Back pain is a little less common than headaches. Every adult has encountered this feeling at least once. Most often, the neck and lower back are affected. Doctors attribute this to a gradual decline in people's physical activity because many people both work and relax at the computer. This is the cause of the occurrence of chronic degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which is the most common cause of back pain. Timely examination and treatment, regular physical activity and normalization of body weight help to get rid of discomfort and regain the joy of movement.
generel information
The high incidence of back pain is associated with its anatomy. The basis is the spine. Cartilage discs are located between the vertebrae, which perform a shock-absorbing function. Additional skeleton is provided by muscles and ligaments. The spinal cord passes inside the spine, from which paired roots extend and innervate almost all organs and tissues.
A pathological process in any of the spinal structures as well as the internal organs associated with it of nerve fibers can cause pain. Often a doctor has to make a thorough diagnosis to find out its source.
The reasons
Most of the conditions that cause pain in part of the back are chronic. They begin gradually and are asymptomatic for a long time.
Among the external and internal causes that can cause a deterioration, the most common are:
- increased load on the spine due to frequent weight lifting or overweight;
- metabolic disorders
- posture disorders and diseases of the musculoskeletal system (for example, osteoarthritis of the hip joint or flat feet), leading to an uneven distribution of the load;
- hypothermia
- 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 that 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 load on the spine:
- osteochondrosis: the cartilaginous discs between the vertebrae begin to collapse, thin out and be replaced by bone tissue; as a result, the depreciation 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 squeezes it; the problem often arises on the background of advanced osteochondrosis;
- ankylosing spondylitis: autoimmune inflammation of joints and ligaments of the spine, leading to painful spasms in the surrounding muscles; over time it becomes the cause of splicing the vertebrae together;
- spondylolisthesis: displacement of the spine 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 cervix;
- 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 spasms appear in the affected area. In addition, pain may occur due to:
- fibromyalgia: chronic pain in muscles and ligaments, often accompanied by stiffness and stiffness;
- myositis: an inflammatory process in the muscles that occurs due to hypothermia, stretching, injury or physical overload;
- dermatomyositis: chronic damage to skin, muscles and internal organs, probably of an autoimmune nature.
Spinal cord and root pathology
Often, pain occurs due to compression of certain areas of the nerve tissue due to trauma, tumor, osteochondrosis, or disc herniation. An isolated lesion can be provoked by:
- inflammation associated with infection, including HIV and syphilis;
- multiple sclerosis;
- bleeding
- lack of oxygen
- lack of vitamins or minerals.
Internal organ pathology
The innervation of most of the internal organs is carried out by the roots of the spinal cord. As a result, any pathological process in them can become causal pain. Most often, doctors face 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, heart attack, dissecting aortic aneurysm, pulmonary embolism;
- respiratory diseases: pleurisy, pneumonia, abscess, pneumothorax;
- appendicitis.
The nature and location of pain
The location and nature of the sensations can tell a lot about their source. It is important to tell the doctor as detailed as possible exactly how the back hurts so that he can identify the cause and receive treatment as soon as possible.
Depending on its nature, the pain can be:
- acute: often occurs on the background of osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, lumbago or radiculitis, usually exacerbated by movement;
- tenderness: characteristic of chronic inflammatory processes in muscles, ligaments or internal organs;
- pressing or rupture: often speaks of acute or chronic pathology of internal organs;
- pulsating, strong: usually associated with trauma, lumbago, spondylosis, exacerbation of osteochondrosis.
Localization of pain syndrome can also help diagnose:
- right: pathology of the liver, gallbladder, duodenum, damage to the ovary or kidneys to 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 right shoulder blade: pathology of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, right-sided intercostal neuralgia, pleurisy, pneumonia;
- under the left shoulder blade: heart disease, left-sided pneumonia, pneumonia, intercostal neuralgia, etc.
When you need to see a doctor as soon as possible
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 consult a specialist in the following situations as soon as possible:
- pain occurred after injury
- it is not possible to find a position where the pain becomes weaker;
- there is an increase in temperature;
- signs of nerve damage appear: numbness, tingling, muscle weakness;
- pain worse at night
- sensations are accompanied by weakness, darkness in the eyes, palpitations, cold sweats
- painkillers do not provide relief;
- the disease progresses despite treatment
- blood pressure has changed sharply (increased or decreased)
- you have difficulty urinating, or the color of your urine has changed
- pain has spread to the chest, abdomen;
- the condition is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, profuse loose or delayed bowel movements.
In general, any suspicious symptom that was not noticed in previous pain attacks should alert the patient and become a reason for emergency medical attention.
Diagnostics
Examination for back pain includes:
- collection of complaints and anamnesis of the disease, clarification of the circumstances of pain, its nature, intensity, location 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 diagnostics: general blood and urine tests, basic biochemical blood test; if necessary, tests are prescribed to confirm or rule out a specific pathology;
- ECG, ultrasound of the heart;
- X-ray, CT or MRI of the spine;
- Ultrasound of organs in the abdominal cavity, small pelvis;
- X-ray of the chest;
- Doppler ultrasound of the vessels of the neck and brain;
- electromyography: assessment of the quality of nerve impulse conduction through muscle fibers;
- consultations with narrow specialists: nephrologist, cardiologist, gynecologist, etc.
The list of tests, diagnostic procedures and consultations may vary depending on the patient's complaints.
Treatment of back pain
The choice of treatment methods depends on the cause. Most often, doctors face pathology of the musculoskeletal system and nerve tissue. In this case, painkillers 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 the nerve tissue;
- narcotic analgesics: with the ineffectiveness of drugs from other groups.
Additional procedures help supplement the effect of drug treatment:
- physiotherapy: electro- and phonophoresis, laser and magnetic therapy, electronurostimulation;
- massage;
- manual therapy;
- physiotherapy.
Specific techniques are chosen by the doctor depending on the cause of the organisms and individual characteristics. In some cases, surgical treatment is prescribed.
Prevention
Back pain can be prevented. To do this, follow the following rules:
- prevent hypodynamics: practice gymnastics, play sports (without overload);
- Avoid stress
- have a good nap;
- eat right, prevent excess weight gain
- avoid heavy lifting
- correct body disorders
- regularly examined by a doctor, treat chronic diseases in a timely manner.
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 trouble.