Why back pain occurs and its treatment

People between the ages of 20 and 50 most often go to the doctor for such problems, but children sometimes get sick too.According to statistics, about 85% of people have experienced low back pain or back discomfort at least once.Pain is caused by excessive tension in muscles and ligaments, spinal problems, and diseases of internal organs.

The mechanism of back pain

Due to the structure and function of the spine, it is the most vulnerable part of the body.The unpleasant sensation occurs in the cervical spine, thoracic region, or between the shoulder blades, but more commonly the pain is localized to the lumbosacral region of the back.

Its development mechanism is related to the following factors:

• Overexertion, muscle strain.A decrease or increase in pitch can lead to microtrauma, myositis (inflammation), and myalgia (acute pain).
• Internal organ diseases.In 10% of cases, they cause back pain.
• Loss of strength and deformation of discs or joints.This process occurs due to increased external loads on the spine (excess weight, heavy lifting) or uneven distribution of them (uncomfortable working postures).In severe cases, the disc may herniate and compress the nerve root.

Classification of back pain

To facilitate description and correct selection of treatment strategies for back lesions, pain symptoms are distinguished by duration.Additionally, the doctor highlighted the nature and location of the attack.

Depending on the type of pain, there are:

• Acute, lasting from several days to one and a half months;
• subacute, disturbing, lasting 6 to 12 weeks;
• Chronic, lasting for more than three months or persisting (periods of exacerbation followed by rest).

Depending on the nature of the sensation, back pain is divided into the following categories:

• local.They are caused by changes in nerve receptors, muscles and ligaments, tendons, or skin.The pain may be sharp, sharp, or throbbing, but is always felt in the soft tissue area.
• reflected.The pain syndrome projects from the viscera to the back.It can be burning and intense, but never intensifies with exercise.
• radiation.The discomfort occurs suddenly and sometimes lingers - it radiates to the arms or legs.It occurs when the nerve root is irritated or stretched.

According to positioning, distinguish the following situations:

• Lombardinha– Severe pain in the lower back.
• Sacroarthritis– Discomfort in the sacral spine.
• lymphatic sciatica– Pain in the lower back that radiates down the legs.
• neck pain- Inflammation of the neck.
• Tail pain– Coccyx pain.
• chest pain– A peripheral nerve disease that causes chest discomfort.

lower back pain

Lymphatic pain is usually painful in nature and is characterized by a gradual progression.Pain syndromes occur with dystrophic changes in the spine, disc displacement or muscle spasm in the context of hernia.

Older and younger people often experience lower back pain when they remain in uncomfortable positions for long periods of time.

The discomfort disappears without any treatment, only to suddenly return.Severe low back pain is caused by blood vessel disease, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm or injury to the gluteal artery.The symptoms then persist and do not go away during periods of rest.

Back pain in sacral area

Sacroarthritis occurs against the background of compression of spinal nerve endings due to spinal deformity or soft tissue inflammation.This condition occurs more often in men than in women.Lower back pain may be sharp, dull, or pulling.

Unpleasant sensations can intensify during physical activity, after sitting for long periods of time, or after sudden changes in body position.Sometimes the pain radiates to the buttocks or legs.

Gynecological diseases, injuries, tumors, and mental disorders can also cause sacral pain.

upper back pain

This condition is associated with thoracic or cervical spine problems and severe muscle tension.Pain is caused by heavy loads, incorrect posture, or osteochondrosis.

The cause of this syndrome may be disorders of the internal organs:

• pleurisy.It is characterized by a tingling sensation on the right or left side of the chest that worsens with inhalation.
• pneumonia.This condition causes mild pain behind the breastbone or between the shoulder blades.Coughing and deep breathing can increase discomfort.
• Tuberculosis or lung cancer.Aches and pains in the shoulders, chest, arms, and center of the back are often observed.The severity of symptoms depends on the severity of the disease.

shoulder blade pain

The discomfort - intercostal neuralgia - occurs when nerve endings in the chest become inflamed.The pain syndrome is moderate, sore, and disappears after rest or massage.It is usually caused by disease of the cardiovascular system (heart disease) or psychological problems.

