Back pain: causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention

According to statistics, 80% of people know firsthand about back pain. More than a third of "sick leave papers" issued are related to this issue. The reason can be considered the weakness of fragile muscles and their rapid growth. To identify the problem, in addition to visual inspection, hardware diagnostics (X-rays, films, CT scans, etc. ), laboratory blood tests are performed. Treatment is prescribed only after the diagnosis has been established.

Why does my back hurt?

Spinal pain can appear immediately after injuries, diseases of the vertebrae, ligaments and discs, soft tissue damage. It depends on the position of the body, the level of physical activity, but it can also be reflected, for example, in diseases of internal organs. To some extent, the back itself is also vulnerable due to its structure.

It is based on the spine, providing support, protection, mobility and shock absorption functions. The cause is due to the wear and tear of the cartilage of the discs, muscles and ligaments over time along with an improper lifestyle and causes degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Inside the spine is the spinal cord, its paired roots containing most of the organs and tissues. Any disturbance in this complex system can cause pain. More often than others, the cervical and lumbar regions bear the greatest load and its mobility.

Back pain what to do?

A visit to the doctor is imperative to find the cause, especially if the pain becomes frequent. Only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment. You cannot diagnose yourself.

You can first contact a therapist, who will identify a range of symptoms and refer you to the right specialist with a narrow profile. If the cause is known and clear, the prescribed treatment can be continued. Back problems are treated by neurologists, chiropractors, and chiropractors.

Causes of back pain

Back pain is a nonspecific symptom that can have many causes.

Physiological causes (common):

• weight increase;
• recent birth or pregnancy;
• hypnotic work - in the office, in front of the computer, driving a car;
• standing jobs - hairdressers, waiters and salesmen, street advertising, surgeons, teachers;
• heavy physical activity combined with vigorous rotation;
• overload in training;
• postmenopausal with a tendency to osteoporosis.

Pathological causes:

• diseases of the spine (osteonecrosis, spondylosis, ankylosing spondylitis, tumors, arthritis, osteomyelitis, Reiter's syndrome) and spinal cord;
• growing pain - scoliosis and kyphosis;
• infectious lesions of the spine;
• osteoporosis, osteomalacia;
• diseases of internal organs - kidneys, pancreas, stomach, spleen, liver;
• abdominal aortic atherosclerosis.

Acute pain may occur with disc protrusion, spondylitis, epidural aneurysm, osteochondrosis, disc herniation, atypical appendicitis and bowel obstruction, kidney stones, fractures and sprains, spinal cord stroke, adnexitis in men and women, and prostate cancer in women. .

Types of diseases due to the nature of back pain

Causes of pain:

• Hypothermia;
• Crick;
• myositis;
• prolonged uncomfortable posture while sleeping or working;
• low back pain (labor becomes the cause);
• bone necrosis;
• disc herniation or displacement due to heavy lifting or excessive turning;
• kidney disease - causes back pain because the kidneys are located near the lower back;
• stomach diseases.

Causes of pain during shooting:

• herniated disc - with them, the condition worsens with any physical stress;
• sciatica - such back pain usually occurs on one side, spreads down the thigh or buttocks, numbs the legs and is also dependent on physical exertion;
• osteonecrosis - the patient may experience pain that extends to the leg and is aggravated by coughing, sneezing, straining, walking, bending.

Causes of sharp pain:

• bone necrosis;
• disc herniation;
• low back pain;
• Osteoarthritis - is an acute disease and cannot be relieved by pain relievers.

Back pain flare:

• Ischemic;
• heart attack;
• TELEPHONE;
• cholecystitis;
• a sharp increase in pressure;
• atherosclerosis.

Why does my back hurt after sleeping?

Most people experience back pain in the morning after sleeping, which can be caused by:

• overload the day before, if you lift weights and move strongly;
• weak back muscles;
• Hypothermia;
• vertebral hernia or osteonecrosis;
• scoliosis - curvature of the spine leads to uneven muscle contraction;
• pregnancy - with it the center of the body changes;
• obesity - the load on the spine is also uneven.

Sleeping conditions are also important. The bed should not be too hard or too soft - in any case, a person is forced to lie in an uncomfortable, non-physiological position during sleep, which causes the muscles to overwork and to not be able to rest during sleep. night. Posture is so important that even an orthopedic mattress won't help. You should sleep on your back with your legs elevated.

In addition, the cause of pain after sleep can be diseases of the spine and internal organs (urinary, gastrointestinal, including cancer).

