tumors in the lumen of the spinal canal;
- spinal fracture;
- prolonged stay in one position and constant muscular load;
- anatomically narrow spinal canal;
- scoliosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis, Scheuermann-Mau disease;
- it may also be rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, or osteoarthritis;
- osteomyelitis, discitis, spinal tuberculosis;
- pain can also cause urolithiasis;
- pyelonephritis;
- pregnancy or recent birth;
- ovarian cancer, ovarian cyst, endometriosis.
What to do with back pain
What to do if you have severe back pain, we recommend:
- lie on your back or on a firm mattress, a surface to support your waist;
- lift your legs and bend at the knees, you can put a pillow under your feet to make it much easier to lie down;
- take painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs;
- try not to make sudden movements;
- call a doctor at your home;
- you should stay in bed for a few days;
- it is worth giving up spicy and smoked foods, as well as sticking to proper nutrition.
Prevention
To avoid such problems, you should constantly perform prevention:
- less sedentary lifestyle;
- if you still have a sedentary job, try to do a little exercise every hour - tilt your head and torso to the side, rotate your shoulders back and forth, spread your legs shoulder-width apart and inhale and exhale;
- if you lift weights, then do it right - keep your back straight, do not make sudden movements, lift weights gradually;
- do more exercises for the spine and abdomen;
- observe your posture, keep your back straight, do not bend down, sit down and preferably walk with a book on your head;
- give up soft beds and mattresses - choose not the softest, but not the hardest mattress so that it supports the waist well;
- several times a day, stand close to the wall so that the heels, buttocks, shoulders, and also the back of the head touch it, stand for a few minutes;
- do more sports that will keep your back muscles in good shape, this can be swimming, walking, skiing, yoga and the like;
Therapeutic gymnastics for the treatment of the lower back in men and women
If low back pain is minor, to prevent it, do the following exercises:
- Lie on your back, stretch your arms across your torso, bend your legs slightly at the knees. Bend your legs to the left and turn your head and torso slightly to the right. Hold this for a few seconds. Then return to the starting position and repeat the exercise, tilting your legs to the other side. Do this exercise 10 times.
- Get on your knees. Put your hands on the chair in front of you. In this position, bend your back up, then bend as much as possible. Repeat the exercise 5-10 times.
- Lie on your back and straighten your legs. Then lift your right foot 20 centimeters off the floor. Keep doing this until you feel tired. Do the same exercise with the other leg. Repeat this exercise 5 times on each leg.