There is no such person who does not experience back pain at least once in a lifetime, limiting and restricting a person's movements for a while. According to medical practice, complaints of low back pain or low back pain are considered the most frequent and can be captured at the most inopportune moment. It is worth remembering that given the constant symptoms of pain in the back region, it is recommended to consult a specialist who can correctly determine the causes of immobilization and prescribe an effective treatment. If you do not see a doctor in a timely manner, serious complications can arise.
causes of pain
In fact, the reasons for pain in the lower back and back can be very diverse, that is, both an independent problem and a sign of incipient spinal disorders. The main underlying causes of painful sensations are:
- Excessive muscle load. About 85% of back pain can occur due to excessive physical exertion in the lower back. So-called "back fatigue" arises not only during sports, but is experienced when we are constantly sitting at the computer, resulting in weight and excessive tension in the muscles.
- Intervertebral hernia. A very common disease occurs mainly in people over 40 years old and occurs due to the flattening of the intervertebral discs. This process contributes to the compression of the nerve roots, which leads to severe back pain.
- Fractures. These underlying causes of back pain are diagnosed in 4% of patients. According to medical statistics, compression fractures are quite common in elderly people suffering from osteochondrosis. The disease is characterized by bone depletion, that is, the loss of its mass and density, so there is a high risk of fracture of the spine.
- Birth defects of the spine. Pathologies of this type appear at birth and can accompany a person throughout his life. Deviations appear in the form of extra or missing vertebrae and most often in the lumbar spine.
- Spondylolisthesis. With a spinal disease, the vertebrae are dislocated, which causes strong pain sensations that are felt in the upper back.
- Gynecological diseases. Inflammation of the female genitals is accompanied by severe back pain.
- Pregnancy. Pain attacks can appear in the early stages of pregnancy and in the latter. This is due to the fact that there is a change in the center of gravity, 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 may radiate to the shoulders, neck and even the forehead. The painful sensations intensify with various movements, which makes it very difficult to turn your head and bend over.
- Intercostal neuralgia. With this condition, pain arises precisely in the intercostal space or may be located in the lower back, under the scapula, and in other places where nerve endings are pinched.
- Spinal tumors. Most of the time, with this disease, the pain occurs precisely in the lower or middle part of the back, which intensifies in the morning upon awakening and sometimes even at night.
- Pathology of Organs internal organs. Due to the location of pain in a particular area of the back, its intensity and duration, diseases of a particular organ can be predicted.
Alarms
When is it worth contacting an expert? What pains are serious signs of impaired proper functioning of the spine? Medical assistance is needed when victims feel:
- sudden sharp back pain that is not caused by any specific reason;
- severe pain at bedtime or at night;
- painful sensations that are felt after an injury or bruise;
- back pain accompanied by high fever, tingling sensation in the chest area, dizziness, numbness and other symptoms;
- acute pain attacks that do not subside in 2-3 days;
- mild chronic pain that does not go away in 2 to 2. 5 weeks;
- painful sensations that are simultaneously transmitted to the limbs while significantly restricting a person's movements.
It is recommended to consult a specialist immediately if the back hurts for the first time in people diagnosed with cancer or osteoporosis, if the pain is felt after excessive alcohol consumption, after the use of narcotics or after the use of steroid medications.
It is worth remembering that the pain that occurs in the back does not mean that there is any serious illness. Independent diagnosis of spinal diseases and pathologies is not recommended, and even more, the prescription of treatments or physical therapy exercises without a specialist.
Diagnosis
To accurately determine the cause of back pain, specialists perform an oral survey as well as a patient exam, 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 performed with a neurological hammer. The data obtained will help to accurately determine the origin of the onset of pain. If doctors have questions about the diagnosis or suspect a progressive tumor, tests such as:
- Radiography. Images can be used to pinpoint the exact location of bones, allowing you to see arthritic conditions, cracks and fractures. This study is not suitable for cases where the patient is suspected of having such diseases that are associated with muscle tissue, spinal cord or nerve endings.
- Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. Magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography allows you to determine if a patient has diseases such as: hernia, bone and cartilaginous tissue diseases, problems with blood vessels, nerves and tendons.
- Osteoscintigraphy. This study is rarely prescribed. Thanks to osteoscintigraphy, it is possible to identify a bone tissue tumor, a compression fracture.
- 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 advisable to consult a physician who can correctly diagnose the cause of its occurrence and accurately determine methods of alleviating the victim's condition. Of course, it pays to initially weaken the pain attack, which can be strong and sudden, and periodically repetitive. Pain attacks are often felt when joints are deformed or back muscles are stretched. When acute pain is felt, doctors advise the victim to lie down, which will greatly alleviate the victim's condition and reduce the load on the spine. After that, it is recommended to limit physical activity for a day or two.
A bout of acute pain can be quenched with a cold ice pack. This method can significantly reduce swelling if it appears. In rare cases, ice massage is used, that is, massaging the wound with ice cubes for 7 to 8 minutes. This therapy is carried out for a period not exceeding 1-2 days, after which doctors advise the use of heat compresses, which are carried out using a thermal pad or a towel previously moistened in hot water. You can relieve spasms in your back muscles by stretching your spine, which is done even in the supine position. To do this, you need to press your knees to your chest, put some pressure on them, and then stretch and relax. This exercise must be repeated several times. A pain reliever will help prevent back pain, which can reduce inflammation around where it hurts.
Non-traditional methods of alleviating the victim's condition are rarely used in traditional medicine, but they 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 to improve the victim's condition are only used for pain caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In either case, before using either method of alternative medicine, it is recommended to consult your physician. To permanently get rid of back pain, it is recommended to eliminate the original cause or disease and only then proceed to cure the pathologies of the muscles, bones and joints of the back.
Back Pain Prevention
To prevent various types of back pain, regardless of the original cause of your appearance, doctors recommend adhering to very simple but effective advice, namely:
- Do not lift weights. When a person lifts a load, the mass of which is several times greater than normal, there is strong compression of the intervertebral discs and blood vessels. Physicians are not recommended to simultaneously lift a load of 15 kilos and, moreover, to rotate the body along with that weight to the right or to the left.
- Don't sit for a long period of time. If there are pathological changes in the structure of the spine, it is necessary to limit sitting on a chair or chair. With this body position, the person begins to bend, often placing one leg over the other, which contributes to an uneven distribution of load on the intervertebral discs and joints. If the main occupation is associated with the computer for a long time, it is advisable to get up every hour, walk and lean to the right and to the left.
- Hypothermia must be avoided. Painful sensations arise from muscle spasms in the back, which usually occur due to hypothermia in the body. It is advisable to wear warm clothes, avoid drafts, cold winds and strong air conditioning.
- You need to move more. The wrong choice for many people is to significantly limit physical activity to maintain spinal health. In the absence of movement, the back muscles atrophy over time, as a result of which the entire load is transferred from the muscular 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 will be systematic stretching, swimming, walking at a medium pace.
- Timely treatment of illnesses. It is not necessary to start the course of spinal diseases, such as osteochondrosis or spondyloarthrosis, which leads to serious and often irreparable complications. When diagnosing an illness, it pays to start treatment right away, which can alleviate the condition.
- Therapeutic procedures. In order to prevent spinal disorders, therapists and rehabilitation therapists are advised to attend various therapeutic therapeutic procedures, namely: massage, spa procedures, corrective gymnastics, yoga.
Back pain attacks can occur in people of different ages and in a wide variety of circumstances, while significantly limiting a person's movement. To avoid the onset of chilling pain, it is recommended to move more, take care of your health and not forget about sports.