Concerned about aching lower back pain: causes of pain, diagnosis, therapy

17 June 2026

Lower back pain is a common companion of country life.Working in the garden and vegetable garden, minor daily repairs at home - and then you find it difficult to stand up again, and rest becomes torture. Pain in the lower back is a frequent companion of dacha life.In fact, the vast majority of back pain at the dacha is associated with problems with the musculoskeletal system.However, it should be remembered that there are other diseases, the symptom of which may be lower back pain.This is important because treatment can vary and its absence can have disastrous consequences.

Let's look at why your lower back may hurt at the dacha.Most often, lower back pain indicates that you have:

osteochondrosis and neuralgia;
kidney disease;
Pancreatitis in the acute stage.

Let's take a closer look at each of the possible reasons.Lower back pain can occur with various kidney diseases:

Glomerulonephritis – non-infectious kidney damage;
Pyelonephritis – purulent inflammation in the renal pelvis;
Formation and movement of stones in the kidneys and ureters.

Kidney disease is often caused by hypothermia, a cold or a diet;It's easy to confuse a torn lower back with kidney problems.However, there are symptoms characteristic of this type of disease:

Pain is not associated with movements and physical activity;
body temperature often rises to over 37.5 degrees;
A light tap on the edge of the palm in the kidney area causes severe pain;
there are problems with urination - frequent or too rare, painful;
The urine becomes cloudy and changes color.

If a person's kidneys hurt,First of all, you need to call a doctor.This organ performs a function in the body that is too important to risk.Try to alleviate the patient's condition while the doctor is on the way to your dacha.

What you can do:

Lay the patient down or help him get into a comfortable position.
if fever occurs, give an antipyretic;
Give the sick person an antispasmodic.
monitor pressure and temperature;
If necessary, provide assistance if the person needs to turn over.

It is often written that warm compresses or warm baths help with kidney disease.Remember!It is absolutely forbidden to carry out heating procedures!If the pain is caused by pyelonephritis, warming will only make the situation worse, as inflammation will increase with heat.

All other events can be assignedonly doctorafter professional inspection.

A characteristic symptom of pancreatitis is belt pain that begins under the ribs on the left side.Then it spreads to the stomach and back, forming a ring.Pain in the navel area can also indicate pancreatitis.In atypical forms of the disease, pain in the back, slightly above the lower back, is not uncommon - it is usually confused with something other than a symptom of pancreatitis.

Back pain in acute pancreatitis is very severe.First aid for pancreatitis includes:

Hunger (sick before the examinationabsolutely not possibleis);
comfortable position (help the person find it), peace and comfort;
drinking moderately (you can give plain water little by little);
Monitor the condition (do not leave the patient alone).

There are body positions that help relieve pain: the knee-elbow position and the fetal position. This position helps relieve pain

The position of the fetus helps relieve back pain

Osteochondrosis is a disease of the articular cartilage that connects the vertebrae.Due to their pathology, pinching of the roots of the spinal cord occurs, which is the cause of pain.The risk of osteochondrosis is in people over 30 years old, and recently this diagnosis has often been made in adolescents and very young people.

The main cause of a back pain attack is heavy lifting and prolonged work in an uncomfortable position (e.g. weeding or gardening).The development of osteochondrosis is also provoked by long car trips, during which a person is constantly in a sitting position.This type of lower back pain can affect almost anyone.You can recognize osteochondrosis by the following symptoms:

the lower back hurts, the pain radiates to the leg;
the pain becomes worse with movement, change of position, exertion;
may be plagued by burning or stabbing pain – “lumbago”;
After staying in one position for a long time, it is difficult and painful to change.
the sensitivity of the legs and buttocks decreases, a feeling of “goosebumps” appears;
Feet are cold, sweating is impaired.

With osteochondrosis there is no temperature. Pain due to osteochondrosis can occur at any time

If youcompletely safeIf the problem is in the spine, the following actions will help a person:

a woolen belt or scarf in the lumbar region;
lie on a hard surface: board, table, hard mattress;
taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – ibuprofen, diclofenac, meloxicam;
local anti-inflammatory ointments.

Important to note:Painkillers should not be taken on an empty stomach.They irritate mucous membranes and can cause gastritis or ulcers.If you are unsure of the diagnosis, consult a doctor - taking anti-inflammatory drugs for stomach or pancreatic problems can make the situation worse.

Do not try to “straighten” your back yourself – this can increase pain and even harm your back.In case of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, warming procedures are not recommended.Under no circumstances should you take a hot bath or steam in the sauna.After warming up, the person feels temporary relief, then the pain increases significantly.If such pain bothers you often, you should do an MRI (image of the lumbar spine) and see a neurologist.

