What to do if your back hurts

Back pain can make life difficult and has many possible causes. Timely prevention and diagnosis of back pain will help to avoid complications. eliminate back painPhysiotherapists and neurologists will help you with this.

Back pain is very common in today's society. This is due to a number of factors: people lead a sedentary lifestyle, their daily diet lacks valuable vitamins and minerals, suffer from diseases of internal organs, experience increased physical activity, get injured as a result of professional sports activities, ignore signs of cancer , etc. All this provokes pain in different areas of the back and deprives a person of a full life.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the problem of back pain and present the most effective ways to get rid of it. We hope that this material will be useful to you!

back pain

Pain in the back is called dorsopathy. Many modern residents suffer from the disease, but the causes of its occurrence can be very different. In 80% of cases, the pathology is caused by primary (nonspecific) factors, and in 20% of situations the disease manifests itself against the background of secondary (specific) signs.

Pain of a certain type can be provoked by damage to internal organs, in other cases the pathological process progresses due to degenerative-dystrophic processes in the spine.

Among the specific risk factors, the most dangerous are oncological processes associated with metastases in the spine. For prevention, patients are recommended to undergo regular fluorography and mammography, as well as PSA analysis. This makes it possible to detect the presence of tumors in the initial stages, when malignant cells have not yet had time to move with the blood flow to other organs.

If your back hurts and you do not know what to do and how to treat an ailment of unknown cause, the first thing you should do is make an appointment with an experienced specialist and find out the cause of the discomfort.

You deal with neurologists, physical therapists and surgeons. After a thorough diagnosis, they make a precise statement about your illness and give a clear answer to the question: "What to do if you have back pain? "".

Causes of back pain

The most frequently asked question in Internet search engines is: "What should I do if my spine hurts in the middle of my back? "". Today, this pain syndrome worries more than 80% of people in the world. The main sources of its occurrence are the following pathologies in the spine:

• A disease accompanied by the occurrence of a purulent-inflammatory process in the bone marrow due to the activity of pathogens;
• The presence of malignant neoplasms, as evidenced by the appearance of lower back pain;
• Disc prolapse;
• spinal injuries (fractures);
• curvature of the spine;
• pain of a chronic nature in the area of muscle structures;
• Pathological process characterized by the development of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the area of \u200b\u200ball components of the motor segment of the spine;
• cartilage damage.

In some situations, manifestations of pain in the back area can be triggered by other reasons:

• inflammatory processes in the joints;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• bleeding in the pelvic area;
• Violations in the work of the female reproductive system. At the same time, women notice that their back hurts in the lumbar region. Only a competent gynecologist can draw up a treatment plan and clarify what to do in such a situation;
• intercostal neuralgia. Contributes to breathing difficulties;
• Ulcerative disease characterized by discomfort in the shoulder blade area;
• dysfunction of the kidneys;
• Inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by unilateral pain syndrome;
• The presence of malignant neoplasms in the respiratory organs;
• Acute inflammation of the inner lining of the appendix;
• Infectious processes in the internal organs.

types of back pain

To identify the cause of the pathology, the nature of the ailments is taken into account. There are the following types of pain:

Shooting back pain

Noticeable when:

• pathologies of internal organs;
• bodily injury as a result of a fall;
• Pinched nerve roots and spondylolisthesis;
• Curvature of the spine and violation of posture.

If the stabbing pain becomes acute, then visiting a medical clinic is a prerequisite for recovery.

Dagger back pain

If the patient asks a question about what to do if the back hurts in the lower back and the discomfort has an acute dagger character, this indicates dangerous pathological processes such as:

• The presence of malignant neoplasms;
• Acute inflammation after exposure to thermal factors;
• Spasm of the piriformis muscle.

Sometimes the need to do something disappears when the back hurts a lot, since such discomfort occurs in women in the last weeks of pregnancy and is considered normal.

Pain syndrome of a pulling nature

Patients often complain, "If my lower back hurts from lifting weights and tearing my back, what should I do in this situation? ". Of course, excessive physical activity can provoke drawing pains, but most often the following factors cause such discomfort:

• Old injuries in the back;
• Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the lumbar spine;
• Prolonged stay in one position.

back pain after exercise

It is observed in individuals involved in sports at a professional level. Pain syndrome, as a rule, occurs against the background of excessive muscle tension. What exactly to do if your back hurts in this case, only a qualified specialist will answer you. First of all, you should give your body a break and complete relaxation.

Back pain from coronavirus or SARS?

If the muscles of the back along the spine hurt, what exactly to do in this situation, the doctor will answer after examining for acute respiratory viral infections. Often they cause severe pain in the area of muscle tissues, aching joints and general weakness, which is a result of intoxication of the body.

If the back hurts with a simultaneous increase in temperature, then what to do in this case is obvious. First of all, you should take painkillers and antipyretic drugs. Only an experienced doctor, after a thorough examination, can prescribe special antiviral agents and antibiotics.

It should be noted that with coronavirus infection, increased back pain is due to pleurisy, and it is also accompanied by increased tension in muscle structures, which occurs against the background of a frequent debilitating cough. In addition, lactic acid is formed in the back muscles, which leads to considerable discomfort.

When is a doctor's visit urgent?

If the symptoms of pain do not subside within a few days, but only intensify, a visit to a medical facility is a prerequisite for improving well-being.

