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Low back pain
Last reviewed: 12.07.2025
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It is almost impossible to meet a person who does not complain of back pain or at least a feeling of heaviness in the lower back. The back "pays" for our ability to walk upright, for our ability to work sitting for a long time, for the kilograms of load carried in our hands and for insufficiently long horizontal rest.
For some, lower back pain has become a habitual companion, for others it is the first time, but all people try to understand as quickly as possible what exactly caused the pain and alleviate their condition as soon as possible.
[ Causes of lower back pain
Back pain can be primary and chronic depending on the time of occurrence, as well as primary and secondary depending on the cause of the pain.
Primary low back pain is caused by damage to the spine itself - changes in the vertebral joints, changes in the intervertebral discs, damage to the tendons or ligaments.
Secondary lower back pain is diagnosed in case of injuries, disorders in the functioning of internal organs, infectious or tumor changes. Secondary pain also includes lower back pain during pregnancy.
The most common causes of pain are various inflammatory processes of the pelvic organs (usually the ovarian appendages), tumor processes, nutritional disorders of the internal organs due to damage to the cardiovascular system, as well as disorders of the nervous system. In case of internal organ disease, pain in the lower back most often indicates problems with the kidneys.
Persistent pains also appear with muscle spasms, protrusion or herniation of discs, with degenerative changes in the spine, inflammatory processes in the joints, arthrosis. In diagnostics, osteochondrosis of the spine is in first place by frequency of detection, and pain in the lower back is a consequence of pinched nerve fibers.
If the nerve endings in the lower back are pinched, then further down the innervation path you can find areas that have lost (or decreased) their sensitivity, in severe cases the nerve process is damaged so much that any reflex in the limb on the side of the nerve damage may be lost. The pain in this case is "shooting, sharp", the person strives to take a comfortable position and the body is bent, an attempt to make a movement meets resistance from the muscles and the person freezes, constrained by pain. Osteochondrosis is a manifestation of degenerative processes in the spine.
If the discs (ligaments, the entire joint as a whole) are involved in the process of pain syndrome formation, then sharp, shooting pains are called "lumbago". Pain in the lower back with lumbago occurs when the nerve receptors in the wall of the ligaments that form the disc bag are irritated. Completely reflexively, the muscles fix the body in the position in which they were caught by the attack of pain, any attempt to change the position is accompanied by strong, "tearing" pains. Quite often, these pains go away on their own, but in the case of prolonged irritation or displacement of the disc, pain may radiate down the nerve pathway to the outer surface of the thigh.
Pain or changes in sensitivity of the thigh surface with lumbago should be distinguished from pain with sciatica - inflammation of the sciatic nerve. When the roots in the lumbosacral region are damaged, inflammation of the damaged fibers manifests itself in bright, burning pain in the thigh along the nerve fibers, reaching the ankle and further, to the toes. The pain can be so severe that a blockade with analgesics is required.
Sometimes during pregnancy there is a nagging pain in the lower back, which is associated with weight gain, changes in gait and redistribution of the load from the changed internal organs. The pain cannot be unbearable, distorting - in these cases, pregnancy is not the cause of discomfort.
Diseases that cause lower back pain
If you have sprained your ligaments, lower back pain can range from moderate to quite severe. Sprains are often caused by injuries or prolonged excessive physical activity. Often, a sprained spinal ligament occurs along with a muscle strain, which can cause swelling and bruising. In such cases, you should first of all undergo pain relief therapy, you can take a tablet of Analgin or Ibuprofen, which also has an anti-inflammatory effect. The damaged area should be treated with Fastum gel, Finalgon, Indomethacin, Diclofenac or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointment used for sprains. A warm bandage should be applied on top. Loads are contraindicated during the rehabilitation period. In the first minutes after the injury, it is advisable to apply ice to the sore spot, with further treatment, on the contrary, heat is indicated.
Displacement of vertebrae is a fairly common and insidious pathology, since a person does not always immediately feel pain in the lower back. The cause of such a problem can be a forced long stay in a sedentary position, as well as various types of injuries. To relieve symptoms, a state of rest, strengthening of the abdominal muscles, anti-inflammatory therapy are recommended, patients are prescribed to wear a special corset that fixes the bones in the damaged area.
A very common cause of lower back pain is osteochondrosis. Due to degenerative changes in the articular cartilage, the intervertebral discs are affected. If this process is localized in the lumbar region, this leads to lower back pain. Conservative treatment is prescribed - massage and physiotherapy procedures, a course of manual therapy, spinal traction, therapeutic exercise.
Intervertebral hernia is another factor that provokes lower back pain. As a result of the displacement of the intervertebral disc, accompanied by a rupture of the fibrous ring, severe lower back pain occurs, radiating to the buttocks and hips. This pathology can be successfully treated if you contact a specialist in time - an orthopedist, traumatologist, vertebrologist, this will also help prevent adverse effects of this disease. Non-surgical treatment of intervertebral hernia consists primarily in unloading the spine, neutralizing functional blockages, maintaining the tone of the muscle corset, which helps stop the progression of the disease, reduces pain and improves metabolism in the intervertebral disc.
Lower back pain of a pulling nature can occur in women in the premenstrual period and during menstruation. If the pain is too strong, you can take a painkiller tablet (for example, No-shpa, Analgin or Imet).
Gynecological diseases can also cause nagging pain in the lower back. Adnexitis, or inflammation of the uterine appendages, can provoke irradiation of pain from the lower abdomen to the lower back. In this case, there may be accompanying symptoms such as fever, vomiting, nausea. The development of adnexitis can be facilitated by prolonged hypothermia, sexual intercourse during menstruation, as well as without protection, failure to observe intimate hygiene standards, chronic infections, etc. The disease is diagnosed by a gynecologist. A course of antibiotics is usually prescribed as a treatment for this lower back pain.
Periodic lower back pain can be chronic and result from prolonged sitting in an uncomfortable position or from a crooked posture. If you are forced to remain in an uncomfortable position for a long time, try to get up and stretch periodically.
A disorder such as renal colic can make itself known in the form of radiating pain in the lower back, as well as in the abdomen and genitals. It occurs rapidly and is acute and paroxysmal. After the attack subsides, the patient continues to have dull pain in the lower back. This pathology requires surgical intervention.
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Diagnosis of low back pain
To clarify the processes causing lower back pain, you should undergo an examination using an MRI, CT or X-ray equipment. The images clearly show both degenerative processes and various types of curvature, displacement and infringement. The condition of the discs (the presence of flattening, protrusion or leakage of the disc nucleus) is also clearly visible.
Treatment of lower back pain
Depending on the specified diagnosis and the patient's condition, treatment can be drug-based or non-drug-based. Drug-based therapy involves analgesic blockades, hormones, and vitamins. Non-drug-based therapy involves the use of acupuncture, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercises.
However, the degree of disturbances may be such that sometimes they resort to surgical intervention. To begin the examination, you should contact a surgeon who will help to clarify the nature and cause of the pain in the lower back.
The most commonly used methods of treating lower back pain are:
- a state of rest for several days (three to five);
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
- muscle relaxants;
- massage and manual therapy courses;
- spinal traction;
- therapeutic gymnastics;
- physiotherapy procedures;
- psychocorrection as part of complex therapy (sedatives or antidepressants).
How to prevent lower back pain?
To prevent the occurrence of lower back pain, it is necessary to minimize factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, bad habits, in particular, nicotine abuse, excessive physical activity, hypothermia, injuries, and excess weight.
Lower back pain is very multifaceted and can signal a host of pathologies. Only a timely consultation with a competent vertebrologist will help you understand the causes and maintain your health.