Lower back pain is one of the worst conditions imaginable, as the lower back has more stress than the rest of the spine, which is why the lower back is the most susceptible to injury. Most often, back pain is a symptom of osteochondrosis, as well as radiculitis and other serious diseases.
Why does the lower back hurt?
Most often, lower back pain occurs after intense training, as well as if you are in one position for a long time or due to uncomfortable movement. The main risk factors due to which low back pain can appear:
- constant driving or due to a sedentary lifestyle, computer work;
- if work is associated with a constant load on the lower back, stress;
- excessively intense workouts in the gym;
- also possible low back pain due to pregnancy or recent childbirth;
- great weight.
Low back pain usually goes away on its own when you leave it alone. If, however, the lower back constantly hurts or the pains come periodically, then these may already be signs of the disease. Without the right treatment, back pain can lead to quite serious consequences, including spinal surgery.
What diseases can cause lower 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, spondyloarthrosis.
Secondary pain syndrome usually occurs not due to the spine, but due to other problems in the body that cause lower back pain:
- they can be fractures due to osteoporosis;
- tumors in the lumen of the spinal canal;
- spinal fracture;
- prolonged stay in one position and constant muscle load;
- anatomically narrow spinal canal;
- scoliosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis, Scheuermann-Mau disease;
- it can also be rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, or osteoarthritis;
- osteomyelitis, discitis, spinal tuberculosis;
- even it hurts can cause urolithiasis;
- pyelonephritis;
- recent pregnancy or childbirth;
- ovarian cancer, ovarian cyst, endometriosis.
What to do for back pain
What to do if you have severe back pain, we recommend:
- lie on your back or on a hard mattress, a surface that would support your lower back;
- raise your legs and bend your knees, you can put a pillow under your feet to make it much easier for you to lie down;
- taking pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs;
- try not to make sudden movements;
- call a doctor at your home;
- for several days you have to stay in bed;
- it is worth giving up spicy and smoked foods, as well as adhering to proper nutrition.
Prophylaxis
To avoid such problems, it is necessary to constantly carry out 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 sides, rotate your shoulders back and forth, spread your legs shoulder-width apart and inhale and exhale;
- if you lift weights, do it right: keep your back straight, do not make sudden movements, gradually lift the weights;
- do more exercises for the spine and abdominals;
- watch your posture, keep your back straight, do not bend over, sit down and preferably walk with a book on your head;
- give up a soft bed and mattresses - choose not the softest but also not the hardest mattress, so that it supports the lower back well;
- several times a day, stand close to the wall so that the heels, buttocks, shoulder blades and also the back of the head touch it, stay like that for a few minutes;
- doing more sports that will keep your back muscles in good shape, such as swimming, walking, skiing, yoga and the like;
Therapeutic gymnastics for the treatment of the lower back in men and women
If the back pain is small, to prevent it, do the following exercises:
- Lie on your back, stretch your arms along your torso, slightly bend your legs at the knees. Bend your legs to the left side 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 by 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 over as much as possible. Repeat the exercise 5-10 times.
- Lie on your back and straighten your legs. Then lift your right leg 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.