Pain in the back

If a person has worked hard, played intensively in sports or has been on a reflex level for a long time, he stops his hand and backs up. This is the part of the body that stretches and aches after loading, which can be explained very easily. The spine is the mainstay of the human skeleton. It connects all the articular joints and takes most of the stress out of any movement. Therefore, it is perfectly natural if you have back pain and soreness after work or sports.

But it is not always the causes of back pain that put too much strain on the lumbar region. Low back pain is often a symptom of serious disorders of the human body; It can not be ignored, especially if the pain is strong, often repeated. This is a sign that the unknown pathology is already progressing and causing more and more damage to the body every day. It is recommended to consult a doctor as soon as possible: neglected spine problems are difficult to cure and the patient finds himself in a wheelchair.

This is interesting:Researchers believe that low back pain is the result of human evolution, or rather, biceps. In animals that move on four limbs, the loads are evenly distributed. One has to pay for the ability to posture and walk on two legs with a distribution of loads, a curvature of the spine and back pain.

What can be back pain

Your back can hurt in different ways. Sometimes the pain is severe, unbearable, the patient feels unbearable burning and a sharp restriction of mobility. More often, patients complain of pain in the lower back, cramps, unpleasant sensations that usually appear in the evening, may wake up in the middle of the night, intensified by changing weather or after physical activity.

Morning stiffness of the spine, back pain for "weather" and after exercise are the first signals of joint failure.

Back pain is always accompanied by additional symptoms that you should definitely pay attention to and inform your doctor about your observations. According to the accompanying signs, it will be easier to determine the true cause of lumbar spine pain. What symptoms and criteria will the diagnosis have:

• Duration of pain (severity). It is called acute pain syndrome, which affects up to three months. If it occurs periodically for four months or more, it occurs with varying intensity, then it is already referred to as chronic.
• Localization. Low back pain that radiates to the buttocks is commonly referred to in medicine as lumbodynia. If the pain is in the foot, then it is lumbar pain. Also, unpleasant sensations can occur only on the right, left or both sides at the same time.
• The nature of the pain. This criterion is of fundamental importance. The pain at one point can be acute and localized, it can be projected on the limbs, buttocks, groin, hypochondrium or lower abdomen. The pain is strong, dull or dead. The most difficult thing is to make a correct diagnosis of combined pain.
• Impact on joint mobility. The doctor will definitely explain whether there is a spine, limb, hip joint, under what circumstances, how long it lasts.
• Time indicator. It is also important when and after which back pain begins. It happens constantly, in the morning, in the evening, at night, after a load, by turning, walking, bending, and so on. Sh. - The answer to all these questions is very important to make a correct diagnosis.

Note:According to medical statistics, more than 80% of the European population has experienced back pain at least once in their lifetime. More than 25% of medical visits are caused by discomfort and pain in the lumbar region. Moreover, 8 out of 10 patients are active, young people aged 35 to 45 years of working age. Less often, retirees complain of low back pain and less often teenagers.

ᲛReasons

All causes of low back pain can be divided into two broad categories:

• Physiological is usually caused by external factors;
• Abnormal, associated with diseases of internal organs.

Physiological causes are:

• Excessive physical activity during sports;
• Lifting and carrying weights at work or exercise;
• Work at home or in the country;
• Hypothermia, long stay in a damp room.

Age is a sufficient cause of low back pain along with physical labor.

Abnormal causes of back pain, in turn, can be related to diseases of the spine or age-related changes in its structures - this pain syndrome is called primary. If the back pain is caused by the functioning of other organs, such as the kidneys, it is called secondary - in this case it is necessary to diagnose the background disease with the help of additional specific studies and treat two pathologies simultaneously.

Diseases and conditions when the lower back can hurt:

• Osteochondrosis (spondylosis) - used to be diagnosed mainly in the elderly, but is now diagnosed at any age;
• Interstitial hernia - also occurs at any age, if in young people, then, usually after excessive vigorous exercise;
• Neuralgia of different nature;
• Arthritis and osteoarthritis, any inflammatory process of the joints;
• Rheumatism and other diseases of autoimmune origin;
• Radiculitis;
• Endocrine system dysfunction (diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism);
• Inflammation of the renal pelvis - pyelonephritis;
• Inflammation of the urogenital organs.

Spinal cord or limb injuries are also painful. To determine the exact cause, you must undergo a series of examinations, the minimum required is an external examination by a specialist, laboratory examination of urine and blood, X-ray, electrocardiography, ultrasound examination of the kidneys and urogenital organs. . If necessary, additional diagnostic measures will be prescribed.

Back pain in women can be caused by cystitis or inflammation of the appendages.

Diseases of the spine as a cause of back pain

If the x-ray shows a deformity of the spine, their compaction and expansion, in the form of bone formations in the form of spines, along the edges, the doctor has diagnosed osteochondrosis or spondylosis. Until recently, this pathology was considered a disease of retirees and its main cause was called natural age-related changes in the body, slowing of metabolic processes and spinal wear.

