Back pain: causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention

According to statistics, 80% of people know firsthand about back pain.Out of all sick days issued, more than a third are related to this problem.The reason can be considered the weakness of fragile muscles and their rapid growth.To identify the problem, in addition to a visual examination, hardware diagnostics (X-ray, myography, computer tomography, etc.) and laboratory blood tests are performed.Treatment is prescribed only after establishing the diagnosis.

Why does my back hurt?

Pain in the spine can occur immediately after injuries, pathologies of the vertebrae, ligaments and discs or soft tissue damage.It depends on the position of the body, the level of physical activity, but it can also affect, for example, diseases of the internal organs.To some extent, the back itself is vulnerable due to its structure.

Its basis is the spine, which provides support, protection, locomotion and cushioning functions.This is due to the cartilage of the intervertebral discs, muscles and ligaments, which tend to wear out over time with an incorrect lifestyle and cause degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Inside the spine is the spinal cord, its paired roots innervate almost all organs and tissues.Any disturbance in this complex system can cause pain.The cervical and lumbar regions suffer most often due to their greatest loads and mobility.

What to do if you have back pain?

A doctor's examination is necessary to determine the cause, especially if the pain is frequent.Only a specialist can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.You cannot self-diagnose.

First, you can contact a therapist who will identify a set of symptoms and refer you to the right specialist.If the cause is known and obvious, you can continue the prescribed therapy.Neurologists, orthopedists and vertebrologists treat back problems.

Causes of back pain

Back pain is a non-specific symptom that can be caused by a variety of reasons.

Physiological (common) causes:

• increased weight;
• recent birth or pregnancy;
• hypodynamic work - in the office, on the computer, driving a car;
• standing work - hairdressers, waiters and salesmen, street advertisers, surgeons, teachers;
• heavy physical exertion combined with sudden turns of the body;
• overload during training;
• postmenopausal with a tendency to osteoporosis.

Pathological causes:

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

Acute pain can occur with disc protrusion, spondyloarthritis, epiduritis of the spinal cord, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernias, atypical appendicitis and intestinal obstruction, kidney stones, fractures and sprains, spinal cord strokes, appendicitis in women and prostate cancer in men.

Types of diseases based on the nature of back pain

Causes of aching pain:

• hypothermia;
• muscle tension;
• myositis;
• prolonged uncomfortable posture during sleep or work;
• lumbago (caused by childbirth);
• osteochondrosis;
• intervertebral hernia or displacement of the intervertebral discs due to sudden lifting of weights or sudden turning of the body;
• kidney diseases - cause back pain due to the proximity of the kidneys to the lower back;
• stomach diseases.

Causes of shooting pain:

• intervertebral hernia - their condition worsens with any physical exertion;
• radiculitis - this type of back pain often occurs on one side, radiates to the thigh or buttock, causes numbness in the legs and also depends on physical effort;
• osteochondrosis - the patient may feel an unpleasant pain that spreads to the leg and increases when coughing, sneezing, straining, walking, bending.

Etiology of throbbing pain:

• osteochondrosis;
• intervertebral hernia;
• lumbago;
• spondylosis - occur acutely and are not relieved by analgesics.

Bursting back pain:

• ischemia;
• heart attack;
• BODIES;
• inflammation of the gallbladder;
• sharp increase in pressure;
• atherosclerosis.

Why does my back hurt after sleeping?

Most people often feel back pain in the morning after sleep, the reasons can be:

• overload the day before, if you lifted weights and moved sharply;
• weak back muscles;
• hypothermia;
• spinal hernia or osteochondrosis;
• scoliosis - curvature of the spine leads to uneven muscle contraction;
• pregnancy - when the center of the body shifts;
• 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 take an uncomfortable, non-physiological position during sleep, which causes the muscles to overwork and not rest at night.Posture is so important that even an orthopedic mattress cannot help.It is recommended to sleep on your back with your legs elevated.

Also, the causes of pain after sleep can be diseases of the spine and internal organs (urological, gastrointestinal, including oncological).

Diseases related to the joints and the spine

All pathologies that cause back pain have a common basis - an uneven load on the spine.These include:

1. Ankylosing spondylitis - persistent inflammation of the ligaments and joints causes chronic spasm of the surrounding muscles.The process is autoimmune;over time, the vertebrae begin to fuse, which drastically disrupts the functioning of the spine.
2. Spondylolisthesis - the vertebrae are in an unusual position.They are displaced and affect the brain or roots.
3. Osteochondrosis - the intervertebral discs thin, crack and are replaced by bone tissue.Depreciation becomes impossible.
4. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammation of the joints.It most often affects the cervical vertebrae.
5. Osteomyelitis is an inflammation of the bone marrow and surrounding soft tissues.It causes severe pain.
6. Reiter's disease is a rheumatic simultaneous damage to the urogenital tract, joints and conjunctiva of the eyes.The small muscles of the back are affected.More often characteristic of young people, it develops gradually.The pain is severe in the morning and decreases in the evening.
7. Spinal canal stenosis – the cause may be a herniated disc or a protrusion (protrusion in the spinal canal).More often, the process involves the lowest roots of the spinal cord, which innervate the legs.The pain is felt from the waist to the foot, increasing both at rest and when walking.
8. Facet syndrome is a lesion of the intervertebral (facet) joints.The pain may be localized or radiate to the groin, tailbone, or thigh.Physically dependent.In the evening the condition worsens, after rest it improves.It occurs more often in older people.

