Complaints about back pain are one of the most common reasons for visiting a doctor. Pain in this part of the body can be a manifestation of both normal fatigue caused by excessive physical exertion, and indicate the presence of serious health problems that require competent treatment.
Back pain is an unpleasant symptom of many diseases or a strong overuse of the back muscles for other reasons.
In most cases, this pathology occurs against the background of various changes in the structure of the spinal joints, as well as adjacent muscles, nerve endings or skin over the spine. In addition, such a symptom accompanies some diseases or dysfunctions of internal organs.
Causes of back pain
The back can hurt in cases where there is a pathology of:
- spine;
- musculoskeletal system;
- internal organs.
Pain can occur even in a healthy person due to muscle pain due to significant physical exertion.
pathology of the spine
Further, common pathologies of the spine, against which pain syndrome occurs, are taken into account.
osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is the most common answer to the question: "Why does my back hurt? "With this pathology, degenerative changes occur in the intervertebral cartilage, as a result of which the cartilage thins, the distance between the vertebrae decreases, and nerve roots can become pinched. For pain in osteochondrosis, the following symptoms are characteristic:
- occur during or after physical exertion, as well as with a long stay in a static position;
- may have a shooting or aching character;
- Movement makes the pain worse.
When the sciatic nerve is pinched and sciatica develops, the pain is transmitted to the buttocks and radiates from behind along the surface of the thigh. There may be a violation of sensitivity (numbness, tingling, burning). Lumbago often causes stabbing or throbbing pain that literally freezes the patient. Patients complain of shooting or twisting their backs.
injuries
Injuries are more common from falls (on slippery roads, during sports) or back blows in traffic accidents. Pain can cause both bruises and more serious injuries - fractures and dislocations of the vertebral bodies. Pain from an injury can be of many different types:
- Pain,
- Combustion,
- Shoot,
- stupid.
Depending on the type and location of the damage, pain sensations can be constantly annoying, occur with certain movements or be felt as a pulsation. It's important to realize that serious injuries aren't always caused by violent blows.
For example, a compression fracture of the spine in the elderly can be caused by a slight mechanical load, and the vertebra does not hurt very much on the first day after the injury. If immobilization and treatment measures are not taken in the future, the pain will increase, and damage to the nerves and spinal cord is possible.
At first glance, every spinal injury, no matter how small, requires a medical examination.
intervertebral hernia
A herniated disc is a protrusion of a disc fragment into the spinal canal. A hernia is usually the result of degenerative changes in the spine or is the result of an injury. A herniated disc can occur in any part of the spine, but is much more common in the lumbar region because it bears the brunt.
In the initial stages of hernia formation, back pain is provoked by physical activity, occurs from time to time and is of low intensity. With the progression of the disease or a sharp loss of a fragment of an intervertebral disc, the pain can be very intense, shooting in nature with irradiation of the legs.
Patients often complain of numbness or burning in the problem area, as well as in the lower or upper limbs. This indicates an injury to the nerve endings. Severe pain provokes muscle spasms, which leads to a violation of posture, pathological kyphosis or lordosis develops.
Curvature of the spine (kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis)
With the curvature of the spine, to compensate for the pathological curvature, there is significant muscle tension, which leads to frequent and sometimes persistent dull pain in the back.
Muscle aches
85% of cases of chronic or recurring back muscle pain are associated with excessive strain on the lower back. Even those who do not carry any significant sporting loads and do not carry heavy loads experience daily stress on their back muscles. This applies in particular to long-term static loads when working at a computer while sitting.
Muscles that are not heated can be easily injured when making a sharp turn, lifting a heavy object, or making a bad move. Pain can occur due to inflammatory diseases of the muscles (myositis) or due to heavy loads that lead to reflex spasms of muscle fibers.
infectious diseases
Tuberculosis most commonly affects the spine. In the vertebrae, the infection penetrates by the hematogenous route (through the blood), causing inflammation, and then bone necrosis. Pain in the lumbar and thoracic regions is a characteristic sign of spinal tuberculosis, and neurological symptoms appear in half of patients - there is a feeling of numbness and weakness in the limbs.
In addition, common manifestations are characteristic of spinal tuberculosis:
- weakness,
- Sweat,
- increase in body temperature,
- quick fatigue,
- bad appetite.
oncological diseases
In most cases, a malignant tumor does not originate in the spine itself. Cancer cells come here with the blood or lymph flow from other foci. Most often, metastases in the spine cause cancer of the mammary glands, lungs and prostate. Initially, the pain can resemble manifestations of ordinary osteochondrosis, but then the back constantly hurts with increasing intensity.