Diseases related to joints and spine

All pathologies in which back pain occurs have a common basis - an uneven load on the spine. Including:

1. Ankylosing spondylitis - persistent inflammation of the ligaments and joints that causes chronic spasms of the surrounding muscles. The process is autoimmune; over time, the vertebrae begin to grow together, disrupting the spine's functioning.
2. Spondylolisthesis - vertebrae in an abnormal position. They are displaced and affect the brain or roots.
3. Osteochondrosis - the disc becomes thinner, cracks, is replaced by bone tissue. Depreciation becomes impossible.
4. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory joint condition. More often affects the cervical spine.
5. Osteomyelitis is inflammation of the bone marrow and surrounding soft tissues. It causes severe pain.
6. Reiter's disease is a concomitant lesion of the urogenital tract, joints, and conjunctiva of the eye. The small muscles of the back are affected. Usually, more typical for young people, it develops gradually. The pain is intense in the morning and subsides in the evening.
7. Spinal stenosis - the cause may be herniated disc, convex (protrusion into the spinal canal). Usually, this process involves the lowest root of the spinal cord, located inside the leg. Pain is felt from the lower back to the feet, and increases both at rest and while walking.
8. Facial syndrome is a lesion of the disc (facial) joints. The pain can be localized, or radiate to the groin, tailbone, or thigh. Physical dependence. In the evening, the condition is worse, after rest it will improve. It is more common in the elderly.

Diseases related to muscles

Muscle tissue is affected second, against the background of bone or joint tissue pathology. Pains of spasms and compression appear in the muscles, mobility is impaired:

1. Fibromyalgia is a pain syndrome from the neck to the lower back. Neurological symptoms may be involved: increased sensitivity when pressing on certain points of the back, stiffness and stiffness.
2. Polymyositis - occurs with hypothermia, trauma, sprain or heavy exertion. Muscle weakness occurs, where even turning to the side is painful and problematic.
3. Dermatomyositis is a chronic disease of muscles, muscles, and skin, often of an autoimmune nature.
4. Charcot's disease is an inflammation of the peripheral nerves that run along the spine. This leads to gait changes, muscle weakness and increased sensitivity of nerve roots.
5. Polymyalgia rheumatica is a negative environmental condition in the form of hypothermia, overload, uncomfortable posture, etc. v . . . It leads to spasms of individual muscles and the appearance of pain. The so-called trigger points appear, by pressing on the muscle that responds to acute pain. Neuroscientists know about it. These pimples are removed with a warming ointment and a needle.

Spinal cord disease

These include the invasion of the spinal cord, which has 31 paired branches, where each nerve is responsible for securing its position. This condition occurs when:

• trauma (spinal fracture);
• tumors;
• osteonecrosis or disc herniation;
• inflammation due to abscess, hematoma;
• brain hemorrhage;
• myositis;
• mineral and vitamin deficiencies;
• complications of HIV or neurosyphilis;
• sclerosis.

Back pain caused by psychology

In recent years, back pain has begun to manifest in psychiatric disorders. In this case, with complaints of back pain, the examination revealed no pathology. This condition occurs with chronic stress, depression, lack of sex drive. The result can be not only pain, but also gait changes, paroxysmal low back pain, and sensory disturbances.

Causes of back pain by location

Pain can occur in many different areas of the back. Then they talk about its localization.

Pain in the right side

The right back part can be painful due to scoliosis, scoliosis, lipoma, myositis, disc deviation, obesity.

Somatic conditions can also cause pain in this area:

• the formation of counts in the organs of the urinary system;
• appendicitis caecum (appendice);
• cholecystitis;
• kidney disease;
• ovary inflammation;
• inflammation of the fallopian tubes.

Left side pain

This back area can be painful when:

• splenitis;
• ICD;
• root compression;
• duodenitis;
• inflammation of the fallopian tubes.

Pain localized to the upper lower back may be associated with bursitis covering the lungs, bronchial involvement, intercostal neuralgia, ischemia.

Low back pain

The lower back very often suffers, as it is subjected to a very large load. This part is inflamed with nerve root damage, osteonecrosis, or cranial projection. Less commonly, the causes can be tuberculosis of the spine, arthritis, myalgia, decreased density and violation of the structure of bone tissue, Reiter's syndrome - a combination of urethritis and prostatitis.

Low back pain is often chronic.

In the right lumbar region

Low back pain occurs with scoliosis, tuberculosis, myositis, neuralgia, tumor, osteomyelitis, spondylitis. Acute exacerbations may be caused by urolithiasis or pyelonephritis.

Low back pain is characteristic of diseases of the lower back with frequent involvement of the spinal roots in the process (spondylitis). Constant dull and monotonous pain is characteristic of an organ such as the liver.

In the left lumbar region

Usually, the left side begins to hurt after exertion. The condition improves after rest. In addition, pain can occur with diabetes, compressing the roots of the teeth. If it doesn't go away with rest, the reason could be:

• scoliosis;
• osteonecrosis (with a sedentary lifestyle or improper posture);
• vertebral infection;
• circulatory disorder.

Pinched nerves

Frequent compression of the sciatic nerve - sciatica. In this case, its myelin sheath is not disturbed. This is usually the result of bone necrosis. When pinched, the pain is sharp and sharp, spreading down the legs, sacrum, lower back.

With compression disease, the roots of the spinal nerves are also compressed due to a herniated disc or a decrease in height and thus the space between the vertebral bodies. This pain is felt as "superficial", it is intensified by coughing, exertion, or sneezing.