Diseases related to muscles

Muscle tissue is affected secondarily, against the background of the pathology of bone tissue or joints. Painful spasms and tightness appear in the muscles, mobility is impaired:

1. Fibromyalgia is a pain syndrome from the neck to the lower back.Neurological symptoms may appear: increased sensitivity when pressing certain points on the back, stiffness and stiffness.
2. Polymyositis - occurs due to hypothermia, injury, sprain or heavy physical exertion.Muscle weakness appears, in which even turning to the side is painful and problematic.
3. Dermatomyositis is a chronic disease of the muscles, organs and skin, often of an autoimmune nature.
4. Charcot disease is an inflammation of the peripheral nerves that run along the spine.This leads to changes in gait, muscle weakness and increased sensitivity of the nerve roots.
5. Polymyalgia rheumatica is the negativity of the environment in the form of hypothermia, overload, uncomfortable posture, etc.It leads to spasms in individual muscles and the appearance of pain.So-called trigger points appear, when pressed, the muscle reacts with sharp pain.Neuroscientists know this.Pain of this type can be eliminated with warming ointments and a needle applicator.

Pathologies of the spinal cord

These include a violation of the spinal cord, which has 31 paired branches, where each nerve is responsible for the innervation of its area. This condition occurs when:

• injuries (fracture of the spine);
• tumors;
• osteochondrosis or disc herniation;
• inflammation as a result of abscess, hematoma;
• cerebral hemorrhage;
• myositis;
• deficiency of minerals and vitamins;
• complications of HIV or neurosyphilis;
• sclerosis.

Back pain due to psychosomatics

In recent years, back pain began to appear due to psychosomatics.In this case, if there are complaints of back pain, the examination does not reveal any pathology.This condition occurs with chronic stress, depression and lack of libido.The result can be not only pain, but also a change in gait, exacerbation of lumbago and sensory disturbances.

Causes of back pain by location

The pain can appear in different places in the back.Then they talk about its location.

Pain on the right side

The right side of the back can hurt due to curvature of the spine, kyphosis, lordosis, myositis, displacement of the intervertebral discs and obesity.

Somatic pathologies can also cause pain in this area:

• formation of stones in the organs of the urinary system;
• inflammation of the vermiform appendix of the cecum (appendix);
• inflammation of the gallbladder;
• jade;
• inflammation of the ovaries;
• salpingitis.

Pain on the left side

This area of the back can hurt in the following cases:

• splenitis;
• ICD;
• root pinching;
• duodenitis;
• oophoritis.

Pain localized over the lower back can be associated with inflammation of the serous membranes covering the lungs, damage to the bronchi, intercostal neuralgia and ischemia.

Lumbar pain

The lower back suffers very often, as it carries a colossal load.This area becomes inflamed with damage to the nerve roots, osteochondrosis or hernial protrusion.Less often, the cause can be spinal tuberculosis, arthritis, lumboschialgia, reduced density and disruption of the structure of bone tissue, Reiter's syndrome - a combination of urethritis and prostatitis.

Lumbar pain is usually chronic.

In the lumbar region on the right

Pain in the lumbar region occurs with scoliosis, tuberculosis, myositis, neuralgia, tumor, osteomyelitis, spondylitis.An acute attack can be caused by urolithiasis or pyelonephritis.

Shooting is characteristic of diseases of the lower back with frequent involvement of the spinal roots (radiculitis).Constant dull and monotonous pain is more characteristic of an organ such as the liver.

Left lumbar region

Most often, the left side starts to hurt after physical activity.The condition improves after rest.Pain can also occur with diabetes or root pinching. If it does not go away at rest, the reasons may be:

• scoliosis;
• osteochondrosis (with a sedentary lifestyle or bad posture);
• vertebral infections;
• circulatory disorders.

Pinched nerve

The sciatic nerve is most often compressed - sciatica.Its myelin sheath is not damaged.Usually this is a consequence of osteochondrosis.When pinched, there is a sharp and sharp pain that radiates to the leg, sacrum and lower back.

In compression radiculopathy, the spinal nerve roots are also compressed due to disc herniation or a reduction in its height and, as a result, the distance between the vertebral bodies.Such pain is felt as "superficial", sharply intensifies when coughing, straining or sneezing.

Intervertebral hernia

A hernia is an extrusion of the core of the intervertebral disc into the spinal canal.More often it is a consequence of untreated osteochondrosis.The central part protrudes towards the spinal cord, compressing it.Even a small load in such cases leads to a decrease in the height of the cartilage and an even greater protrusion of the hernia.The pain is sharp and sharp, radiating to the arm or leg.

