Back pain is one of the most common health problems. We want to familiarize you with the causes of its occurrence and teach you what to do if your back is sore.
There is probably no such person in the world who has had back pain at least once in their life. Back pain can be dull and persistent, or it can be acute and sudden and cause you to measure every movement. It can start abruptly when you drop or lift something too heavy, or it can progress slowly, making it impossible for you to live a full life.
Factors that increase the risk of back pain
Everyone is immune to back pain, but there are a few factors that increase your risk of back pain:
- Age.Your back hurts more often the older you get. Back pain usually first appears when you are between 30 and 40 years old.
- Bad physical condition.Back pain is more common in people who are inactive and have a sedentary lifestyle.
- Overweight.A high-calorie and high-fat diet can lead to weight gain. Too much weight puts more strain on the spine and causes pain.
- inheritance.There are hereditary diseases, one of which is back pain, e. g. B. Ankylosing spondylitis.
- Other diseases.Certain types of arthritis and cancer can also cause back pain.
- your job.If your job requires constant, serious physical exertion or heavy lifting, or if you have to spend several hours in an uncomfortable position, back pain can result. If you work at your desk all day without sitting upright, your back hurts too.
- Smoking.When you smoke, your body cannot absorb enough nutrients for your bones, which leads to a gradual loss of spinal strength and decreased flexibility. A smoker's cough can also cause back pain.
What are the reasons?
There are many causes of back pain. Sometimes the pain can be caused by mechanical reasons, such as:
- Spasms of the back muscles.
- Bruise of the spine.
- stretching the muscles.
- Rip discs.
- Falls from a great height.
- spinal fractures.
Back pain can manifest itself as one of the symptoms of certain diseases and conditions, such as: B. :
- Scoliosis of the spine.
- Spondylolisthesis.
- arthritis.
- stenosis.
- pregnancy.
- kidney stones.
- infections.
- endometriosis.
- fibromyalgia.
Other possible causes of back pain are infection, swelling, or stress.
How can you prevent back pain?
The best you can do to prevent back pain:
- Exercise regularly to strengthen your back muscles.
- Maintain a healthy weight or lose weight if you are overweight. To have strong bones, you need to get enough calcium and vitamin D every day.
- Maintain correct posture, do not lean over or lean over.
- Avoid heavy lifting. If you can't do without lifting weights, do the right thing: bend your legs and keep your back straight, place the load in the middle of your body and not on your side, press the load against your body and carrythem not in outstretched arms. When lowering a heavy object, continuing to keep your back straight, crouch down and put the weight down. You need to get up slowly and carefully after these manipulations, as the spine is vulnerable after transferring weights.
When to see a doctor?
You should see a doctor if you:
have- numbness or tingling.
- Severe pain that gets progressively worse and does not respond to treatment.
- The pain occurred after a fall or an injury.
Pain is associated with one of the following symptoms:
- Problems urinating.
- weakness.
- Numbness in the legs.
- fever.
- Lose weight without diet.
Which diagnostic methods are used for back pain?
In order to diagnose back pain, the doctor will ask you in detail about the course and the type of pain and will carry out an examination. After the exam, he will order further tests, e. g. B. :
- Radiography.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Computed tomography (CT).
- blood tests.
Medical tests may not reveal the cause of your back pain. Very often the cause of back pain remains unclear.
What is the difference between acute and chronic back pain?
Acute pain begins quickly and does not last more than 6 weeks. This is the most common type of back pain. Acute pain can be caused by falling while playing soccer or lifting heavy objects. Chronic pain lasts longer than 3 months and is much less common than acute pain.
How do I heal?
Treatment for back pain depends on the type of pain you are experiencing. Acute back pain usually goes away on its own without treatment, but you can take pain relievers to relieve pain. Exercise and surgery are typically not used to treat acute back pain.
Here are some treatments for chronic back pain:
Hot or cold compresses (or both)
Hot or cold compresses can relieve pain and relieve tension in the back. Heat can reduce muscle spasms. Cold helps reduce puffiness, puffiness, and tenderness. Using hot or cold compresses can relieve pain, but this treatment will not address the underlying cause of chronic back pain.
Special exercises
Proper exercise can help relieve chronic pain, but should not be used for acute back pain. Your doctor or chiropractor can help you determine which exercises are appropriate for your situation.
Medicines
The following drugs are mainly used for back pain:
- painkillers.
- Pain-relieving creams and ointments are rubbed into the skin over the painful area.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that may reduce pain and swelling. NSAIDs include branded drugs. Your doctor may prescribe stronger NSAIDs for you.
- Muscle relaxants and some antidepressants can help with some types of chronic back pain, but this is very individual.
Change in behavior
Learn to lift heavy objects properly to reduce the stress on your back. A lifestyle change: Eating healthy, quitting smoking, buying a good quality orthopedic mattress, and going swimming can all help relieve back pain.
injections
Your doctor may suggest injections of steroids or topical pain relievers to relieve the pain.
Alternative treatments
Some unconventional treatments can work well. The most common of these methods are:
- Manual therapy.Chiropractors have techniques in place to relieve chronic back pain. However, it should be noted that even if your doctor is a wizard and has been able to relieve pain in a few sessions, it is necessary to seriously strengthen the back muscles so that this pain does not recur.
- acupuncture.In Chinese medicine, fine needles are used to relieve pain and restore health. Acupuncture can be effective as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for lower back pain.
- acupressure.The therapist applies pressure to specific areas of the body to relieve pain. The effectiveness of acupressure for back pain is not well understood.
Surgical treatment
Most people with chronic back pain do not need an operation. This is usually a last resort and is used when other treatments don't work. The process may be required if you:
have- herniated disc.
- Stenosis of the spine.
- Spondylolisthesis.
- vertebral body fractures.
- A fracture can be caused by a blow on the back or destruction of the bones due to osteoporosis.
- Degenerative disc disease.
With age, the intervertebral discs can collapse and cause severe pain.
In rare cases, if back pain is caused by a tumor, infection, or a nerve root problem called cauda equina syndrome, surgery is needed immediately to relieve the pain and prevent new problems.