Important!If you experience relief or complete disappearance of pain after taking anti-inflammatory drugs, you should not resume physical activity.To the patientneed peace- until bed rest - for some time.

Physical activity is contraindicated for back pain.Neuralgia is an inflammation of the nerve.The symptoms of neuralgic lumbar pain are similar to the signs of osteochondrosis: the back reacts to movements, the patient is afraid to move.But there are also concrete points:

the pain spreads along the inflamed nerve;
the nature of the pain is “jerking”, it can subside and appear suddenly even at rest;
Skin color and sweating may change, there may be tremors in the muscles;
When you put pressure on your back, pain occurs on both sides of the spine.

It is difficult to cure neuralgic pain, but it is necessary to relieve it.Help the sick person:

Painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs – Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Voltaren, Meloxicam;
Medicines that relieve spasms – No-Shpa, Spasmalgon;
complete peace.

If severe neuralgic pain is present, it is better to take the patient to the hospital.Doctors in the hospital use novocaine blocks for neuralgia.

Remember!If you take medication without medical advice and examination, you may be putting your health at risk.

Causes of aching lower back pain in women and men

Every day we perform thousands of movements, using all joints, muscles and ligaments.And every day we “test them for strength” by subjecting them to heavy loads.But the joints are not as strong as they seem at first glance.They are exposed to numerous injuries and destructive processes.Pain is often an unbearable stress test for people.Aching lower back pain occurs when degenerative changes occur in various parts of the spine: joints, intervertebral discs, muscles.In addition, it can be a kind of signal of diseases of internal organs and the presence of infection in the body.

Aching lower back pain

In the morning, the presence of back pain indicates a violation of the blood supply to the spinal cord with various injuries, tumors and scoliosis.A number of diseases characterized by pain syndromes in the lumbar region:

Osteochondrosis.
Spondyloarthrosis.
Infections in the body.
Ankylosing spondylitis.
Radiculitis of the lumbar spine.

Let's take a closer look at each section.

Osteochondrosis

A disease that affects 80% of older people.The reasons lie in the natural wear and tear of all spinal segments.It is accompanied by severe stabbing pain that impairs motor activity.

Reasons

Nowadays, there are many reasons for aching pain in the lumbar region, as the spine bears the most load on a daily basis.

Basic:

Spinal injuries.
Pathologies of skeletal development (scoliosis).
Increased physical activity.
Bad habits, unhealthy diet.

Stress, depression.
Lack of physical activity.
Infectious diseases.
Age-related changes in the human body.

Symptoms

They appear gradually and are sometimes barely noticeable in the early stages.One of the first signs is discomfort when trying to straighten your back, as well as rapid fatigue when walking, even if physical activity was insignificant.In the first stage, a dull, aching pain in the lower back occurs only after increased physical activity or with hypothermia.

In the following stages, the symptoms become more pronounced, stiffness of movement, weakness and pain appear, which are more intense in nature;This is no longer an aching pain, but a severe, stabbing pain in the lower back that shoots with the slightest movement of the body.This is due to the compression of the spinal cord nerve roots that occurs when the intervertebral spaces of the spinal segments become smaller.

Attention!Lumbar osteochondrosis can lead to partial paralysis.

Also, problems in the genitourinary system can be one of the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, when deformed vertebrae damage the internal organs of a person and disrupt urination, causing discomfort.It can cause erectile dysfunction in men and inflammation of the ovaries, uterus and limbs in women.

Spondyloarthrosis

It is a form of osteoarthritis characterized by degenerative changes in the intervertebral joints.Affects all parts of the spine.Older people over 65 years of age are most often affected by this disease.

The first stage is a decrease in the elasticity of the cartilage in the intervertebral joints.In the future, this leads to deformation of the joint capsules and periarticular bone tissue.The final stage is the formation of bone growths along the edge of the joint - osteophytes.

Symptoms

The pain syndrome is localized in the lower part of the body (buttocks area, lower extremities).This leads to muscle weakness and pronounced deformation of the spine.

Infections in the body

In the morning, pain syndromes are a natural phenomenon in patients with infectious diseases.

Renal pathology.Pain in the lower back on the left is characteristic of diseased kidneys.Severe throbbing pain is observed in people with urolithiasis.General weakness, fever and dull pain with pyelonephritis.With kidney disease, pain occurs both in the morning and not in the evening, and sometimes even worsens during sleep.
Oncological diseases.
Pathologies of the pancreas.Pain in the lower back on the left, belt-shaped in nature.It is manifested by poor nutrition (alcohol abuse, fatty foods).The attack is also accompanied by flatulence and vomiting.

