Complaints about back pain are one of the most common reasons to visit a doctor. Pain in this part of the body can be a manifestation of both common fatigue caused by excessive physical exertion, or it can indicate the presence of a serious health problem that requires efficient treatment.
Back pain is an unpleasant manifestation of many diseases or strong back muscle tension for other reasons.
In most cases, this pathology occurs against the background of various changes in the structure of the spinal joints, as well as adjacent muscles, nerve endings, or skin over the spine. In addition, such symptoms accompany some diseases or dysfunctions of internal organs.
Causes of back pain
The back can be painful in cases where there is pathology from:
- backbone;
- musculoskeletal apparatus;
- internal organ.
Pain can also occur in healthy people due to muscle pain as a result of significant physical exertion.
Spinal pathology
Further, frequent pathology of the spine, in which the pain syndrome occurs, is considered.
Osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is the most common answer to the question: "why does my back hurt? " With this pathology, degenerative changes occur in the intervertebral cartilage, from which the cartilage becomes thinner, the space between the vertebrae is reduced, and nerve roots can be pinched. For pain in osteochondrosis, the following symptoms are characteristic:
- occurs during or after physical exercise, as well as prolonged stay in a static position;
- may have a shooting or pain character;
- movement makes the pain worse.
If the sciatic nerve is pinched and sciatica develops, then pain is given to the back, radiating along the surface of the thigh from the back. There may be a violation of sensitivity (numbness, tingling, burning). With lumbago, there is often a shooting or throbbing pain that causes the patient to completely freeze in place. Patients complained that they had shot or spun their backs.
injuries
Injuries occur more frequently during falls (during icy conditions, while playing sports) or back kicks during road accidents. Pain can cause both bruising and more serious injuries - fractures and dislocations of the vertebral body. Pain in injuries can be of the most varied nature:
- sick,
- on fire,
- shoot,
- stupid.
Pain sensations can be persistent, occur with specific movements, or be felt as pulses, depending on the nature and location of the damage. It is important to know that serious injuries are not always caused by a significant blow.
For example, spinal compression fractures in the elderly can be caused by a slight mechanical load, and on the first day after injury, the vertebrae are not too sore. In the future, if measures for immobilization and treatment are not taken, the pain will increase, and damage to the nerves and spinal cord is possible.
Any spinal cord injury, even minor, at first glance, requires a doctor’s examination.
Intervertebral hernia
An intervertebral hernia is the protrusion of fragments of the intervertebral disc into the spinal canal. Hernias are often caused by degenerative changes in the spine or as a result of injury. Disc protrusion can occur in any part of the spine, but more often it occurs in the lumbar region, as he is the one who bears the main load.
In the early stages of hernia formation, back pain is provoked by physical activity, occurs from time to time and has a low intensity. With the progression of the disease or the sudden loss of disc fragments, the pain can become very intense, shooting naturally with radiation to the feet.
Often, patients complain of numbness or burning in the problem area, as well as in the lower or upper limbs. This indicates that there is a violation at the nerve endings. Severe pain provokes muscle spasm, which leads to a violation of posture, pathological kyphosis or developing lordosis.
Curvature of the spine (kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis)
With curvature of the spine, to compensate for pathological bends, there is significant muscle tension, which leads to frequent and sometimes persistent dull aches in the back.
Muscle pain
85% of cases of chronic or recurrent pain in the back muscles are associated with excessive pressure on the lower back. Even for those who do not carry a significant sports load and do not carry heavy loads, the back muscles experience tension on a daily basis. This is especially true for long -term static loads during sedentary work on a computer.
Unheated muscles can be easily injured when making sharp turns, lifting heavy objects, or poor movements. Pain can occur as a result of inflammatory muscle disease (myositis) or as a result of severe stress, which leads to reflex spasm of muscle fibers.
contagious disease
Tuberculosis most often affects the spine. In the vertebrae, infection penetrates the hematogenous pathway (through the blood) and causes inflammation, and then bone necrosis. Pain in the lumbar and thoracic regions is a hallmark of spinal tuberculosis, and neurological symptoms appear in half of patients - there is numbness and weakness in the limbs.
In addition, common manifestations are characteristic of spinal tuberculosis:
- weakness,
- sweating,
- increase in body temperature,
- fast fatigue,
- lack of appetite.
Oncological diseases
In most cases, malignant tumors do not develop in the spine itself. Cancer cells come here with blood or lymph flow from other foci. Often, metastases to the spine give rise to cancer of the mammary glands, lungs, and prostate. At first, the pain may resemble the manifestations of normal osteochondrosis, but then the back aches continuously, with increasing intensity.
