Everyone has experienced back pain. For some it is occasional pain, for others constant. To get rid of the discomfort, many people drink painkillers and do not pay attention to the real causes of discomfort. This can lead to complications and serious pathologies.
Back pain can be caused by diseases of internal organs or the spine, as well as injuries. Sometimes discomfort is the result of poor posture, physical exertion or sudden movements.
You should first find out why your back hurts, and only then start treatment.
Types of back pain
The diagnosis can be made by considering the nature of the back pain.
For example, if the pain hurts and worsens with heavy lifting, physical overexertion, hypothermia, or prolonged immobility, then the cause may be myositis, lumbago, or intervertebral hernia.
Acute pain radiating to the legs or arms may signal radiculitis, intervertebral hernia, or osteochondrosis. Unpleasant feelings are aggravated by walking, bending or coughing, and weakness is felt in the limbs.
All the same intervertebral hernias, lumbago and osteochondrosis, as well as spondylosis, can also cause throbbing pain. This is confirmed when the pain does not subside even after analgesics.
If cracks or pressure appear in the chest, it is a sign of pulmonary embolism or myocardial infarction. Discomfort in the spine speaks of spondyloarthritis, and in the lumbar region - of intestinal obstruction. Atherosclerosis can be a cause of pressure in the neck.
Back pain after sleep
In the morning, my back can ache, not just because of the wrong mattress or the wrong posture during sleep. Hypothermia, stress, or weight lifting the previous day can cause stiffness and pain under the shoulder blades, in the lower back, on the right or left side.
The reasons can be different: curvature of the spine, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia or obesity. Also, your back can hurt in the morning during pregnancy.
Pathologies of the spine and joints
Spinal discomfort may be associated with diseases of the musculoskeletal system:
- Ankylosing spondylitis. Due to muscle spasms, the patient bends forward to alleviate the discomfort. After that, the inflamed vertebrae stiffen and grow together, which makes the spine less flexible.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. The disease begins in the knees, hip or shoulders, and then spreads to the cervical spine. In the morning, patients have a feeling of cracking and stiffness: the affected vertebrae exert unnecessary pressure on the nerves.
- Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. The patient feels discomfort in the lower back: the vertebrae are displaced and the nerve endings are compressed.
- Osteomyelitis. Acute muscle pain occurs due to an infection of the bone tissue of the spine.
- Osteochondrosis. With this disease, the amortization of the spine worsens. The discs between the vertebrae are damaged and the annular fibrosus ruptures: the nucleus of the disc protrudes through the cracks and contracts.
- Intervertebral hernia. The bulge between the vertebrae is compressed during movement, causing damage.
Diseases associated with the musculature
The source of discomfort can be cramps and hardening in the corset of the muscles that support the spine:
- Fibromyalgia In this disease, the back hurts from the neck to the lower back, and the discomfort is intensified by pressure on certain places.
- Dermatomyositis. The skin around the striated and smooth muscles becomes inflamed.
- Polymyositis. The disease occurs due to overexertion or hypothermia: the pain turns, and the muscles feel weak.
- Polyumalgia rheumatica. It is difficult for the patient to get up without someone's help, and the asymmetry is clearly visible in the back.
- Charcot's disease. Peripheral nerves along the spine become inflamed. Sensitivity becomes worse, muscles weaken, and the patient's gait changes.
Diseases of the spinal cord
Unpleasant sensations can occur due to the fact that any part of the spinal cord is constricted or inflamed.
Sources of pain in this case:
- compression of spinal membranes as a result of fractures, hematomas, or abscesses;
- inflammation of nearby muscles;
- circulatory disorders;
- bleeding;
- vitamin deficiency;
- complication of HIV or syphilis;
- back tumor of various etiology;
- multiple sclerosis.
Psychosomatics
The back can also hurt due to psychological factors: depression, nervous tension, chronic stress, or sexual dissatisfaction.
Localization of back pain
Unpleasant sensations at different points of the back are caused by different factors.
For example, pain in the right side occurs due to lordosis, scoliosis, kyphosis, or displacement of the intervertebral disc. The left side hurts due to splenitis, pinching of the spine or duodenitis, and the source of pain in the lower back can be sciatica, osteochondrosis or intervertebral hernia.
If it hurts just above the lower back on the right side - it may be myositis, on the left side - osteochondrosis.
Discomfort throughout the spine signals a bulge, which can develop into osteochondrosis.
When should you see a doctor as soon as possible?
If the cause of the back pain is strain or stress, it will disappear after a few days. However, in case the pain only increases, urgent medical help is needed.
Immediate medical consultation is required in the following situations:
- cannot find a position in which the pain becomes weaker;
- recently had a back injury or contusion;
- the condition worsens at night;
- the patient's gait changed;
- the patient is feverish;
- limbs weaken, numb, tingling is felt;
- painkillers do not help.
Diagnosis of back pain
To determine the cause of back discomfort, you need to make an appointment with a neurologist. If necessary, blood tests should be performed to determine if there are infections or inflammations. Examinations prescribed by a specialist may also be needed.
Duplex and triplex ultrasound scans of the vessels of the neck and brain are needed to diagnose the cause of headache, dizziness, or high blood pressure.
MRI allows you to see tumors on the vertebrae, compression of the spinal nerves and spinal cord, herniation of intervertebral discs, narrowing of the spinal canal. CT is needed to detect vertebral fractures.
X-rays help assess the condition of bone structures to diagnose fractures, spondylolisthesis, arthritis, and the degree of poor posture.
Electromyography reveals nerve compression due to spinal stenosis or disc herniation.
How to relieve back pain?
First of all, you need to relax. To do this, lie on your stomach on a flat, hard surface, preferably on the floor. After a few minutes, roll over on your back and raise your legs so that they are at a 90-degree angle. This will reduce the load on the spine.
Anti-inflammatory ointments and creams are also useful. When the pain subsides, you should gently get up and wrap the sore spot with a scarf or towel.
If painkillers are not available, a cold compress - an ice pack or food from the freezer - will help relieve severe pain. It will not be possible to completely resolve the discomfort, but it can alleviate the condition. A diametrically opposite option will also help - a heating plate or a heating pad.
A light warm-up or a light walk will help you get rid of the uncomfortable sensations.
Treatment of back pain
After examination and diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment. To alleviate the discomfort, the specialist prescribes painkillers, B vitamins and muscle relaxants. Sometimes it is recommended to rest in bed and wear a special corset.
An important phase of treatment is physiotherapy. These are drug electrophoresis, laser therapy, phonophoresis and magnetic therapy. Electroneurostimulation and acupuncture also help.
Massage, manual therapy, osteopathy and exercise are effective for back pain. They also help rehabilitate trauma.
Prevention of back pain
To avoid back discomfort, you need to move more. Morning exercises and yoga, contrast shower and massage are effective.
It is important to maintain the health of the collagen-producing liver and boost immunity. It is worth paying attention to the weight, because every ten kilograms increases the load on the spine.
But above all, you need to avoid stress and create an even psychological atmosphere around you.