Women's diseases.Characterized by constant, moderately aching pain in the back and side in the limb area.
Scoliosis.Leads to constant moderate back pain.
Lumbago.An acute attack of lumbago in the lower back is characterized by throbbing pain resulting from compression of the lumbar nerve.

Important!Constantly aching pain in the lower back, even after a minor spinal injury (fall, blow), can lead to serious consequences that only appear over time (also read about the causes of lower back pain in men).

Ankylosing spondylitis

This is a chronic disease in which the inflammatory process affects the joints and spine.This disease is also called “ankylosis” (fusion).In the final stage of this disease, the movement of the spine is practically limited due to the adjacent bone corset.According to statistics, the disease accounts for 0.5-2% of the incidence among people on Earth, and women get sick less often than men.

The causes of the disease are still unknown;The disease is classified as idiopathic.Experts have found that the risk of developing Bechterew's disease is high if the HLA-B27 gene is present in the body.However, this does not exclude the possibility that the disease occurs without being present in the body.Playing an important role in the outbreak of the disease:

Inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system.
Dysfunction of the endocrine glands.

Injuries to the pelvic bones.
Hypothermia.
Inflammatory diseases of the abdominal organs (microorganisms streptococci).

Peculiarities of symptoms

First of all, this is stiffness in the sacral area.Sometimes the pain radiates down to the legs.It is more pronounced in the second half of the night (4-6 a.m.).At a young age, the pain is localized in the heels.

And the peculiarity of the pain is that after the movement stops, it increases, becomes more intense and lasts longer.After waking up, a person feels stiffness and pain in the joints of the arms and legs, which disappear over time.

In addition, ankylosing spondylitis is characterized by damage to the eye membranes, which is accompanied by pain, tearing and loss of vision.

In men, the symptoms are significantly more complex and intense than in women.

Malaise, pain, pulling pain in the lower back when walking;Because of the pain, a person is forced to adopt an unnatural posture.This causes men to bend over.
Loss of flexibility due to compression and fusion of the vertebrae.
The function of internal organs is disrupted, for example, the function of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted.

In women, the symptoms of the disease are milder.Which leads to a more problematic diagnosis.The pain is very weak, aching and localized in the lumbar region.

Sciatica in the lumbar region

A disease that affects the nervous system of the spine.Inflammation and compression of the spinal nerve roots occur.Radiculitis affects almost 10% of the world's population.Most often this is the category from 35 to 50 years old.But there are also cases of the disease at an earlier age.

Reasons

There are many causes of illness, the most common are:

Disturbance of metabolic processes in the tissue of the spine.
Degenerative changes in the spine.
Infectious diseases.
Spinal injuries.
Malfunction of spinal muscle tissue (muscle contraction – spasms).
Spinal fatigue.

Symptoms of the disease

It includes a number of symptoms at once, since it is a pathological process:

The pain is localized in the lower back area.In nature it can be burning, painful and very intense, radiating to the pelvic organs and legs.Even slight exertion intensifies the pain.
General weakness of the body;It is difficult for a person to get out of bed, not to mention full movements.
Muscle spasms in the area of the affected ends of the spine.
Poor posture and gait, the patient assumes a forced unnatural position, resulting in lameness.
Complaints in the pelvic area.
Pain during bowel movements and urination.
Changes in skin sensitivity (numbness, goosebumps).
Pain when palpating the lumbosacral back area.

Radiculitis occurs mainly in the chronic stage, but with periodic exacerbations.

What is the body trying to say through aching lower back pain?

Painful pain in the lumbar region is not uncommon.They can indicate uncomfortable posture and postural irregularities or be a sign of a serious illness.That’s why you shouldn’t ignore this signal and hope for a “maybe.”

What diseases can cause such sensations?

Aching pain in the lower back is often a symptom of a chronic process in the body.However, it can also occur suddenly.In such cases it is accompanied by fever.The causes of such pain are different, but the most common are undoubtedly the following.

Osteochondrosis, which is manifested by degeneration processes in the area of the intervertebral discs.
Radiculitis, which is a consequence of osteochondrosis and involves damage to the nerve roots in the back.
An intervertebral hernia is the most common cause of aching lower back pain, but it tends to develop into more intense sensations.
Menstruation is also the reason why a dull, stabbing pain occurs.It is often caused by an increase in physical activity and is also characterized by the pain being localized in the lower abdomen.
Diseases of the kidneys and other organs of the urogenital system.These sensations are different from pain caused by spinal diseases.Therefore, kidney pain is often more intense on the side of the kidney with pathology (right, left).
Muscle spasms due to the pinching of nerve endings and blood vessels are also the cause of such pain.
Injuries – this type of pain is typical for them during the healing and recovery phase.

