Everyone has had back pain. For some it is periodic pain, for others it is constant. To get rid of the discomfort, many people drink painkillers and don't pay attention to the true causes of the discomfort. This can lead to serious complications and pathologies.
Back pain can be caused by diseases of Organs internal organs or spine, as well as injuries. Sometimes discomfort is the result of poor posture, physical exertion, or sudden movement.
First, you must find out why your back hurts and then start treatment.
Types of Back Pain
The diagnosis can be assumed by taking into account the nature of the back pain.
For example, if pain is painful and aggravated by heavy lifting, excessive physical exertion, hypothermia, or prolonged immobility, the cause may be myositis, lumbago, or intervertebral hernia.
Sharp pain that radiates to the legs or arms can signal radiculitis, intervertebral hernia, or osteochondrosis. Unpleasant sensations are aggravated by walking, bending over, or coughing, and weakness is felt in the limbs.
All the same intervertebral hernia, lumbago, and osteochondrosis, as well as spondylosis, can also cause throbbing pain. This is confirmed when the pain does not subside even after painkillers.
If sharp or severe pain occurs in the chest region, this is a sign of pulmonary embolism or myocardial infarction. Discomfort in the spine speaks of spondyloarthrosis, and in the lumbar region - of intestinal obstruction. Atherosclerosis can be the cause of severe neck pain.
back pain after sleeping
In the morning, your back can hurt, not just from the wrong mattress or the wrong posture while sleeping. Hypothermia, stress or heavy lifting the day before can cause stiffness and pain below the shoulder blades, in the lower back, on the right or left side.
The reasons can be different: spinal curvature, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia or obesity. Also, your back may hurt in the morning during pregnancy.
Spine and joint pathologies
Back discomfort may be associated with diseases of the musculoskeletal system:
- Ankylosing spondylitis. Due to muscle spasm, the patient leans forward to relieve discomfort. Later, the inflamed vertebrae stiffen and grow together, which makes the spine less flexible.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. The disease starts in the knees, hip joint, or shoulders, and later progresses to the cervical spine. In the morning, patients experience shooting sensations 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 compress 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 worsens. The discs between the vertebrae are damaged and the fibrous ring breaks: the disc core comes out through the slits and is compressed.
- Intervertebral hernia. The protrusion between the vertebrae is compressed during movement and, as a result, is impaired.
Muscle-associated diseases
The source of discomfort can be spasms and indurations in the muscle corset that supports the spine:
- Fibromyalgia With this condition, the back aches from the neck to the lower back, and the discomfort is made worse by pressure in certain places.
- Dermatomyositis. The skin around striated and smooth muscles becomes inflamed.
- Polymyositis. The disease occurs due to overexertion or hypothermia: it hurts when turning and weakness is felt in the muscles.
- Polymyalgia rheumatica. It is difficult for the patient to get up without someone's help and the asymmetry is clearly visible in their back.
- Charcot's disease. Peripheral nerves along the spine become inflamed. Sensitivity worsens, muscles become weaker, and the patient's gait changes.
Spinal Cord Diseases
Unpleasant sensations can occur because any part of the spinal cord is compressed or inflamed.
Sources of pain in this case:
- compression of spinal 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;
- back tumor of various etiology;
- multiple sclerosis.
psychosomatics
The back can also ache due to psychological factors: depression, nervous tension, chronic stress or sexual dissatisfaction.
Back Pain Location
Unpleasant sensations at different points on the back are caused by several factors.
For example, right-sided pain is due to lordosis, scoliosis, kyphosis, or intervertebral disc displacement. The left side hurts due to splenitis, spinal pinch, or duodenitis, and the source of low back pain can be sciatica, osteochondrosis, or intervertebral hernia.
If it hurts just above the lumbar region on the right - it could be myositis, on the left - osteochondrosis.
Discomfort throughout the spine indicates protrusion, which can progress to 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, in the case where the pain only increases, urgent medical attention is needed.
An immediate medical consultation is required in the following situations:
- cannot find a position in which the pain becomes weaker;
- recently had a back injury or bruise;
- the condition worsens at night;
- the patient's gait changed;
- the patient has a fever;
- limbs become weak, numb, tingling is felt;
- painkillers do not help.
Back Pain Diagnosis
To determine the cause of your back discomfort, you will need to make an appointment with a neurologist. If necessary, blood tests should be done to check for infection or inflammation. Tests may also be required and will be prescribed by a specialist.
Duplex and triplex ultrasound of the vessels in 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, herniated intervertebral discs, narrowing of the spinal canal. CT is needed to detect vertebral fractures.
X-rays help assess the state of bone structures to diagnose fractures, spondylolisthesis, arthritis and the degree of poor posture.
Electromyography detects nerve compression due to spinal stenosis or herniated disc.
How to relieve back pain?
First, 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 onto your back and lift your legs so they are at a 90-degree angle. This will reduce the load on the column.
Anti-inflammatory creams and ointments are also helpful. When the pain subsides, you need to gently lift and bandage the painful area with a tissue or towel.
If pain relievers are not available, a cold compress - an ice pack or food from the freezer - will help relieve the severe pain. It will not be possible to completely get rid of the discomfort, but it can alleviate the problem. The diametrically opposite option will also help - a heating pad or a heating pad.
A light warm-up or a relaxing walk will help to get rid of unpleasant sensations.
Back Pain Treatment
After examination and diagnosis, the doctor prescribes the treatment. To relieve discomfort, a specialist prescribes pain relievers, B vitamins and muscle relaxants. Sometimes bed rest and wearing a special corset are recommended.
An important step in treatment is physical therapy. These are drug electrophoresis, 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 in trauma rehabilitation.
Back Pain Prevention
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's worth keeping an eye on your weight, as every extra ten pounds increases the load on your spine.
But first of all, you need to avoid stress and create a uniform psychological atmosphere around you.