2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43
Pinched nerve in the lower back
A pinched nerve in the lower back is a clamping of the nerve endings by the vertebrae of the lumbar spine or the result of muscle spasm. There is no exact statistics as to how many people in the world suffer from a pinched nerve in the lower back, because many simply do not go to a doctor for help, preferring to be treated at home. However, recurrent back pain is experienced by up to 25% of the world's population. Moreover, elderly people most often suffer.
Content:
- Symptoms of a pinched nerve in the lower back
- Causes of a pinched nerve in the lower back
- Treatment of a pinched nerve in the lower back
Symptoms of a pinched nerve in the lower back
The clinical manifestations of a pinched nerve in the lower back are primarily characterized by the presence of intense pain. Its strength and regularity may vary depending on the specific case and the cause of the pinching. Other symptoms include the following:
- Burning in the lumbar region.
- Dysfunction of a specific muscle group.
- Feeling of numbness in the lower limbs.
- Gait disorder.
- Restricted mobility.
- Feeling weak.
- Increased pain during movement, coughing, laughing, sneezing.
Symptoms will also vary depending on which nerve is being pinched. If the autonomic nerve has suffered, then this will negatively affect the work of the internal organs, the pain is most often localized in the stomach and intestines, but can radiate to the heart. When the sensory nerve is compressed, the person suffers from severe and persistent pain. In the event that the motor nerve is compressed, then the gait will be disturbed, a feeling of numbness in the limbs will appear.
Low back pain from pinched nerve
When a nerve is pinched in the lumbar region, painful sensations will always be present. Depending on the place of localization of the problem, it is customary to distinguish between ishalgia, lumboishalgia and lumbodynia. If we are talking about ishalgia, then a person hurts in the region of the sacrum and muscles of the buttocks. The lower limbs also suffer - the legs will hurt in the back.
When a patient complains of discomfort only in the lumbar region, the doctor diagnoses lumbodynia.
Lumboishalgia is characterized by pain in the lumbar region with the transition to the lower extremities.
As for the very nature of the pain, in the overwhelming majority of cases it is tearing, with lumbago. It is impossible to endure it for a long time without anesthesia. In a person, against the background of a constant fear of the fact that unpleasant sensations will arise again, anxiety increases. Lower back pain worsens when a nerve is pinched at night, which causes chronic fatigue.
Causes of a pinched nerve in the lower back
The reasons that lead to a pinched nerve in the lower back are varied. It is worth remembering that pinching does not occur by itself.
Among the factors leading to the occurrence of this problem are the following:
- Carrying heavy weights and excessive physical activity.
- Dislocation or displacement of the lumbar vertebra, that is, any traumatic situation.
- Prolonged exposure to cold and hypothermia of the back.
- Tumors.
- Osteochondrosis, which leads to the fact that the distance between the vertebrae is significantly reduced.
- Intervertebral disc protrusion.
- The period of bearing a child.
- Excessive weight.
- Posture problems such as scoliosis.
- Improper nutrition, lack of vitamins and minerals.
- Lack of physical activity, sedentary work.
- Incorrectly organized sleeping place.
-
Herniated disc.
- Infectious diseases.
The most common problem that leads to a pinched nerve in the lumbar spine is degenerative changes, both in the spine itself and in the intervertebral discs. Therefore, you should not endure the pain and try to eliminate it yourself. A pinched nerve in the lower back is a situation that requires medical attention.
Treatment of a pinched nerve in the lower back
Treatment of a pinched nerve in the lower back is based on the fact that a competent diagnosis of the cause that caused this condition is necessary. To do this, the doctor sends a person presenting appropriate complaints for an X-ray examination. If it does not give a complete picture, then an additional MRI scan may be shown - research, myelography or computed tomography. You should not postpone a visit to the doctor, as delayed treatment can lead to the fact that the process of death of nerve cells starts. This, in turn, will lead to paralysis and reduced quality of life.
When the cause is diagnosed, whatever it may be, the patient is prescribed bed rest. Also, the primary task is to relieve pain. For this, ointments are prescribed, which are used topically. Finalgon, Kapsikam, Fastum-gel and others can act as such funds. Novocaine blockade or NSAID injections may help. They can also be taken orally - these are drugs such as: Ketoprofen, Nurofen, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen. To relieve pain in the lumbar region, analgesics in the form of suppositories, which are used rectally, are effective.
In addition, the patient should adhere to a certain diet. It is worth removing smoked, spicy and overly salty foods from your table. In the acute period, you should not consume alcohol, and also eat rich meat broths.
When conservative treatment does not help get rid of the problem, doctors resort to surgical intervention. After the acute phase has passed, the patient is prescribed ancillary therapy. It includes: therapeutic massage, reflexology, physiotherapy procedures, a set of exercises, mud and paraffin applications. All these methods are aimed at achieving such basic goals as: reducing edema, increasing blood supply, relieving pain. For people with frequent relapses, sanatorium treatment is indicated.
In addition, it is worth fighting overweight, if any. Otherwise, a pinched nerve in the lower back will bother a person again and again, despite the measures taken.
Author of the article: Sokov Andrey Vladimirovich | Neurologist
Education: In 2005 completed an internship at the IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and received a diploma in Neurology. In 2009, completed postgraduate studies in the specialty "Nervous diseases".
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