Disc herniation

A herniated disc is when the nucleus of a disc is pushed out into the spinal canal. Often, it becomes the result of untreated bone necrosis. The central part protrudes toward the spinal cord, squeezing it tightly. Even a small load in such cases leads to a decrease in the height of the cartilage and even more protrusion of the hernia mass. The pain is intense and sharp, when returning to the arm or leg.

In the area of the shoulder blades

A feature of the pain may indicate a diagnosis:

1. Stomach ulcer - increasingly dull pain. Removed by drugs.
2. Intercostal neuralgia - a disease characterized by acute pain with any physical exertion.
3. Osteochondrosis - dizziness, changes in pressure, numbness of the hands.
4. Acute exacerbation of angina - pain localized in the left clavicle region, radiating to the chest and below the collarbone.

Pain along the spine and back

Most often it occurs when nerve endings are compressed. Exacerbations are related to curvature of the spine. If the pain is not pronounced, we can talk about bulging eyes. As the pain increases, you may think of osteonecrosis. Pain along the spine is a typical manifestation of myositis, fractures, thinning and wear of discs, and spondylitis. They are always sharp and constant.

Causes of lower back pain

Such pain is often associated with osteochondrosis and spondylolisthesis. Less often, such feelings may appear when:

• pelvic diseases in women (endometritis, adnexitis, vulvovaginitis, cervicitis, salpingitis);
• pregnancy;
• period;
• colitis;
• appendicitis;
• diseases of the prostate or bladder - in men.

Associated symptoms

Symptoms of spinal pain will vary depending on the location. When the cervical spine is defeated, migraines and dizziness, weakness and numbness of the hands, increased pressure, flies and flashes in the eyes will be noted. With the involvement of the thoracic region, there is a feeling of burning and tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, pain in the shoulder blades.

Situations requiring urgent medical attention

Urgent visit to the doctor requires back pain, which occurs in the following cases:

• injury;
• neurological symptoms in the form of tingling and numbness in the limbs;
• temperature associated with back pain;
• numbness of hands and feet, weakness and tingling sensations;
• gait has changed or the leg is lost;
• history of cancer;
• weight loss for no apparent reason;
• impaired urination and defecation - a person cannot control these processes;
• back pain spreading to the chest, jaw, and neck;
• confusion, dizziness;
• numbness in the genitals and weakness, "cottoniness" in the legs;
• leg cramps;
• problems conceiving or getting an erection;
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract, for which treatment by a gastroenterologist does not help;
• pain in the coccyx, small pelvis, aggravated by a change in body position;
• Pain increases when sitting or standing for a long time.

Experts will help you find the cause of the pain.

Diagnose

To determine the cause of back pain, a neurologist prescribes a comprehensive examination:

1. Blood tests. They help identify the presence of infection and inflammation in the form of leukocytosis and increased ESR. A decrease in hemoglobin indicates anemia, which can have many causes, and one of the causes can be cancer.
2. MRI. . .Visualize the condition of all components of the spine. Helps in differential diagnosis of the type and nature of the tumor, determining the distance between the vertebrae and the degree of compression of the roots.
3. CT. Identify fractures, allowing you to find the smallest fragments after the injury. All of this is in 3D.
4. X-ray. The most effective way to diagnose back pain and determine the condition of the bone tissue. It is prescribed for suspected cases of fractures, arthritis, scoliosis, osteoporosis, spondylolisthesis.
5. Electromyography (EMG). Determination of indicators of bioelectrical activity of muscles and peripheral nerve endings.
6. Ultrasound of the blood vessels of the neck and brain. In duplex or duplex mode, it is used to assess the degree of blood circulation through the arteries and vessels. Their condition is checked - wall thickness, permeability, etc. v.

Back pain treatment

There are several treatments for back pain. The neurologist will select the optimal treatment for you, taking into account the patient's age, lifestyle, physical activity level, and clinical presentation.

In the medical treatment of back pain, NSAIDs, analgesics, muscle relaxants, and B vitamins are often used. Along with that is physical therapy, therapeutic exercise, IRT, massage, spinal traction, and muscle relaxants.

For back pain, for high-quality treatment, you should see a doctor.

Preventive

Precautions:

• learn to maintain correct posture and walk;
• Do not flatter;
• keep your back straight when sitting, put support under your feet;
• correctly organize the sleeping place;
• do not jump up suddenly after waking up - stretch slowly, practice simple movements with arms and legs;
• distribute weight in both hands - do not carry everything in one hand, refuse a bag on the shoulder - a backpack is better;
• do not hold the child in an arched position;
• lifting weights by squatting;
• do not wash the floor without a mop, bend forward or kneel;
• balance the diet with an adequate amount of minerals and vitamins;
• quit smoking and alcohol;
• do not forget about the exercises - swimming, Nordic walking, yoga;
• Contrast bath in the morning;
• protects the liver, it produces collagen for the ligaments of the spine and the vertebral bodies;
• strengthen immunity;
• weight control;
• should undergo a course of manual therapy from 5-10 sessions every 6 months (as recommended by a specialist);
• avoid stress;
• Don't forget the health check.

If you have back pain, see your doctor for proper support. Remember, any disease is easier to treat in its early stages.