Back pain is slightly less common than headache. Every adult has experienced this feeling at least once. The neck and lower back are most commonly affected. Doctors explain this by the gradual decrease in people’s physical activity because many people work and rest at their computer. This is the cause of chronic degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which are the most common causes of back pain. Timely examination and treatment, regular physical activity and normalization of body weight will help you get rid of discomfort and regain the joy of movement.
general information
The high incidence of back pain is related to its anatomy. The base is the spine. There are disc discs between the vertebrae that perform an impact-absorbing function. Additional skeletons are provided by muscles and ligaments. The spinal cord passes inside the spinal column, from which even roots extend, innervating almost all organs and tissues.
Abnormal processes in any part of the back, as well as internal organs associated with nerve fibers, can cause pain. Often, the doctor must make a thorough diagnosis to find out its source.
The reasons
Most conditions that cause pain in some parts of the back are chronic. They start gradually and are asymptomatic for a long time.
The most common external and internal causes of exacerbation are:
- increased load on the spine against the background of frequent weight lifting or overweight;
- metabolic disorders;
- postural disorders and musculoskeletal disorders (such as arthrosis of the hip joint or flat foot) leading to an uneven distribution of load;
- hypothermia;
- infectious and autoimmune inflammatory processes;
- volumetric formations (tumors, abscesses);
- pathology of the internal organs of the chest or abdomen.
Diseases
Back pain can be a symptom of many diseases that can be divided into several groups.
Spinal or joint pathology
This is the most common cause of back pain. Most diseases are associated with high and / or uneven loading of the spine:
- osteochondrosis: the discs between the vertebrae begin to collapse, thin, and are replaced by bone tissue; as a result, the spinal cord suffers from depreciation and the spinal cord or its root is often compressed;
- intervertebral hernia: the middle part of the intervertebral disc extends towards the spinal cord, squeezed; the problem often occurs in the background of advanced osteochondrosis;
- ankylosing spondylitis: an autoimmune inflammation of the joints and ligaments of the spine that leads to painful cramps in the surrounding muscles; over time, this becomes the reason for the joints of the vertebrae;
- spondylolisthesis: displacement of the vertebra from its normal position, which can lead to compression of the roots or spinal cord;
- rheumatoid arthritis: inflammation of autoimmune joints; more often affects the cervical spine;
- osteomyelitis: inflammation of bone tissue.
Pathology of muscle tissue
Muscle tissue is often involved in the pathology of bone tissue or joints. In this case, painful cramps appear in the affected area. In addition, pain may occur in the background of:
- fibromyalgia: chronic pain in the muscles and ligaments, often accompanied by stiffness and stiffness;
- myositis: an inflammatory process in the muscles that occurs as a result of hypothermia, stretching, injury, or physical overload;
- dermatomyositis: chronic damage to the skin, muscles, and internal organs that is likely to be autoimmune in nature.
Spinal cord and root pathology
Most often, the pain is due to the compression of certain areas of nerve tissue due to trauma, tumor, osteochondrosis, or disc herniation. The isolated lesion may be caused by:
- inflammatory inflammation, including HIV and syphilis;
- multiple sclerosis;
- bleeding;
- lack of oxygen;
- lack of vitamins or minerals.
Internal organ pathology
Most internal organs are innervated by the roots of the spinal cord. As a result, any pathological process in them can become a causal back pain. Most often, doctors have the following problems:
- renal pathology: pyelonephritis, urolithiasis;
- inflammation of the pelvic organs: salpingitis, salpingo-oophoritis, prostatitis;
- pathology of the gallbladder: cholecystitis, cholelithiasis;
- cardiovascular damage: angina pectoris, heart attack, dissection of aortic aneurysm, pulmonary embolism;
- respiratory diseases: pleurisy, pneumonia, abscess, pneumothorax;
- appendicitis.