Although all the reasons are serious, the most dangerous diseases that cause such sensations are osteochondrosis and radiculitis.These diseases that cause back and lower back pain are essentially unresponsive to treatment and only progress over time.

Lumbar pain due to osteochondrosis, hernias and radiculitis

It should be noted that lower back pain occurs quite often even in the absence of serious medical conditions.The reasons for this are varied: staying in a monotonous position (sitting or standing) for a long time, poor posture, irrational organization of the workplace, lack or excessive physical activity.

However, in a situation where a person suffers from osteochondrosis, the pain in the back and lumbar region, although dull and painful in nature, is quite severe.Another sign of osteochondrosis is loss of skin sensitivity in the legs (in the area of the fingers and part of the foot).

Osteochondrosis is often accompanied by pinched nerve roots - this is radiculitis.The pinched end becomes inflamed, causing frequent aching back pain and painful sensations in the lumbar region.Back pain occurs due to sudden bending or heavy strain during work, but it can also occur for no reason.

A less common cause of excruciating, aching pain in the back is an intervertebral hernia.

Its treatment is a surgical procedure, which is difficult to do without, because in the event of a rupture of the fibrous ring, the consequences are sad.Most often this involves paralysis of the legs, arms or all limbs.

In addition to discomfort in the back and lower back, other signs of a hernia include numbness in the skin and loss of feeling in the legs.

Complication of lumbar pain syndrome with other symptoms

Therefore, lumbar pain radiating to the left side of the back may indicate diseases such as:

diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
Pain on the left side may indicate heart disease;
diseases of the abdominal organs;
on the left, the pain of the kidney is projected, in which the pathological process is observed;
with damage to the pleura and lungs;
Myositis and pregnancy in women can also manifest themselves on the left.

When it comes to pain that affects not only the lower back but also the area in the lower abdomen, then one can speak of both acute and chronic complaints.

In the former, the sensations are always more intense and sharp, but the constant excruciating and aching pain in the lumbar area and lower abdomen speaks more of a chronic process.

But only a doctor can make a more accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Unpleasant sensations in the lumbar region and lower abdomen are often signs of:

colitis;
Appendicitis;
osteochondrosis;
inguinal hernia;
urolithiasis;
tumors;
Diseases of the reproductive system in women and men;
Pain in the lower abdomen and lower back is accompanied by intestinal infections, as well as infections of the urogenital system.

It should be noted that colitis and appendicitis are often accompanied by fever.But even against the background of diseases such as flu, cystitis, pyelonephritis, as well as muscle injuries, an increased temperature with aching pain in the lower back can be observed.This symptom serves as a signal to seek medical help.

A pain syndrome with its projection to the right can indicate both an uncomfortable position and poor posture, as well as more serious diseases.

Increased discomfort in the lower back area on the right can in turn indicate kidney disease, displaced intervertebral discs and diseases of the sexual organs.

Certain complaints on the right side can also indicate problems with the gastrointestinal tract.Another cause of right side pain can be obesity.

If pain in the lumbar region radiates to one or both legs, it is likely lumbosciatica, sciatica, or radicular syndrome.

These diseases are chronic, that is, there are periods of remission and exacerbation.Recurrent lower back pain radiating to the legs leads to hypothermia and stress.

Treatment consists of taking analgesics and reducing stress on the legs and lower back.

Medical therapy

Only after the doctor has made a diagnosis can treatment be prescribed.Often it consists of the following phases.

Anesthesia injections and medications.
Treatment with acupuncture.
Physiotherapy.
Gentle LHA.
Make an appointment for swimming lessons.
Osteopathy (treatment in which the bones are aligned in the right direction).
Manual or hardware massage.
Kinesiology treatment.

However, in a situation where a person knows their diagnosis, it is much easier for them to prevent a relapse by taking good care of themselves.In all other cases, you should not delay a visit to the doctor, because the consequences of a delay can be sad.

This is important when communicating with your doctor.In Russian medical practice, incompetent doctors, at first glance, recommend surgical treatment to a patient with an inguinal hernia.This is fundamentally wrong.

This recommendation is associated with the desire to “get rid of” the patient and indicates the low qualifications of the doctor.

If the lower back hurts very badly and the cause has been clarified, the answer to the question “What to do?”be answered.clear - treat.The duration of treatment depends on the pathology.Osteochondrosis and hernias are treated for a long period of time, from 3 months to a year or even longer.For other diseases, the treatment period is shorter.

It is impossible to independently determine the cause of the problem, let alone eliminate it.You need to see a doctor.

Fortunately, the treatment of most diseases is already mature, so with a certain degree of responsibility and perseverance on the part of the patient, the problem can be forgotten very soon.