Everyone has suffered back pain. For some it is periodic pain, for others it is constant. To get rid of the discomfort, many people drink analgesics and do not pay attention to the real causes of 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 pressure or sudden movement.
First, you need to find out why your back hurts and only then start treatment.
Types of back pain
The diagnosis can be considered taking into account the nature of the back pain.
For example, if the pain hurts and is aggravated by weight lifting, physical exertion, hypothermia or prolonged immobility, then the cause may be myositis, lumbar or intervertebral hernia.
Acute pain radiating to the legs or arms may indicate rickets, intervertebral hernia, or osteochondrosis. Unpleasant sensations are aggravated by walking, bending or coughing and weakness is felt in the extremities.
All the same intervertebral hernias, lumbar and osteochondrosis, as well as vertebral fall, can also cause throbbing pain. This is confirmed when the pain does not subside even after analgesics.
If there is pain or pressure in the chest area, this is a sign of pulmonary embolism or myocardial infarction. The discomfort in the spine speaks of vertebral joint and in the lumbar region - of intestinal obstruction. Atherosclerosis can be the cause of sore throat.
Back pain after sleep
In the morning, the back can ache, not only because of the wrong mattress or the wrong posture during sleep. Hypothermia, stress or weight lifting the day before can cause stiffness and pain under the shoulders, lower back, right or left side.
The reasons may be different: curvature of the spine, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia or obesity. Also, your back may ache in the morning during pregnancy.
Pathologies of the spine and joints
Spinal discomfort may be related to diseases of the musculoskeletal system:
- Ankylosing spondylitis. Due to the muscle spasm, the patient bends forward to relieve the discomfort. The inflamed vertebrae then tighten and grow together, making the spine less flexible.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. The disease starts in the knees, hip joints or shoulders, then moves to the cervical spine. In the morning, patients feel shooting and stiffness: the affected vertebrae put undue pressure on the nerves.
- Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. The patient feels discomfort in the lower back: the vertebrae shift and compress the nerve endings.
- Osteomyelitis. Acute muscle pain occurs due to infection of the bone tissue of the spine.
- Osteochondrosis. With this disease, the damping of the spine becomes worse. The discs between the vertebrae are damaged and the fibrous ring breaks: the nucleus of the disc comes out through the cracks and stings
- Intervertebral hernia. The protrusion between the vertebrae is compressed during movement, causing it to weaken.
Diseases related to muscle mass
The source of discomfort can be spasms and spasms in the muscular corset that supports the spine:
- Fibromyalgia With this disease, the back hurts from the neck to the lower back and the discomfort is aggravated by pressing on certain areas.
- Dermatomyositis. The skin around the striated and smooth muscles becomes inflamed.
- Polymyositis. The disease occurs due to excessive stress or hypothermia: it hurts to turn and weakness is felt in the muscles.
- Rheumatic polymyalgia. It is difficult for the patient to stand on his feet without the help of someone and the asymmetry is clearly visible in his back.
- Charcot's disease. The peripheral nerves along the spine become inflamed. Sensitivity becomes worse, muscles weaken and the patient's gait changes.
Spinal cord diseases
Unpleasant sensations can occur due to the fact that any part of the spinal cord is stinging or inflamed.
Sources of pain in this case:
- compression of the vertebral membranes as a result of a fracture, hematoma or abscess.
- inflammation of nearby muscles
- circulatory disorders
- bleeding;
- lack of vitamins
- complication of HIV or syphilis;
- tumor in the back of various etiologies
- Multiple Sclerosis.
Psychosomatic
The back can also be damaged due to psychological factors: depression, nervous tension, chronic stress or sexual dissatisfaction.
Detection of back pain
Unpleasant sensations in different parts of the back are caused by different factors.
For example, pain in the right side is due to lordosis, scoliosis, kyphosis or displacement of the intervertebral disc. The left side hurts due to splenitis, a sting of the spine or duodenum and the source of the back pain can be sciatica, osteochondrosis or intervertebral hernia.
If it hurts just above the lower back on the right - it may be myositis, on the left - osteochondrosis.
Discomfort throughout the spine signals protrusion, which can develop into osteochondrosis.
When should you see a doctor as soon as possible?
If the cause of the back pain is pressure or stress, it will subside after a few days. However, if the pain only increases, urgent medical attention is required.
Immediate consultation with a physician is required in the following cases:
- can not find a place where the pain becomes weaker.
- you have recently had a back injury or bleeding.
- the situation worsens at night.
- the patient's gait has changed.
- the patient has a fever.
- the limbs become weak, numb, the stinging is felt.
- painkillers do not help.
Diagnoses of back pain
To determine the cause of back discomfort, you should make an appointment with a neurologist. If necessary, blood tests should be done to check for infection or inflammation. Examinations may also be required, which will be prescribed by a specialist.
A double and triple ultrasound scan of the vessels of the neck and brain is needed to diagnose the causes of headache, dizziness or high blood pressure.
MRI allows you to see tumors in the vertebrae, compression of the spinal nerves and spinal cord, hernia of the intervertebral discs, narrowing of the spinal canal. CT is necessary to detect vertebral fractures.
X-rays help to assess the condition of the bones, in order to diagnose fractures, slippage, arthritis and the degree of poor posture.
Electromyography detects nerve compression due to narrowing of the spine or disc herniation.
How to relieve back pain?
First of all, you need to relax. To do this, lie on your stomach on a flat, hard surface, preferably on the floor. After a few minutes, roll on your back and lift your legs so that they are at a 90 degree angle. This will reduce the load on the spine.
Anti-inflammatory ointments and creams are also helpful. When the pain subsides, you should gently stand up and bandage the injured area with a handkerchief or towel.
If no relief is available, a cold compress - an ice pack or food from the freezer - will help relieve the severe pain. 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 heater.
A light warm-up or a leisurely walk will help you get rid of unpleasant sensations.
Treatment of back pain
After examination and diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment. To alleviate the discomfort, a specialist prescribes analgesics, B vitamins and muscle relaxants. Sometimes it is recommended to rest in bed and use a special corset.
An important stage of treatment is physiotherapy. These are drug electrophoresis, laser therapy, phonophoresis and magnetic therapy. Electrostimulation and acupuncture also help.
For back pain, massage, manual therapy, osteopathy and exercise therapy are effective. They also help in wound healing.
Prevention of back pain
To avoid back discomfort, you need to move more. Morning exercises and yoga classes, contrast showers and massages are effective.
It is important to maintain the health of the collagen-producing liver and boost immunity. It is worth watching the weight, as every ten extra pounds increases the load on the spine.
But first of all, you need to avoid stress and create a uniform psychological atmosphere.