Symptoms related to back pain

The intensity and nature of the clinical manifestations depend on the cause of the pain syndrome, while the main symptoms are supplemented by:

• Nausea, vomiting;
• Weakness, loss of strength;
• localized increase in body temperature;
• Stiff movements;
• Thrombosis, thrombophlebitis;
• Dizziness;
• Sudden weight loss;
• Difficulty breathing, cough;
• vision and hearing loss;
• Swelling and inflammation of soft tissues around joints;
• Urinary incontinence, decreased sensitivity of limbs.

Why does my back hurt?

There are two types of discomfort: primary and secondary.The first type is caused by spinal diseases, and the second type is caused by internal organ dysfunction and neurological causes.In addition, women’s back pain also deserves attention.

The following factors can cause unpleasant symptoms:

• rowing, skiing or high jumping;
• Long-term static load;
• overweight;
• low temperature;
• sudden movements;
• Vibration in the workplace;
• Hard physical work (miners, farmers, machine operators can experience spinal pain);
• Uncomfortable posture;
• curvature of the spine;
• Past injuries or broken bones.

spinal pathology

The main causes of back pain are related to violations of the integrity or function of the spine and include a variety of factors including disease:

• osteomyelitis– Necrotic processes of bones and bone marrow.
• protrude– Displacement (protrusion) of the disk.
• arthritis– Inflammation of joints.
• Scoliosis– Curvature of the spine of varying severity.
• intervertebral hernia– Displacement of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc and rupture of the connecting end.
• Spondylosis– Proliferation of bone tissue.
• spinal stenosis– Compression of nerve endings and part of the spinal space due to disc displacement.
• Radiculitis– Damage to spinal nerve roots.
• spondyloarthropathy– Intervertebral joint dystrophic disease.
• osteochondrosis– Degenerative cartilage disease.
• discitis– Septicemia, purulent inflammation of the intervertebral disc.

Causes unrelated to spine

Pain below the lower back and elsewhere in the back is often caused by disorders of the internal organs:

• Gastric ulcer.
• tuberculosis.
• appendicitis.
• Shingles.
• There are stones in the ureter.
• Ulcerative colitis.
• pneumonia.
• malignant tumors.
• Kidney inflammation.
• Aortic aneurysm.
• Angina pectoris.
• Intercostal neuralgia.
• hemorrhoid.
• Prostatic dysplasia.
• pancreatitis.
• Inflammation of the gallbladder.
• Myocardial infarction.
• Cystitis.
• Acute coronary syndrome.
• Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle.

Causes of low back pain in women

Unpleasant, constant, or severe pain indicates a problem with a woman's genitourinary and reproductive organs.

Discomfort is caused by muscle tension caused by pregnancy, posterior fetal position, or occipital presentation.

Causes of pain in women:

• body or cervical cancer;
• External endometriosis;
• menstruation;
• premenopausal;
• wear high heels;
• inflammation of the ovaries;
• Uterine fibroids or fibroids;
• Ovarian cysts.

diagnosis

If you have back pain, you need to see a therapist.After collecting the medical history and external examination, the doctor will recommend that you consult a specialist: a traumatologist, urologist, neurologist, oncologist or gynecologist.

In order to make a correct diagnosis, some research is required:

• radiographyDetect fractures, bone damage, disc height changes, and possible growth of bone tissue.
• myelography– A method of examining the spinal cord to assess the patency of cerebrospinal fluid channels and the presence of hernias, tumors, or spinal injuries.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)Reveals disc herniation, presence of calcifications, spinal stenosis.
• General and biochemical blood tests.Studies have revealed inflammatory processes, increased calcium levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
• electromyographyReveals the extent of damage to nerve endings and muscle fibers.
• Urinalysis.For suspected kidney and urinary tract disease.
• additional researchTests are done to rule out autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal and rectal diseases, and latent infections.

Back pain treatment

The choice of treatment depends on the factors causing the discomfort.When pain is caused by disease of an internal organ, treatment begins with eliminating the cause.To relieve uncomfortable symptoms, doctors will prescribe painkillers.

In addition to pills and ointments, doctors also prescribe physiotherapy and reflexology.

