Back pain is one of the most common health problems. We want to make you aware of the causes of its occurrence and teach you what to do when your back hurts.
There is probably no such person in the world who has never had back pain at least once in his life. Back pain can be dull and persistent, or it can come on suddenly and sharply, forcing you to measure every movement. It can start abruptly if you fall or lift something too heavy, or if it slides slowly, making it impossible for you to live a fulfilling life.
Factors that increase the risk of back pain
Everyone is immune to back pain, but there are some factors that increase your risk of back pain:
- Age.Your back hurts more often the older you get. Back pain usually occurs for the first time when you are in your 30s and 40s.
- Poor physical condition.Back pain is more common in people who are inactive and sedentary.
- Overweight.A diet high in calories and fat can make you lose weight. Too much weight puts more stress on the spine and causes pain.
- Heredity.There are hereditary diseases in which one of the symptoms is back pain, such as ankylosing spondylitis.
- Other diseases.Certain types of arthritis and cancer can also cause back pain.
- This job.If your work constantly requires severe physical exertion, lifting weights, or if you have to spend several hours in an uncomfortable position - the result may be back pain. If you work at your desk all day without sitting vertically, your back will also hurt.
- Smoking.If you smoke, your body will not be able to get enough of the nutrients it needs for your bones, resulting in a gradual loss of spinal strength and reduced flexibility. A smoker's cough can also cause back pain.
What are the causes?
There are many causes of back pain. Sometimes the pain can be due to mechanical causes such as:
- Spasms of the back muscles.
- Spinal contusion.
- Stretches the muscles.
- Ripping discs.
- Fall from height.
- Spinal Fractures.
Back pain can manifest as one of the symptoms of certain diseases and conditions, such as:
- Scoliosis of the spine.
- Spondylolisthesis.
- Gout.
- Stenosis.
- Pregnancy.
- Kidney stones.
- Infections.
- Endometriosis.
- Fibromyalgia.
Other possible causes of back pain are infections, swelling or stress.
How to prevent back pain?
The best thing 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 proper posture, do not relax or bend.
- Avoid heavy lifting. If you can not do without lifting weights, do it right: bend your legs and keep your back straight, place the load in the center of the body and not on the side, and press the load against the body and do not carry it on outstretched arms. When lowering a heavy object, continue to keep your back straight, squat, and put the weight down. You need to get up after these manipulations slowly and carefully, because after transferring weights, the spine is vulnerable.
When should I see a doctor?
You should see a doctor if you have:
- Numbness or tingling.
- Severe pain that gradually gets worse and does not respond to any treatment.
- The pain occurred after a fall or injury.
Pain is accompanied by one of the following symptoms:
- Urination problems.
- Weakness.
- Numbness in the legs.
- Fever.
- To lose weight without dieting.
What diagnostic methods are used when back pain hurts?
To diagnose back pain, your doctor will ask you in detail about the course of the pain and the nature and perform an examination. After the examination, he will order other tests, such as:
- Radiography.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Computed tomography (CT).
- Blood tests.
Medical tests may not show the cause of your back pain. Often the cause of back pain is unclear.
What is the difference between acute and chronic back pain?
Acute pain starts quickly and lasts no more than 6 weeks. This is the most common type of back pain. Acute pain can be caused by things like falling while playing football or lifting heavy objects. Chronic pain lasts more than 3 months and is much less common than acute pain.
How to heal?
Treating back pain depends on the type of pain you are having. Acute back pain usually goes away on its own without treatment, but you can take painkillers to relieve the pain. Exercise and surgery are not commonly used to treat acute back pain.
Below are some of the treatments for chronic back pain:
Compresses hot or cold (or both)
Hot or cold compresses can relieve pain and relieve tension in the back. Heat can reduce muscle spasms. Cold helps reduce swelling, swelling and sensitization. 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 decide which exercises are right for your situation.
Medicine
The following are the main medicines used for back pain:
- Painkillers.
- Painkillers and ointments are rubbed into the skin over the pain site.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can reduce pain and swelling. NSAIDs include branded goods. Your doctor may prescribe stronger NSAIDs.
- Muscle relaxants and some antidepressants can help with some types of chronic back pain, but this is very individual.
Behavior change
Learn to lift heavy objects correctly to reduce the strain on your back. Lifestyle changes: Eating healthy, quitting smoking, buying a high-quality orthopedic mattress and swimming can all help reduce back pain.
Injections
Your doctor may suggest injections of steroids or topical painkillers to help relieve pain.
Alternative Treatments
Some unconventional therapies may work well. The most common of these methods are:
- Manual therapy.Chiropractors have techniques for relieving long-term chronic back pain. However, it must be remembered that even if your doctor is a magician and was able to relieve pain for a few sessions, you need to seriously strengthen your back muscles so that these pains do not return again.
- Acupuncture.Chinese medicine uses fine needles to relieve pain and restore health. Acupuncture can be effective when used as part of a comprehensive lumbar pain treatment plan.
- Acupressure.The therapist puts pressure on specific areas of the body to relieve pain. The effectiveness of acupressure against back pain is not well understood.
Surgical treatment
Most people with chronic back pain do not need surgery. This is usually an extreme method and is used if other treatments do not work. The operation may be required if you have:
- Herniated disk.
- Spinal stenosis.
- Spondylolisthesis.
- Vertebral fracture.
- A fracture can be caused by a blow to the back or destruction of bones due to osteoporosis.
- Degenerative disc disease.
With age, the intervertebral discs may begin to collapse, causing severe pain.
Rarely, when back pain is caused by a tumor, infection, or nerve root problem called cauda equina syndrome, surgery is immediately needed to relieve the pain and prevent new problems.