Back pain: causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention

According to statistics, 80% of people directly know back pain.Of all medical permits issued, more than a third are related to this problem.The reason can be considered the weakness of fragile muscles and their rapid growth.In order to identify the problem, in addition to the visual examination, hardware diagnostics (x-ray, myography, CT, etc.) and laboratory blood tests are also performed.Treatment is prescribed only after a diagnosis has been made.

Why does my back hurt?

Pain in the spine can occur directly after injuries, pathologies of 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 be reflected, for example, in 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, motor and absorption functions.This is due to the cartilage of the intervertebral discs, muscles and ligaments, which tend to wear out over time with the wrong 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.Cervical and lumbar areas suffer more often due to their greater loads and mobility.

What should you do if you have back pain?

A doctor's examination is required to determine the cause, especially if the pain has become 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 number of symptoms and refer you to the right specialist.If the cause is known and visible, 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 number of reasons.

Physiological causes (common):

• increased weight;
• recent birth or pregnancy;
• hypodynamic work - in the office, at the computer, driving a car;
• standing jobs - hairdressers, waiters and salesmen, street advertisers, surgeons, teachers;
• heavy physical activity combined with sudden turns of the body;
• overload during exercise;
• 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 diseases - 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 hernia, atypical appendicitis and intestinal obstruction, kidney stones, fractures and sprains, spinal cord injury, appendicitis in men and prostate cancer.

Types of diseases based on the nature of back pain

Causes of aching pain:

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

Causes of shooting pains:

• intervertebral hernia - with them, the condition worsens with any physical stress;
• radiculitis - this type of back pain often occurs on one side, radiates to the thigh or buttocks, causes numbness in the legs and also depends on physical effort;
• osteochondrosis - the patient may experience annoying pain that radiates to the leg and intensifies when coughing, sneezing, straining, walking, bending.

Etiology of throbbing pain:

• osteochondrosis;
• intervertebral hernia;
• lumbago;
• spondylosis - are acute and cannot be relieved by analgesics.

Bursting back pain:

• ischemia;
• heart attack;
• WIRE;
• inflammation of the gallbladder;
• a 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 may be:

• overload the day before, if you lifted weights and moved sharply;
• weak back muscles;
• hypothermia;
• vertebral 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 back is also uneven.

Sleeping conditions are also important.The bed should not be too hard or soft - in any case, a person is forced to take an uncomfortable, non-physiological sleeping position, 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 raised.

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

Diseases related to joints and spine

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

1. Ankylosing spondylitis – persistent inflammation of the ligaments and joints causes chronic spasms of the surrounding muscles.The process is autoimmune;over time, the vertebrae begin to fuse together, which dramatically disrupts the function of the spine.
2. Spondylolisthesis - the vertebrae are in an abnormal position.They move and affect the brain or roots.
3. Osteochondrosis - the intervertebral discs become thinner, 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 spine.
5. Osteomyelitis is inflammation of the bone marrow and surrounding soft tissues.It causes severe pain.
6. Reiter's disease is a simultaneous rheumatic lesion of the urogenital tract, joints and conjunctiva of the eyes.The small muscles of the back are affected.More often typical of young people, it develops gradually.The pain is severe in the morning and decreases in the evening.
7. Spinal canal stenosis – the cause can be disc herniation or protrusion (protrusion into the spinal canal).Most often, the process involves the lower roots of the spinal cord, which innervate the legs.The pain is felt from the lower back to the legs, intensifying both at rest and while walking.
8. Facet syndrome is a lesion of the intervertebral (facet) joints.The pain may be localized or spread to the groin, tail or thigh.Physically addicted.In the evening the condition worsens, after rest it improves.It occurs more often in the elderly.

Diseases related to muscles

Muscle tissue is affected secondarily, against the background of pathology of bone tissue or joints. Painful spasms and contractions 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, sprains or severe physical exertion.Muscle weakness appears, in which even turning to the side is painful and problematic.
3. Dermatomyositis is a chronic disease of muscles, organs and skin, often autoimmune in nature.
4. Charcot's disease is an inflammation of the peripheral nerves that run along the spine.This leads to changes in gait, muscle weakness and increased nerve root sensitivity.
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.The so-called trigger points appear, when the muscle is pressed it reacts with acute pain.Neurologists know this.Pains of this type can be eliminated with heating ointments and a needle applicator.

