Recommend
Official site Motion Energy

Pain in lumbar region

Lumbar pain is the most common pain syndrome in outpatient practice.30-60% of the population in developed countries suffer from recurrent back pain and up to 80% of all back pain occurs in the lumbar region (lumbar spine).All age groups can suffer from lower back pain, but the peak incidence occurs between the ages of 30 and 60.

back pain in the lumbar region

Pain in the lumbar region due to illness

Low back pain is a non-specific symptom that can be caused by many reasons.Doctors distinguish between primary and secondary low back pain syndromes.Most low back pain is based on musculoskeletal morphofunctional changes (primary low back pain syndrome).These are mainly degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the spine:

Possible causes of secondary low back pain syndrome:

  • Primary and metastatic tumors of vertebrae, spinal cord, retroperitoneal space.
  • Vertebral fractures.
  • Infectious lesions of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs (tuberculosis, brucellosis, epidural abscess).
  • Non-infectious inflammatory diseases (ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis).
  • Metabolic bone damage (osteoporosis, osteomalacia).
  • Growing pains (scoliosis).
  • Acute circulatory disorders of the spine (stroke).
  • Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (atypical course of acute appendicitis, intestinal obstruction).
  • Referred pain in diseases of the pelvic organs (including renal colic, infectious gynecological diseases, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, ureaplasmosis, adexitis).

Lumbar pain can also be acute or chronic and the causes are damage to the spine or nerve roots.Possibly radiating pain from deeper structures:

  • kidneys;
  • pancreas;
  • colon;
  • pelvic organs;
  • retroperitoneal tumors.

Sharp pain in lumbar region

Acute sprain.The pain is localized in the area of the long muscles of the back during their spasm, which causes limitations in movements.There is no displacement of pain to the groin or lower extremities.

Vertebral fractures.Usually this is a consequence of injury when bending or falling on the feet, but the same result can be without injury or with minimal trauma if the patient has an affected skeletal system, osteoporosis, Cushing's syndrome, hyperparathyroidism, myeloma, metastases of malignant tumors in bones, Paget's disease.

Displacement of intervertebral discs in the lumbar region.Symptoms of this disease include pain in the lumbar region, forced body position and limited mobility.The involvement of nerve roots in the pathological process is indicated by: root pain, usually unilateral.sensitivity disorders (paresthesia, hyperesthesia or hypoalgesia).decreased or absent Achilles or knee reflex.

Facet syndrome.Compression of the root as it exits the spinal canal causes root pain that is not caused by disc damage.Unilateral aspect syndrome, most commonly associated with the L5 root, occurs when the superior and inferior aspects of the intervertebral joint widen, resulting in narrowing of the intervertebral canal or foramen.

Epidural abscess.Most often located in the thoracic spine, it may be accompanied by sharp back pain when palpating or tapping the affected area.It requires rapid diagnosis and initiation of therapeutic measures, including surgery, if there are signs of spinal cord compression.Pathological processes in the hip joint may be accompanied by pain radiating to the gluteal region and lower extremities at the level of the knee joint.

Chronic lower back pain

Spondylosis deformans.Spondylosis deformities are degenerative changes in the lumbar vertebrae with the formation of bony spurs that narrow the spinal canal and put pressure on the roots.If lumbosacral pain occurs with neurological symptoms during walking (loss of sensation, sensory disturbances, or weakness in both lower extremities), a spinal-related intermittent claudication syndrome resulting from spinal canal stenosis is suspected.The diagnosis is confirmed by examination.

Ankylosing spondylitis.Young people with lower back pain that moves to the hips should be suspected.First, there is limited mobility and morning stiffness, decreased respiratory movements of the chest, and progressive curvature and flexion of the thoracic spine.X-ray signs: destruction and reconstruction of the sacroiliac joints, formation of the so-called "bamboo" spine.Similar symptoms with limited movement in the lower spine can occur with:

  • psoriatic arthritis?
  • Reiter's syndrome?
  • chronic colitis.

Tumors and their metastases, metabolic diseases.Using radiography and myelography, it is necessary to exclude the following pathological conditions: metastatic carcinoma (breast, lung, prostate, thyroid, kidney, gastrointestinal tract), myeloma, lymphoma.

Osteomyelitis.It is caused by pyogenic bacteria (usually staphylococci) or Mycobacterium tuberculosis.the possibility of these infections should be confirmed or excluded by ESR determination, bone x-ray and tuberculin skin test.

Intradural tumors:

  • neurofibroma?
  • meningioma?
  • lipoma

The above tumors can cause chronic pain even before other neurological symptoms appear.Displacement of pain in the lumbar region due to diseases of the internal organs.When the pelvic organs are affected, the pain is shifted to the sacral region, the organs of the lower abdominal cavity - to the lumbar sections, the upper abdominal cavity - to the lower thoracic and upper lumbar sections.There are no local symptoms or stiffness in the back.Back movements do not increase the pain.

Treatment

With osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the patient feels pain in the lower back when walking, sitting, lifting heavy objects, coughing, sneezing.Low back pain sometimes radiates down the leg.In this case, you should urgently contact a neurologist.

Do not delay seeing your doctor if:

  • you experience severe lower back pain for more than 3 days.
  • the pain appeared after an injury.
  • At the same time you feel pain in the lower back, lower leg and foot.
  • Pain in the lower back is combined with numbness in the area of the buttocks, thigh, leg, foot and groin.

Lower back pain is a fairly common symptom, especially in older people.Rheumatism, lumbar osteochondrosis and radiculitis - all these diseases cause acute pain in the lumbar region.Only a proper examination of the body can show the results and give a clear answer about the causes of lower back pain.