The nature and localization of pain
The localization and nature of feelings can tell a lot about their source. It is important that you tell your doctor in as much detail as possible how exactly your back hurts so you can identify the cause and receive treatment as soon as possible.
Depending on its nature, the pain can be:
- acute: often occurs in the background of osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, lumbago or radiculitis, usually aggravated by movement;
- painful: characteristic of chronic inflammatory processes in the muscles, ligaments or internal organs;
- pressure or burst: most often speaks of acute or chronic pathology of the internal organs;
- throbbing, strong: usually associated with trauma, lumbago, spondylosis, exacerbation of osteochondrosis.
Localizing pain syndrome can also help diagnose:
- on the right: pathology of the liver, gallbladder, duodenum, damage to the right ovary or kidney, appendicitis;
- left: pathology of the spleen, left kidney or ovary, myocardial infarction, inflammation of the pancreas;
- in the lumbar region: sciatica, osteochondrosis, lumbago, Reiter's syndrome, intervertebral hernia;
- below the waist: osteochondrosis or intervertebral hernia, bilateral inflammation of the ovaries, uterine pathology, convulsions during menstruation;
- under the right shoulder blade: pathology of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, right intercostal neuralgia, pleurisy, pneumonia;
- under the left shoulder blade: heart disease, left pneumonia, pleurisy, intercostal neuralgia, etc.
When you need to see a doctor urgently
Back pain is a sign of a relatively harmless pathology and can also be evidence of a dangerous process that requires immediate medical attention. You should consult a professional urgently in the following cases:
- the pain occurred after injury;
- it is not possible to find a situation in which the pain is weakened;
- the temperature rises;
- signs of nerve damage include: numbness, tingling, muscle weakness;
- at night the pain worsens;
- feelings are accompanied by weakness, darkening of the eyes, palpitations, cold sweat;
- painkillers do not provide relief;
- the disease progresses despite treatment;
- blood pressure changed sharply (increased or decreased);
- have urinary problems or a change in the color of your urine;
- the pain spread to the chest, the abdomen;
- the condition is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, copious loose or delayed stools.
In general, any suspicious symptoms that have not occurred in previous pain attacks should alert the patient and become a cause for urgent medical attention.
Diagnostics
Examination for back pain includes:
- collecting complaints and a medical history of the disease, clarifying the circumstances, nature, intensity, localization and other important parameters of the development of pain, determining the risk factors of various diseases;
- general examination by measuring blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, temperature;
- neurological examination: sensory and motor functions, assessment of the quality of reflexes;
- laboratory diagnostics: general blood and urine tests, basic biochemical blood tests; if necessary, tests are prescribed to confirm or rule out a specific pathology;
- ECG, ultrasound of the heart;
- Spine X-ray, CT or MRI;
- Ultrasound of abdominal organs, the pelvis;
- Chest X-ray;
- Doppler ultrasound examination of the vessels of the neck and brain;
- electromyography: evaluation of the quality of nerve impulses transmitted 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 treatment
The choice of treatment methods depends on the cause. Most often, doctors are faced with 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 cramps;
- B vitamins: improving the condition of nerve tissue;
- narcotic analgesics: with ineffectiveness of drugs from other groups.
Additional procedures help to supplement the effect of medication:
- physiotherapy: electro- and phonophoresis, laser and magnetic therapy, electron neurostimulation;
- massage;
- hand therapy;
- physiotherapy.
Specific techniques are selected by the physician depending on the cause and individual characteristics of the body. In some cases, surgical treatment is prescribed.
Prevention
Back pain can be prevented. To do this, you must follow the following rules:
- prevention of hypodynamics: gymnastics, sports (without overload);
- avoid stress;
- good rest;
- eat right, prevent overweight;
- avoid heavy lifting;
- correct postural disorders;
- should be regularly examined by a doctor to treat chronic diseases in a timely manner.
Back pain can be mild or can make a person completely immobile. Do not allow the crisis, consult a doctor at the first signs of trouble.