Low back pain: lumbar osteochondrosis?

Back, back pain

Back, back pain- is one of the most common complaints of patients with various diseases. Almost every person has experienced localized pain at least once in their lifetime, most often in the sacral spine region or between the lower edge of the XII pair of ribs and the gluteal folds.back pain(BNS).

Low back pain is usually accompanied by muscle tension, often the presence of painful spots. Other parts of the body, such as the legs, gluteal muscles, stomach, pelvic region, etc.

Acute back pain often occurs suddenly and can last from a few minutes to several weeks. In general, in 90% of cases, back pain goes away on its own within 3-4 weeks, but in the remaining 10% it becomes chronic and can last for years, sometimes worsening, then receding. Often, the true cause of back pain cannot be determined.

Low back pain - causes

Various diseases can cause back pain in the lower back.Back pain(BNS) is, in fact, a symptom that occurs only with the development of numerous pathological processes in the organs of the chest and abdomen, small pelvic and spinal structures; may also be psychogenic.

Pain in the upper back

Low back pain in the upper back can be caused by a stomach ulcer and a 12-finger intestinal ulcer. The reflected pain is most often localized in the lower back or slightly higher, less in the upper body.

Pain with pancreatitis and cholecystitis is often noted in the projection zone of the sixth-eighth intercostal space.

Pain reflected in the pathology of the genitourinary tract is localized in the region at the level of the lower back and lower chest.

Right or left back pain

Right or left side back pain is the most common sign of kidney stones. In the case of kidney stones, a stone that grows in the kidney presses on the sensitive parenchyma of the kidney from the inside, sometimes causing severe pain in the left or right lower back of the kidney where the stone is located.

Low back pain spreads to the legs

When kidney stones pass through the urethra, they cause severe pain that can spread to the lower back, legs, abdomen, and genitals. Back pain, which often spreads to the legs, can be a signrenal colicwith urolithiasis of the kidneys.

In addition, low back pain is associated with lumboishalgia. Diarrhea is mainly seen as pain in the leg during recovery.

Side and back pain

In acute or chronic inflammation of the kidneys, lower back pain spreads to the left and right sides. Pain in the kidneys that lasts for several consecutive days and is accompanied by fever, chills, dysuria (urinary incontinence) indicates the presence of the diseaseacute pyelonephritis. . .

Back pain

Processes in the pelvic region (uterus, appendages, bladder, intestines) cause pain localized in the lumbosacral region. However, in most cases there are secondary musculoskeletal syndromes (reflex disorders in the small and medium gluteal muscles, piriformis syndrome, pelvic thoracic syndrome, symphysosternal syndrome) with chronic processes in the lumbar and lumbar tissues, accompanied by lumbar pathology. small bowl. Such patients need the collegial treatment of a neurologist-neurosurgeon, urologist, gynecologist, proctologist.

Back pain

Tumors of the pelvic bones, especially at the onset of the disease, can mimic lumboischialgia, and when there is a concomitant vertebrogenic process, patients sometimes undergo neurosurgical intervention for a hernia at the level of the lower back. This is worryingchondrosarcomas, Ewing sarcomas, reticulosarcomas, osteoblastomasand others. Compulsory X-ray examination usually solves the diagnostic problem. It should not be forgotten that the general somatic and hematological condition of the patient can determine the oncological side of the disease.

Back and pelvic pain

Difficulties in differential diagnosis are noted in occult tuberculosis of the pelvic bones, in the absence of an increase in temperature and ESR, and the pain may mimic spinal ischial syndrome of lumbar osteochondrosis. This period can go unnoticed from childhood and adolescence and can manifest itself in an adult in the form of sacroiliitis. In recent years, the problem of tuberculosis has become relevant again, and the doctor must remember these manifestations of the disease.

Thus, pain in the lower back and lumbar region can often have nothing to do with any disease of the spine, and are alarming symptoms of completely different diseases of the internal organs. For this reason, a thorough examination is required in case of back pain.

Back pain in women - causes

Suffering from back pain

Back pain in womenoften associated with premenstrual syndrome. Such pains are usually of a cramping nature, occur a few days before menstruation, and last for 2-3 days after onset, and disappear spontaneously.

Back and abdominal pain in women

Painful periods with lower abdominal and abdominal pain, lower abdominal cramps, and heavy bleeding associated with premenstrual syndrome: may be signs of serious reproductive diseases such as.endometriosis, uterine fibroids, polycystic ovary disease (PCOS)and so on.

Abdominal pain spreads to the lower back

In women, abdominal pain can spread to the lower back, lower abdomen, vagina and external genitalia.

It should be remembered that abdominal and back pain in women can be a sign of dangerous diseases of the pelvic region: the formation and spread of uterine fibroids.endometrioid tissueoutside the uterus, the formation of adhesions, cancers of the reproductive organs, etc.

In addition, severe pain in the lower back and lower abdomen (especially on the right or left side) in women can be a symptom of an ruptured ovarian cyst or an ectopic pregnancy.

Back pain during pregnancy

In women, back and abdominal pain often indicate natural physiological changes associated with an increase in uterine size during the development of a normal pregnancy.

Back pain during pregnancyis associated with additional stress on the spine and is normal and does not require special treatment. However, pregnant women with severe back pain should always consult a doctor who is leading the pregnancy.

Back pain in men - causes

In men, low back pain is most often associated with degenerative diseases of the spine, especially heavy physical exertion and weight-bearing activities. In addition, back pain can be associated with various diseases of the internal organs.

