Backache

Back pain is slightly less common than headache. Every adult has at least encountered this feeling. In most cases, the neck and lower back are affected. Doctors attribute this to people's gradual reduction in physical activity, because many people work and relax in front of the computer. This is the cause of chronic degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which is the most common cause of back pain. Timely examination and treatment, regular physical exercise and normalization of weight will help get rid of discomfort and regain the joy of exercise.

General information

The high incidence of back pain is related to its anatomy. The foundation is the spine. The cartilage disc is located between the vertebrae and has a shock absorption function. The extra bone is provided by muscles and ligaments. The spinal cord passes through the spine, and paired roots extend from the spine, and almost dominate all organs and tissues.

The pathological process of any structure in the back, as well as the internal organs related to it through nerve fibers, can cause pain. Usually, doctors need to perform a thorough diagnosis to find out its source.

the reason

Most conditions that cause pain in certain parts of the back are chronic. They started gradually and had no symptoms for a long time.

Among the external and internal causes that may worsen the condition, the most common are:

• Increase the load on the spine in the context of frequent weightlifting or overweight;
• Metabolic disorders;
• Postural disorders and diseases of the musculoskeletal system (for example, arthropathy of the hip or flat feet), resulting in uneven load distribution;
• Low temperature;
• Infectious and autoimmune inflammatory processes;
• Volume formation (tumor, abscess);
• Pathology of the internal organs of the chest or abdomen.

disease

Back pain can be a symptom of many diseases and can be divided into several groups.

Spine or joint pathology

This is the most common cause of back pain. Most diseases are related to high and/or uneven loads on the spine:

• Osteochondrosis: The cartilaginous discs between the vertebrae begin to collapse, become thinner and are replaced by bone tissue; as a result, the depreciation function of the spine is damaged, and the spinal cord or its roots are often compressed;
• Intervertebral disc herniation: the center of the intervertebral disc protrudes toward the spinal cord, squeezing the spinal cord; this problem often occurs in the context of advanced osteochondrosis;
• Ankylosing spondylitis: autoimmune inflammation of the joints and ligaments of the spine, causing painful spasms of the surrounding muscles; over time, it becomes the cause of the vertebrae splicing together;
• Spondylolisthesis: The displacement of the vertebrae from their normal position can cause compression of the root or spinal cord;
• Rheumatoid arthritis: inflammation of autoimmune joints; more often affects the cervical spine;
• Osteomyelitis: inflammation of bone tissue.

Muscle Histopathology

In the pathology of bone tissue or joints, muscle tissue is often involved in the pathological process. In this case, painful cramps appear in the affected area. In addition, pain may occur in the following contexts:

• Fibromyalgia: chronic pain of muscles and ligaments, often accompanied by stiffness and stiffness;
• Myositis: The inflammatory process of muscles that occurs under the background of hypothermia, stretching, injury or body overload;
• Dermatomyositis: Chronic damage to the skin, muscles, and internal organs, most likely autoimmune.

Spinal cord and root pathology

In most cases, due to trauma, tumor, osteochondrosis, or intervertebral disc herniation, pain occurs when certain areas of the nerve tissue are compressed. Solitary lesions can be caused by:

• Inflammation associated with infection, including HIV and syphilis;
• Multiple sclerosis;
• Bleeding;
• Hypoxia
• Lack of vitamins or minerals.

Visceral Pathology

Most internal organs are innervated by the roots of the spinal cord. As a result, any of these pathological processes may cause back pain. In most cases, doctors face the following problems:

• Kidney pathology: pyelonephritis, urinary tract stones;
• Inflammation of pelvic organs: salpingitis, tubal oophoritis, prostatitis;
• Gallbladder pathology: cholecystitis, cholelithiasis;
• Damage to the cardiovascular system: angina pectoris, heart attack, aortic dissecting aneurysm, pulmonary embolism;
• Respiratory diseases: pleurisy, pneumonia, abscess, pneumothorax;
• appendicitis.

Nature and location of pain

The location and nature of sensations can tell us a lot about their origin. It is important to tell the doctor the details of the back pain as much as possible so that he can find out the cause and receive treatment as soon as possible.

