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Back pain

Back pain is a little less common than headache. Every adult has experienced this feeling at least once. The neck and lower back are most commonly affected. Doctors attribute this to a gradual decrease in people's physical activity, as many people both work and relax on computers. This is the reason for the occurrence of chronic degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which are the most common cause of back pain. Timely examination and treatment, regular physical activity and normalization of body weight will help get rid of ailments and regain the joy of exercise.

Back pain in a woman

General information

The high incidence of back pain is related to its anatomy. The spine forms the basis. Between the vertebrae there are cartilage discs that have a shock-absorbing function. Additional skeleton is provided by muscles and ligaments. The spinal cord runs within the spine, from which paired roots extend and innervate almost all organs and tissues.

A pathological process in one of the structures of the back, as well as internal organs connected to it by nerve fibers, can cause pain. Often times, a doctor needs to do a thorough diagnosis to find out the source.

The reasons

Most of the conditions that cause pain in any part of the back are chronic. They start gradually and are asymptomatic for a long time.

Among the external and internal causes that can cause an exacerbation, the most common are:

  • increased load on the spine against the background of frequent weight lifting or excess weight;
  • Metabolic disorders;
  • Postural disorders and diseases of the musculoskeletal system (for example hip arthrosis or flat feet) that lead to an uneven load distribution;
  • Hypothermia;
  • infectious and autoimmune inflammatory processes;
  • volumetric formations (tumors, abscesses);
  • pathology of the internal organs of the thoracic or abdominal cavity.

Diseases

Back pain can be a symptom of many diseases that can be divided into several groups.

Spinal or joint pathology

This is the number one cause of back pain. Most diseases are associated with high and / or uneven stress on the spine:

  • Osteochondrosis: the cartilage discs between the vertebrae begin to collapse, thin out and be replaced by bone tissue; as a result, the write-off function of the spine suffers and the spinal cord or its root is often compressed;
  • Intervertebral hernia: the central part of the intervertebral disc protrudes towards the spinal cord and compresses it; the problem often occurs against the background of advanced osteochondrosis;
  • Ankylosing spondylitis: autoimmune inflammation of the joints and ligaments of the spine, causing painful cramps in the surrounding muscles; in time it becomes the cause of the vertebrae splicing together;
  • Spondylolisthesis: displacement of the vertebra from its normal position, which can lead to compression of the roots or spinal cord;
  • rheumatoid arthritis: inflammation of the joints of an autoimmune nature; more often affects the cervical spine;
  • Osteomyelitis: inflammation of the bone tissue.

Muscle tissue pathology

Muscle tissue is often involved in the pathological process in the pathology of bone tissue or joints. In this case, painful cramps appear in the affected area. In addition, pain may appear against the background of:

  • Fibromyalgia: chronic pain in muscles and ligaments, often accompanied by stiffness and stiffness;
  • Myositis: an inflammatory process in the muscles that occurs on the background of hypothermia, stretching, injury or physical overload;
  • Dermatomyositis: chronic damage to the skin, muscles and internal organs, most likely autoimmune in nature.

Spinal cord and root pathology

Most often, pain occurs against the background of compression of certain areas of nerve tissue due to trauma, tumors, osteochondrosis or herniated discs. An isolated lesion can be caused by:

  • Inflammation related to infection, including HIV and syphilis;
  • Multiple sclerosis;
  • Bleeding;
  • Lack of oxygen;
  • Lack of vitamins or minerals.

Internal organs pathology

Most internal organs are innervated by the roots of the spinal cord. As a result, any pathological process in them can become a causative back pain. Most commonly, doctors have the following problems:

  • Renal pathology: pyelonephritis, urolithiasis;
  • Inflammation of the pelvic organs: salpingitis, salpingo-oophoritis, prostatitis;
  • Gallbladder pathology: cholecystitis, cholelithiasis;
  • Damage to the cardiovascular system: angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, preparative aortic aneurysm, pulmonary embolism;
  • Respiratory diseases: pleurisy, pneumonia, abscess, pneumothorax;
  • Appendicitis.

The type and location of pain

The location and nature of sensations can tell a lot about their source. It is important to tell the doctor as precisely as possible how the back hurts so that they can identify the cause and treat it as soon as possible.

