What should you do if your back hurts?

Back pain can make life difficult and has many possible causes. Prevention and timely 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 a number of factors: people lead a sedentary lifestyle, their daily diet lacks valuable vitamins and minerals, they suffer from pathologies of internal organs, they experience increased physical activity, they are injured as a result of sports activitiesprofessionals, ignore the 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 eliminate it. We hope this material is useful for you!

Backache

Back pain 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 (non-specific) factors, and in 20% of situations, the disease manifests against the background 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 back.

Among the specific risk factors, the most dangerous are oncological processes associated with metastases in the spine. For prevention purposes, 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 stage, when the 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, first of all you should make an appointment with an experienced specialist and find out the cause of the discomfort.

You will deal with neurologists, physiotherapists and surgeons. After a complete diagnosis, they will make an accurate conclusion about your disease and give a clear 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 pain syndrome affects 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 associated with the appearance 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 pain in the lower back;
• Disc herniation;
• Injuries of the spine (fracture);
• Curvature of the spine;
• Pain of a chronic nature in the area of muscle structures;
• The pathological process, characterized by the development of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the area of all components of the spinal movement segment;
• Cartilage damage.

In some situations, the manifestations of pain in the back area can be caused 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 scapula area;
• Kidney dysfunctions;
• Inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by a unilateral pain syndrome;
• The presence of malignant neoplasms in the 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 disturbance is taken into account. There are the following types of pain:

Back pain shooting

It is announced when:

• Pathologies of internal organs;
• Physical injury as a result of the fall;
• Compressed nerve roots and spondylolisthesis;
• Curvature of the spine and violation of posture.

If the shooting pain becomes acute, a visit to a medical clinic is a prerequisite for recovery.

Digging back pain

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

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

Sometimes the need to do something if the back is very sore disappears by itself, since such discomfort occurs in women in the last weeks of pregnancy and is considered normal.

Pain syndrome of a pulling nature

Often, patients complain: "If my lower back hurts because I lifted weights and tore my back, what should I do in this situation? ". Of course, excessive physical activity can provoke pain of a pulling nature, but more often the following factors cause such discomfort:

• Old back injuries;
• Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the lumbar spine;
• Staying in one position for a long time.

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 you should do if your back hurts in this case, only a qualified specialist will answer for you. First of all, you should give your body a complete rest and relaxation.

Back pain due to coronavirus or SARS?

If the back muscles along the spine hurt, what exactly needs to be done in this situation will be answered by the doctor after an examination for the presence of acute respiratory viral infections. Often they 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 clear. First of all, you should take painkillers and antipyretics. Only an experienced doctor can prescribe specific antiviral and antibiotic agents after a thorough examination.

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

When is a visit to the doctor urgent?

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

An independent visit to the clinic 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 position of the body changes;
• The patient has a fever;
• The patient is at risk (age category over 55 years old);
• Neurological discomfort intensifies - sensitivity in the limbs disappears, the patient begins to feel muscle weakness;
• Even non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs do not relieve the condition;
• The patient complains of pain in the lower leg.

Diagnosis of back pain

If your back starts to hurt and you don't know what to do, first of all you should 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 you to confirm or exclude inflammation. With elevated values of leukocytes, the presence of inflammatory processes can also be judged. In addition, 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 research

• Duplex/triplex ultrasound scanning of the vessels of the neck and head.It makes it possible to examine the condition of blood vessels, judge the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and blood clotting, and study the quantitative parameters of blood flow. This research method is prescribed for patients who complain of frequent dizziness, high blood pressure, headache and signs of an acute cerebrovascular accident;
• CT scan.It allows you to determine the nature of the fracture of the spine, as well as to detect 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 x-ray;
• Magnetic resonance imaging.The most accurate search method. It makes it possible to examine malignant neoplasms in the vertebrae, as well as compressed nerve roots, intervertebral hernia, decrease in the lumen of the spinal canal and inflammatory processes caused by injury. Performing an MRI is considered a prerequisite before surgery and during the rehabilitation period after it;
• Radiography.It allows you to study the condition of the bone tissue in detail. It is done for scoliosis, inflammatory joint diseases, fractures, displacement of vertebrae. It is often performed together with functional diagnostics, when the patient is asked to bend and straighten the spine. According to the color indicators of the beads, their strength is judged;
• Electromyography.It allows you to assess the condition of the nerve tissue. In the process of this study, the electrical impulses created by the nervous structures are studied, as well as the reaction of the muscle tissue to them. Thanks to EMG, it is possible to detect a pinched nerve that arose 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.

treatment of back pain

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

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 shock wave treatment and use special medications. In addition, special orthopedic devices are prescribed to the patient;
• Compliance with half-bed rest for the next 8-9 days. During this period, SWT and the use of medications should be continued. Also, the patient is recommended to perform special exercises with a small load and undergo electrophoresis with analgesics;
• Period of limited physical activity (days 12-20). In this phase, drug treatment, shock wave therapy and physiotherapy sessions continue. To get an additional positive effect, they use massage procedures;
• Unlimited physical activity (without added loads) together with the implementation of physiotherapy exercises;
• Preventive actions. Regular practice of physical therapy and sports training. This improves the quality of life.

Use of medications

During diagnosis, it is not always possible to determine the cause of the pain syndrome, therefore, when prescribing medications, the nature of the discomfort is often taken into account:

1. For acute pain sensations, a drug blockade of the paravertebral muscles is used. If the pain cannot be relieved by the above method, anesthesia is performed in the epidural space of the spine.
2. Pain syndrome of moderate intensity is stopped with injections of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The most effective of these agents is considered to be a derivative of phenylacetic acid. However, this drug, with prolonged use, can disrupt the activity of the cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, for each gastric disorder in a patient, he is prescribed more benign drugs from this group.
3. To stop muscle spasms, they use the help of drugs that reduce skeletal muscle tone.
4. Vitamins of group B. They increase the analgesic effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. These drugs are taken in tablet form or administered intramuscularly as injections.
5. With pain 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 the back hurts below, in the lumbar region or in the area of the shoulder blades, does not bother you for many years, you need to 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 some important rules, the observance of which will make it possible to avoid discomfort in the back. So, when your back hurts, and a person wonders what to do in this situation, reviews show that first of all, attention should be paid to shoes. Since during movement the greatest load falls on the spine, 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 your body position and sometimes walk around the room or in the office.

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

Another condition to maintain a healthy back condition is the implementation of gymnastic exercises. Physical therapy and special exercises recommended by professional specialists will allow you to strengthen your muscles.