Lower back pain

15 November 2025

According to medical statistics, about 80% of people experience periodic lower back pain.It has a different character: pains, sharp, radiating to the lower limbs.Most often, people between 30 and 55 years of age complain of pain.

There are many causes of pain in the lower back, and not all of them are related to pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.If the discomfort occurs regularly and reduces the quality of life, then you should visit a doctor who will help you identify the cause of this.After adequate therapy, it will disappear by itself.As a rule, you can get rid of the pain using conservative methods, but in advanced cases, surgery is necessary.Preventive measures will help you maintain back health and prevent pain.

Causes of lower back pain

The question of why the lower back hurts is quite relevant.The human spine is a complex structure that consists of vertebrae, discs between them, spinal cord, nerve roots and surrounding tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons).When problems arise with any of these components, back pain occurs.Although in some cases discomfort in the lumbar region occurs due to disruption of other organs.

A sprain is one of the most common causes of lower back pain.Discomfort occurs when muscles, ligaments or muscle spasms are damaged.The causes of sprains can be the following human actions:

Improper lifting of an object.
Weight lifting.
Sudden movements.

Disruption of the structure of the spine is another common reason why the lower back hurts.Low back pain associated with structural problems is often caused by the following diseases:

Intervertebral disc rupture.When the integrity of the disc is disturbed, the compression on the nerve bundles increases, which manifests itself as pain.
Protrusion (bulging disc between the vertebrae without tearing the annulus fibrosus) or intervertebral hernia.Then the pressure on the nerve bundles in the lower segment of the spine increases and severe pain occurs in the lower back.
Sciatica (compression or inflammation of the sciatic nerve) often occurs due to a disc protrusion or herniation.Then the pain spreads from the lower back to the back of the thigh.
Lumbar arthritis.
Scoliosis is a disease in which there is a lateral curvature of the spine.
Compression fractures (injury to the vertebrae due to compression) of the lumbar region can also cause severe pain.
Osteoporosis is a pathology in which bone density decreases and the vertebrae become porous.This disease increases the risk of compression fractures.

In addition, pain in the lumbar region can be caused by the following reasons:

Cauda equina syndrome is damage to the bundle of nerves that originate at the end of the spinal cord.Then a dull pain appears in the lower back, the upper part of the buttock, the sensitivity in the pelvis is impaired, the control over urination and defecation disappears.
Spinal tumors can compress nerves, causing pain.
Spinal infections (osteomyelitis, discitis, spinal tuberculosis) provoke pain, fever and hyperthermia in the lower back.
Infectious diseases, for example, cystitis or inflammation of the kidneys (glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, urolithiasis) also cause pain.
Shingles is a viral disease that can damage the nerve bundles in the lower back.

In addition, pain in the upper lumbar region can occur with an atypical course of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).Discomfort often occurs due to sleep disorders or resting on a bad mattress that does not support the spine well.

Everyday activities also cause lower back pain:

Long sitting in an uncomfortable position.
The person often pushes or pulls something.
Lifts or carries objects.
When you stand for a long time, your back also hurts.
Prolonged bending or frequent turning.
Excessive tension or overstretching of the muscles in the lower back.

Severe discomfort in the lower back occurs with prolonged tension in the neck, which is directed forward, for example, if a person sits at a computer or drives.

reference.Lumbago is an acute pain that occurs when the back is overcooled or during dynamic loads.Lumbodylia is a painful, painful sensation caused by prolonged static loads.Lumboschialgia is a pain syndrome that spreads from the lower back to the leg due to an intervertebral hernia.

Risk group

Most often, pain in the spine is provoked by the following factors:

frequent stress;
pregnancy, which is associated with an enlarged uterus and tension of its ligaments;
prolonged sitting associated with work characteristics;
old age and related changes in the spine;
mental disorders;
excessive body weight;
smoking;
heavy physical labor.

reference.According to statistics, women suffer from lower back discomfort more often than men.

The likelihood of lower back pain increases after long-term use of steroids, drug addiction and in patients between the ages of 30 and 55.

Symptoms

If you have lower back pain, then pay attention to the nature of the pain;it can be sharp, dull, painful, burning.Sometimes unpleasant sensations such as tingling and numbness appear.Pain in the lumbar region can spread to the buttocks, the back of the leg down to the foot.The severity of the pain syndrome is also different: from mild to unbearable, which does not allow movement.

