Everyone has had back pain. For some it is periodic pain, for others it is constant. To get rid of the discomfort, many people drink pain relievers and do not pay attention to the true causes of the discomfort. This can lead to complications and serious pathologies.
Back pain can be caused by diseases of the internal organs or the spine, as well as by injuries. Sometimes the discomfort is the result of poor posture, physical exertion, or sudden movement.
First, you should find out why your back hurts and only then start treatment.
Types of back pain
The diagnosis can be made taking into account the nature of the back pain.
For example, if the pain is painful and aggravated by heavy lifting, physical overload, hypothermia, or prolonged immobility, the cause could be myositis, low back pain, or intervertebral hernia.
Sharp pain radiating to the legs or arms can signal radiculitis, intervertebral hernia, or osteochondrosis. Unpleasant sensations are aggravated by walking, bending or coughing, and weakness is felt in the limbs.
All the same intervertebral hernia, low back pain and osteochondrosis, as well as spondylosis, can also cause throbbing pain. This is confirmed when the pain does not subside even after analgesics.
If you experience pain that breaks out or squeezes in the chest area, this is a sign of pulmonary embolism or myocardial infarction. Discomfort in the spine speaks of spondyloarthrosis, and in the lumbar region - of intestinal obstruction. Atherosclerosis can be the cause of the pressing pain in the neck.
Back pain after sleep
In the morning, your back can ache, not just because of the wrong mattress or the wrong sleeping posture. Hypothermia, stress, or heavy lifting the day before can cause stiffness and pain under the shoulder blades, lower back, right or left side.
The reasons can be different: curvature of the spine, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia or obesity. Also, your back can hurt in the morning during pregnancy.
Pathologies of the spine and joints
Discomfort in the spine can be associated with diseases of the musculoskeletal system:
- Ankylosing spondylitis. Due to the muscle spasm, the patient leans forward to relieve the discomfort. Subsequently, the inflamed vertebrae stiffen and grow together, which makes the spine less flexible.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. The disease begins in the knees, hip joint, or shoulders, subsequently passing to the cervical spine. In the morning, patients have sensations of pulling and stiffness: the affected vertebrae exert unnecessary pressure on the nerves.
- Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. The patient feels discomfort in the lower back: the vertebrae are displaced and squeeze the nerve endings.
- Osteomyelitis. Acute muscle pain occurs due to an infection in the bone tissue of the spine.
- Osteochondrosis. With this disease, the depreciation of the spine worsens. The discs between the vertebrae are damaged and the fibrous ring breaks: the core of the disc comes out of the cracks and is pinched.
- Intervertebral hernia. The protrusion between the vertebrae is compressed during movement, as a result of which it is impaired.
Diseases associated with the musculature
The source of discomfort can be spasms and indurations in the muscular corset that supports the spine:
- Fibromyalgia With this disease, the back hurts from the neck to the lower back, and the discomfort is exacerbated by pressing on certain points.
- Dermatomyositis. The skin around the striated and smooth muscles becomes inflamed.
- Polymyositis. The disease occurs due to overstrain or hypothermia: it hurts to turn and weakness is felt in the muscles.
- Polymyalgia rheumatica. It is difficult for the patient to stand up without someone's help and the asymmetry is clearly visible in his back.
- Charcot's disease. The peripheral nerves along the spine become inflamed. Sensitivity worsens, muscles weaken, and the patient's gait changes.
Diseases of the spinal cord
Unpleasant sensations can occur due to the fact that any part of the spinal cord is pinched or inflamed.
Sources of pain in this case:
- compression of the spinal membranes following a fracture, hematoma, or abscess;
- inflammation of nearby muscles;
- circulatory disorders;
- hemorrhage;
- lack of vitamins;
- complication of HIV or syphilis;
- posterior tumor of various etiology;
- multiple sclerosis.
Psychosomatics
The back can also hurt due to psychological factors: depression, nervous tension, chronic stress or sexual dissatisfaction.
Localization of back pain
Unpleasant sensations in different places on the back are caused by several factors.
For example, pain in the right side occurs due to lordosis, scoliosis, kyphosis, or displacement of the intervertebral disc. The left side hurts due to splenitis, pinching of the spine or duodenitis, and the source of lower back pain can be sciatica, osteochondrosis, or intervertebral hernia.
If it hurts just above the lower back on the right - it could be myositis, on the left - osteochondrosis.
Discomfort throughout the spine signals protrusion, which can turn into osteochondrosis.
When should you see a doctor as soon as possible?
If the cause of back pain is tension or stress, it will subside after a few days. However, in the event that the pain only increases, urgent medical attention is required.
Immediate consultation of the doctor is necessary in the following situations:
- cannot find a position where the pain subsides;
- have recently had a back injury or bruise;
- the condition worsens at night;
- the patient's gait changed;
- the patient has a fever;
- limbs become weak, numb, tingling is felt;
- painkillers don't help.
Back Pain Diagnosis
To determine the cause of back discomfort, you need to make an appointment with a neurologist. If necessary, blood tests should be done to check for infections or inflammation. Exams may also be required, which will be prescribed by a specialist.
Duplex and triplex ultrasound of the vessels in the neck and brain is needed to diagnose the causes of headache, dizziness, or hypertension.
MRI allows you to see tumors on the vertebrae, compression of the spinal nerves and spinal cord, herniated intervertebral discs, narrowing of the spinal canal. CT is needed to detect vertebral fractures.
X-rays help assess the state of bone structures in order to diagnose fractures, spondylolisthesis, arthritis and the degree of poor posture.
Electromyography detects nerve compression due to spinal stenosis or a herniated disc.
How to relieve back pain?
First of all, you need to relax. To do this, lie on your stomach on a flat, hard surface, preferably on the floor. After a few minutes, turn onto your back and lift your legs so that they form a 90 degree angle. This will reduce the load on the spine.
Anti-inflammatory ointments and creams are also useful. When the pain subsides, you need to get up gently and bandage the painful area with a scarf or towel.
If no pain relievers are available, a cold pack - an ice pack or food from the freezer - will help relieve severe pain. It will not be possible to completely get rid of the discomfort, but it can alleviate the condition. The diametrically opposite option will also help - a heating pad or a warming compress.
A light warm-up or a leisurely walk will help get rid of unpleasant sensations.
Back pain treatment
After examination and diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment. To relieve discomfort, a specialist prescribes painkillers, B vitamins and muscle relaxants. Sometimes bed rest and the use of a special corset are recommended.
An important stage of treatment is physiotherapy. These are electrophoresis with drugs, laser therapy, phonophoresis and magnetotherapy. Electroneurostimulation and acupuncture also help.
Massage, manual therapy, osteopathy and physical therapy are effective for back pain. They also help with trauma rehabilitation.
Back pain prevention
To avoid back discomfort, you need to move more. Morning exercises and yoga classes, contrast showers and massages are effective.
It is important to maintain the health of the collagen-producing liver and to strengthen immunity. It is worth keeping an eye on the weight, as every ten pounds more the load on the spine increases.
But first of all, you need to avoid stress and create a uniform psychological atmosphere.