There isn't a person who doesn't have back pain at least once in their life that restricts and restricts a person's movements for a while. According to medical practice, complaints of lower back pain or back pain are the most common and can be recognized at the most inopportune moment. It should be remembered that with constant symptoms of pain in the back area, it is recommended to consult a specialist who will be able to correctly determine the causes of immobilization and prescribe effective treatment. If you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner, serious complications can arise.
Causes of pain
In fact, the causes of pain in the lower back and back can be very different, that is, they can be both an independent problem and a signal of the onset of diseases of the spine. The main causes of painful sensations are:
- Excessive muscle strain. About 85% of back pain can be caused by excessive physical exertion in the lower back. The so-called "back fatigue" does not only occur during sports, but is experienced when sitting at the computer all the time, which puts strain on the muscles and overburdens them.
- Intervertebral hernia. A fairly common condition mostly occurs in people over 40 years of age and occurs due to a flattening of the intervertebral discs. This process contributes to the compression of the nerve roots, which leads to severe back pain.
- Fractures. Such causes of back pain are diagnosed in 4% of patients. According to medical statistics, compression fractures are quite common in the elderly with osteochondrosis. The disease is characterized by bone breakdown, that is, the loss of its mass and density, which puts you at high risk of a spinal fracture.
- Congenital defects of the spine. Pathologies of this type occur at birth and can be with a person throughout his life. Deviations occur in the form of additional or missing vertebrae, and most often in the lumbar spine.
- Spondylolisthesis. With a disease of the spine, the vertebrae are displaced, which leads to sharp painful sensations in the upper back.
- Gynecological diseases. The inflammation of the female genital organs is accompanied by severe back pain.
- Pregnancy. Pain attacks can occur both in the early stages of pregnancy and in the latter. This is because there is a change in the center of gravity, a softening or relaxation of the ligaments, an increase in body weight and an increase in body weight.
- Infectious diseases. With inflammatory processes in the skeletal muscles of the back, severe pain can occur, which radiates to the shoulders, neck and even to the forehead. The painful sensations intensify with different movements, which makes turning and bending the head quite difficult.
- Intercostal neuralgia. With this disease, pain occurs precisely in the intercostal space or can be localized in the lower back, under the shoulder blade, and in other places where the nerve endings are pinched.
- Spinal tumors. Most often with this disease, pain occurs precisely in the lower or middle part of the back, which increases in the morning when you wake up, and sometimes even at night.
- Internal organs pathology. Based on the location of the pain in a specific area of the back, its intensity and duration, one can predict diseases of a specific organ.
alarm
When is it worth contacting a specialist? Which pain are serious signs of impaired function of the spine? Medical help is needed when victims feel:
- sudden severe pain in the back that was not caused by specific reasons;
- severe pain lying down or at night;
- painful sensations felt after an injury or bruise;
- Back pain accompanied by a high fever, tingling in the chest area, dizziness, numbness, and other symptoms;
- acute attacks of pain that do not subside within 2-3 days;
- chronic mild pain that does not go away in 2-2, 5 weeks;
- painful sensations simultaneously given to the limbs, while significantly restricting a person's movement.
If you are diagnosed with cancer or osteoporosis for the first time, if you suffer from pain after excessive alcohol consumption, after taking narcotics or after taking steroid drugs, it is recommended to consult a specialist immediately.
It is worth remembering that the pain in the back does not mean that there is a serious illness. It is not recommended to independently diagnose diseases and pathologies of the spine, and even more so without prescribing treatment or doing physical therapy exercises without a specialist.
diagnosis
To accurately determine the cause of back pain, specialists conduct an oral interview, as well as an examination of the patient, which includes a visual examination of the back and an assessment of the victim's ability to walk, sit or lie down. If necessary, a reflex test is carried out with a neurological hammer. The data obtained will help pinpoint the source of the onset of pain. When doctors have doubts about the diagnosis or suspect a tumor that's progressing, they'll do tests such as:
- Radiography. The images can be used to pinpoint the exact location of the bones so you can see arthritic conditions, cracks and fractures. Such a study is not appropriate for those cases where the patient is suspected of having disorders associated with muscle tissue, spinal cord, or nerve endings.