It is now proven that osteochondrosis can be caused by many other factors in young people and even adults. The stimulus for degenerative changes in the spine and intervertebral discs is:

• Insufficient physical activity due to excess weight or chronic diseases that limit mobility;
• Sedentary work;
• Metabolic disorders during the diet, for example, as a result of which the structures of the spine do not receive enough nutrients and are emptied prematurely;
• Improper sport - without warming up the muscles and ligaments, without gradually controlling the load and lifting load.

When osteochondrosis develops, the intervertebral discs become deformed - they become flat, dense and rough. The affected disc can easily suffocate the nerve root that branches from the spinal column, causing inflammation. In addition, the nerve roots are damaged by bone spinal processes. The patient feels this as a sharp, stabbing pain, in addition to feeling restricted mobility in the lower back. This condition is called sciatica.

During spondylosis, bone growth along the edges of the spine damages the nerve roots and thus provokes acute pain syndrome.

Inflammatory processes in the spine can develop as early as adolescence and adolescence. It manifests itself in the form of recurrent back pain, sometimes bothersome at night. Then they are joined by morning stiffness, fatigue and physical exertion. In the advanced stages, the spine is severely deformed, changing human posture and gait, and creating a hump. Rheumatoid arthritis can develop over years, in some cases up to ten years. Once the course of the disease is sluggish, the symptoms are often vague, the patient does not go to the doctor and tries to deal with the discomfort with improvised means. For this reason, inflammation of the spinal joints more often than other pathologies, leads to disability.

If during the examination the patient notices discomfort in other joints (shoulder, leg, knee, hand), complains of pain in the buttocks, decreased visual acuity, stool disorders, spondyloarthritis. Rheumatologist treats such pathology, it is necessary to consult him immediately, because the pathology develops rapidly and causes irreversible changes in bone and joint structures.

No spinal diseases as a cause of pain

Sometimes pain in the spine causes diseases of the organs that, at first glance, have nothing to do with the spine. Myofascial pain syndrome is a common cause of back pain that is not accompanied by other symptoms of joint pathologies. Usually, young women go to the doctor after a working day with complaints of back pain, intense exercise in the gym or prolonged stay in one position.

Pain in myofascial syndrome is not associated with damage to the joints of the spine and can be easily eliminated with analgesics, massage and anti-inflammatory drugs.

During the examination, the doctor easily fixes the points near the spine when there is pressure on which pain occurs. The pain is caused by overload of the muscle tissues, the nerve roots and joint elements are not affected. This condition does not pose a major threat to the patient's health, but can significantly reduce the quality of life. For treatment, your doctor will prescribe muscle relaxants - medications that help relax your muscles, as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in minimal doses over a short course. It is recommended to adjust the rest and sleep mode and control the physical activity.

Other unnecessary pathologies that may be accompanied by pain in the spine:

• Cholecystitis and pancreatitis. The pain is localized in the right hypochondrium and can be placed on the back right side.
• Appendicitis. In some cases, sharp, sharp pains radiate to the lower back as well as the right side. Additional symptoms of inflammation of the appendix: edema, fecal incontinence, nausea, vomiting, severe paleness, fever.
• Impaired renal function, urolithiasis. Depending on which kidney is inflamed, pain will occur in the right or left lower back. If the stone turns urolithiasis, the lower back also hurts a lot, in severe cases the body temperature may rise.
• Obesity. With excess body weight, heavy loads are placed on the lumbar spine, causing pain and discomfort in the back.
• Osteomyelitis. Bone infections are accompanied by severe pain and fever.

If no visible lesions of the spine or joints were found during the examination, no diseases of the internal organs were detected, it makes sense to donate blood for signs of cancer and perform an MRI of the spine. Malignant tumors, when they grow, put pressure on the nerve roots and cause pain as well. Pain syndrome is typical for cancer in 3-4 stages.

Low back pain can be a symptom of appendicitis.

Why does the back hurt in women

If women have severe back pain in the lumbar region, first of all, you should review your individual calendar. The pain may be excruciating before menstruation, smoking in the lower abdomen, swelling of the mammary glands, the patient is nauseous, some suffer from migraine, food intolerance or, conversely, stickiness.

Approximately the same symptoms are a sign of pregnancy. Therefore, if menstruation has not started within a few days and the pain and discomfort continue, it makes sense to do a pregnancy test and make an appointment with a gynecologist.

Also, the cause may be gynecological diseases. Adnexitis is usually manifested by pain in the lower abdomen. But sometimes they radiate to the lower back. Similar sensations occur when ovarian cysts swell. With the onset of menopause, many women complain of lumbar discomfort, tightness. In any case, a therapist or rheumatologist recommends consulting a gynecologist.

Causes of pain in men

In men, the back hurts mainly due to professional activities - driving hours, working at the computer, lifting and carrying weights, professional sports.

But also pain on the right or left side of the spine can be one of the symptoms of prostatitis or pathology such as epididymitis. To rule out or confirm pathologies, you must be examined by an andrologist.