Depending on the type, the pain can be:

  • acute: often occurs on a background of osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, lumbago or radiculitis, which are usually aggravated by movement;
  • Pain: characteristic of chronic inflammatory processes in the muscles, ligaments or internal organs;
  • press or burst: most often speaks of acute or chronic pathology of internal organs;
  • pulsating, strong: usually associated with trauma, lumbago, spondylosis, exacerbation of osteochondrosis.

The localization of the pain syndrome can also help diagnose:

  • right: pathology of the liver, gall bladder, duodenum, damage to the ovary or kidney on the right, appendicitis;
  • left: pathology of the spleen, left kidney or ovary, myocardial infarction, pancreatitis;
  • in the lumbar region: sciatica, osteochondrosis, lumbago, Reiter's syndrome, intervertebral hernia;
  • below the waist: osteochondrosis or intervertebral hernia, bilateral inflammation of the ovaries, pathology of the uterus, cramps during menstruation;
  • under the right shoulder blade: pathology of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, right-hand intercostal neuralgia, pleurisy, pneumonia;
  • under the left shoulder blade: heart disease, left-sided pneumonia, pleurisy, intercostal neuralgia, etc.

If you need to see a doctor urgently

Back pain can be both a sign of a relatively harmless pathology and evidence of a dangerous process that requires immediate medical attention. A person should urgently consult a specialist in the following situations:

  • Pain occurred after an injury;
  • it is not possible to find a position where the pain becomes lighter;
  • there is an increase in temperature;
  • There are signs of nerve damage: numbness, tingling, muscle weakness;
  • pain worse at night;
  • sensations are accompanied by weakness, darkening of the eyes, palpitations, cold sweat;
  • Pain relievers do not provide relief;
  • the disease progresses despite treatment;
  • the blood pressure has changed significantly (increased or decreased);
  • You have problems urinating or the color of your urine has changed;
  • pain has spread to the chest, stomach;
  • the condition is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, profuse loose or delayed bowel movements.

In general, any suspicious symptom that has not been detected in previous attacks of pain should alert the patient and be a cause for urgent medical attention.

diagnosis

Testing for back pain includes:

  • Collection of complaints and anamnesis of the disease, clarification of the circumstances of the occurrence of pain, its nature, intensity, localization and other important parameters, identification of risk factors for various diseases;
  • general examination with blood pressure measurement, assessment of heart rate, breathing, temperature;
  • neurological examination: assessment of sensory and motor functions, quality of reflexes;
  • Laboratory diagnostics: general blood and urine tests, basic biochemical blood tests; if necessary, tests are prescribed to confirm or exclude a specific pathology;
  • EKG, ultrasound of the heart;
  • X-ray, CT, or MRI of the spine;
  • Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity organs, small pelvis;
  • Chest x-ray;
  • Doppler ultrasound of the vessels of the neck and brain;
  • Electromyography: Assessment of the quality of nerve impulse conduction through muscle fibers;
  • Consultations from close specialists: nephrologist, cardiologist, gynecologist, etc.

The list of tests, diagnostic procedures, and consultations may vary depending on the patient's complaints.

Back pain in the lumbar region

Back pain treatment

The choice of treatment methods depends on the cause. Most often, doctors are faced with a pathology of the musculoskeletal system and nervous tissue. In this case, pain relievers become the basis of therapy:

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • hormonal agents;
  • Muscle relaxants: to relieve muscle spasms;
  • B vitamins: to improve the condition of nerve tissue;
  • narcotic analgesics: with the ineffectiveness of drugs of other groups.

Additional procedures will help complement the effects of drug treatment:

  • Physiotherapy: electro- and phonophoresis, laser and magnetic field therapy, electro-neurostimulation;
  • Massage;
  • manual therapy;
  • physical therapy.

Certain techniques are selected by the doctor depending on the cause and the individual characteristics of the organism. In some cases, surgical treatment is prescribed.

prevention

Back pain can be prevented. To do this, you must adhere to the following rules:

  • Prevent hypodynamia: doing gymnastics, doing sports (without overloading);
  • Avoid stress;
  • have a good rest;
  • eat right, prevent obesity;
  • avoid heavy lifting;
  • correct posture disorders;
  • get regular medical examinations, treat chronic diseases in good time.

Back pain can be subtle, or it can immobilize a person completely. Do not allow a crisis, see a doctor at the first sign of problems.