Low back pain is one of the worst conditions imaginable, as the lower back has the greatest load relative to the rest of the spine, making the lower back 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, low back pain occurs after intense exercise, as well as if you are in a position for a long time or due to an awkward movement. The main risk factors that can cause low back pain:
- constant driving or, due to a sedentary lifestyle, working at a computer;
- if the work is associated with a constant load on the lower back, stress;
- excessively intense training in the gym;
- also possible low back pain due to pregnancy or new birth;
- great weight.
Low back pain usually goes away on its own when you leave it alone. If the lower back still hurts constantly or pain comes on a regular basis, it may already be a sign of the disease. Without the right treatment, back pain can lead to quite serious consequences - including surgical procedures in the spine.
What diseases can cause low back pain
Low back pain is divided into primary and secondary. Primary pain syndrome directly causes a disease of the spine:
- in most cases it can be osteochondrosis of the lower back (one third of all cases);
- it may also be an intervertebral hernia;
- protrusion of the intervertebral disc;
- spondylolisthesis, spondylosis, spondyloarthrosis.
Secondary pain syndrome usually does not occur due to the spine, but due to some other problems in the body that cause low back pain:
- it may be fracture due to osteoporosis;
- tumors of the lumen of the spinal canal;
- spinal cord fracture;
- prolonged stay in one position and constant muscle strain;
- 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;
- also pain can cause urolithiasis;
- pyelonephritis;
- pregnancy or recent birth
- 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;
- lift your legs and bend at the knees, you can put a pillow under your feet to make it much easier for you to lie down;
- take painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs
- do not try to make sudden movements;
- call a doctor for your home;
- for several days you must stay in bed;
- it is worth giving up spicy and smoked foods, as well as adhering to proper nutrition.
Prophylaxis
To avoid such problems, you must constantly perform 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, turn your shoulders back and forth, spread your legs shoulder width apart and breathe in and out;
- if you lift weights, do it right - keep your back straight, do not make sudden movements, lift the weight gradually;
- do several exercises for the spine and abdominal muscles;
- take care of your posture, keep your back straight, do not relax, sit and preferably walk with a book on your head;
- give up a soft bed and mattresses - do not choose the softest, but also not the hardest mattress, so that it supports the lumbar 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, stand this way for several minutes;
- practice several sports that keep your back muscles in good shape, it 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 small, do the following to prevent it:
- Lie on your back, stretch your arms along 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 while tilting your legs to the other side. Do this exercise 10 times.
- Down on your knees. Place your hands on the chair in front of you. In this position, bend your back up and then bend as much as possible. Repeat the exercise 5-10 times.
- Lie on your back and straighten your legs. Then lift your right leg 20 inches off the floor. Continue like this until you feel tired. Do the same exercise with the other leg. Repeat this exercise 5 times on each leg.