What to do if you have back pain?

Back pain can make life difficult and has many possible causes. Early prevention and diagnosis of back pain will help 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, suffer from pathologies of internal organs, have increased physical activity, get injured as a result of sports activitiesprofessionals, ignore the signs of cancer, etc. All this causes pain in various 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 you will find this material useful!

Back ache

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 (nonspecific) factors, and in 20% of situations the disease manifests itself against the background of secondary (specific) signs.

Pain of a specific nature can be caused by damage to internal organs. In other cases, the pathological process progresses due to degenerative-dystrophic processes in the spine.

Of the specific risk factors, the most dangerous are oncological processes accompanied by metastases to 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 at the initial stage, when the malignant cells have not yet had time to move with the blood flow to other organs.

If you have back pain and you do not know what to do and how to treat a disease of unknown origin, you must first make an appointment with an experienced specialist and find out the cause of the discomfort.

You will be dealing with neurologists, physiotherapists and surgeons. After a thorough diagnosis, they will draw an accurate conclusion about your disease and give an unambiguous 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 I have spinal pain 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 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, as evidenced by the appearance of pain in the lower back;
• 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 motion segment of the spine;
• Cartilage lesions.

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

• Inflammatory processes in the joints;
• Cardiovascular illnesses;
• Bleeding in the pelvic region;
• Violations in the work of the female reproductive system. At the same time, women find 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 difficulty in breathing;
• Ulcerative disease, characterized by discomfort in the scapular region;
• Kidney dysfunctions;
• Inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by a one-sided pain syndrome;
• The presence of malignant neoplasms in the respiratory organs;
• Acute inflammation of the inner lining of the appendix;
• Infectious process in internal organs.

Types of back pain

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

Throbbing back pain

Becomes known when:

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

If the throbbing 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 lower back, and the discomfort is of a sharp 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 painful goes away on its own, because such discomfort occurs in women in the last weeks of pregnancy and is considered normal.

Pulling pain syndrome

Often patients complain, "If I have lower back pain from lifting weights and tearing my back, what should I do in this situation? "". Of course, excessive physical activity can cause pain of a pulling nature, 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 seen in people involved in sports activities at a professional level. As a rule, 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 need to give the body a break and complete relaxation.

Back pain from coronavirus or SARS?

If the back muscles along the spine hurt, the doctor will answer exactly what to do in this situation 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 as 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 need to take painkillers and antipyretics. Only an experienced doctor can prescribe special antiviral agents and antibiotics after a thorough examination.

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

When is a visit to the doctor urgent?

If the manifestations of pain do not disappear within 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 home doctor is recommended in the following situations:

• The condition worsens at night;
• Recently there has been a back or spinal injury;
• 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 group over 55);
• Neurological discomfort intensifies - the tenderness of the limbs disappears, the patient begins to feel muscle weakness;
• Relief from the disease does not even give nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• The patient complains of shooting pains in the lower leg.

Diagnosis of back pain

If your back begins to hurt, and you do not know what to do, you should first contact a neurologist and conduct the necessary laboratory and material studies. This will allow you to accurately diagnose and prescribe effective treatment.

What does a blood test determine?

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

search for material

• Duplex/triplex ultrasound of the neck and head vessels.It allows to examine the condition of blood vessels, to judge the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and blood clots, and to study the quantitative parameters of blood flow. This method of research is prescribed to patients complaining of frequent dizziness, high blood pressure, pain in the head and signs of acute stroke;
• CT.Allows you to establish 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 scan is more informative than X-ray;
• Magnetic resonance imaging.The most accurate search method. It makes it possible to examine malignant neoplasms on the vertebrae, as well as pinched nerve roots, intervertebral hernia, a decrease in the 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.Allows you to study in detail the condition of the bone tissue. It is practiced for scoliosis, inflammatory diseases of the joints, fractures, displacement of the vertebrae. It is often performed simultaneously with functional diagnostics, when the patient is asked to bend and straighten the spine. According to the coloring indicators of the vertebrae, their strength is judged;
• Electromyography.Allows you to assess the condition of the nervous tissue. During this study, electrical impulses generated by nerve structures are studied, as well as the response of 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 a narrowing of the spinal foramen;
• Bone scan.It is considered a mandatory method in case of suspected compression fractures or oncological processes.

back pain treatment

The main goal of therapeutic measures is to relieve pain and prevent the development of chronic pathologies. That is why the treatment involves 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.

Algorithm for Acute Pain Syndrome Relief:

• Bed rest for the first 3-5 days. At the same time, the patient is recommended to undergo shock wave therapy and use special medications. In addition, the patient is prescribed special orthopedic devices;
• Compliance with semi-bed rest for the next 8-9 days. During this period, SWT and medication use should be continued. Also, the patient is recommended to introduce special exercises with a small load and undergo electrophoresis with painkillers;
• Period of limited physical activity (12-20th day). At this point, 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) accompanied by the implementation of physiotherapy exercises;
• Preventive actions. Regular practice of physiotherapy and sports training. It improves the quality of life.

The use of drugs

During the diagnosis, it is not always possible to establish 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, 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 by injections of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The most effective of these agents is considered 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 any gastric disorders in a patient, he is prescribed milder drugs from this group.
3. To stop muscle spasms, they resort to drugs that reduce the tone of skeletal muscles.
4. Vitamins of group B. They enhance the analgesic effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. These drugs are taken in the form of tablets or administered intramuscularly in the form of 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 the back hurts below, in the lumbar region or in the region of the shoulder blades does not bother you for many years, you need to be attentive to your body. Only a careful attitude to your body, as well as the regular implementation of preventive measures will minimize the risk of pain in the back.

There are several important rules, compliance with which will help to avoid discomfort in the back. So, when you have back pain and a person is wondering what to do in this situation, reviews say that first of all it is worth paying attention 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 a computer for a long time, try to periodically change the position of the body 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 is the implementation of gymnastic exercises. Physiotherapy and special exercises recommended by professional specialists will allow you to strengthen your muscles.