Everyone has had back pain. For some people, it is periodic pain, while others are persistent pain. To relieve discomfort, many people take painkillers and do not pay attention to the real cause of the discomfort. This can lead to serious complications and pathology.
Back pain can be caused by disease of internal organs or the spine, as well as injuries. Sometimes discomfort is the result of poor body posture, physical strain, or sudden movements.
First, you should find out why your back hurts, and only after that start treatment.
Kind of back pain
Diagnosis can be assumed by taking into account the nature of the pain in the back.
For example, if the pain is excruciating and exacerbated by heavy lifting, excessive physical stress, hypothermia, or prolonged instability, then the cause may be myositis, lumbago, or intervertebral hernia.
Acute pain radiating to the legs or arms can signal radiculitis, intervertebral hernia, or osteochondrosis. Unpleasant sensations are aggravated by walking, bending or coughing, and weakness is felt in the limbs.
All the same intervertebral hernias, lumbago and osteochondrosis, as well as spondylosis, can also cause throbbing pain. This is confirmed when the pain does not subside even after analgesics.
If ruptured or pressing pain occurs in the chest area, this is a sign of pulmonary embolism or myocardial infarction. Discomfort in the spine speaks of spondyloarthrosis, and in the lumbar region - intestinal obstruction. Atherosclerosis can be a cause of stress pain in the neck.
Back pain after sleep
In the morning, the back can hurt, not just because of the wrong mattress or the wrong posture during sleep. Hypothermia, stress or weight gain the day before can cause stiffness and pain under the shoulder blades, in the lower back, on the right or left side.
The reasons may be different: curvature of the spine, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia or obesity. The back can also hurt in the morning during pregnancy.
Pathology of the spine and joints
Discomfort in the spine can be associated with diseases of the musculoskeletal system:
- Ankylosing spondylitis. Because of the muscle spasm, the patient bends forward to relieve discomfort. After that, the inflamed vertebrae harden and grow together, which makes the spine less flexible.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. The disease starts in the knee, hip or shoulder joint, then moves to the cervical spine. In the morning, the patient experiences a shooting sensation and stiffness: the affected vertebrae put unnecessary pressure on the nerves.
- Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. The patient feels discomfort in the lower back: the spine is moved and the nerve endings are squeezed.
- Osteomyelitis. Acute muscle pain occurs due to infection of the spinal bone tissue.
- Osteochondrosis. With this disease, spinal amortization becomes worse. The disc between the vertebrae is damaged, and the annulus fibrosus ruptures: the core of the disc comes out through a slit and is pinched.
- Intervertebral hernia. The protrusion between the vertebrae is compressed during movement, consequently being affected.
Muscle -related diseases
Causes of discomfort are cramps and indentations in the muscular corset that support the spine:
- Fibromyalgia With this disease, the back hurts from the neck to the lower back, and discomfort increases by pressing on certain places.
- Dermatomyositis. The skin around the straight and smooth muscles becomes inflamed.
- Polymyositis. The disease occurs due to too much pressure or hypothermia: dizziness pain, and weakness is felt in the muscles.
- Rheumatic polymyalgia. It is difficult for the patient to stand without someone’s help, and the asymmetry is clearly visible in his back.
- Charcot's disease. Peripheral nerves along the spine become inflamed. Sensitivity becomes worse, muscles become weaker, and the patient’s gait changes.
Spinal cord disease
Unpleasant sensations can occur due to the fact that any part of the spinal cord is pinched or inflamed.
Causes of pain in this case:
- spinal membrane compression due to fracture, hematoma, or abscess;
- inflammation of nearby muscles;
- circulatory disorders;
- bleeding;
- vitamin deficiency;
- complications of HIV or syphilis;
- posterior tumors of various etiologies;
- multiple sclerosis.
Psychosomatic
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 backs are caused by different factors.
For example, pain on the right side occurs due to lordosis, scoliosis, kyphosis, or displacement of the intervertebral disc. The left side is sore due to splenitis, spinal pinching or duodenitis, and the source of back pain can be sciatica, osteochondrosis or intervertebral hernia.
If pain in the lower back on the right side - possibly myositis, on the left - osteochondrosis.
Discomfort throughout the spine indicates a protrusion, which can develop into osteochondrosis.
When should you see a doctor as soon as possible?
If the cause of back pain is tension or stress, it will subside after a few days. However, if the pain only increases, immediate medical treatment is needed.
Immediate doctor's consultation is required in the following situations:
- unable to find a position where the pain is getting weaker;
- recently suffered a back injury or spasm;
- the situation worsened at night;
- the patient's gait has changed;
- the patient has a fever;
- limbs become weak, numb, tingling is felt;
- painkillers do not help.
Diagnostics of back pain
To determine the cause of discomfort in the back, you need to make an appointment with a neurologist. If necessary, blood tests should be done to check for infection or inflammation. An examination may also be required, which will be determined by a specialist.
Duplex and triplex ultrasound examination of the cervical and brain canals is required to diagnose the cause of headache, dizziness or high blood pressure.
MRI allows you to see tumors on the spine, compression of the spinal cord and spinal cord, herniated intervertebral discs, narrowing of the spinal canal. CT is needed to detect spinal fractures.
X-rays help assess the condition of bone structure to diagnose fractures, spondylolisthesis, arthritis and poor posture levels.
Electromyography detects nerve compression due to spinal stenosis or a herniated disc.
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 back and lift the legs until they are at a 90 -degree angle. This will reduce the load on the spine.
Ointments and anti-inflammatory creams are also useful. When the pain subsides, you should slowly get up and wrap the sore area with a scarf or towel.
If painkillers are not available, cold compresses - ice packs or food from the refrigerator - will help relieve severe pain. It was impossible to completely eliminate the discomfort, but he was able to alleviate his condition. A diametrically opposite option will also help - a heating pad or a heating compress.
A light warm -up or a leisurely walk will help eliminate the unpleasant sensation.
Treatment of back pain
After examination and diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment. To relieve discomfort, specialists prescribe painkillers, B vitamins and muscle relaxants. Sometimes it is recommended to relax and wear a special corset.
An important level of treatment is physiotherapy. These are electrophoresis with drugs, laser therapy, phonophoresis and magnetic therapy. Electroneurostimulation and acupuncture also help.
For back pain, massage, manual therapy, osteopathy and exercise therapy are effective. They also help with trauma recovery.
Prevention of back pain
To avoid back discomfort, you need to move more. Morning exercises and yoga, contrast baths and massage courses are effective.
It is important to maintain the health of the collagen -producing liver and boost immunity. Need to keep an eye on the weight, because every ten extra pounds increases the load on the spine.
But first of all, you need to avoid stress and create a balanced psychological atmosphere.