In the following situations, we recommend that you visit the clinic yourself or call your family doctor:

• Condition worsens at night;
• There has been a recent injury to the back or spine;
• The patient does not feel better even if the body position changes;
• The patient has a fever;
• The patient is at risk (age category over 55 years);
• The neurological discomfort intensifies - the sensitivity in the limbs disappears, the patient begins to feel muscle weakness;
• Relief of the condition does not give even nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• The patient complains of shooting pains in the lower leg.

Diagnosis of back pain

If your back starts to hurt and you do not know what to do, the first thing to do is to consult a neurologist and conduct the necessary laboratory and hardware tests. This allows you to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an effective treatment.

What does a blood test determine?

Based on a laboratory blood test, doctors can identify infectious processes and determine an important indicator of the ESR, which allows you to confirm or rule out inflammation. With increased levels of leukocytes, one can also assess the presence of inflammatory processes. In addition, using a blood test, one can conclude that hemoglobin synthesis is impaired due to iron deficiency, as well as the development of malignant neoplasms.

hardware research

• Duplex/Triplex ultrasound examination of neck and head vessels.It allows to study the condition of blood vessels, assess the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and blood clots, study the quantitative parameters of blood flow. This research method is prescribed to patients who complain of frequent dizziness, increased blood pressure, headaches and signs of acute cerebrovascular accident;
• CT scan.Allows you to determine the nature of the fracture of the spine and see even the smallest parts. Based on the results of the study, it is possible to recreate the damaged area in three dimensions. CT is more informative than X-ray;
• Magnetic resonance imaging.The most accurate research method. It allows you to study malignant neoplasms on the vertebrae, as well as pinched nerve roots, intervertebral hernias, a decrease in the lumen of the spinal foramen and inflammatory processes provoked by injuries. The performance of an MRI is considered a prerequisite before the operation and during the rehabilitation period afterwards;
• radiography.Allows you to examine in detail the condition of bone tissue. It is performed with scoliosis, inflammatory diseases of the joints, fractures, displacement of the vertebrae. It is often performed in conjunction with functional diagnostics when the patient is asked to flex and straighten the spine. Using the indicators of coloring of the vertebrae, their strength is assessed;
• electromyography.Allows to assess the condition of the nervous tissue. This study examines electrical impulses generated by nerve structures and the response of muscle tissue to them. Thanks to EMG, it is possible to detect a pinched nerve that arose against the background of a herniated disc and narrowing of the spinal foram;
• bone scintigraphy.It is considered a mandatory method for suspected compression fractures or oncological processes.

treatment of back pain

The main goal of therapeutic measures is to relieve pain and prevent the development of chronic pathologies. Because of this, treatment includes the elimination of signs of the underlying disease, as well as the use of drugs to relieve acute pain and the use of non-drug methods to restore the body.

Acute Pain Syndrome Relief Algorithm:

• Bed rest for the first 3-5 days. At the same time, the patient is recommended to undergo shock wave treatment and use special drugs. In addition, the patient is prescribed special orthopedic aids;
• Observance of semi-bed rest for the next 8-9 days. During this time, SWT and medication should be continued. Also, the patient is recommended to introduce special exercises with low loads and undergo electrophoresis with analgesics;
• Period of reduced physical activity (day 12-20). In this phase, drug treatment, shock wave therapy and physiotherapy sessions continue. To achieve an additional positive effect, they resort to massage procedures;
• Unlimited physical activity (without increased loads) together with the implementation of physiotherapy exercises;
• preventive measures. Regular physiotherapy practice and sports training. This improves the quality of life.

The use of medication

In the course of diagnostics, it is not always possible to determine the cause of the pain syndrome, therefore, when prescribing medication, the nature of the ailments is often taken into account:

1. In the case of acute pain sensations, a medicinal blockade of the paravertebral muscles is used. If the pain cannot be relieved by the above method, then anesthesia is performed in the epidural space of the spine.
2. The pain syndrome of moderate intensity is stopped with injections of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A derivative of phenylacetic acid is considered to be the most effective of these agents. However, with prolonged use, this drug can disrupt the activity of the cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, if there are problems with the stomach in a patient, he is prescribed more benign drugs from this group.
3. To stop muscle spasms, they resort to drugs that reduce the tone of skeletal muscles.
4. Group B vitamins. They enhance the analgesic effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. These drugs are taken in pill form or given intramuscularly as injections.
5. With neuropathic pain, as part of complex therapy, they resort to the use of anticonvulsants or psychotropic drugs.

preventive measures

So that the question of what to do if the back hurts at the bottom, in the lumbar region or in the shoulder blade region does not bother you for many years, you should pay attention to your body. Only careful handling of your body and the regular implementation of preventive measures minimize the likelihood of back pain.

There are some important rules, compliance with which will allow you to avoid discomfort in the back. So, if your back hurts and a person is wondering what to do in this situation, reviews suggest that first of all one should pay attention to shoes. Since the greatest load falls on the spine during movement, wearing uncomfortable shoes should be avoided. Experts recommend giving preference to shoes with a small heel (1-3 cm).

It is also important to pay attention to posture. If you work at the computer for a long time, try to periodically change the position of the body, sometimes walking around the room or office.

When carrying heavy objects, it is necessary to optimally distribute the weight of the load.

Another prerequisite for maintaining a healthy back condition is the implementation of gymnastic exercises. Physiotherapy and special exercises recommended by professional specialists will allow you to strengthen your muscles.