In the area of the shoulder blades

Pain characteristics may indicate a diagnosis:

1. A stomach ulcer is a growing dull ache.Eliminated with medication.
2. Intercostal neuralgia is a disease characterized by sharp pain with any physical effort.
3. Osteochondrosis - dizziness, changes in pressure, numbness of the hands.
4. Exacerbation of angina - the pain is localized in the area of the left shoulder blade, radiating to the chest and below the collarbone.

Spine and back pain

More often they appear when nerve endings are pinched.Exacerbations are associated with spinal curvature.If the pain is not pronounced, we can talk about a bulge.As the pain increases, you can think about osteochondrosis.Pain in the spine is characteristic of myositis, fractures, thinning and wear of the intervertebral discs, spondyloarthritis.They are always sharp and constant.

Causes of lower back pain

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

• diseases of the genital area in women (endometritis, adnexitis, vulvitis, cervicitis, oophoritis);
• pregnancy;
• menses;
• ulcerative colitis;
• appendicitis;
• diseases of the prostate or bladder - in men.

Associated symptoms

Manifestations of pain in the spine vary depending on the location.If the cervical spine is affected, migraines and dizziness, weakness and numbness of the hands, pressure spikes, spots and flashes in the eyes will be noted.When the chest is affected, there is a burning sensation and stiffness in the chest, difficulty breathing and pain in the shoulder blades.

Situations requiring emergency medical attention

Urgent consultation with a doctor is required for back pain that occurs in the following cases:

• bruising;
• neurological symptoms in the form of numbness and tingling of the limbs;
• the temperature is combined with back pain;
• numbness in the hands and feet, weakness and a feeling of numbness;
• the gait has changed or the legs are lost;
• has a history of cancer;
• weight loss for no apparent reason;
• urination and defecation are disturbed - a person cannot control these processes;
• pain in the back radiates to the chest, jaw and neck;
• the mind is confused and dizzy;
• numbness of the genitals and weakness, "wave" in the legs;
• leg cramps;
• problems with conception or erection;
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract, in which treatment by a gastroenterologist does not help;
• pain in the coccyx and pelvis, increasing with changes in body position;
• increased pain when sitting or standing for a long time.

Experts will help you understand the cause of the pain.

Diagnosis

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

1. Blood tests.They help to identify the presence of infection and inflammation in the form of leukocytosis and increased ESR.A decrease in hemoglobin will indicate anemia, which can have many causes, and one of the possible causes is oncology.
2. MRI. Visualizes the condition of all components of the spine.It helps to differentiate the type and nature of the tumor, determines the distance between the vertebrae and the degree of compression of the roots.
3. CT. Detects fractures and allows you to find the smallest fragments after injuries.All this in three dimensions.
4. Radiography.The cheapest way to diagnose back pain and identify the condition of the bone tissue.It is prescribed for suspected fractures, arthritis, scoliosis, osteoporosis, spondyloarthrosis.
5. Electromyography (EMG).Determines the indicators of bioelectrical activity of muscles and peripheral nerve endings.
6. Ultrasound of the vessels of the neck and brain.In triplex or duplex mode, it is used to assess the patency of blood flow through arteries and vessels.Their condition is checked - wall thickness, permeability, etc.

Back pain treatment

There are several methods of treating back pain.The neurologist will choose the optimal treatment for you, taking into account the patient's age, lifestyle, degree of physical mobility and clinical manifestations.

Medications for back pain usually include NSAIDs, analgesics, muscle relaxants, and B vitamins. Physical therapy, exercise therapy, IRT, massage, spinal traction, and muscle relaxation are also prescribed.

In case of back pain, in order to ensure quality treatment, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

Prevention

Prevention measures:

• learn to maintain posture and stand correctly;
• don't slouch;
• keep your back straight when sitting, put a stand under your feet;
• properly organize your sleeping area;
• do not jump suddenly after waking up - stretch slowly, do simple exercises with your arms and legs;
• distribute the weight on both hands - do not carry everything in one hand, refuse a shoulder bag - a backpack is better;
• do not carry the child in your arms leaning back;
• weight lifting by squatting;
• do not wash floors without a mop, bent forward or kneeling;
• balance your diet with a sufficient amount of minerals and vitamins;
• give up smoking and alcohol;
• do not forget about physical exercises - swimming, Nordic walking, yoga;
• take a contrast shower in the morning;
• takes care of the liver, it produces collagen for the spinal ligaments and vertebral bodies;
• strengthen immunity;
• weight control;
• It is recommended to undergo a course of manual therapy every 6 months for 5-10 sessions (on the recommendation of a specialist);
• avoid stress;
• Do not forget about medical examinations with a doctor.

If you have back pain, consult a doctor who will provide you with appropriate help.Remember that any disease is easier to treat in the initial stages.