Men with back pain should definitely consult an andrologist to rule out prostatitis.

When and what treatment is needed

Even with very intense, persistent back pain, most patients do not believe that they need serious treatment and expect only one thing from their doctor - a good pain reliever that will help immediately and for a long time. Unfortunately, there is no such remedy. Pain syndrome can be relieved with injections and pills, but the effect will not be lasting as long as the cause of discomfort is not eliminated. Treatment methods are determined depending on what caused the back pain.

Bruises and muscle strain

The first thing you need to do is complete relaxation on your back. This means that you can not do sports, gain weight, a lot of standing, walking, jogging, jumping and over-cooling. In the future you will need to review your habits and adjust the load on your spine.

What to do before going to the doctor:

• Take an analgesic or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug in minimal doses;
• Fix the lower back impromptu with a corset - towel or scarf;
• Drink herbal tea with a diuretic effect to reduce swelling.

What does the doctor recommend:

• Short course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Muscle relaxants to relieve muscle spasm and tension;
• Massage and warming of the spine (in the absence of inflammatory processes);
• B group vitamins.

If you follow all the recommendations, the pain will disappear completely in 7-14 days.

remember!If an increase in body temperature is detected, pain is attributed to the leg or other parts of the body, movement is restricted or other atypical symptoms occur, under no circumstances should you seek the help of a chiropractor, do a warm-up or massage. Yourself. It is also not recommended to take painkillers as this will complicate the diagnosis.

Spine pathology

Treatment of diseases of the early joints is carried out using the same techniques as for bruises or other injuries. In addition, doctors may prescribe chondroprotectors - drugs that protect joint structures from destruction and stimulate their recovery.

In compressive fractures of the spine, extensive hernias of the intervertebral discs, severe forms of osteochondrosis or spondyloarthritis, surgical intervention have been shown. Depending on the detected disorder, surgery may be simple and performed under local anesthesia, or it may be performed in several stages over six months. After surgery of any complexity, a course of antibiotics, bandaging, and physical therapy are required for complete rehabilitation.

Modern technologies allow minimally invasive interventions with minimal risk of spinal complications.

Today spinal surgeries are no longer special, rich and varied experience has been accumulated, there is special equipment that allows you to solve almost any problem. Therefore, if the situation is difficult and your doctor advises you to have surgery, stopping it makes no sense. The earlier it is performed, the better your chances of complete relief from pain and restoration of spinal function.

Useful tips

Timely and effective treatment of low back pain is often difficult for an extremely common reason - the patient does not know which doctor to consult. If the pain was preceded by an injury, then everything is simple - you need to see a traumatologist. He or she will likely prescribe painkillers and a course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, then recommend a variety of physiotherapy procedures - electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, massage, and exercise therapy. This is the standard treatment for spinal cord injuries.

The difficulty lies in the fact that nerve endings can be affected during a blow or fall. Then you should get involved with a neurologist who will recommend your own methods of treatment. A rheumatologist or orthopedist will have his or her own opinion. And if the examination reveals a pathology of any internal organ, for example, the genitourinary system, the patient will be absolutely confused about what he needs treatment and who to listen to. By the way, it is for this reason that many people abandon the methods of official medicine and resort to non-traditional, or folk remedies, which eventually lead to deterioration of the condition and the development of complications.

It happens that doctors misdiagnose and prescribe the wrong treatment, which leads to disease progression and complications.

What to do in such a situation? Do not be intimidated and do not rush, but take the prescribed course of treatment to the end, focus on your own feelings and well-being. If after two to four weeks the back hurts just as much and there is no slight improvement, it makes sense to contact another doctor to check the accuracy of the diagnosis and undergo a second examination. Switching from one painkiller to another and using electrophoresis instead of UHF makes no sense.

As for homeopathic remedies with homeopathic remedies, here too you should not get carried away and unbelievably believe the promises of traditional healers. An adequate adult should understand: Traditional methods of treatment are good for the remission phase, when the condition is stable, or for the prevention of relapses and complications. For example, rheumatoid arthritis, as an autoimmune disease, herbal tincture can not be cured in any way.

Medicinal plants will be useful to improve the overall tone of the body, but are unlikely to help with hernias, disc dislocations, or compression fractures.

It would be a good decision if your back hurts constantly and doctor appointments at the district clinic are ineffective - go to a reputable private clinic and get examined there. It is not free, but you will understand the real cause and be able to start the right treatment and not experiment with folk remedies and standard painkillers that do not have any therapeutic effect.

ᲨSummary:Almost every adult experiences back pain at least once in their life. In fact, there can be many causes: banal overload, ending in serious pathology of the spine, kidneys, infection in the body or metabolic disorders. It is important to determine the cause accurately and correctly and start appropriate treatment as soon as possible. The spine is the main joint of the human skeleton, its dysfunction and destruction due to lack of proper medical care will lead to loss of mobility and disability.