Backache

If a person works very hard, exercises a lot of intensity, or walks a long distance, on the reflex level, when he stops to relax, he will put his hands on his waist. It is this part of the body that pulls and pains after exerting force. The explanation is very simple. The spine is the main support of human bones. It connects all joints and bears most of the pressure in any movement. Therefore, after work or exercise, lower back pain is natural.

But not always the cause of lumbar back pain is overwork. Low back pain is often a symptom of a serious disease in the human body and should not be ignored, especially when the pain is severe and often recurs. This is a sign that an unknown pathology has developed and is causing more and more damage to the body every day. It is recommended to consult a doctor as soon as possible: neglected spine problems are difficult to treat and may eventually cause the patient to sit in a wheelchair.

Quite interesting:Researchers believe that back pain in the spine is the result of human evolution, or more precisely, the result of bipedal movement. In animals with moving limbs, the load is evenly distributed. A person must pay for the noble posture and the ability to walk on two legs, which violates the distribution of load, bending of the vertebrae, and back pain.

What could be back pain

Your back may be injured in different ways. Sometimes the pain is severe and unbearable, and the patient feels unbearable burning sensation and restricted movement. More commonly, patients complain of lower back pain, tugging, and unpleasant sensations, which usually appear at night, and may wake up in the middle of the night, which will be aggravated when the weather changes or physical exertion.

Morning stiffness of the spine, "weather-related" back pain, and post-exercise are the first signs of joint malfunction.

Back pain is always accompanied by additional symptoms, you must pay attention and tell your doctor your observations. Based on the accompanying physical signs, it is easier to determine the true cause of lumbar pain. So, which symptoms and criteria have diagnostic value:

• The duration (severity) of the pain. It is called acute pain syndrome and can be worried for up to three months. If it occurs periodically for four months or more and its intensity is different, then it has been called chronic.
• localization. Low back pain that radiates to the buttocks is usually called low back pain in medicine. If the pain affects the leg, it is lumbar pain. In addition, unpleasant feelings can only occur on the right, left, or both sides at the same time.
• The nature of pain. This standard is crucial. Pain can be acute and local, and it can project to the extremities, buttocks, groin, flank, or lower abdomen. The pain is severe, dull, or throbbing. The most difficult thing is to make a correct diagnosis of combined pain.
• The effect on joint range of motion. The doctor will definitely explain whether there is stiffness in the spine, limbs, and hip joints, under what circumstances, and how long it lasts.
• Time indicator. The time and timing of the onset of back pain are also important. This happens all the time, in the morning, at night, at night, after fatigue, turning head, walking, bending, etc. -The answers to all these questions are extremely important for correct diagnosis.

Remarks:According to doctors' statistics, more than 80% of the population in Europe has experienced back pain at least once in their lifetime. More than 25% of medical visits are caused by waist discomfort and pain. In addition, 8 out of 10 patients were active young people with a working age between 35 and 45 years old. In rare cases, pensioners complained of low back pain, and even fewer teenagers.

the reason

All causes of low back pain can be divided into two categories:

• Physiological, usually caused by external factors;
• Pathology is related to visceral diseases.

Physiological reasons include:

• Excessive physical activity during exercise;
• Lifting weights at work or training;
• Work hard at home or in the country;
• Hypothermia, staying in a humid room for a long time.

Age plus physical labor is a sufficient cause of low back pain.

In turn, the pathological cause of back pain may be related to spinal disease or age-related structural changes-this pain syndrome is called primary. If back pain is caused by the dysfunction of other organs (such as the kidneys), it is called secondary-in this case, it is necessary to determine the background disease with the help of additional specific studies and treat both pathologies at the same time.

Diseases and conditions that may be injured in the lower back:

• Osteochondrosis (spondylopathies)-was diagnosed mainly in the elderly at an early stage, and can now be detected at any age;
• Intervertebral hernia-also occurs at any age, if in young people, then usually after excessive force exercise;
• Neuralgia of different nature;
• Arthritis and joint disease, any inflammatory process of the joints;
• Rheumatism and other autoimmune diseases;
• Radiculitis;
• Dysfunction of the endocrine system (diabetes, hyperthyroidism);
• Inflammation of the renal pelvis-pyelonephritis;
• Inflammation of the genitourinary organs.

Injuries to the back or limbs are also painful. In order to determine the exact cause, you need to undergo a number of tests. At a minimum, an external examination by an expert, laboratory tests of urine and blood, X-rays, electrocardiograms, ultrasound examinations of the kidneys and genitourinary organs. If necessary, Additional diagnostic measures will be allocated.

In women, back pain may be caused by cystitis or inflammation of the adnexa.

Spinal disorders that cause back pain

If X-rays show that the vertebrae are deformed, compacted, and expanded, and spiky bone growth is formed along the edges, the doctor will diagnose osteochondrosis or spondylosis. Until recently, this pathology was considered a disease of pensioners, the main cause of which was known as age-related natural changes in the body, slowing down of metabolic processes, and wear of the vertebrae.

