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.

Back pain is a common occurrence in today's society. This is due to several factors: people lead a sedentary lifestyle, their daily diet lacks valuable vitamins and minerals, they suffer from pathologies of Organs internal organs, they experience increased physical activity, they injure themselves as a result of professional sports activities, they ignore signs from cancer, etc. All this causes pain in various areas of the back and deprives the person of a full life.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the problem of back pain and introduce you to the most effective ways to eliminate it. We hope this material is useful to you!

Backache

Back pain is called dorsopathy. Many modern residents suffer from the disease, but the causes of its occurrence can be very diverse. In 80% of cases, the pathology is caused by primary (non-specific) factors, and in 20% of situations, the disease manifests itself in the context of secondary (specific) signs.

Pain of a specific nature 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 accompanied by metastases to the spine. For prevention purposes, it is recommended that patients undergo regular fluorography and mammography in addition to PSA analysis. This makes it possible to detect the presence of tumors at an early stage, when malignant cells have not yet had time to move with the blood flow to other organs.

If your back hurts and you don't know what to do and how to treat a disease of unknown origin, you should first make an appointment with an experienced specialist and find out the cause of the discomfort.

You will be dealing with neurologists, physical therapists and surgeons. After a complete diagnosis, they will draw an accurate conclusion about your disease and give an unambiguous answer to the question: "What to do if your back hurts? ".

Causes of back pain

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

• A disease accompanied by the appearance of a purulent inflammatory process in the bone marrow, due to the activity of pathogens;
• The presence of malignant neoplasms, evidenced by the occurrence of pain in the lumbar region;
• herniated disc;
• 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 all components of the movement segment of the spine;
• Cartilage damage.

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

• Inflammatory processes in the joints;
• Cardiovascular diseases;
• Bleeding in the pelvic region;
• Violations in the work of the female reproductive system. At the same time, women notice that their back hurts in their lower back. Only a competent gynecologist can draw up a treatment plan and clarify what to do in such a situation;
• Intercostal neuralgia. Contributes to difficulty breathing;
• Ulcerative disease, characterized by discomfort in the scapular region;
• Kidney malfunction;
• Inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by a unilateral pain syndrome;
• The presence of malignant neoplasms in Organs respiratory organs;
• Acute inflammation of the inner lining of the appendix;
• Infectious processes in internal organs.

Types of back pain

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

back pain shot

It is known when:

• Pathologies of internal organs;
• Physical injury resulting from a fall;
• Pinched nerve roots and spondylolisthesis;
• Spinal curvature and violation of posture.

If the acute pain becomes acute, a visit to 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 lumbar region and the discomfort is of an acute character, then this indicates dangerous pathological processes such as:

• The presence of malignant neoplasms;
• Acute inflammation after exposure to thermal factors;
• Piriformis muscle spasm.

Sometimes the need to do something if the back is very sore goes away by itself, as this discomfort occurs in women in the last weeks of pregnancy and is considered normal.

Pain syndrome of a pulled nature

Patients often complain, "If my lower back hurts because I lifted weights and tore my back, what should I do in this situation? ". Obviously, excessive physical activity can trigger pain of a pulling nature, but most of the time the following factors cause this discomfort:

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

Back pain after exercise

It is observed in people involved in sports activities at a professional level. As a rule, the pain syndrome 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. First, you must give the body a break and complete relaxation.

Back pain due to coronavirus or SARS?

If the back muscles along the spine hurt, what exactly to do in this situation will be answered by the doctor after an examination for the presence of acute respiratory viral infections. They often cause severe pain in the area of muscle tissue, joint pain, and general weakness, which is a consequence of intoxication of the body.

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

It should be noted that with coronavirus infection, the increase in back pain is due to pleurisy and is also associated with increased tension in muscle structures, which occurs against the background of frequent debilitating coughing. In addition, lactic acid is formed in the muscles of the back, causing significant discomfort.

When is the visit to the doctor urgent?

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

An independent clinic visit or calling a doctor at home is recommended in the following situations:

• The condition worsens at night;
• There has recently been an injury to the back or spine;
• The patient does not feel better even when the body position changes;
• The patient has a fever;
• The patient is at risk (age category over 55 years);
• Neurological discomfort intensifies - sensitivity in the limbs disappears, the patient begins to experience muscle weakness;
• Relief from the condition doesn't even provide NSAIDs;
• The patient complains of sharp pain in the lower leg.

