Everyone has experienced back pain. For some it is a periodic pain, for others it is constant. To get rid of discomfort, many people drink pain medication and do not pay attention to the real causes of the discomfort. This can lead to complications and serious pathologies.
Back pain can be caused by diseases of the internal organs or the spine, as well as injuries. Sometimes the discomfort is the result of poor posture, physical exertion, or sudden movement.
First you should find out why your back is sore, and only then start treatment.
Types of back pain
The diagnosis can be made taking into account the nature of the back pain.
For example, if the pain is painful and aggravated by heavy lifting, physical strain, hypothermia, or prolonged immobility, the cause may be myositis, lumbago, or an intervertebral hernia.
Acute pain radiating to the legs or arms may indicate radiculitis, intervertebral hernia, or osteochondrosis. The uncomfortable sensations are aggravated by walking, stooping or coughing, and weakness is felt in the limbs.
However, herniated discs, lumbago and osteochondrosis, as well as spondylosis, can also cause pulsating pain. This is confirmed when the pain does not subside even after pain medication.
If there is bursting or aching pain in the chest area, it is a sign of a pulmonary embolism or heart attack. Discomfort in the spine speaks of spondyloarthrosis, and in the lumbar area - of intestinal obstruction. Atherosclerosis can be the cause of aching pain in the neck.
Back pain after sleeping
Your back can hurt in the morning, and not just because of the wrong mattress or the wrong sleeping position. Hypothermia, stress, or heavy lifting the day before can cause stiffness and pain under the shoulder blades, lower back, right or left side.
The reasons can be different: curvature of the spine, osteochondrosis, herniated disc or obesity. Also, your back can hurt in the morning during pregnancy.
Spinal and joint diseases
Discomfort in the spine can be associated with diseases of the musculoskeletal system:
- Ankylosing spondylitis. Due to muscle spasms, the patient bends forward to relieve discomfort. The inflamed vertebrae then stiffen and grow together, making the spine less flexible.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. The disease begins in the knees, hip joints or shoulders and then migrates to the cervical spine. In the morning, patients have a stinging sensation and stiffness: the affected vertebrae put unnecessary pressure on the nerves.
- Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis. The patient feels discomfort in the lower back: the vertebrae are displaced and squeeze the nerve endings.
- Osteomyelitis. Acute muscle pain occurs due to an infection in the bone tissue of the spine.
- Osteochondrosis. With this disease, the amortization of the spine deteriorates. The intervertebral discs between the vertebrae are damaged and the annulus fibrosus breaks: the core of the intervertebral disc emerges through the cracks and is pinched.
- Intervertebral hernia. The protrusion between the vertebrae compresses during movement, thereby affecting it.
Muscular related disorders
The source of the discomfort can be cramps and hardening in the muscle corset that supports the spine:
- Fibromyalgia, a disease of the back pain from the neck to the lower back, and the discomfort is made worse by pressure on certain areas.
- Dermatomyositis. The skin around the striped and smooth muscles becomes inflamed.
- Polymyositis. The disease occurs due to overexertion or hypothermia: it hurts to rotate, and the muscles are weak.
- Polymyalgia rheumatica. It is difficult for the patient to get to his feet without assistance, and an asymmetry is clearly visible in his back.
- Charcot's disease. The peripheral nerves along the spine become inflamed. Sensitivity deteriorates, muscles weaken, and the patient's gait changes.
Spinal cord disorders
Uncomfortable sensations can occur when part of the spinal cord is pinched or inflamed.
Sources of pain in this case:
- Compression of the spinal membranes as a result of a fracture, hematoma, or abscess;
- Inflammation of the surrounding muscles;
- Circulatory disorders;
- Bleeding;
- Lack of vitamins;
- Complication of HIV or syphilis;
- Back tumor of various etiology;
- Multiple sclerosis.
Psychosomatics
The back can also hurt due to psychological factors: depression, nervous tension, chronic stress or sexual dissatisfaction.
Localization of back pain
Unpleasant sensations in different parts of the back are caused by various factors.
Pain on the right side occurs, for example, due to lordosis, scoliosis, kyphosis or displacement of the intervertebral disc. The left side hurts from spleenitis, spinal pinching, or duodenitis, and the source of lower back pain can be sciatica, osteochondrosis, or intervertebral hernia.
If there is pain on the lower back on the right - it may be myositis, on the left - osteochondrosis.
Discomfort throughout the spine signals bulges that can develop into osteochondrosis.
When should you see a doctor as soon as possible?
If the cause of back pain is overwork or stress, it will subside after a few days. However, if the pain only increases, urgent medical attention is needed.
Immediate medical consultation is required in the following situations:
- cannot find a position where the pain becomes weaker;
- have recently suffered a back injury or bruise;
- the condition worsens at night;
- the patient's gait has changed;
- the patient has a fever;
- Limbs become weak, numb, tingling can be felt;
- Painkillers don't help.
Back pain diagnostics
To determine the cause of back pain, you need to make an appointment with a neurologist. If necessary, blood tests should be done to check for infection or inflammation. Tests prescribed by a specialist may also be required.
Duplex and triplex ultrasound scans of the vessels of the neck and brain are needed to diagnose the causes of headache, dizziness, or high blood pressure.
With MRI, you can see tumors on the vertebrae, compression of the spinal nerves and spinal cord, herniated discs, narrowing of the spinal canal. CT is needed to detect vertebral fractures.
X-rays help assess the condition of the bone structures to diagnose fractures, spondylolisthesis, arthritis, and the degree of malposition.
Electromyography detects nerve compression due to spinal stenosis or a herniated disc.
How can you relieve back pain?
First of all, you need to relax. To do this, lie with your stomach on a flat, hard surface, preferably on the floor. After a few minutes, roll onto your back and raise your legs so they are at a 90-degree angle. This reduces the stress on the spine.
Anti-inflammatory ointments and creams are also useful. When the pain subsides, you need to gently straighten up and bandage the sore area with a scarf or towel.
If pain medication is not available, a cold compress - an ice pack or food from the freezer - will help if the pain is severe. It will not be possible to get rid of the discomfort completely, but it can alleviate the condition. The diametrically opposed option will also help - a heating pad or a heating compress.
A light warm-up or a leisurely walk will help get rid of unpleasant sensations.
Back pain treatment
After the examination and diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe treatment. To relieve discomfort, a specialist prescribes pain relievers, B vitamins, and muscle relaxants. Sometimes bed rest and wearing a special corset are recommended.
Physiotherapy is an important treatment step. These are electrophoresis with drugs, laser therapy, phonophoresis, and magnetic therapy. Electoneurostimulation and acupuncture also help.
For back pain, massage, manual therapy, osteopathy, and exercise therapy are all effective. They also help with trauma rehabilitation.
Back pain prevention
To avoid back pain, you need to move more. Morning exercise and yoga, contrast showers, and massage classes are effective.
It is important to maintain the health of the collagen producing liver and boost immunity. It is worth keeping an eye on the weight, because every ten kilos more puts a strain on the spine.
But first of all, you need to avoid stress and create an even psychological atmosphere.