Pathologies of the spinal cord

These include damage to the spinal cord, which has 31 paired branches, with each nerve responsible for innervating its own area. This condition occurs when:

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

Back pain due to psychosomatics

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

Causes of back pain by location

Pain can occur in different places on the back.Then they talk about its localization.

Pain in the right side

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

Somatic pathologies can also cause pain in this area:

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

Pain in 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.

Pain in the lumbar region

The lower back suffers very often, as it carries a colossal load.This section becomes inflamed when nerve roots are damaged, osteochondrosis or hernial protrusion.Less often, the cause can be tuberculosis of the spine, arthritis, lumboschialgia, decrease in density and destruction of the structure of bone tissue, Reiter's syndrome - a combination of urethritis and prostatitis.

Pain in the lumbar region is usually chronic.

In the middle area 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.

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

Left middle 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 abrasion. If it does not go away peacefully, the reasons may be:

• scoliosis;
• osteochondrosis (with a sedentary lifestyle or poor posture);
• vertebral infections;
• blood circulation disorders.

Crushed nerve

Most often, the sciatic nerve is compressed - sciatic nerve.Her myelin sheath is not damaged.This is usually a consequence of osteochondrosis.When it is caught, a sharp and acute pain appears, which radiates to the leg, sacrum and lower back.

With compression radiculopathy, the roots of the spinal nerves are also compressed due to a disc herniation or a decrease in its height and, as a result, the distance between the vertebral bodies.Such pain is felt as "superficial", it is sharply intensified when you cough, exercise or sneeze.

Intervertebral hernia

A hernia is a protrusion of the nucleus of the intervertebral disc into the spinal canal.More often it is a consequence of untreated osteochondrosis.The central part extends 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 extension of the hernia.The pain is sharp and sharp, radiating to the arm or leg.

In the shoulder area

Pain characteristics may indicate a diagnosis:

1. Stomach ulcer is a dull growing pain.Eliminated with medications.
2. Intercostal neuralgia is a disease characterized by acute 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 under the collarbone.

Pain along the spine and back

Most often they occur when nerve endings are pinched.Aggravations are associated with curvature of the spine.If the pain is not pronounced, we can talk about extension.With increasing pain, you can think about osteochondrosis.Pain along the spine is characteristic of myositis, fractures, thinning and wear of intervertebral discs and 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;
• menstruation;
• ulcerative colitis;
• appendicitis;
• diseases of the prostate or bladder - in men.

Associated symptoms

Manifestations of spinal pain vary depending on the location.If the cervical spine is affected, there will be migraines and dizziness, weakness and numbness of the hands, increased pressure, spots and flashes in the eyes.When the chest region is involved, 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:

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

Experts will help you discover the cause of the pain.

Diagnosing

To identify the cause of back pain, the 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 will indicate anemia, which can have many causes, and one of the possible reasons is oncology.
2. MRI. Visualizes the condition of all components of the spine.It helps distinguish the type and nature of the tumor, determines the distance between the vertebrae and the degree of compression of the roots.
3. CT. It 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 bone tissue.Prescribed for suspected fractures, arthritis, scoliosis, osteoporosis, spondyloarthrosis.
5. Electromyography (EMG).Determines indicators of bioelectrical activity of muscles and peripheral nerve endings.
6. Ultrasound of 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.

Treatment for back pain

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

In the medical treatment of back pain, NSAIDs, analgesics, muscle relaxants and B vitamins are usually used. Physiotherapy, exercise therapy, IRT, massage, spinal traction and muscle relaxation are also prescribed.

For back pain, to ensure quality treatment, it is advisable to go to a doctor.

Preventing

Preventive measures:

• learn to maintain posture and stand correctly;
• don't bend over;
• keep your back straight when sitting, put a stand under your feet;
• organize your sleeping area correctly;
• do not jump suddenly after waking up - lie down slowly, do simple exercises with arms and legs;
• distribute weights 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 your arms bent backwards;
• lifting weights while 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;
• take care of the liver, it produces collagen for the spinal ligaments and vertebral bodies;
• strengthening immunity;
• control weight;
• It is recommended to undergo a course of manual therapy for 5-10 sessions every 6 months (with 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 offer you the right help.Remember, any disease is easier to treat in the initial stages.