According to statistics, about 80% of people on the planet have back problems. For possible causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention - read the article.
Everyone experiences back pain at least occasionally. However, if it used to occur in older people, today back pain often worries young people. Acute or painful, lasting only a few minutes, or bothering a person for weeks or even months - back pain can occur for a variety of reasons. Often gets used to the human condition. Unpleasant feelings become a part of life. However, visits to the doctor are still delayed, thereby reducing the chances of recovery.
Causes of back pain - something you need to know
- The most common causes of back pain are degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine - joints, intervertebral discs, ligaments, periarticular muscles.Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, spondyloarthritis, osteoporosis, rupture and intervertebral disc herniation - these and other diseases of the spine, acquired over time, are always accompanied by painful manifestations. At the same time, it is important to identify the causes of these violations. There are dozens of theories for these diseases. Excess weight has a negative effect on the spine, resulting in increased stress on the spine, leading to premature wear. Violation of posture or incorrect posture during work will cause excessive muscle tension - resulting in nerve compression, displacement of the vertebrae. With acute muscle tension, twisting and microtrauma are inevitable when lifting weights or in a failed movement.
- However,back pain can be secondaryand is not necessarily associated with spinal pathology.can be caused by an infectious process. For example, in brucellosis, spinal damage causes sclerotic changes and the formation of osteophytes (growths) that compress nerve tissue. With tuberculosis, vertebral bodies are destroyed. With osteomyelitis, the lumbar structures are compressed due to the accumulation of pus. In any case, there is pain in the lower back.
- Tumors(osteoblastoma, myeloma, osteosarcoma, spinal metastasis, etc. ) - unpleasant or malignant, usually accompanied by pain in the lower back of varying intensity, which is not suitable for painkillers.
- One of the common causes of back pain is numerousdiseases of the internal organs.Rheumatoid arthritis,ankylosing spondylitis, pyelonephritis, cystitis, urolithiasis, inflammation of the appendages, diseases of the prostate gland, as well as problems in the intestines and even lungs.
5 common causes of back pain
The back can rightly be called an indicator of the condition of the body. Almost any problem in the body is accompanied by pain. Lumbar pain can have a very different nature: painful or sharp, arising from sleep or after a long stay in a position. 
Sudden shooting pain often makes it impossible for a person to move. The intensity of painful manifestations depends on the cause of the pain. The most common:
1. Lumbago, also called lumbago
This is one of the most common types of back pain. Appears with physical strength or awkward body position. Although it can happen for no reason. The pain of burning and exploding does not allow a person to recover. When you try to change the position of the body, even when you cough, the feelings only intensify. Acute pain can last from minutes to hours or even days, but in some cases it can stop suddenly.
2. Sciatica (sciatic nerve neuralgia, lumbosacral radiculitis)
It manifests itself with sciatica shooting pain, tingling, numbness. The pain often spreads along the sciatic nerve, along the back of the leg, to the back. Feelings can be so strong that a person cannot sit, walk or bend.
3. Back pain with osteochondrosis
This is the most common type. More often it grows gradually and intensifies with any movement, even during sneezing or coughing. In addition, the sensitivity of some areas of the lower body or legs may be impaired.
4. In case of diseases
Pain in the lower back is very common in various diseases. It can be painful, dull, spread to the lower abdomen, umbilical region, hypochondria. However, a person with renal colic experiences severe pain and needs urgent medical attention.
5. Muscle spasms
Muscle spasms occur when work is not in the right position for a long time. As a result, the mobility of the spine is limited. When low back pain is caused by a muscle spasm, it is called a "defective circle" and causes pain again. This situation can last for a long time and causes a person a lot of material suffering.
What to do with acute back pain?
Acute low back pain occurs in a variety of conditions. Protrusion and intervertebral hernia, osteochondrosis, lumbago and sciatica, injuries and disorders of the spinal cord. Along with various diseases of the pelvic organs and abdomen. It is almost impossible to determine the cause of the appearance of painful feelings alone, so a person should be taken to a specialist.
- If you suspect a spinal injuryor spinal cord, it is important to limit movement before the arrival of the medical team.
- Tensionmuscles or ligaments. You can apply a cold in the first minutes, which prevents the growth of swelling and reduces pain. For a seizure caused by
- spinal diseases, you should first take the most comfortable position. Often, a person experiences relief by lying on a hard surface with his feet slightly raised. If you can't see a doctor right away, you can take painkillers.
