According to statistics, around 80% of people of different age groups are confronted with this unpleasant and frightening symptom at least once in their life. At the same time, it is important to be able to distinguish between situations in which painful sensations should interfere and in which you should not worry.
If physical exertion or a small blow preceded the onset of pain, it will subside within 2-3 days and there is no need to worry. But if your back is in a lot of pain for a long time, and the pain does not compare to muscle pain, hurry to see a doctor.
Why my back hurts
The causes of back pain are varied, from minor external factors to the development of all kinds of pathological processes, of which there are also many.
At the same time, doctors are still identifying three common reasons that occur most frequently:
- Nonspecific pain- combines a number of factors, including muscle pain caused by incorrect posture, prolonged stay in one position (uncomfortable), overload due to excessive physical exertion on the spine and back. . . This point can also include painful sensations that occurred after hypothermia. In such cases it says: "Cooled back".
- Irradiation pain- occur a little less often, but cannot be ruled out. This includes diseases of the internal organs that are located in other parts of the body. For example, the formation of tumors and pulmonary tuberculosis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, heart and others. In each of these cases, the pain may radiate (give way) to the back in different parts.
- Mechanical injuries and pathologies of the spine- Pain in the spine also occurs due to a variety of factors. We are talking about pathological processes. This includes all diseases of the spine, starting with injuries (bruises, fractures, etc. ) and ending with osteochondrosis, radiculitis, hernia formation and other pathologies of the spinal region that affect the spine.
These are the main causes of back pain in general. All these problems threaten serious dysfunction of the spine and require a mandatory visit to the doctor.
In some cases, without adequate treatment, there is a risk of developing serious problems that threaten serious complications. If the tissues of the spine or spinal cord are affected, there is a risk of paralysis of the limbs or even the entire body.
Symptoms
In order to consult a doctor in good time and to describe your symptoms correctly, you need to have an idea of the symptoms.
At the same time, the symptoms of back pain may differ slightly. If we take into account the fact that pain itself is a symptom, then we should highlight its main manifestations, which differ in type and location:
- By nature, painful sensations are: sharp, blunt, stabbing, cutting, painful, pulling, burning and so on.
- Pain sensations are strong, moderate and weak. These indicators are individual for each person. However, they need to be considered when defining treatments for chronic back pain, for example.
- Back pain along the entire spine is quite rare. More often, painful sensations are either punctiform or assigned to a separate section of the spine (cervical, thoracic, lumbar).
- However, it also happens that pain radiates in the upper part of the spine (or in another). In this case, the pain syndrome affects other parts of the back, it is often called walking.
- Acute pain in the spine is usually the most uncomfortable and has the greatest impact on everyday life, but it is often wavy and easier to treat. At the same time, dull pains are less intense, but they are constant, fixate over a longer period of time, and respond less well to therapy.
These are general guidelines for painful sensations in different areas of the back. In addition to understanding the general symptoms of pain, it is also important to know that the clinical picture can change depending on the disease. In one case, pain is felt between the vertebrae of the cervical spine, in another case it is localized in the lumbar region and has a different character.
For this reason, it is worth considering separately the symptoms of various pathological processes that are accompanied by back pain.
Osteochondrosis
If the back hurts in the spine, then osteochondrosis is the most likely diagnosis as this disease is more common than others. It's also important to understand that doctors distinguish three types of osteochondrosis: cervical, thoracic, and lumbar.
In each of these cases, the pain between the vertebrae is tied to different parts of the spine. The disease itself implies the destruction of cartilage tissue in the intervertebral discs, while the pathological process also occurs in the vertebrae, as they are erased due to the reduction in the gap between them.
The main symptom of the disease is pain, but there may also be clinical signs of the nervous system as the spinal cord is most likely affected and its roots are injured.
Myositis
A rare disease that is characterized by an inflammatory process in the muscle tissue of the body, including the back. Myositis is more often associated with pain, but sharp pain or so-called back pain are also possible.
The pain syndrome is localized right where the muscle tissue became inflamed, but the pain can radiate to nearby areas.
Spondylosis
If the spine hurts, spondylosis can be one of the likely causes. This pathology is characterized by the growth of the bone tissue of the vertebrae, as well as their dystrophic changes. In this case, during physical exertion, painful sensations arise due to a long stay in one position, for example, during sedentary work.
Sciatica
The term refers to pinching of the sciatic nerve with its further inflammation. The pathological process is accompanied by cutting, stabbing and sharp pain. With sciatica, pain is not felt all the time, it arises suddenly, rolling in waves.
Severe pain with sciatica right where the injury or inflammation occurred. Due to the fact that the sciatic nerve has a very long length, there are painful sensations in different areas, most often the legs hurt.
Osteoporosis
The disease develops due to a lack of calcium in the body. As a result, bone tissues along the entire spine lose elasticity and stiffness, microtrauma and cracks form everywhere.
In this pathological process, the entire spine hurts, especially in the later stages of the disease.
Disc herniation
Acute and severe pain in the spine can indicate a herniated disc. At the same time, the pain syndrome is constant, but it increases with physical exertion, bending, coughing, sudden or careless movements.
