Back pain may not only occur in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle.This can occur with age or during heavy work where the spine is subjected to increased stress.If the pain occurs from time to time, there is no need for any treatment.However, if the pain is regular, you should definitely consult a doctor.Therapy is selected depending on the cause of the identified pathology - drug therapy, physiotherapy, and sometimes surgery are used.
Reasons
To determine the causes of back pain, you need to analyze when and under what conditions they occur:
- Morning pain.It usually happens after waking up.The person cannot change position, lift his arm, or turn his neck without severe pain.Most often this has nothing to do with the spine, but is caused by myositis - muscle inflammation caused by hypothermia, excessive stress and infectious diseases.In such cases, warming ointments are prescribed, including those based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.If the inflammation also affects the joints, the doctor prescribes chondroprotectors - agents that regenerate tissue.
- Pain with exertion.They occur during walking, long walks or, conversely, with lack of movement.Usually the pain is dull but quite strong, but goes away after the load is removed, but sometimes it becomes constant.In this case, you need to consult a doctor.The specialist will be able to accurately determine the cause of the ailment - spondylolisthesis, spinal canal stenosis or osteochondrosis.
- Towards the end of the working day, pulling pains in the neck occur.They are accompanied by a crunching sound and after a while they intensify - these are symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.The disease cannot be completely cured.However, painkillers can be administered.In the acute period, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed or, if they do not help, corticosteroids.
Intervertebral disc dystrophy develops with age.This means they lose their ability to absorb shock, causing back pain.In such cases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors are prescribed.The doctor may recommend special therapeutic exercises that will help strengthen the back muscles.Intervertebral disc dystrophy should not be confused with a hernia;the latter is characterized by the protrusion of one vertebra.In severe cases, surgical treatment is prescribed.
Drug treatment of hernia and other conservative treatment methods make it possible to keep the patient's quality of life at a high level.However, in the most advanced cases, when it is not possible to relieve pain with anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids and genitourinary system dysfunctions occur, the hernia is operated on.The probability of pain continuing even after surgery is not more than 1.5%.
Back pain can be caused by injuries.This condition occurs due to sprains in the ligaments that support the spine, or an injury that may occur during sports or heavy lifting.Injury to the spine leads to the development of osteoporosis, a disease that causes thinning of bone tissue.The pathology itself does not trigger pain, but leads to vertebral fractures.
Depending on location
It is important to determine the location of the pain - in the middle or lower back.Sometimes this helps figure out which part of the spine is the problem and can point to other pathologies that cause similar symptoms.The middle back hurts not only due to osteochondrosis, but also due to diseases of the stomach or pancreas.
Back pain localized on the right or left is not necessarily related to spinal diseases.Sometimes this is a symptom of kidney pathology - an infectious disease or the appearance of stones in them.Ultrasound will help make the correct diagnosis.Further treatment depends on the cause of the pathology - the infection is fought with antibiotics, and kidney stones are removed surgically.
Sometimes back pain can be caused by gynecological diseases such as endometriosis (growth of the endometrium outside the uterine cavity).However, there are cases where it affects even the abdominal organs, leading to compression of nerve endings.In such cases, the stomach begins to hurt.If you experience pain in your lower back, you should consult a gynecologist.Most often, endometriosis must be treated with conservative methods, but sometimes surgical intervention is necessary.
Back pain occurs during pregnancy.Their appearance can be triggered by increased load on the spine and hormonal changes that lead to muscle relaxation.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are generally contraindicated for expectant mothers, and in some cases even massage is excluded.Special therapeutic exercises for pregnant women can have a good effect.The best options for expectant mothers are water aerobics and yoga.It is important to eliminate increased stress on your back.
Pain can also be caused by joint problems.The most common of these are various types of arthritis.Many times the disease is contagious in nature, so antibiotics are required.
Treatment and prevention
If the pain is caused by physical overload or occurs against the background of hypothermia and an infectious disease, it may disappear on its own.Anti-inflammatory medications can be used to speed healing.Warming compresses and woolen belts should not be worn.It is better to replace them with a special elastic corset.
Special bandages are produced for expectant mothers that help relieve stress on the back.However, if the pain does not go away within three days despite all the precautions taken, you should definitely consult a doctor.
In no case should you self-medicate, especially massage and warming procedures such as a bath or sauna - this will only increase swelling and discomfort.
The treatment is carried out comprehensively: they take anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs to relieve pain, while at the same time reducing the load on the spine.This is most true for overweight people;They must follow a low-energy diet.
In addition, doctors often recommend various physiotherapeutic methods - magnetic therapy, massages.If the pain is caused by the destruction of joint tissue, then you need to take additional chondroprotectors - drugs based on chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, which repair joints and promote collagen production.
To prevent the disease, it is important to follow the recommendations:
- You cannot sit for a long time without moving.In this position, a great load is placed on the spine.
- Vertical loads on the spinal column should be avoided.
- The back muscles need to be strengthened to provide additional support to the spine.
- If you have severe, long-term pain, you should definitely consult a specialist.