- If back pain is a symptom ofinternal diseases, the patient chooses the most comfortable place for it. It is important to remember that if the cause of back pain is not known, it is better to refrain from warming compresses and ointments. Indeed, if there is an inflammatory process, they can aggravate the situation.
Methods of diagnosing back pain
There are many situations where back pain occurs. You need the help of a doctor to determine the origin and prescribe treatment. The cause of their appearance is not always spinal diseases. In this case, the localization of painful feelings is important in the first place. For example, right or left back pain may indicate urological pathologies, intestinal diseases: appendicitis, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, obstruction, etc. In some cases, there may be pain in the upper back, such as hepatitis, cholecystitis, or taking toxic medications. If there is pain in the lower back, such localization may indicate diseases of the genital organs, such as the uterine intestine in women or the prostate gland in men.
You should start with a therapist or neurologist who will prescribe the necessary examinations. In some cases, it may be necessary to consult a urologist, orthopedist, traumatologist, infection specialist and other narrow specialists. Thanks to the diagnostic methods available today, it is possible to accurately determine the cause of low back pain. X-ray of the lumbosacral spine is the most accessible method of examination, which allows to identify structural disorders, the presence of an inflammatory process, osteoporosis and related diseases. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging are the most effective diagnostic methods, and even the smallest abnormalities can be detected thanks to a layered image of internal structures. In addition, many different laboratory tests may be scheduled depending on the symptoms.
Treatment of low back pain
The patient should be kept at rest in any situation. However, the tactics of treatment are chosen depending on the disease that causes back pain.When there are dystrophic and functional changes in the spinemuscle relaxants are prescribed to relieve muscle spasms, as well as drugs that improve nutrition and tissue renewal. The appointment of physiotherapeutic procedures (electrophoresis, phonophoresis, magnetotherapy), as well as massage, acupuncture and therapeutic exercises are very effective. In some cases, surgery is indicated, such as a hernia or injury.
To reduce pain, it is recommended that you wear a special bandage to relieve excessive tension and muscle spasm. It is used in addition to medication for osteochondrosis, radiculitis, trauma and the postoperative period. But a specialist should choose a model, because different options for corsets are on sale.
Back painDiseases of the internal organsIf it is a symptom, treatment is selected taking into account the existing pathology: antibacterial agents in the presence of an infectious process, surgical treatment - tumor, intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, etc. . . .
What to do if back pain occurs?
We are so regulated that when we have health problems, we try to get rid of the painful feelings ourselves. The condition does not worsen, especially when there is no restriction of movement, and the pain decreases after taking painkillers. However, you should know that the only cause of low back pain that a person can determine relatively independently is trauma. In other cases, it is better to entrust the diagnosis to a specialist. However, there are situations where a doctor needs immediate help:
- impossibility or limited movement;
- Decreased sensitivity in certain parts of the body, confusion of the limbs;
- urinary or fecal incontinence;
- severe pain, fever, nausea, etc.
A little bit about how to maintain or prevent your mobility over the years
Many back pain conditions do not appear suddenly. And it is quite possible to prevent serious diseases accompanied by back pain. What is needed for this?
- Treat existing diseases in a timely manner, as well as undergo regular preventive examinations.
- Physical activity should be appropriate for age, weight, general condition of the body. If it is not possible to avoid lifting weights, the load should be lifted by keeping the back straight. In addition, there are special devices for carrying weight, and you can use a corset to support your waist.
- Straight gait, rejection of the ankles, correct position during sitting will help prevent spinal deformities.
- Inactivity and a poor diet will undoubtedly lead to overweight, the main culprit of almost all diseases, including spinal cord. Adjusting your diet, exercising regularly, swimming in the pool, and even walking in the fresh air will help you avoid many problems. In addition, an active lifestyle is an effective tool to deal with stress, which is the main problem of modern man. However, often stressful situations can rightly be called a major risk factor in the development of many pathologies.
Unfortunately, the desire to self-medicate is irreplaceable. Numerous recipes, supposedly miraculous rubs and widely advertised ointments are often useless when used unsupervised. Remember - self-medication is a waste of money and time! By refusing the help of specialists, you run the risk of developing an advanced form of the disease. Therefore, if you suffer from back pain, do not delay, see your doctor!