Today it has been proven that osteochondrosis can be caused by many other factors in young people and even teenagers. The dynamics of degenerative changes in vertebrae and intervertebral discs are:

• Insufficient physical activity, overweight or restricted mobility due to chronic diseases;
• Sedentary work
• For example, metabolic disorders in the diet, resulting in insufficient nourishment of the vertebral structure and premature wear and tear;
• Inappropriate exercise-did not warm up the muscles and ligaments, did not gradually increase the load and control the lifting load.

As osteochondrosis develops, the intervertebral discs become deformed—they become flat, dense, and rough. The affected intervertebral discs can easily clamp the nerve roots that branch out from the spine, causing inflammation. In addition, nerve roots can be damaged by the bone spur process. The patient feels this is a severe, severe pain, accompanied by limited movement of the lower back. This condition is called sciatica.

In spondylosis, bone growth along the edges of the vertebrae can damage the nerve roots, causing acute pain syndrome.

The inflammatory process in the spine may begin to develop as early as puberty and adolescence. It manifests as recurring back pain, sometimes disturbing at night. Then, they are accompanied by morning stiffness, fatigue and reduced physical activity. In the late stage, the spine is severely deformed, changing one's posture and gait, and forming a hump. Rheumatoid arthritis can develop for many years, in some cases as long as ten years. Due to the slow course of the disease, the symptoms are often vague, and the patient does not go to the doctor and tries every means to cope with the discomfort. For this reason, inflammation of the vertebral joints is more likely to cause disability than other pathologies.

If the patient mentions other joints (shoulder, foot, knee, hand) discomfort during the investigation, complains of hip pain, decreased vision, and stool problems, spondyloarthritis may be suspected. Rheumatologists are engaged in the treatment of this pathology and need to consult him immediately, because the pathology progresses rapidly and causes irreversible changes in the bone and joint structure.

Non-back related diseases as a cause of pain

Sometimes lower back pain can lead to organ diseases. At first glance, these diseases have nothing to do with the spine. Myofascial pain syndrome is a common cause of back pain without other symptoms of joint disease. Generally, young women go to see a doctor for back pain after a day of work, high-intensity training in the gym, or long-term maintenance of a posture.

The pain of myofascial syndrome has nothing to do with spinal joint damage and can be easily eliminated with analgesics, massage and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

During the examination, the doctor can easily detect points near the spine, and pain will occur when pressure is applied. Pain is caused by overworked muscle tissue, nerve roots and joint components will not be affected. This situation will not pose a great threat to the patient's health, but it will significantly reduce the quality of life. During treatment, the doctor will prescribe muscle relaxants-drugs that promote muscle relaxation, as well as the smallest dose of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the short term. It is recommended to adjust the rest and sleep plan and monitor physical activity.

Other extra-articular diseases that may be accompanied by spinal pain:

• Cholecystitis and pancreatitis. The pain is located on the right side of the flank and can project to the lower right side of the back.
• appendicitis. In some cases, the sharp tingling radiates to the lower back, also on the right side. Other symptoms of appendix inflammation: abdominal distension, stool disturbance, nausea, vomiting, severe paleness, fever.
• Renal insufficiency, urolithiasis. Depending on the inflamed kidney, there may be pain in the right or left waist. If the stone is formed, the waist will be very painful, and the body temperature will increase in severe cases.
• obesity. Due to overweight, the lumbar spine will bear a heavy burden, resulting in back pain and discomfort.
• osteomyelitis. Bone infections are accompanied by severe pain and fever.

If no visible lesions of the spine or other joints are found during the examination, and no diseases of the internal organs are found, then it is meaningful to donate blood for tumor markers and perform spinal MRI. Malignant tumors, when they grow, put pressure on nerve roots and can also become a cause of pain. Pain syndrome is characteristic of stage 3-4 cancer.

Lower back pain may be a symptom of appendicitis.

Why do women have back pain

If a woman has severe back pain in the waist, first of all, you should revise your personal calendar. Strain pain can be troublesome before menstruation, and it can also pull the lower abdomen, breast swelling, patients will be nauseous, and some people will suffer from migraines, food intolerance or the opposite of overeating.

Roughly the same symptoms are signs of pregnancy. Therefore, if there is no menstruation for several days and the pain and discomfort persist, it makes sense to have a pregnancy test and make an appointment with a gynecologist.

In addition, the cause may be gynecological diseases. Attachment inflammation usually manifests as traction pain in the lower abdomen. But sometimes they radiate to the lower back. When an ovarian cyst is twisted, a similar sensation can occur. With the onset of menopause, many women complain of burning and stiffness in the waist. In any case, the therapist or rheumatologist will recommend that you consult a gynecologist.

Causes of pain in men

In men, back pain is mainly due to professional activities-driving time, working at the computer, lifting and bearing weights, professional sports.

