Recommend
Official site Flekosteel

back pain

Back pain is slightly less common than headaches. Every adult has experienced this feeling at least once. Most often, the neck and lower back are affected. Doctors attribute this to people's gradual increase in physical activity. This is the reason for the occurrence of chronic degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which are the most common causes of back pain. Timely screening and treatment, regular physical activityAnd normalizing body weight will help get rid of discomfort and regain the pleasure of movement.

back pain in a woman

General Information

The high incidence of back pain is associated with its anatomy. The basis is the spinal column. Cartilaginous discs are located between the vertebrae, which perform a shock-absorbing function. The additional skeleton is provided by muscles and ligaments. passes inside the bone column, from which paired roots spread, infecting almost all organs and tissues.

A pathological process in any structure of the back, as well as the internal organs connected to it by nerve fibers, can cause pain. Often, a thorough diagnosis is needed by the doctor to find out its source.

cause

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

Among the external and internal reasons that can intensify, the most common are:

  • increased load on the spine against the background of frequent lifting or overweight;
  • metabolic disorders;
  • posture disorders and diseases of the musculoskeletal system (for example, arthrosis of the hip joint or flat feet), leading to uneven distribution of the load;
  • short temperedness;
  • infectious and autoimmune inflammatory processes;
  • volumetric formations (tumors, abscesses);
  • Pathology of the internal organs of the chest or abdominal cavity.

diseases

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

spine or joint pathology

This is the most common cause of back pain. Most diseases are associated with high and/or uneven loads on the spinal column:

  • Osteochondrosis: the cartilaginous discs between the vertebrae begin to collapse, become thinner and are replaced by bone tissue; As a result, the degenerative function of the spinal cord suffers, and the spinal cord or its root is often compressed;
  • Intervertebral hernia: the middle part of the intervertebral disc protrudes toward the spine, protruding it; The problem often arises against the background of advanced osteochondrosis;
  • Ankylosing spondylitis: autoimmune inflammation of the joints and ligaments of the spine, causing painful spasms in the surrounding muscles; Over time, this causes the vertebrae to become fused together;
  • Spondylolisthesis: displacement of the vertebrae from their 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 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 spasms appear in the affected area. Also, against the background of pain can occur:

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

spinal cord and root deformities

Most often, pain occurs against the background of compression of certain areas of nervous tissue due to trauma, tumors, osteochondrosis or disc herniation. An isolated lesion can be provoked by:

  • Inflammation associated with infections, including HIV and syphilis;
  • multiple sclerosis;
  • bleeding;
  • lack of oxygen;
  • Vitamin or mineral deficiency.

internal organ pathology

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

  • kidney pathologies: pyelonephritis, urolithiasis;
  • Inflammation of the pelvic organs: salpingitis, salpingo-oophoritis, prostatitis;
  • Pathologies of the gallbladder: cholecystitis, cholelithiasis;
  • Damage to the cardiovascular system: angina pectoris, heart attack, dissecting aortic aneurysm, pulmonary embolism;
  • diseases of the respiratory system: pleurisy, pneumonia, abscess, pneumothorax;
  • appendicitis

Nature and localization of pain

The localization and nature of the sensations can tell a lot about their source. It is important to tell the doctor in as much detail as possible how the back pain occurs, so that he can identify the cause and receive treatment as soon as possible.

Depending on its nature, pain can be:

  • acute: often occurs against the background of osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, lumbago or radiculitis, usually aggravated by movement;
  • pain: characteristic of chronic inflammatory processes in the muscles, ligaments or internal organs;
  • suppuration or rupture: often speaks of acute or chronic pathology of internal organs;
  • Pulsed, strong: usually associated with exacerbation of trauma, lumbago, spondylosis, osteochondrosis.

Localization of the pain syndrome can also help in the diagnosis of:

  • On the right: pathology of the liver, gallbladder, duodenum, damage to the ovaries or kidneys on the right, appendicitis;
  • Left: malformation 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 scapula: pathology of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, right-sided intercostal neuralgia, pleurisy, pneumonia;
  • Under the left shoulder blade: heart disease, left-sided pneumonia, pleurisy, intercostal neuralgia, etc.

When You Need to See a Doctor Immediately

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

  • pain after injury;
  • It is not possible to find a position in which the pain becomes debilitating;
  • the temperature has increased;
  • Signs of nerve damage appear: 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;
  • blood pressure has changed rapidly (increased or decreased);
  • you have problems urinating or your urine has changed color;
  • the pain has spread to the chest, abdomen;
  • The condition is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, profuse loose or delayed stools.

In general, any suspicious symptom that was not noted in previous attacks of pain should alert the patient and cause immediate medical attention.

diagnosis

Exams for back pain include:

  • collection of complaints and disease history, explanation of the circumstances of onset of pain, its nature, intensity, localization and other important parameters, identification of risk factors for various diseases;
  • General examination with measurement of blood pressure, assessment of heart rate, respiration, temperature;
  • Neurological examination: assessment of sensory and motor functions, quality of reflexes;
  • Laboratory diagnosis: general blood and urine tests, basic biochemical blood tests; If necessary, tests are prescribed to confirm or exclude a specific pathology;
  • ECG, ultrasound of the heart;
  • X-ray, CT or MRI of the spine;
  • ultrasound of abdominal organs, small pelvis;
  • chest X-ray;
  • Doppler ultrasonography of the vessels of the neck and brain;
  • Electromyography: assessment of the quality of conduction of nerve impulses through muscle fibers;
  • Consultations of narrow 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 pathologies of the musculoskeletal system and nervous tissue. In this case, painkillers become the basis of therapy:

  • nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • hormonal agents;
  • Muscle relaxants: to relieve muscle spasms;
  • B vitamins: to improve the condition of nervous tissue;
  • Narcotic analgesics: with the ineffectiveness of drugs from other groups.

Additional procedures help complement the effect of drug treatment:

  • Physiotherapy: electro- and phonophoresis, laser and magnetic therapy, electroneurostimulation;
  • massage;
  • manual therapy;
  • physical treatment.

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

redress

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

  • prevent hypodynamia: do gymnastics, play sports (without overload);
  • avoid stress;
  • rest well;
  • eat right, prevent excess weight gain;
  • Avoid heavy lifting;
  • correct posture disorder;
  • Get regular check ups by the doctor, treat chronic diseases on time.

Back pain can be subtle, or it can completely immobilize a person. Don't allow distress, see a doctor at the first sign of trouble.