In most cases, an inguinal hernia forms in the lumbar spine, which is explained by the susceptibility of this area to excessive loads and weightlifting. Often, hernia occurs as a complication of osteochondrosis, which is due to the peculiarities of the course of this pathology.
In this case, an inguinal hernia is not only dangerous when there is pain, but there is also the risk that the nerve branches of the spinal cord are pinched and neurological symptoms occur.
Excessive mobility of the spine
This problem is also known as vertebral hypermobility or spinal instability. A clear sign of pathology is painful sensations, which are aggravated by intense physical exertion and lifting weights. Painful sensations in the back are of a capricious nature, they either subside or suddenly reappear.
The cervical spine is most affected. As the disease progresses, it becomes difficult for a person to hold their head.
Scoliosis
Oddly enough, the curvature of the spine is a direct cause of pain. One of the most common problems is scoliosis. Scoliosis pain is muscular in nature. This is due to increased stress on certain back muscles while others are relaxed.
In scoliosis, individual intervertebral discs are compressed due to the curvature of the spine and the cartilage tissue is deformed.
Pain sensations with scoliosis are constant, painful or pulling, their intensity is low, in rare cases the pain is strong and sharp.
Spine injury
Of course, any mechanical damage, even if it is minor, is painful. In this case, the more severe the damage, the more severe the pain, and sometimes even with a seemingly insignificant injury, acute pain can be felt, which can indicate serious internal injuries. In this case, blows, bruises, sprains, and dislocations are considered, but fractures are the most serious type of injury.
It is remarkable that old, long-healed injuries make themselves felt decades later. So back and neck pain can be a reminder of how you fell on ice as a child.
Bechterew's disease
This dangerous disease is also known as ankylosing spondyloarthritis. The pathology is characterized by a chronic inflammatory process in the joints, that is, inflammation of the spine.
Ankylosing spondylitis is accompanied by severe pain, and the intensity of the pain syndrome is high from the beginning of the pathological process and only intensifies in the future. In this case, pain increases after resting and depending on the change in weather, but it is well controlled by NSAID group drugs and physical therapy.
Oncological diseases
Cancer is the most dangerous pathology, a clear sign of this is pain. In this case, the pain syndrome occurs in both benign and malignant neoplasms, if they are located not far from the spine and put pressure on it.
Metastases are an even more dangerous manifestation of oncology. In this case, the pains are constant and strong, they haunt a person anytime and anywhere, regardless of the position of the body or any actions. The back hurts just as much when lying down.
Kidney disease
The causes of back pain are not always related to back problems. Due to the anatomical location of the kidneys, pathologies affecting them also respond to severe pain in the lumbar spine.
Pain can be dull and drawing or sharp stabbing. Their intensity varies depending on the disease and the degree of its progression.
It is important to understand that painful sensations can appear on both sides or only on one side, which indicates which kidney is involved in the pathological process.
Cardiovascular pathology
The opinion that pain in the cardiovascular system only occurs in the chest area is wrong. For example, in ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction, painful sensations are girdled, radiating backwards in the chest area. They are as sharp, pungent, and occur abruptly.
Among the pathologies of the cardiovascular system are aortic aneurysms, in which there is a sharp, sharp pain in the chest area near the spine.
Pathology of the digestive tract
Diseases of the digestive tract often cause back pain as well. However, in such cases there are always a number of characteristic clinical signs. In addition to pain, there are indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or diarrhea, and general malaise.
Infections
Among the infectious diseases associated with back pain, tuberculosis of the bones is the most serious and dangerous. The disease is accompanied by severe pathological processes in the tissues of the bones, the entire spine hurts. The pain is inherently different, sometimes tugging, sometimes stabbing, but always constant.
Respiratory diseases
The lungs take up most of the chest region of the body, so lung diseases are often associated with back pain. Such diseases include pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, pleurisy and so on.
With such pathologies, the pain increases with coughing, sneezing, deep breaths and yawning. In addition, the clinical picture is enriched by cough, shortness of breath and other similar symptoms.
Congenital Pathologies
The congenital abnormality factor is extremely rare, but it still occurs. In this case, the main suspicion lies in the congenital excess or insufficient number of vertebrae in the spine. This affects the muscles and ligaments, the structure of the body, threatens the protrusion of the spine or the compression that is always associated with pain.
Pregnancy and childbirth
Pregnancy is also one of the causes of painful back symptoms.
Pain in the spine and other problems of a similar nature are more common in the third trimester, which depends entirely on the growth of the fetus and the increased load on the spine.
In such cases, the pain is usually dull, pulling, subsiding, or temporarily disappearing after a short pause when the expectant mother lies down.
Inflammatory processes
Many different inflammatory processes lead to the development of a pain syndrome, some of which have already been discussed. Take spondyloarthritis (ankylosing spondylitis). This pathology begins in the lumbosacral area, then inflammation, and with it painful back pain, rises up the spine.