It is not always possible to relieve pain with conventional painkillers; only the introduction of narcotic drugs brings relief. With multiple metastases, the pain wanders naturally, covering different parts of the spine. In addition to back pain, patients feel weak, unreasonable weight loss, fever to subfebrile numbers. The prognosis is unfavorable.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Back pain most commonly occurs with pancreatitis. It surrounds nature and is quite intense. In acute pancreatitis, pain may be accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. Acute pancreatitis is an indication for emergency hospitalization of a patient in a surgical hospital.
In addition to pancreatitis, pain can radiate backwards with peptic ulcers or biliary colic attacks.
Diseases of the genitourinary system
Kidney disease, especially urolithiasis, during exacerbations often gives pain in the lumbar region. If the lower back is sore, the pain is accompanied by violation of urination or given to the inguinal area, then consultation of a surgeon is required, and the woman should undergo examination by a gynecologist to exclude complementary inflammation or the presence of ectopic pregnancy.
Low back pain in pregnant women
Pregnant women often complain of fracture pain or pain in the back and lower back, especially in the late stages. This is due to the fact that in the second half of pregnancy, due to a significant increase in the uterus, the center of gravity shifts and the load on the muscles of the lower back increases. The pain is usually a dull ache, aggravated by changing body position, in particular, when getting up from a chair or armchair.
What to do if your back hurts
If your back hurts for more than three days, you should see a doctor. Seek immediate medical attention if your back pain is accompanied by:
- poor general health;
- a sudden decrease or increase in blood pressure;
- increased body temperature;
- damage to any internal organ.
In addition, you should contact a doctor if the pain is preceded by an injury or by a high intensity of pain.
Diagnostics
In most cases, the doctor will be able to make an early diagnosis at an initial examination. However, to determine exactly what is causing back pain, additional studies are mandatory. In most cases, these are x-rays in two projections, computed tomography of the spine (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
If necessary, the doctor may order general blood and urine tests, electrocardiograms, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity or small pelvis, and pictures of the lungs. Examination must be completed without fail, because the most serious diseases in the early stages of detection with proper treatment have a favorable prognosis.
Treatment
How to get rid of back pain, only a doctor can recommend based on examination data and examination results. The main principles of therapy: elimination of severe pain and inflammation, the effect on the cause of pain, remedial measures aimed at accelerating the process of tissue regeneration and restoring normal life (physiotherapy, exercise therapy, massage, proper nutrition).
How to reduce pain
To relieve pain, it is first necessary to limit physical activity. Of the pharmacological drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are most often prescribed. These medications can be taken as tablets or injections, and they are also included in topical ointments. Treatment of back pain caused by muscle spasms is carried out with warming ointments, alcohol compresses, and warm water baths. With severe cramps, a muscle relaxant is prescribed.
It is important to remember that in the case of inflammatory diseases of internal organs and on the first day after injury, any thermal procedure is contraindicated. They cause deterioration of health and the development of pathology. After removal of the acute manifestations of the disease, physiotherapeutic procedures, massage and therapeutic exercises are prescribed. If the back of a pregnant woman is sore, then the use of drugs is undesirable.
Wearing special bandages and limiting physical activity will help pregnant women relieve back pain.
Physiotherapy
Exercise therapy (therapeutic gymnastics) is the basis for successful treatment for back pain in any localization. A set of exercises can be recommended by a specialist in physiotherapy training or a rehabilitation physician. The class begins with simple exercises, gradually increasing the load on the muscles and ligaments of the back and lower back.
This leads to the strengthening of the muscular corset that supports the spine, postural alignment, activation of blood circulation and metabolism in the tissues, improvement of general well -being and mood. It is illiterate to treat buttocks with medications without regular exercise therapy and proper nutrition. This will only have a temporary effect.
Physiotherapy
Procedures such as phonophoresis with medical materials, magnetotherapy, laser therapy will help speed recovery. During the remission period, it is effective to undergo mud therapy and paraffin therapy.
Prevention
To prevent back pain, it is very important to lead a healthy lifestyle, including:
- a balanced diet with enough vitamins and minerals;
- maintain a normal weight;
- regular physical education classes aimed at strengthening the back and abdominal muscles;
- contact a doctor if any illness appears and its treatment is timely.
Back pain requires mandatory diagnostics to determine their cause and long -term treatment, based primarily on changes in the patient’s lifestyle. In the acute period of the disease, the patient is assisted by pharmacological preparations. If you follow all the recommendations of the doctor, the prognosis in most cases is good.