But the pain on the right or left side of the back may also be one of the symptoms of pathology such as prostatitis or epididymitis. To rule out or confirm pathology, you need to be examined by an andrologist.

Men with back pain should definitely consult an andrologist to rule out prostatitis.

When and what treatment is needed

Even with very strong and persistent back pain, most patients don't think they need serious treatment. They only expect the doctor to do one thing-a good painkiller that can provide immediate and long-term help. Unfortunately, no such drugs exist. Pain syndrome can be eliminated by injections and pills, but the effect will not be long-term because the cause of the discomfort will not be eliminated. The treatment will depend on the cause of the back pain.

Bruises and muscle sprains

The first thing to do is to let your back rest completely. This means that you cannot participate in sports, weightlifting, standing, walking, running, jumping, and being too cold. It is recommended to get rid of excess weight, sedentary work and an inactive lifestyle. Instead, you should consider reducing exercise-such as yoga, Pilates, swimming. In the future, you will have to reconsider your habits and adjust the load on your spine.

Things to do before going to the doctor:

• Take the smallest dose of analgesics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Secure the lower back with an impromptu corset-a towel or scarf;
• To reduce swelling, drink herbal tea that has a diuretic effect.

The doctor will recommend:

• Short-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Muscle relaxants to relieve muscle cramps and tension;
• Massage and warm up the back (in the absence of an inflammatory process);
• B vitamins.

If you follow all the recommendations, the pain will disappear completely within 7-14 days.

remember!If you detect elevated body temperature, pain in your legs or other parts of your body, restricted movement, or other atypical symptoms, you should not seek help from a chiropractor, warm up, or massage yourself under any circumstances. It is also not recommended to take painkillers, as this will complicate the diagnosis.

Spinal Pathology

Use the same techniques as bruises or other injuries to treat early joint disease. In addition, doctors can prescribe chondroprotectants-drugs that protect joint structures from damage and promote their recovery.

For spinal compression fractures, extensive hernias of intervertebral discs, severe osteochondrosis or spondyloarthritis, surgical intervention is required. Depending on the detected irregularities, the operation can be simple, can be performed under local anesthesia, or can be performed in several stages within six months. After any complicated surgery, antibiotics, bandages, and physical therapy are required to fully recover.

Modern technology makes it possible to perform minimally invasive interventions on the spine while minimizing the risk of complications.

Today, spine surgery is no longer an exception. We have accumulated a wealth of experience, and there are specialized equipment that can allow you to solve almost any problem. Therefore, if the situation is difficult and the doctor has recommended surgery, there is no point in delaying. The sooner you proceed, the better your chances of complete pain relief and recovery of spinal function.

Helpful hints

For a very common reason, it is often difficult to treat low back pain in a timely and effective manner-the patient does not know which doctor to consult. If the pain was an injury before, then everything is simple-you need to see a trauma doctor. He is likely to prescribe painkillers and a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and then recommend various physiotherapy procedures-electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, massage, and exercise therapy. This is the standard treatment for back injuries.

The difficulty is that when it is hit or dropped, the nerve endings are affected. Then you need to involve a neurologist who will recommend his own treatment. A rheumatologist or orthopedist will have their own opinions. If any pathology of internal organs (such as the genitourinary system) is found during the examination, the patient will have no idea what he needs to be treated and whom to listen to. By the way, it is for this reason that many people abandon official medical methods and turn to non-traditional, that is, folk remedies, which ultimately leads to the deterioration of the disease and the development of complications.

It happens that the doctor makes the wrong diagnosis and prescribes the incorrect treatment, which leads to the progression of the disease and complications.

What to do in this situation? Don't panic or rush, but follow the prescribed course of treatment to the end and focus on your feelings and happiness. If after two to four weeks, the back pain is equally severe and does not improve at all, it makes sense to contact another doctor and perform a second check to correct the correctness of the diagnosis. It doesn't make sense to change one kind of analgesic to another instead of electrophoresis.

As for treating the back with homeopathy at home, here, people shouldn’t get carried away and recklessly believe in the promises of traditional healers. An adequate adult must understand that traditional treatment methods are good in the remission stage, when the condition is stable, or in preventing recurrence and complications. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease and herbal tinctures cannot be cured in any way.

Medicinal plants will help improve the overall tone of the body, but are unlikely to help treat hernias, disc dislocations, or compression fractures.

The correct decision is if the lower back pain is frequent and the doctor's appointment at the regional clinic is invalid-go to a reputable private clinic and get checked up there. It is not free, but you will find out the real cause and start the correct treatment instead of trying folk remedies and standard painkillers that have no therapeutic effect.

Summary:Almost all adults experience back pain at least once in their lives. In fact, there may be many reasons: from mediocre overwork to severe lesions of the spine, kidneys, infection or metabolic disorders in the body. It is important to accurately and correctly determine the cause and initiate appropriate treatment as early as possible. The spine is the main joint in human bones. Its dysfunction and destruction will inevitably lead to inconvenience and disability without adequate medical care.