Often, the patient may feel pain in the lower back due to kidney pathologies.To determine if this feeling is caused by a kidney problem, pay close attention to your symptoms.With kidney disease, the pain is not associated with physical activity, there is a fever (from 37.5 °), urination is disturbed, the urine becomes cloudy.When tapping in the area of the kidneys, severe pain appears.

As mentioned, atypical forms of pancreatitis can also be accompanied by severe pain in the lower back.

With osteochondrosis, aching pain appears, which radiates to the legs, intensifies when walking, and sometimes "lumbago" appears.Over time, the sensitivity of the lower part of the body (buttocks, groin, legs) is disturbed.The lower limbs quickly freeze and the secretion of sweat is impaired.There is no fever in osteochondrosis.

In neuralgia, the pain spreads along the affected nerve.The pain is sharp, burning, appears quickly and suddenly subsides.The color of the skin in the affected area changes, sweating increases during an attack, muscles tremble.

You should seek medical help if you have back pain and at least one of the following symptoms:

weight loss;
increase in temperature (from 37.5 °);
swelling in the lumbar region;
the pain does not subside even when the patient is lying down;
the pain radiates to the legs;
you have recently injured the lumbar spine;
control over urination and defecation is impaired;
the sensitivity of the groin, buttocks or legs is impaired.

To find out what exactly is wrong and what are the causes of the discomfort, undergo a medical examination.

Diagnostic measures

If your lower back hurts, you should see a therapist or orthopedist.If you suspect neurological diseases, see a neurologist.Physical examination and medical history often help establish the diagnosis.

If injuries, diseases of the spine or other organs or neuralgia are suspected, the doctor prescribes instrumental tests:

X-rays will help identify lumbar injuries, inflammation of the vertebrae and imbalances of the elements of the spine.
Magnetic resonance or computed tomography will show intervertebral hernias, structural disorders of the spine, problems with surrounding tissues (nerves, muscles, blood vessels).
Bone scintigraphy is used to detect bone tumors and compression fractures.During the study, a radioactive drug is used, which is injected into a vein and then accumulates in areas with increased metabolism.
Electroneuromyography is effective for identifying compression of nerve bundles that occurs against the background of intervertebral hernia or spinal stenosis.This diagnostic method allows you to identify any damage to the neuromuscular system.

If an infectious disease is suspected, the patient will be prescribed laboratory blood tests.

If the doctor suspects that the pain in the lower back is caused by problems with the kidneys, pelvic organs or pancreas, then a set of appropriate tests is prescribed.

Conservative treatment

If you do not know how to get rid of lower back pain, first consult a doctor.With a timely diagnosis, the treatment is carried out at home.Over-the-counter analgesics are used to relieve pain.

Patients should know how to relieve pain if it comes unexpectedly.If the discomfort is caused by osteochondrosis, then you should act according to the following plan:

warm the lower back with a wool scarf or belt;
lie down on a hard surface;
take NSAIDs;
treat your back with an anti-inflammatory ointment.

Carefully.Do not take NSAIDs if you have digestive problems, as they damage the mucous membranes.

NSAIDs and antispasmodics will help relieve neuralgia pain.In addition, complete rest should be observed.If the pain is very severe, then the patient should be hospitalized.

If you have lower back pain caused by kidney disease, you should urgently call an ambulance.The patient should lie down and take antipyretics (antipyretics) and antispasmodics to normalize the temperature.Blood pressure and body temperature should be monitored whenever possible.Further actions are carried out by the doctor.

Carefully.Using warm compresses or taking a hot bath with inflammation of the kidneys is strictly prohibited!

Pain in the lower back due to inflammation of the pancreas (atypical form) is very strong.During an attack, you should call a doctor.Before the arrival of the doctors, you are not allowed to eat;you should take a comfortable position and drink water in small sips.It is advisable to have someone close to the patient.The knee-elbow position or fetal position will help reduce discomfort.

Regardless of the cause of the pain, the patient should rest for 1 to 2 days.A longer rest threatens to weaken the muscles, after which the episodes may recur more often.

