Everyone has experienced back pain. For some it is periodic pain, for others it is constant. To get rid of the discomfort, many people drink painkillers and do not pay attention to the real causes of 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 injuries. Sometimes the discomfort is the result of poor posture, exercise or sudden movement.
You must first understand 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 worsens with heavy lifting, physical exertion, hypothermia, or prolonged immobilization, then the cause may be myositis, lumbago, or an intervertebral hernia.
Acute pain that radiates to the legs or arms may signal radiculitis, an intervertebral hernia, or osteochondrosis. Unpleasant sensations are aggravated by walking, bending or coughing, and weakness is felt in the limbs.
The same intervertebral hernia, lumbago and osteochondrosis, as well as spondylosis, can also cause throbbing pain. This is confirmed when the pain does not subside even after painkillers.
If cracking or squeezing pain occurs in the chest area, it is a sign of pulmonary embolism or myocardial infarction. Discomfort in the spine indicates spondyloarthritis, and in the lumbar region - intestinal obstruction. Atherosclerosis can be a cause of pressing pain in the neck.
Back pain after sleep
In the morning, your back can hurt, not just because of the wrong mattress or improper posture during sleep. Hypothermia, stress, or heavy lifting the day before can cause stiffness and pain under the shoulder blades, in the lower back, on the right or left side.
The reasons can be different: curvature of the spine, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia or obesity. Also, the back can hurt in the morning during pregnancy.
Pathologies of the spine and joints
Spinal discomfort can be associated with diseases of the musculoskeletal system:
- Ankylosing spondylitis. Due to muscle spasm, the patient leans forward to relieve discomfort. Subsequently, the inflamed vertebrae harden and grow together, making the spine less flexible.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. The disease begins in the knees, hips or shoulders, and then spreads to the cervical spine. In the morning, patients have a feeling of shooting and stiffness: the affected vertebrae put unnecessary pressure on the nerves.
- Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. The patient experiences discomfort in the lower back: the vertebrae move and compress the nerve endings.
- Osteomyelitis. Acute muscle pain occurs due to an infection in the bone tissue of the spine.
- Osteochondrosis. In this disease, the amortization of the spine deteriorates. The discs between the vertebrae are damaged and the annular fibrosis breaks: the nucleus of the disc protrudes through the cracks and is pinched.
- Intervertebral hernia. The protrusion between the vertebrae is compressed during movement, as a result of which it is broken.
Muscle diseases
The source of discomfort can be spasms and dents in the muscular corset that supports the spine:
- Fibromyalgia In this disease, the back hurts from neck to waist and the discomfort increases when pressing in certain places.
- Dermatomyositis. The skin around the striated and smooth muscles becomes inflamed.
- Polymyositis. The disease occurs due to overexertion or hypothermia: it hurts to turn, and the muscles feel weak.
- Rheumatic polymyalgia. The patient can hardly stand on his feet without help, and the asymmetry is clearly visible in his back.
- Charcot's disease. Peripheral nerves in the spine become inflamed. Sensitivity deteriorates, muscles become weaker and the patient's gait changes.
Diseases of the spinal cord
Unpleasant sensations can occur due to the fact that every part of the spinal cord is compressed or inflamed.
Sources of pain in this case:
- compression of the spinal membranes as a result of a fracture, hematoma or abscess;
- inflammation of nearby muscles;
- circulatory disorders;
- hemorrhage;
- lack of vitamins;
- complication of HIV or syphilis;
- back 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 parts of the back are caused by different 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 pain in the lower back can be sciatica, osteochondrosis or intervertebral hernia.
If it hurts just above the lower back on the right - it may be myositis, on the left - osteochondrosis.
Discomfort throughout the spine signals a bulge that may develop into osteochondrosis.
When should you see a doctor as soon as possible?
If the cause of the back pain is tension or stress, it will go away in a few days. However, in cases where the pain only increases, urgent medical attention is needed.
Immediate medical consultation is required in the following situations:
- cannot find a position in which the pain becomes less;
- you have recently had a back injury or contusion;
- the condition worsens at night;
- the patient's gait has changed;
- the patient is feverish;
- limbs become weak, tingling, tingling is felt;
- painkillers do not help.
Diagnosis of back pain
To determine the cause of back discomfort, you should make an appointment with a neurologist. If necessary, blood tests should be done to check for infection or inflammation. Examinations may be required, which will be prescribed by a specialist.
Duplex and triplex ultrasound scans of the vessels of the neck and brain are needed to diagnose the causes of headaches, dizziness or high blood pressure.
MRI allows you to see tumors of 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 to assess the condition of bone structures to diagnose fractures, spondylolisthesis, arthritis and the degree of poor posture.
Electromyography reveals nerve compression due to spinal stenosis or disc herniation.
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, roll over on your back and lift your legs so that they are at a 90 degree angle. This will reduce the strain on the spine.
Anti-inflammatory ointments and creams are also useful. When the pain subsides, you should carefully stand up and bandage the affected area with a scarf or towel.
If painkillers are not available, a cold compress - 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 heating compress.
A light warm-up or a leisurely walk will help you get rid of the unpleasant sensations.
Treatment of back pain
After examination and diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment. To relieve the discomfort, the specialist prescribes painkillers, B vitamins and muscle relaxants. Sometimes it is recommended to rest in bed and wear a special corset.
An important stage of treatment is physiotherapy. These are drug electrophoresis, laser therapy, phonophoresis and magnetic therapy. Electroneurostimulation and acupuncture also help.
For back pain, massage, manual therapy, osteopathy and exercise are effective. They also help in the rehabilitation of injuries.
Prevention of back pain
To avoid back discomfort, you need to move more. Morning exercises and yoga, contrast shower and massage courses are effective.
It is important to maintain the health of the collagen-producing liver and to boost immunity. It is worth monitoring your weight, as every ten extra pounds increases the load on the spine.
But first, you need to avoid stress and create an even psychological atmosphere around.