Pain cannot always be eliminated with conventional painkillers, only the administration of anesthetics brings relief. With multiple metastases, the pain is wandering in nature, covering different parts of the spine. In addition to back pain, the patient feels weakness, unreasonable weight loss, fever, up to subfebrile numbers. The prognosis is unfavorable.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
The most common back pain occurs with pancreatitis. It is circumferential in nature and quite intense. In acute pancreatitis, pain can be accompanied by a drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. Acute pancreatitis is an indication for emergency patient admission to a surgical hospital.
In addition to pancreatitis, pain from a stomach ulcer or an attack of biliary colic can radiate to the back.
Diseases of the genitourinary system
Kidney diseases, especially urolithiasis, often cause pain in the lumbar region when exacerbating. If the lower back hurts, the pain is accompanied by a violation of urination or given to the groin, a surgeon's consultation is required, and women need to undergo an examination by a gynecologist to exclude inflammation of the appendages or the presence of aectopic pregnancy.
back pain in pregnant women
Pregnant women often complain of aching or aching pain in the back and lower back, especially in the later stages. This is because in the second half of pregnancy, due to a significant increase in the uterus, the center of gravity shifts and the load on the muscles of the lower back increases. The pain is usually dull and worse with changes in posture, particularly when getting up from a chair or armchair.
What to do if your back hurts
If your back hurts for more than three days, you should see a doctor. See a doctor right away if your back pain is accompanied by:
- poor general health;
- a decrease or a sharp increase in blood pressure;
- an increase in body temperature;
- Malfunction of an internal organ.
Also, you need to call a doctor if the pain was preceded by an injury or high pain intensity.
diagnosis
In most cases, the doctor can already make a preliminary diagnosis during the initial examination. However, to determine exactly what causes back pain, additional studies are imperative. In most cases, these are x-rays in two projections, computed tomography of the spine (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
If necessary, the doctor can prescribe a general blood and urine test, an electrocardiogram, an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity or small pelvis and a picture of the lungs. An examination must be carried out, since even the most serious diseases in the early stages have a favorable prognosis with proper treatment.
treatment
How to get rid of back pain, only a doctor can recommend, based on the examination data and the results of the examination. The main principles of therapy: eliminating severe pain and inflammation, affecting the cause that caused the pain, rehabilitation measures aimed at accelerating the processes of tissue regeneration and restoring normal life (physiotherapy, exercise therapy, massage, proper nutrition).
How to ease the pain
To reduce pain, it is first necessary to limit physical activity. Of the pharmacological drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are most often prescribed. These medications can be taken as tablets or injections, and are also found in topical ointments. Back pain caused by muscle spasms is treated with warming ointments, alcohol compresses and a warm bath. With severe spasms, muscle relaxants are prescribed.
It is important to remember that with inflammatory diseases of the internal organs and on the first day after the injury, all thermal procedures are contraindicated. They cause health deterioration and pathology progression. After removing acute manifestations of the disease, physiotherapeutic procedures, massage and therapeutic exercises are prescribed. If a pregnant woman's back hurts, then the use of medicines is undesirable.
Wearing a special bandage and limiting physical activity will help pregnant women relieve back pain.
physical therapy
Movement therapy (remedial gymnastics) is the basis for the successful treatment of back pain of any localization. A range of exercises may be recommended by a physiotherapy exercise specialist or rehabilitation doctor. Classes begin with simple exercises, gradually increasing the load on the muscles and ligaments of the back and lower back.
This leads to strengthening of the muscular corset that supports the spine, alignment of posture, activation of blood circulation and tissue metabolism, improvement of general well-being and mood. It is illiterate to treat a back with medication without regular exercise therapy and proper nutrition. This will only have a temporary effect.
physical therapy
Procedures such as phonophoresis with drugs, magnetotherapy and laser therapy speed up recovery. During the period of remission, it is effective to undergo mud and paraffin therapy.
prevention
To avoid back pain, it is very important to lead a healthy lifestyle, including:
- a balanced diet with sufficient vitamins and minerals;
- maintaining normal body weight;
- regular physical education classes to strengthen the muscles of the back and abdomen;
- Contacting a doctor when diseases occur and their timely treatment.
Back pain requires mandatory diagnostics to determine the cause of its occurrence and long-term treatment, mainly based on changing the patient's lifestyle. In the acute phase of the disease, the patient is supported by pharmacological preparations. If you follow all the doctor's recommendations, then in most cases the prognosis is favorable.