Acute low back pain occurs suddenly and lasts a maximum of 12 weeks.Constant pain in a chronic process develops slowly and lasts for 3 months or more.Many patients have both acute and chronic pain, making diagnosis very difficult.

If home treatment for low back pain is ineffective, doctors prescribe NSAIDs to patients.Narcotic pain relievers, such as codeine or hydrocodone, relieve severe pain.However, these drugs are used only in extreme cases and the doctor must monitor the patient's condition.To relieve symptoms, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants such as Amitriptyline.

The treatment can be supplemented with physiotherapy procedures.Electrophoresis, ultrasound, electrostimulation, magnetotherapy, etc. have an excellent therapeutic effect.These procedures help speed up metabolic processes, blood circulation, improve tissue trophicity, accelerate the healing of damaged areas and relax spasmodic muscles.

Therapeutic exercises can help strengthen muscles and ligaments, make them more elastic and correct posture.The complex for each patient is compiled by a doctor, taking into account age, symptoms, cause of pain and general condition.Training should be carried out at the stage of remission, when the pain syndrome subsides.With regular exercise, the patient will be able to prevent repeated attacks.

Cortisone (synthetic corticosteroid) injections will help relieve pain if the above methods are ineffective.After the procedure, the inflammation decreases and the discomfort disappears.The therapeutic effect lasts 6 weeks.

The following methods can help relieve pain and improve your general condition:

Osteopathy helps restore the structure of the musculoskeletal system using only the hands of a doctor.
Chiropractic is a manual technique for correcting spinal defects.
Acupressure - impact on energy points with the fingers and elbows of a specialist in order to eliminate discomfort and relax muscles.
Reflexology is the introduction of special needles into biologically active points of the body.After the procedure, the production of endorphins is stimulated and the pain decreases.
Yoga.When performing certain poses and movements, the muscular corset is strengthened and posture is improved.However, the exercises must be performed under the guidance of a specialist, otherwise the pain syndrome may intensify.

The decision on how to treat lumbar pain is made by the doctor after a thorough diagnosis and identification of the causes of the discomfort.

Surgical intervention

The question of what to do if your lower back hurts constantly for a long time (more than 6 months) is quite relevant.In this case, doctors may prescribe surgery.As a rule, surgical intervention is indicated for intervertebral hernia, especially if the disease is accompanied by neurological disorders (numbness in the groin, legs, involuntary urination, defecation).

The following surgical techniques will help treat serious diseases of the lumbar segment of the spine that are accompanied by pain:

Spinal fusion is an operation to fuse two or more adjacent vertebrae, between which an implant is placed.Unstable elements of the spine are fixed with special fastening materials (metal plates, screws).
Intervertebral disc replacement.During the procedure, the destroyed disc is cut out and an artificial one is installed in its place.
A discectomy is the removal of part of a disc that is pressing on a nerve bundle or spinal cord.
A laminectomy is the removal of a spinal arch that compresses the nerve roots exiting the spinal cord.

There are many other surgical techniques that will help stabilize displaced vertebrae, release nerve bundles and other tissues from compression, and restore functionality to the spine.

Prevention of lower back pain

To prevent pain in the lumbar region, you should follow the following rules:

Do exercises to strengthen muscles and develop flexibility.
Quit smoking, as people with this harmful habit are more likely to have back pain than their non-smoking peers.
Control your weight and eat right.
Be aware of your posture when standing or sitting.
If you sit for a long time at work, get up every 2 hours and do back exercises.
Arrange your workplace correctly, buy a chair with an orthopedic backrest.
Sleep on an orthopedic mattress.
When lifting heavy objects, shift your weight from your back to your buttocks and legs.
Wear orthopedic shoes.

These rules will help maintain the health of the lower back for a long time.

The most important thing

As you can see, lower back pain can occur for a variety of reasons: sprains, structural disorders, cancer, infectious diseases of the spine, daily activities, poor posture, etc.The risk group includes patients who lead a sedentary lifestyle, perform heavy physical work, are overweight, often experience stress or have bad habits.If the pain syndrome is accompanied by fever, swelling of the back or neurological disorders, then you should urgently seek medical help.Treatment tactics depend on the cause of the discomfort.Most often, conservative methods are used.Surgical intervention is prescribed if the pain does not disappear for a long time or there are neurological disorders.Remember that lower back pain is easier to prevent than to treat.