Lower back pain - causes and treatment in women and men

Lumbar pain is one of the worst conditions one can imagine, as the lumbar spine is under the most stress compared to the rest of the spine, which is why the lower back is most prone to injury. Most often, back pain is a symptom of osteochondrosis, as well as radiculitis and other serious diseases.

back pain in the lumbar region

Why does the lower back hurt

Most often, lower back pain occurs after intense training, as well as if you are in the same position for a long time or because of an awkward movement. The main risk factor that can lead to low back pain:

  • working at a computer, due to frequent driving or a sedentary lifestyle;
  • stress if the work is associated with a constant load on the lower back;
  • Extremely intense workouts in the gym;
  • Lower back pain is also possible due to pregnancy or recent childbirth;
  • great weight.

Lower back pain usually goes away on its own when you leave it alone. If, however, there is a persistent lower back pain or the pain comes on from time to time, it is alreadyThere can be symptoms of the disease. Without the right treatment, back pain can lead to quite serious consequences - including surgical intervention in the spine.

What diseases can cause lower back pain

Lower 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 (in a third of all cases);
  • It can also be an intervertebral hernia;
  • protrusion of the intervertebral disc;
  • Spondylolisthesis, spondylosis, spondyloarthrosis.

Secondary pain syndrome is usually not caused by the spinal cord, but by some other problem in the body that causes low back pain:

  • It may fracture due to osteoporosis;
  • Tumors in the lumen of the spinal canal;
  • fractures in the spine;
  • prolonged stay in one position and constant muscle load;
  • anatomically narrow spinal canal;
  • scoliosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis, Scheermann-Mau disease;
  • It could also be rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, or osteoarthritis;
  • osteomyelitis, discitis, spinal tuberculosis;
  • Pain can also cause urolithiasis;
  • pyelonephritis;
  • pregnancy or recent 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 supports your lower back;
  • raise your legs and bend at the knees, you can put a pillow under your feet to make it easier for you to lie down;
  • take any pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • Try not to make sudden movements;
  • call your home doctor;
  • for several days you need to stay in bed;
  • It is worth abandoning spicy and smoked foods, as well as adhere to proper nutrition.

prophylaxis

To avoid such problems, you need to constantly carry out prevention:

  • less sedentary lifestyle;
  • If you still have sedentary work, try to do a little exercise every hour – tilt your head and torso to the sides, roll your shoulders back and forth, spread your legs shoulder-width apart and breathe in and out. do;
  • If you lift weights, do it right - keep your back straight, don't make sudden movements, lift the weights slowly;
  • do more exercises for the spine and abdomen;
  • Watch your posture, keep your back straight, do not bend over, sit down and carry a book on your head;
  • leave a soft bed and mattress - choose not only the softest but also the hardest mattress, so that it supports the lower back well;
  • several times a day, stand near the wall so that the heels, buttocks, shoulder blades and the back of the head can also touch it, stand in this way for several minutes;
  • do more sports that will keep your back muscles in good shape, be it swimming, walking, skiing, yoga and so on;

Therapeutic gymnastics for the treatment of low back in men and women

If lower back pain is minor, do the following exercises to avoid it:

  1. Lie on your back, stretch your arms along your torso, bend your legs slightly at the knees. Fold 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 by bending your legs to the other side. Do this exercise 10 times.
  2. Kneel on your knees. Place your hands on the chair in front of you. In this position, arch your back up, then bend as far as you can. Repeat the exercise 5-10 times.
  3. Lie on your back and straighten your legs. Then raise your right leg 20 cm off the floor. Continue this until you feel tired. Do the same exercise with the other leg. Do this exercise. Repeat 5 times on each leg.