Severe back pain

Acute low back pain, awkward movements, improper load distribution, etc. It can happen with. This pain is usually associated with either muscle spasm or displacement of the vertebral discs. Pain can also be caused by muscle compression of the roots of the nerve endings of the spine.

Back pain and groin pain

In men, groin pain, radiation to the lumbar region, prostate adenoma, testicular torsion, oncology, urological diseases, etc.

Classification of low back pain

The classification, which is widespread in a number of countries and aims to optimize the provision of medical care for LPS, differsspecific, radical and non-specific BNS. . .

Special back painoften a symptom of a certain disease that is severe and even life-threatening (cancer, including spinal metastases; infectious - tuberculosis, spinal osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, etc . ; inflammatory, such as ankylosing spondylitis and other spondyloarthritis; traumatic and osteoporotic vertebrae; aortic aneurysm, gynecological, urological and kidney diseases, spinal canal stenosis and cauda equina syndrome, etc. ).

Special LPS is often accompanied by "red flags" that are characteristic of the underlying disease, which help the doctor suspect that the patient has a serious pathology and examine him (preferably in the presence of an appropriate specialist) to determine the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Radical (radicular) pain in the backis the result of compression of the spinal cord, including sciatica syndrome.

Treatment of patients with radicular LNS is the responsibility of a neurologist, the presence of a neurosurgeon with special indications is required. In practice, such patients often seek the help of manotherapists.

There is a difference between radicular pain in the lower back:

  • lumbaqo,orlumbago;
  • lumbodinia- long-term pain only in the lower back;
  • lumboishalgia- low back pain.

Non-specific back pain- the most common, severe pathology of the spine, spinal cord and roots, not associated with any disease of the internal organs. This can be caused by overloading the back, especially heavy lifting, prolonged restlessness during sleep or work, and so on.

Therefore, it is highly recommended that a specific lumbar radiograph not be included in the recommendations for the examination of patients with non-specific low back pain (NLP) syndrome. Such patients do not require mandatory consultation with a neurologist, but should be treated by a family physician, regional therapist, or general practitioner.

Back pain and "lumbar osteochondrosis"

Lumbar osteochondrosis(Lumbar osteochondrosis)- The most common diagnosis given to patients with low back pain. However, not every condition of the development of an episode of low back pain can be identified by the fact that the patient often has virtually "degenerative-dystrophic" changes in the spine and a "habitual" diagnosis."Exacerbation of osteochondrosis"or simply"Osteochondrosis". . .

A diagnosis is often made for low back or back pain:"Dorsopathy. Lumbar osteochondrosis. Sciatica. Lomberization". . . However, in this case, the correct diagnosis should sound like this:"Lumbago with sciatica on the background of lumbar lumbar osteochondrosis. Lomberization. (Code М54. 4)".

It should be noted that none of the external classifications of degenerative-dystrophic diseases has a nosological unit. "osteochondritis of the spine". . . Moreover, how long"Osteochondrosis"or another term describing dystrophic changes in the spine should not be used as a synonym for clinical diagnosis.

Chondrosisis a dystrophic change in disc cartilage,osteochondrosis- Dystrophic changes in the disc and adjacent vertebral bodies. However, both radiologists and clinicians do not know the signs of dystrophic changes in the spine.(chondrosis, osteochondrosis, spondyloarthritis, spondylosis, fixation hyperostosis, etc. )leads to excessive diagnosis: this type is found where there is no pathology.

Osteochondrosis is often referred to as all of the degenerative changes listed because they do not know the differences between them. Includes osteochondrosis with misunderstandingtorn discit is the result of a fracture and is usually a normal disc and is not altered by a dystrophic process. To call a disc herniation osteochondrosis, a meniscus tear in the knee joint - is as wrong as osteoarthritis.

The International Association of Vertebro-Neurologists recommends the use of the general term "vertebral dysfunction" (meanwhile, is not included in the ICD-10 classification of diseases) in cases of appropriate clinical symptoms.

Many modern, mostly external, authors point out that there is no correlation between radiological signs of degenerative changes in the spine on the one hand and the appearance or intensity of low back (LBS) pain on the other, with only 1 in 10 patients with radiological signs of spinal degenerative lesions. because there are clinical manifestations.

Treatment of back pain at home

Low back pain ointments for muscle tension and muscle tension-related low back pain can significantly relieve symptoms and help relieve muscle tension.

Low back pain ointments and pills

Ointments and creams are used to treat back pain. Alternatively, you can take tablets containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

At the same time, it should be remembered that self-treatment for back pain with creams, ointments, mustard plasters and other procedures at home can lead to neglect of the underlying disease that causes these pains and very sad consequences. Low back pain is especially dangerous for kidney diseaseacute pyelonephritisorrenal colicrequires urgent qualified medical care.

Prevention of back pain

Especially before a stable remission occurs, people with the disease should follow certain guidelines for prevention:

  • Do not bend the body without arm support; bend your knees and pick up objects from the ground.
  • Change the position of the body more often, do not stand for a long time, do not sit.
  • Work at a desk or workplace, stay upright, with one foot bent at the knee and the other in front of you.
  • Avoid specific yoga exercises, aerobics without the advice of an exercise therapy doctor or a specialist vertebrologist.
  • Beware of hypothermia, drafts, and prolonged warming in a hot bath, as muscle relaxation deprives the muscle corset of immobile protection for some time.