- MRI and CT. With magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography, you can determine whether a patient has the following symptoms: hernias, diseases of the bone and cartilage tissue, problems with blood vessels, nerves and tendons.
- Osteoscintigraphy. Such a study is rarely prescribed. Thanks to osteocyntigraphy, it is possible to identify a tumor of the bone tissue, compression fractures.
- Examination of the nerves. This analysis measures the electrical impulses that are triggered by the nerves.
Treatment methods
Regardless of the intensity of the back pain, it is recommended to consult a doctor who will be able to correctly diagnose the cause of its occurrence and accurately determine the methods of alleviating the victim's condition. Of course, it is worth initially weakening the attack of pain, which can be both sharp and sudden, and periodically repeats itself. It is not uncommon for pain attacks to be felt when the joints are deformed or the back muscles are stretched. When a sharp, sharp pain is felt, doctors advise the victim to lie down, which greatly improves the victim's condition and reduces the load on the spine. After that, it is recommended that you limit physical activity to a day or two.
An outbreak of acute pain can be cleared with a cold ice pack. This method can significantly reduce puffiness if it occurs. In rare cases, an ice massage is used, that is, massaging a sore spot with ice cubes for 7-8 minutes. Such therapy is carried out for no more than 1-2 days. After that, doctors recommend the use of heat compresses, which are carried out at the expense of a heating pad or a towel pre-soaked in hot water. You can relieve cramps in the back muscles by stretching the spine, which is also performed in the supine position. To do this, you need to press your knees to your chest, put some pressure on them, and then stretch out and relax. This exercise should be repeated several times. An analgesic will help save you back pain, which can reduce inflammation in the painful area.
Non-traditional methods of alleviating the victim's condition are rarely used in traditional medicine, but are still considered effective and effective. It is possible to cure back pain attacks using methods such as acupuncture, vacuum therapy, manual therapy, osteopathy, and other folk remedies. It is recommended to take into account that such methods of improving the victim's condition are used only in the case of pain caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In any of the cases, it is recommended that you seek the advice of your doctor before using any alternative medicine. To get rid of back pain permanently, it is recommended to eliminate the original cause or disease, and only then cure the pathologies of the muscles, bones and joints of the back.
Back pain prevention
To avoid different types of back pain, regardless of the original cause of its occurrence, doctors recommend sticking to relatively simple but effective pieces of advice, namely:
- Don't lift weights. When a person lifts a load, the mass of which is several times higher than the norm, there is a sharp squeeze on the intervertebral discs and blood vessels. Doctors are not recommended to simultaneously lift a load of 15 kilograms and turn the body to the right or left with this weighting.
- Do not sit in a sitting position for long periods of time. With pathological changes in the structure of the spine, it is necessary to restrict sitting in a chair or on a chair. In this body position, a person begins to sag, often putting one leg on top of another, which contributes to uneven loading of the intervertebral discs and joints. If the main occupation is connected with a long time at the computer, it is advisable to get up every hour, to walk and to tilt to the right and left.
- Hypothermia should be avoided. Painful sensations arise from back muscle spasms, most often due to hypothermia of the body. It is recommended to dress warmly, avoiding drafts, cold winds and strong air conditioners.
- You need to move more. For many people, reducing physical activity significantly in order to maintain spinal health is the wrong choice. Without movement, the back muscles atrophy over time, which means that all of the stress is transferred from the muscle corset to the spine. In such a situation, the tissues of the intervertebral discs and articular cartilage are destroyed. An excellent option for restoring back health, strengthening muscles, and stretching the intervertebral space is to systematically stretch, swim, and walk at an average pace.
- Timely treatment of diseases. It is not necessary to begin the course of diseases of the spine, such as osteochondrosis or spondyloarthrosis, which lead to serious and often irreparable complications. When diagnosing a disease, it is worth immediately starting treatment that can alleviate the condition.
- Therapeutic procedures. In order to prevent diseases of the spine, rehabilitation therapists and therapists are recommended to attend various therapeutic therapeutic procedures, namely: massage, spa treatments, remedial gymnastics, yoga.
Back pain attacks can occur in people of different ages and in a variety of circumstances while severely restricting a person's movement. To prevent the occurrence of chills, it is recommended to exercise more, take care of your health and not forget about exercise.