Back pain diagnosis

If your back starts to hurt and you don't know what to do, you should first contact a neurologist and carry out the necessary laboratory and hardware studies. This will allow you to accurately diagnose and prescribe effective treatment.

What does a blood test determine?

Due to a laboratory blood test, doctors are able to identify infectious processes and determine an important indicator of ESR, which allows to confirm or exclude inflammation. With elevated leukocyte values, one can also judge the presence of inflammatory processes. Also, based on a blood test, it can be concluded that hemoglobin synthesis is impaired due to iron deficiency, as well as the development of malignant neoplasms.

hardware search

• Duplex/Triplex ultrasound of the neck and head vessels.It allows to examine the state of blood vessels, judge the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and blood clots and study the quantitative parameters of blood flow. This research method is indicated for patients who complain of frequent dizziness, high blood pressure, headache and signs of acute stroke;
• computed tomography. It allows establishing the nature of the spine fracture, as well as detecting even its smallest parts. Based on the results of the study, it is possible to recreate the damaged area in a three-dimensional format. CT is more informative than radiography;
• MRI image.The most accurate search method. It allows the examination of malignant neoplasms in the vertebrae, as well as pinched nerve roots, intervertebral hernia, decreased lumen of the spinal foramen and inflammatory processes caused by injury. Performing an MRI is considered a prerequisite before surgery and during the rehabilitation period after it;
• X-ray.It allows to study in detail the state of the bone tissue. It is performed for scoliosis, inflammatory joint diseases, fractures, displacement of vertebrae. It is often performed along with the functional diagnosis, when the patient is asked to bend and straighten the spine. According to the indicators of coloring of the vertebrae, their strength is judged;
• Electromyography.Allows you to assess the state of the nervous tissue. In the process of this study, the electrical impulses generated by the nerve structures, as well as the response of muscle tissue to them, are studied. Thanks to EMG, it is possible to detect a pinched nerve that has arisen against the background of an intervertebral disc herniation and narrowing of the spinal foramen;
• Bone scintigraphy.It is considered a mandatory method for suspected compression fractures or oncological processes.

back pain treatment

The main objective of therapeutic measures is to relieve pain and prevent the development of chronic pathologies. That's why treatment involves eliminating the signs of the underlying disease, as well as using medications to relieve acute pain and using non-drug methods of restoring the body.

Algorithm for relief of acute pain syndrome:

• Bed rest for the first 3-5 days. At the same time, the patient is recommended to undergo shockwave treatment and use special medications. In addition, the patient receives special orthopedic devices;
• Fulfillment of semi-bed rest for the next 8-9 days. During this period, SWT and medication use should be continued. In addition, it is recommended that the patient introduce special exercises with a small load and perform electrophoresis with analgesics;
• Period of limited physical activity (12-20th day). At this stage, drug treatment, shock wave therapy, and physical therapy sessions continue. To obtain an additional positive effect, they resort to massage procedures;
• Unlimited physical activity (without increasing loads) along with physical therapy exercises;
• Preventive actions. Regular practice of physical therapy and sports training. This improves the quality of life.

the use of medicines

In the course of diagnosis, it is not always possible to establish the cause of the pain syndrome; therefore, when prescribing medication, the nature of the discomfort is often taken into account:

1. For acute pain sensations, a drug blockade of the paraspinal muscles is used. If the pain cannot be relieved by the above method, anesthesia is performed in the epidural space of the spine.
2. Moderate pain syndrome is stopped by injections with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The most effective of these agents is considered to be a phenylacetic acid derivative. However, this drug, with prolonged use, can interrupt the activity of the cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, for any gastric disorders in a patient, he is given more benign drugs from this group.
3. To stop muscle spasms, they resort to the help of drugs that reduce the tone of skeletal muscles.
4. Group B vitamins. Increase the analgesic effect of non-steroidal 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 pains of a neuropathic nature, as part of complex therapy, they resort to the use of anticonvulsants or psychotropic drugs.

Preventive actions

So that the question of what to do if your back hurts below, in your lower back or in the area of the shoulder blades, does not bother you for many years, you should be attentive to your body. Only a careful attitude towards your body, as well as the regular implementation of preventive measures, will minimize the likelihood of back pain.

There are several important rules, the observance of which will allow you to avoid back discomfort. Therefore, when your back hurts and a person wonders what to do in this situation, reviews indicate that, first of all, you should pay attention to shoes. As during the movement the greatest load falls on the spine, the use of 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 a computer for a long time, try to periodically change your body position and sometimes walk around the room or office.

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

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