During the recovery phase, therapeutic exercises are recommended.If pain occurs due to damage to the spine (hernia, herniated disc, injury), surgery may be necessary.

First aid for acute pain

When the discomfort becomes unbearable, help the victim personally before the ambulance arrives:

1. Place the patient face up on a firm or semi-firm mattress.This pose calms muscles and relieves spasms.
2. Apply a cold compress or numbing cream to your back.
3. If discomfort does not improve, give NSAIDs.
4. If you need to move around, wear a back brace or a support bra.

drug treatment

To reduce pain, swelling, and other symptoms of discomfort, you may need to take the following medications:

• NSAIDs.They have analgesic, antipyretic properties, and relieve inflammation.
• ointment.A preparation that warms muscles to relieve pain and is used in massage.
• Chondroprotectant.These are products used to protect and restore cartilage tissue.
• Diuretics.They are used to treat diseases of the kidneys, cardiovascular system and eliminate edema.
• Muscle relaxants.They can relieve muscle spasms and pain.
• Vitamin preparations.Improve nervous system function and enhance immunity.

If analgesics do not produce a therapeutic effect, a paravertebral block is performed.

An anesthetic solution is injected into the affected area.Relief occurs immediately and lasts for up to 6-12 hours.

physiotherapy

Manual and mechanical methods are used during the recovery phase or when suffering from chronic pain.They improve blood circulation and tissue nutrition.

The following procedures are most commonly used:

• Diathermy.Heating tissue with high-power current dilates blood vessels, causing absorption of permeates and increasing blood flow.
• electrophoresis-Administer medication through the skin to the painful area.This procedure relieves pain and improves tissue nutrition.
• acupunctureRelieves muscle fiber spasms and eliminates inflammatory processes.
• laser treatment– Effect of quantum particles of light flux on the source of pain.The process is carried out using special equipment.Laser radiation penetrates deep into the tissue, stimulating metabolic processes, relieving pain and eliminating swelling.

surgical intervention

Indications for surgery include injury, intervertebral hernia, and spinal cord compression.The main goal of this treatment is to eliminate pain.Additionally, surgery can restore function to the spine and joints.

Doctors perform the following surgical procedures:

• Endoscopic discectomy.It is used to treat intervertebral hernias and is performed using endoscopic and microsurgical equipment.
• Open spine surgery.The doctor removes the affected disc, part of the vertebrae, or ligaments.The intervention is performed under general anesthesia and is characterized by a long recovery period.
• nucleoplasty– Remove the disc core.This surgery relieves pressure on the nerve endings.
• puncture vertebroplasty– Methods of stabilizing the vertebrae.During the surgery, doctors fill the cavities in the spine with bone cement.

Folk remedies for back pain

Herbal decoctions and dressings can help enhance the effects of medicines.Use folk remedies based on natural ingredients at home with your doctor's permission.

Pain Relief Recipes:

• Mix 100 g of blue clay, 1 tbsp.Lake aloe vera juice and honey.Add 750 ml warm water.Apply the composition to the affected area of the back, covering it with plastic wrap and a felt cloth.Leave the compress on for 1 hour.Use the composition for the treatment of osteochondrosis 2 times a day for 2-3 weeks.
• Dissolve 5 g of mummies in 1 tsp.Add 1 gram of medical sulfur to water.Rub the mixture into your lower back and cover yourself with a warm blanket.Use this product every night.The course of treatment is 3-4 days.
• Beat 50g dry mustard, 20g alcohol, 50g camphor and 2 raw egg whites with a mixer.Leave in the refrigerator for 5-6 hours.Apply the ointment to the painful area 3-4 times a day.To enhance the effect, tie a wool scarf around your back.

prevention

Following your doctor's advice will speed recovery and return to physical activity, and to prevent future discomfort, follow these rules:

• Pay attention to your posture;
• Do not lift heavy objects;
• When working at the computer, use a chair with a backrest or a comfortable chair;
• Watch your weight;
• Don’t get carried away with high heels;
• Purchase an orthopedic mattress;
• When working sedentary, perform light exercise every 30 minutes;
• Exercise more, exercise more;
• See a doctor immediately.