Pain that radiates to the spine
As mentioned at the beginning, there is a class of pain that is referred to as radiant. This means that back pain is "transmitted" to the spine from other parts or organs where the disease occurred. Let's talk about such pain in more detail.
Pathologies of the heart and great vessels
The most likely diseases of the cardiovascular system, accompanied by back pain, have already been mentioned. It is only important to understand that, in addition to pain, such pathologies are also accompanied by violations of blood pressure, arrhythmias and pallor of the skin. This is their specialty.
Gallbladder diseases
The clearest example of such a pathological process is cholecystitis, which leads to irradiation of the right shoulder blade and the central part of the spine in the chest area.
The acute form of the disease is associated with severe cuts, while the chronic form is more difficult to diagnose because the pain is intermittent and of low intensity.
Pancreatic lesions
The most common disease of the pancreas is pancreatitis. The clinical sign of such a condition is abdominal pain, but it also encircles, characterized as sharp, stabbing. However, in addition to the pain, the patient experiences nausea, vomiting, and painful sensations after eating fatty, sweet, fried foods.
Pathology of the kidneys and upper urinary tract
Kidney and urinary tract diseases are also associated with pain and are usually intense. There is severe pain during urolithiasis, but it is felt not only in the lumbar region. There is severe discomfort in the lower abdomen and in the groin area.
Diagnosis
As can be seen from the huge list of possible problems and likely diseases, in order to get rid of back and spinal pain, it is necessary to identify the main cause of its occurrence.
To do this, it is imperative to consult a doctor and perform a full differential diagnosis, which includes:
- Radiographyis a simple but very effective method for determining the condition of the spine. It enables the detection of deformities and various pathologies.
- CT- Computed tomography shows the pathology of the intervertebral discs and vertebrae more precisely.
- MRI- Magnetic resonance imaging is an even more advanced and effective diagnostic method that not only reveals probable problems in the structure of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, but also allows nerves to be involved in the pathological process of the spineidentify or excludebrain.
If the above surveys did not produce any results, please contact specialists with a narrow profile in other areas. Perhaps the problem lies in diseases of the heart, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, pelvic organs and so on.
Treatment of back pain
The treatment of acute back pain requires a comprehensive and systematic approach. The methods of struggle become clear after a full examination and an accurate diagnosis. It is also important to understand that it is imperative to contact a specialist if you have problems of this type. Self-medication is by no means unacceptable.
The attending physician determines the treatment regimen, which will likely include drug therapy, physical therapy, exercise therapy, and massage.
Physiotherapy
This is one of the main methods of dealing with diseases of the spine.
Treating back pain involves the following procedures:
- electrophoresis.
- ultrasound.
- laser therapy;
- magnetotherapy.
The treatment is carried out over a course of 7-10 or more procedures. The intervals between the procedures are 3-5 days.
Gymnastics
Physiotherapy and gymnastics are also part of the treatment of the pain syndrome. However, these techniques are mainly used for recovery when there is no more severe pain. Exercise is needed to restore muscle elasticity and mobility, keep them in good shape, and speed recovery from back injuries.
It is important to do the first few sessions with a physical therapist who will correct the methodology and distribute the load and teach you how to do it correctly. In the future, teaching will be carried out at home, and most importantly, the requirements will be a systematic approach.
Drug therapy
Drug therapy is the core of every treatment. Each drug is prescribed by a doctor on the basis of the diagnostic data obtained. The technique depends on the intensity of the pain syndrome and the stage of progression of the disease.
The following drugs are needed for back pain:
- NSAIDs(non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - are prescribed in the form of ointments, tablets, injections, sometimes in the form of suppositories. NSAIDs have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and lower the local temperature.
- Analgesicsare pain relievers that block the nerve centers responsible for detecting pain.
- Muscle relaxantsare given when muscle spasms need to be relieved.
- Vitamin complexes,including B vitamins. Their effect contributes to the restoration of the nerve fibers and the establishment of metabolic processes.
The duration of the drug therapy, the frequency of drug use and the dosage are determined by the doctor.
Massage
Massage course is another effective way to get rid of pain. Appointed when the painful sensations subside and carried out exclusively by a close specialist.
Massage therapy can stimulate blood circulation, relieve pain, restore elasticity to nose and muscles, and so on. To achieve a noticeable effect, a massage is required, which consists of at least 10 sessions.
Prevention
To minimize the risk of developing pathologies in which pain is felt in the spine, or to reduce the risk of disease recurrence, you need to follow simple preventive recommendations:
- Eliminate bad habits.
- Eat right, eat less junk food, switch to a fractionated food system.
- Live an active lifestyle, exercise, preferably swimming, or some form of gymnastics.
- It is useful that the back hangs on the horizontal bar at least 3-4 times a week.
- Take breaks while sitting to warm up.
- Avoid strenuous physical activity and injuries.
- When it is impossible to avoid lifting weights, do everything right and lift heavy things with a straight back.
- Sleep on a moderately hard bed and buy an orthopedic mattress.
Remember, if the pain lasts more than 4 to 5 days, or if it is so severe that it is difficult to endure, see your doctor right away. Starting treatment on time, you can save health and avoid many dangerous complications.