Depending on its nature, pain may be:

• Acute: It often occurs under the background of osteochondrosis, intervertebral disc herniation, low back pain or radiculitis, usually aggravated by exercise;
• Pain: a characteristic of chronic inflammation in muscles, ligaments or internal organs;
• Compression or rupture: Acute or chronic pathology of internal organs is most often talked about;
• Pulsating, intense: usually associated with trauma, low back pain, spondylosis, and deterioration of osteochondrosis.

The location of the pain syndrome also helps in the diagnosis:

• Right side: pathology of liver, gallbladder, duodenum, injury of right ovary or kidney, appendicitis;
• Left: Pathology of spleen, left kidney or ovary, myocardial infarction, pancreatitis;
• In the lumbar area: sciatica, osteochondrosis, low back pain, Reiter syndrome, intervertebral hernia;
• Below the waist: osteochondrosis or intervertebral disc herniation, bilateral ovarian inflammation, uterine disease, menstrual cramps;
• Right under the scapula: pathology of liver, gallbladder, pancreas, right intercostal neuralgia, pleurisy, pneumonia;
• Left under the scapula: heart disease, left pneumonia, pleurisy, intercostal neuralgia, etc.

When you need to see a doctor urgently

Back pain may be a relatively harmless pathological sign, or it may be evidence of a dangerous process that requires immediate medical attention. One should urgently consult an expert in the following situations:

• Pain after injury;
• Unable to find the location where the pain is weakened;
• Temperature rise
• Signs of nerve damage: numbness, tingling, muscle weakness;
• Pain worsens at night;
• Feeling accompanied by weakness, darkened eyes, palpitations, cold sweats;
• Analgesics cannot relieve;
• Despite treatment, the disease is still progressing;
• Rapid changes in blood pressure (increased or decreased);
• You have urination problems or changes in the color of your urine;
• The pain has spread to the chest and abdomen;
• This condition is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, heavy loose stools, or delayed bowel movements.

Generally speaking, any suspicious symptoms that have not been noticed in previous pain episodes should be alerted to the patient and become a reason for emergency medical care.

diagnosis

Checks for low back pain include:

• Collect complaints and medical history of diseases, clarify the onset of pain, the nature, intensity, location and other important parameters of pain, and identify risk factors for various diseases;
• General examinations for measuring blood pressure, assessing heart rate, respiration, and body temperature;
• Nervous system examination: assessment of sensory and motor function, reflex quality;
• Laboratory diagnosis: general blood and urine tests, basic biochemical blood tests; if necessary, tests to confirm or rule out specific pathologies;
• Electrocardiogram, heart ultrasound;
• X-ray, CT or MRI of the spine;
• Ultrasound of abdominal organs, small pelvis;
• Chest X-ray;
• Doppler ultrasound examination of the neck and cerebral blood vessels;
• Electromyography: evaluate the quality of nerve impulse conduction through muscle fibers;
• Specialist consultation: nephrologist, cardiologist, gynecologist, etc.

Test checklists, diagnostic procedures, and consultations may vary depending on the patient’s complaint.

Back pain treatment

The choice of treatment depends on the cause. In most cases, doctors are faced with pathology of the musculoskeletal system and nervous tissue. In this case, painkillers become the basis of treatment:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Hormones;
• Muscle relaxants: relieve muscle spasms;
• B vitamins: improve the condition of nerve tissue;
• Narcotic analgesics: Ineffective with other groups of drugs.

Additional procedures help to supplement the effects of medication:

• Physiotherapy: electrotherapy and sound wave therapy, laser and magnetic therapy, electrical stimulation;
• massage;
• Manual therapy
• physiotherapy.

Doctors choose specific techniques based on the cause of the organism and individual characteristics. In some cases, surgical treatment is prescribed.

prevention

Back pain can be prevented. For this, you must comply with the following rules:

• Prevention of fatigue: do gymnastics and exercise (not overload);
• Avoid stress
• rest well;
• Eat right to prevent excessive weight gain;
• Avoid lifting heavy objects;
• Obstacles to correct posture;
• Receive regular checkups from a doctor and treat chronic diseases in time

Back pain may be mild, or it may make a person completely unable to move. Don't let the crisis happen, see the doctor at the first sign of the problem.